Dry scalp is no fun, which is why it’s great that there are so many dry scalp treatment options available. After all, “Let it snow!” is not a statement that you should apply to your hair. If you’ve got white dandruff flakes falling on your shoulders like a raging winter storm, it is embarrassing, to say the least.
Even if your dry scalp is not as bad as ‘snow’ on your sweater, having a dry scalp is still uncomfortable. For example, even a mild form of dry scalp can be very uncomfortably itchy at times.
When you have dandruff from dry scalp, these attention-grabbing flakes can be spotted on your hair, or they could congregate on your shoulders. What’s worse is these flakes often accompany dull, dry hair without shine.
When you’re stuck in this situation, a dry scalp is the likely culprit. Unfortunately, a dry scalp is more than just an unsightly nuisance. It is a major inconvenience because dry scalp is uncomfortable, raw, red, inflamed, or irritated. More importantly, studies indicate that the condition of your scalp affects hair growth and retention. If you want to avoid bald spots and shedding hair, take care of your scalp to mitigate further oxidative stress and damage.
Fortunately, you can address this problem by learning about various dry scalp treatment options that nourish both your scalp and hair. Knowing what to do will help you achieve holistic wellness. Being concerned about your hair is not vanity but a necessity because scalp issues can lead to deeper problems like folliculitis, which is a bacterial or fungal infection of hair follicles. When left untreated, this can exacerbate into a systemic infection. Besides, there’s no denying that possessing lustrous locks and a healthy scalp will make you feel proud of your crowning glory once again.
Dry Scalp Treatment: Start by Getting to the Root of the Problem
You cannot solve dry scalp if you don’t understand the root of the problem. Dry scalp can happen for a variety of issues, such as the following:
- Dealing with an autoimmune deficiency such as psoriasis or eczema
- Facing dietary deficiencies that manifest in your scalp
- Experiencing frigid and dry weather
- Shampooing excessively
- Using hair products that contain alcohol which is the number one culprit for drying hair and scalp
After identifying the root cause, you can pick the most effective dry scalp treatment option that suits your unique situation.
Lather Up on Conditioning Treatments
Scalp that fails to produce enough sebum or natural oils will result in a dryness, flakiness, and itchiness coupled with dry hair. To address this problem, you must give your scalp TLC so that it gets nourishment. You can replenish lost scalp oils with a store-bought leave-in deep conditioning solution or try a hot oil treatment from the beauty salon. These treatments will leave you with silky, smooth hair and a hydrated scalp. Nourishing your scalp and replenishing lost scalp oils is a very effective dry scalp treatment method.
Bonus Tip: Treat yourself to a relaxing scalp massage by using your fingertips to stimulate the area as you apply the oil treatment. A scalp massage will encourage oxygenated blood flow into the scalp area, promoting faster healing. As you lather up the conditioning treatment, be mindful of your fingernails so you don’t end up scratching the scalp and causing further damage.
Give DIY Solutions a Try for At-Home Dry Scalp Treatment
Don’t feel squeamish about putting food in your hair because all-natural ingredients work very well in hydrating your scalp. As an alternative to store-bought or professional therapies, you can create DIY scalp remedies from your kitchen. These are just as effective, plus you can feel safer because you avoid harsh chemicals and use gifts from mother nature. You can make the mixture, then slather it in your hair, and finally leave it in for an hour or so. Try the following tried and tested concoctions to solve dry scalp below:
Egg Yolk and Olive Oil Treatment
This is an eggcellent hair treatment because olive oil and egg yolk contain fatty ingredients that provide nourishment for dry scalp and damaged hair. Remember, hair is porous and absorbs all those oily fats, leaving you with softer hair and scalp. Best of all, these ingredients are cheap and almost always present in every home’s pantry.
Avocado and Mayo Hair Mask
Combine ½ avocado, ¼ cup mayo, and 2 tablespoons avocado oil to create your hair mask. These ingredients are super fatty and provide a perfect moisture-rich remedy for dry scalp. If you don’t want to enjoy a mayo-smell, you can add essential oils like lavender, citrus, or rosemary to make it smell delicious. Go on and “marinate” your scalp in this luxurious hair treatment.
