Lemon Juice Scalp Treatment
Why It Works: The acidity of lemon juice helps balance the pH levels of your scalp, which can dramatically decrease dandruff production. It’s also naturally antibacterial.
How To Use It: Depending on how targeted of a treatment you need, you can use straight lemon juice as a scalp massage or water it down and use it as a rinse. For a scalp treatment, gently massage two tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp, focusing on your dandruff hotspots. Leave on for a few minutes, then rinse out in the shower. For a lemon rinse, mix the juice of one lemon with equal parts filtered water and use a spray bottle to apply to wet hair. Massage into scalp for a few minutes, then rinse out.
READ MORE: 15 Ways You Never Thought to Use Lemon as a Beauty Product
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Why It Works: Like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar helps fight dandruff by balancing your scalp’s pH levels. It also helps slough away dead skin cells, and its antifungal properties take care of any flaky buildup that’s a result of fungus on the scalp.
How To Use It: Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and filtered water in a spray bottle. After shampooing (or just wetting hair thoroughly) spray liberally all over hair from roots to ends, taking care not to get any in your eyes. Massage the vinegar into your scalp, again focusing on areas that seem to produce the most dandruff. Leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse out. As a bonus, ACV also makes your hair super shiny and soft. It’s a great hair treatment whether or not you’re currently struggling with dandruff.
Tea Tree Oil Shampoo Booster
Why It Works: Tea tree oil soothes inflammation and treats dandruff at the source, whether that source is fungal, bacterial, or just a generally out-of-whack scalp . Bonus: it smells amazing — very minty and fresh.
How To Use It: The thing I love about tea tree oil is that you can easily use it to turn your regular shampoo into an anti-dandruff shampoo. Just mix a few drops of tea tree oil into the amount of shampoo you’d normally use to wash your hair, and voila! Your regular ol’ shampoo just became a dandruff fighting magic potion.
READ MORE: 16 Ways to Use Honey as a Beauty Product
Raw Honey Hair Mask
Why It Works: Raw honey is naturally moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, and conducive to healing. This mask is super hydrating, so it’s a great option if the source of your dandruff is an overly dry, irritated scalp.
How To Use It: Mix two tablespoons coconut or olive oil with 1 tablespoon honey and heat in the microwave for a few seconds until warm enough to spread easily. Massage the mixture onto your scalp, then cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse well, and enjoy not just a soothed, flake-free scalp, but gorgeously soft, shiny hair as a result.
READ MORE: Why I’m Obsessed With Coconut Oil (And You Should Be, Too)
