Getting rid of dandruff – valuable tips against dry & oily dandruff

How to bring your scalp back into balance

Dandruff is not an uncommon, but annoying problem. It occurs when the upper layer of skin renews itself. Old, dead skin cells are shed to make room for new ones. The dead cells are usually so small that they go unnoticed. Only when the cells renew themselves too quickly and dry out, for example, can the white flakes fall onto your shoulders. However, overly oily skin can also cause dandruff. We'll explain here what you can do about it and how you can get rid of and prevent dry and oily dandruff.

Causes of dandruff on the head

Dandruff can have various causes: fungal infections, stress, environmental influences such as dry heating air, poor nutrition or blow-drying with too much heat, as well as the use of incorrect care and styling products.
It's worth finding out the causes to successfully combat dandruff. Since both a dry and oily scalp can trigger dandruff, you should first observe whether your scalp is more dry or oily. If you lose a lot of fine flakes, you tend to have a dry scalp. With an oily scalp, the flakes are usually larger and stick to your scalp.

Tea tree oil for oily dandruff

In this case, you can combat oily dandruff naturally by mixing some tea tree oil with water and applying the tincture before washing your hair. The tincture should be left on for a short time and then washed out with a mild shampoo. This process is best repeated 2-3 times a week, but not more often, as tea tree oil tends to dry out the skin. A regular treatment with herbal oils regulates sebum production and nourishes the scalp. In addition to tea tree oil, sage, thyme, or nettle leaves are also suitable. To do this, you can infuse the herbal mixture with hot water, let it steep for a few minutes, and then avoid using it as a rinse after washing your hair. Alternatively, you can use a special anti-dandruff shampoo to reduce oil. The ingredients it contains are specifically designed to fight fungi and bacteria. However, these are often artificial and not without risk.

Dandruff with dry scalp – what helps?

When a scalp is dry and affected by dandruff, the triggers are usually poor nutrition, heating air, air conditioning or incorrect care and styling products.

This helps with dry dandruff:

For a dry scalp with dandruff, mild shampoos with high-quality, plant-based ingredients that have a moisturizing effect to support natural sebum production are suitable. These shampoos gently rid your scalp of dandruff without damaging it. Shampoos containing active ingredients such as chamomile, rosemary, or oat extracts are particularly good, as they gently cleanse and soothe the scalp. Be careful with conventional anti-dandruff shampoos! These can actually encourage dandruff formation on a dry scalp. Our tip: Avoid washing your hair every day, if possible.

Olive oil against dandruff

Apply a few drops of olive oil to your scalp, massage in, and leave on overnight. Rinse out in the morning with a mild shampoo.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has antibacterial and moisturizing properties. To soothe your dry scalp, squeeze the juice from an aloe vera leaf and spread it evenly over your scalp.

How to prevent dandruff: 6 tips and home remedies for dandruff

Many men don't take action until it's too late and dandruff is already visible. Yet caring for our scalp is just as important as caring for our face and body.

#1: Comb your hair & remove dandruff

Not exactly a home remedy, but important nonetheless. We recommend gently combing your hair with a fine-tooth comb before washing. This stimulates circulation, allowing the flakes to detach from the scalp and be easily washed out. After washing, rinse your hair thoroughly—the longer the better—and let it air dry. It's best not to use styling products, or only use ones with high-quality ingredients that won't over-stress your scalp. It's also important to clean your comb frequently and thoroughly.

#2 Apple cider vinegar for dandruff

Apple cider vinegar is also suitable for skin care; it nourishes and soothes the skin while also having antibacterial properties. Mix 1 liter of water with 3–4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then, after shampooing, pour the mixture over your wet hair. Leave it on for 2–3 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water, and you're done.

#3 Hair mask against dandruff – oil treatment overnight

Additionally, you can apply natural oils to your hair as a treatment to combat dandruff. In addition to tea tree oil and olive oil, sesame oil and coconut oil are also ideal for dandruff.

Coconut oil against dandruff

This multi-talented product can be used for virtually anything. In addition to its benefits for beautiful skin and hair, it has antibacterial properties and also heals dandruff and itching, while also moisturizing the skin.

#4 Nutrition

A vitamin or mineral deficiency can exacerbate dandruff. A change in diet can help. For example, zinc, found in beans, oatmeal, and nuts, helps combat dandruff and acne. B vitamins, found in lentils, eggs, and yogurt, also help combat dandruff and improve your skin's appearance. Healthy fats, such as those found in avocados, seeds, and nuts, help combat dry skin and can thus prevent dandruff.