Home Remedies for Dry Scalp
There are several home remedies for dry scalp that will help alleviate this unsightly and uncomfortable condition. The key is balance the moisture content on the scalp and prevent additional flaking by easing the urge to scratch.
Most kinds of home remedies for a dry scalp that involve massaging something into the scalp can be done one of two ways. You can either massage it into the scalp and leave on overnight or cover it with a warm, damp towel or a shower cap and leave on for about an hour. In either case, you’ll want to shampoo your hair afterward to keep your hair from becoming lank and greasy. It will also allow the scalp a chance to breathe properly. Which method you use will depend largely on how much time you have and whether you’re willing to sleep with the remedy on your scalp all night.
Camphor & Coconut Oil to Treat Dry Scalp
Blend one teaspoon of camphor oil with a half cup of coconut oil and massage into your scalp. This particular home remedy for dry scalp works best if left on overnight. If this seems a bit messy, try wearing a shower cap over it while you sleep. If you make a large batch, store what you don’t use in a glass container to preserve its potency. This should clear things up quickly if used once or twice a week.
If you don’t have camphor, try adding one teaspoon of castor oil and one teaspoon of mustard to the coconut oil instead, or mix two parts of coconut oil with one part of lemon juice for an easy massage oil for your dry scalp. The coconut and lemon juice treatment will also brighten your highlights if you have blonde hair – a nice added bonus! Any of these mixtures will give you quick results of used twice a week before you shampoo.
The kitchen is a wealth of healthy home remedies for dry scalp. Chop up three sprigs of fresh rosemary and add it to a strong cup of chamomile tea (use three teabags to one cup of boiling water). If you rinse your hair with this cooled mixture, you’ll soothe the irritation and inflammation that are common to dry scalps.
Curing Scalp Irritations
Tea tree oil and vitamin E, combined and massaged into the scalp, can aid the healing of any irritations and soothe overly dry skin on the scalp. This can get sticky, so be sure you apply it when you have time enough not only to keep it in your hair for awhile, but to shampoo your hair thoroughly afterward. A more contemporary home remedy that is very effective in treating dry scalp can be made from 1 cup olive oil to which one crushed aspirin has been added. Massage this into the scalp, wrap your head in a towel, a let it work its magic for an hour, then rinse thoroughly and shampoo.
The trouble with a dry scalp is that it often returns within weeks of successfully using one of the many home remedies for dry scalp. The problem can usually be identified as the shampoo you use. Most commercial shampoos contain strong detergents and lathering agents that actually strip the natural oils away from your hair and scalp, leaving them dull and lifeless and, in the case of your scalp, itchy!
After you’ve calmed your dry scalp, try switching to an all natural shampoo that doesn’t have harsh chemicals or detergents. By properly washing your hair and nourishing your scalp with gentle, natural shampoos, you can prolong the success of your dry scalp home remedies.
Mild shampoos with no detergents…
Oatmeal is another old stand-by that works in home remedies for a dry scalp. Soak ¼ cup of oatmeal in some warm water for half an hour, then strain the water and add five drops each of lavender and rosemary oil. Apply this mixture to your scalp when it is tepid and gently rub it into the scalp with the balls of your fingers. This home remedy only needs to be left on for about ten minutes before you shampoo your hair.