Snow isn't the only type of white flaky stuff taking over this winter. Dandruff is a common scalp condition that happens when the microorganisms on your skin overgrow — mainly due to stress, hormonal fluctuations or changes to your diet. And as they shed off, they leave little white flakes in your hair and on your shoulders, which probably causes you even more stress (it's a vicious cycle, isn't it?).
Dry, cold weather and heaters on full blast don't help matters much either, making the struggle to keep dandruff at bay all too real. It can be an embarrassing problem, but it turns out it's not at all difficult to treat. We called in the pros to give us a little bit of know-how on how to combat the pesky hair problem-
* Step into a warm shower. Apply a quarter-sized amount of specially formulated dandruff shampoo to your palm. Work the shampoo through your hair, focusing on the scalp area. Let the shampoo sit for five minutes to properly work, and then rinse it out. Wash your hair once per day with the dandruff shampoo, which is formulated to eradicate the malassezia fungus.
* Wet your hair completely once you are in the shower and pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda into your hand. Rub the baking soda on your scalp using gentle, massaging motions to loosen up dead skin and oily flakes. Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.
* Pour 2 tablespoons of lemon juice directly onto your scalp and massage it in using your fingers. Rinse your hair completely with warm water. Pour 1 teaspoon of lemon juice into 1 cup of water and pour it over your head. Do not rinse out the final lemon-juice application.
* Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons of table salt in your hand and massage the salt gently into your scalp to help loosen up the dead skin. Rinse your hair with water to remove the salt, then wash your hair using a quarter-sized amount of shampoo. Rinse well with warm water, and apply conditioner if desired.
* Walk or sit outside in the sun for 20 to 30 minutes each day. Some people find that the ultra-violet rays from the sun help to reduce dandruff in the winter months. Don't forget to wear sunscreen.