A Flaky Situation

Carri has been suffering from dandruff lately.  When she was a baby she would occasionally have a flaky scalp. I would oil her scalp with baby oil and it would fix it.  But this recent flakiness has been frequent and abundant.  It has been very noticeable as well.  I decided to do some research on how to treat it.  I know I could just use Head & Shoulders or some similar shampoo, but since we follow the CG method, I didn't want to use a sulfate shampoo.  I wanted to see what other ways I could treat her dandruff. I also wanted to know what could be causing it, even though I think eczema could be the culprit.  

Here is what I have learned:

Dandruff is not 'catching'

The rest of my house will not get dandruff because Carri has it. (I didn't think that anyway, but in case someone thought that dandruff was contagious, I wanted to let you know that it isn't)

Styling products could be the cause of her dandruff

Overuse of styling products can be a significant source of dandruff.  Reducing product use can help remedy the problem.

I should wash her hair more.

Frequent washing is effective.

Tea Tree Oil Works Well

Tea Tree  (melaleuca) oil is an inexpensive natural remedy.  It is an antiseptic There are some tea tree oil shampoos available. (my old favorite is Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo) 

Essential oils help too

Rub your scalp with essential oils to soothe an itchy scalp.  Don't forget to mix your essential oils with carrier oils.  Jojoba helps balance the ph levels of your hair and scalp.

I need to cut down on the amount of pizza we eat.

A healthy diet and exercise help to improve dandruff as well as everything else that could ail us.  

I think I will start with the oils since I have some tea tree oil here on hand. 

Here are some natural remedies I found:

·         Yogurt: Take about half a cup of fermented yogurt and apply it on to your scalp thoroughly. Let the yogurt stay for at least an hour, before rinsing it off with water and a mild shampoo.

·         Vinegar: Add about 2 tablespoons of cosmetic vinegar to 6 tablespoons of hot water and apply the mixture on to your scalp. Cover your head with a piece of cloth and leave the solution on overnight. Wash your hair with warm water and shampoo the next morning.

·         Aloe Vera Gel: Extract some fresh gel from an Aloe Vera leaf and apply it on to your scalp. Leave the gel on for as long as possible, preferably overnight, before rinsing it off.

·         Ginger: Mix some ginger root in warm olive oil and apply it on to your head. This is one of the most effective dry scalp home remedies, which not only gets rid of dandruff, but also nourishes your hair.

Courtesy Natural Remedies For You