For some of us, dry scalp can be a real headache. Whether it’s something you’ve suffered for a while or you’ve just started to notice some stray flakes on your shoulders, dry scalp can not only be uncomfortable but embarrassing, too.
The scalp contains sebum, which helps to moisturise your hair and scalp, but the amount your body produces can fluctuate depending on a number of factors, from cold weather to stress to diet. If you’re scratching your head wondering how to get rid of dry scalp, we’re here to help.
How to Get Rid of Dry Scalp
Home Remedies for Dry Scalp
1. Tea Tree Oil
First of all, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get rid of dry scalp – there’s plenty of home remedies out there to help restore the moisture back to your head. Tea tree oil contains natural anti-fungal properties, which kill the bacteria that causes those pesky flakes.
All you need to do is pop six drops of it into your favourite shampoo or conditioner, and wash your hair as normal. Alternatively, if you’d rather not mix anything with your regular hair products, put ten drops of tea tree oil into water and use this after shampooing, instead of conditioner.
2. Lemon Juice and Honey
Next time you’re at the supermarket, pick up some lemon juice and honey to help you tackle your dry scalp. Lemon has both antiseptic and moisturising agents that make it a perfect home remedy for dry scalp, whilst removing excessive dead skin cells at the same time.
Squeeze some lemon juice into a cup and mix well with honey, before massaging your concoction gently into your scalp for a few minutes. Then, rinse out with your normal shampoo and water.
3. Dry Scalp Shampoo
If you’d prefer more a conventional dry scalp treatment, there are a wealth of dry scalp shampoos out there to help restore much-needed moisture to your hair. You may have to experiment a little to find the perfect shampoo that works for you, but it’s always good to start with moisturising shampoos specifically designed to treat dryness, like Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Hyaluronic Moisture Kick Micellar Shampoo.
If you would prefer trying a cleansing formula then we would recommend the Lomé Paris Scalp Purifying Shampoo which helps to lift residue and protect build up on the scalp. The moisturising formula enriched with Keratin, Zinc and Wheat Proteins also moisturises leaving your hair and scalp feeling clean.
For particularly stubborn dry scalp, try Wella Professionals Invigo Balance Clean Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, a formula including soothing lotus extract that combats dandruff and removes visible flakes from the scalp or the Wella Professionals Nioxin Scalp Treatment 1 for the ultimate dry scalp treatment.
Our top recommended dry scalp products
Our top recommended dry scalp products
How To Prevent Dry Scalp
As there can be many causes of dry scalp, altering your diet can be one of the best ways to prevent it. Ensuring that you have a good supply of fatty acids in your diet can help prevent dry scalp, as you may be lacking omega-3. This includes yummy foods like fish (think salmon, mackerel and tuna) and vegetable sources, such as flaxseeds, pumpkins seeds and walnuts, which you should incorporate into your diet more regularly.
You may also be in short supply of zinc-rich foods, as zinc is essential for healthy skin, hair growth, and tissue repair. Try incorporating more seafood, meat, and poultry into your diet, and see if that makes a difference to your dry scalp. These types of foods will also give you more iron, which aids circulation by providing essential nutrients to help transport blood around the body.
Finally, it may seem obvious, but to get more moisture into your body you have to drink more water! Keeping yourself hydrated is not only good for your health and wellbeing, it reflects in your skin. Drinking more water than usual will help to balance out any dry scalp issues you’re having and is undoubtedly the most cost-effective dry scalp treatment out there.
Look after your scalp with the right Hair Masks and Treatments. Take a look at more advice and tips on ourRead more Learn articles