- Home remedies for dandruff include tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, coconut oil, and aloe vera.
- Applying apple cider vinegar to your scalp can kill dandruff-causing yeast.
- Aloe vera also has similar antibacterial and antifungal properties and can help reduce dandruff.
- This article was medically reviewed by Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with a private practice in New York City.
If you've ever experienced a dry, itchy, flaky scalp, you've likely had dandruff. This condition is not harmful or contagious, but it certainly can be pesky and uncomfortable. You might find yourself constantly scratching your scalp or getting tiny white flakes all over your brown and black clothes.
About half of the general population has some degree of dandruff — and if you are one of these people, you may not need to turn to special shampoos to fix flaking. Home remedies, like apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil, have been shown to help get rid of dandruff. Here are five home remedies for dandruff and how to use them.
What causes dandruff?
Dandruff may occur all over your scalp, but it's usually most prevalent in the back of the head, along the frontal hairline, and around the ears, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Zeichner says dandruff is the result of your body's reaction to yeast, a type of fungus, that lives naturally on your skin, including on your scalp. When yeast grows too much, it can cause an inflammatory immune reaction which leads to skin flaking.
Especially in hot and humid weather, sweat and oil accumulate on the scalp and can create an ideal place for even more yeast to grow, Zeichner says. More yeast means more inflammation and more flaking of the scalp.
The natural remedies available for dandruff typically work by focusing on reducing the excess yeast, which can eliminate your dandruff. Here are five natural remedies you can try.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Why it works: Tea tree oil is used as a remedy for various fungal and bacterial conditions since it has antimicrobial properties, which means it can kill and stop microorganisms like fungus from growing, says Zeichner.
A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology tested a control non-tea tree shampoo and a 5% tea tree shampoo on 126 participants, and found that those who used the tea tree shampoo had a 41% improvement in their dandruff severity compared to the control group.
How to use it: Zeichner says you should never apply tea tree oil in its pure form, since it can cause irritation. He recommends putting a few drops of the oil into your usual shampoo each time you wash your hair, and then shampooing as normal.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Why it works: While many people orally ingest apple cider vinegar for health benefits, it can also be used topically. It helps get rid of dandruff in two ways, Zeichner says. First, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which kills the dandruff-causing yeast. Second, it's an astringent, which means that it shrinks pores and removes excess oil.
How to use it: Similar to tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar should not be used for dandruff in its undiluted form. Zeichner says you can dilute it with water and apply it to the scalp, letting it sit for about five minutes before rinsing it out.
You can use a mixture of one part water to one part apple cider vinegar, or start with less apple cider vinegar if your scalp is extra sensitive.
3. Baking Soda
Why it works: Baking soda combats dandruff in two ways. It has been shown to have mild antifungal properties, and it can also exfoliate, which is beneficial for people who have significant flaking or buildup on the scalp, says Kaveri Karhade, MD, board-certified dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay area. Exfoliating can help get rid of the buildup and create a healthier environment on the scalp.
How to use it: Karhade says you can either mix about a tablespoon of baking soda into your usual shampoo, or you can mix it with water to get a paste consistency. Massage and scrub your scalp with the baking soda mixture and then rinse thoroughly. Karhade does not recommend using this home remedy often, since baking soda is very alkaline (meaning it has a high pH) and can damage your hair.
4. Coconut Oil
Why it works: Coconut oil also has antifungal properties, Karhade says, so it can decrease the amount of dandruff-causing yeast on your scalp. There isn't concrete research supporting coconut oil for dandruff, but coconut oil has been proven to have antifungal properties.
Additionally, the coconut oil can calm any inflammation on the scalp, since this oil is proven to have anti-inflammatory properties. This remedy has an added bonus: Karhade says coconut oil can penetrate the hair shaft since the molecules are so small and nourish your hair, so you can help your scalp problem and take care of your hair at the same time.
There are no specific studies backing up coconut oil's effectiveness for dandruff, and similar to the baking soda remedy, most of the evidence we have is anecdotal.
How to use it: Take two tablespoons of coconut oil and massage it into your scalp with your fingertips, Karhade says. She recommends leaving the treatment on your scalp for one or two hours to really let the oil soak in. Then thoroughly wash your hair with your regular shampoo.
5. Aloe Vera
Why it works: Aloe is a plant, and its gel is well known for its moisturizing properties, so it can help with the itchiness that comes along with dry skin on the scalp, says Karhade. Additionally, research shows that aloe vera has antibacterial and antifungal properties which can decrease fungus on the scalp and reduce the incidence of dandruff.
How to use it: Take aloe vera gel and apply it to the problem areas. You can leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing it out. When purchasing the aloe, you can use pure aloe vera gel from a fresh aloe plant, or pre-packaged aloe vera gel.
When to see a doctor
If home remedies don't work, over the counter dandruff shampoos are also an option. If neither of those are getting rid of your dandruff, or if your condition is interfering with your daily life, you should see a board-certified dermatologist for an evaluation and treatment plan. Prescription dandruff medications are proven to be very effective, according to both experts.
The bottom line
Home remedies work for some people, but not everyone. And more research is needed to determine just how effective some of these methods truly are.
If you experience any discomfort from these methods, rinse the product out so you do not damage your scalp. And if your condition is worsening or interfering with your ability to go about your day-to-day life, then consider scheduling a consultation with a dermatologist.