Aloe Vera and Coco Oil Conditioner
Aloe vera and coconut oil are proven to work wonders on the skin in your body. Hence, they also work well to alleviate dry scalp, so steep your hair in this one. When you mix ¼ cup aloe vera gel and 2 tablespoons coconut oil, you create a miracle concoction that removes dandruff, leaving you with moisturized, silky hair.
Honey and Banana Mash
When you’re desperate for relief and results, look no further than one ripe banana mixed with 1 tablespoon honey. Banana is not just rich in potassium, but it also contains B-vitamins and biotin that are needed for a healthy scalp and lustrous hair strands. Besides, honey is a natural humectant or moisturizer that works from the follicles to the tips. Best of all, this moisturizing hair mask also promotes fast hair growth.
Try Switching Your Shampoo
The culprit to your dry scalp could be your shampoo. Harsh shampoos will eradicate the natural oils on your scalp and hair. Moreover, if you shampoo too often, both the chemicals and water will dry out your scalp, resulting in flakiness.
If you want to restore your scalp’s health and bring back luster to your hair, try the following:
- Switch to a gentle shampoo formula.
- On top of that, lessen the times you shampoo to give your scalp the opportunity to make nourishing sebum.
- Try shampooing every other day with mild water and not super hot for best results.
Noteworthy, extremely hot water will dry out the scalp and damage hair. Besides that, avoid sprays, gels, or mousse topicals that contain alcohol as this perpetuates dryness by eliminating moisture. Finally, limit your heat exposure to blowers, curlers, or straighteners to give your dry scalp and hair a chance to heal and recover.
Check for a Vitamin B Deficiency
If you’ve tried both professional and natural remedies, but your scalp is just not getting better, you could be experiencing nutritional deficiencies. When vitamin B12 and B6 are lacking from your diet, it will result in dry scalp and skin. Ask your doctor to do a mineral test to find out.
Alternatively, you can also take a CircleDNA test from home, to determine which mineral components might be lacking in your body, or which nutrients your body has a genetically higher need of. Knowing the correct information can help you make proactive lifestyle choices to improve your holistic health. For example, when you suffer from a vitamin B deficiency, you need to increase your intake of fruits and veggies. You can also address the problem by taking vitamin B supplements.
Pay Attention to Your Diet
As the famous adage goes: you are what you eat. Thus, eating the wrong foods can have an adverse impact on your scalp. For example, excess sugar consumption can result in dry scalp, flaking, and hair follicle damage. That’s because too much sugar encourages your body to produce androgen. This is a hormone that shrinks the size of your hair follicle. As a result, you develop dry flakes that medicated shampoos can’t treat.
When you have this problem, cut excessive carbohydrate consumption. Limit your sweets and processed foods. Instead, increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids from avocado or salmon to help hydrate your scalp from within. You must also drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, salt, and excessively spicy foods. Make these diet tweaks and see if there’s an improvement in your scalp.
Use OTC Dandruff Shampoos
Fortunately, there’s a wealth of medicated OTC dandruff shampoos to clear the flakes for effective dry scalp treatment. Watch out for these active ingredients that can clear up your scalp and alleviate dryness:
- Zinc pyrithione
- Coal tar
- Ketoconazole
- Selenium oxide
- Salicylic acid
Give these shampoos and leave-on treatments a try to see if they treat your dry scalp and dandruff issue. Be sure to follow the directions on the packaging for correct application.
Speak With Your Doctor About Dry Scalp Treatment
If you’ve got an itchy scalp and/or dandruff that won’t let up, and you’re struggling to find relief no matter how hard you try, it is time to visit your doctor. Ideally, you should see a dermatologist or skin specialist. The dryness in your scalp can be due to an underlying health condition such as seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, folliculitis, or psoriasis.
Your doctor will be able to diagnose your problem and provide the best treatment to keep your scalp and hair healthy. Even if you do your best to keep your scalp moisturized with these suggestions, you won’t get positive results if you fail to address the underlying health issue. Always defer to your doctor when the usual remedies or natural home remedies don’t get the job done.
