6 Must Try Home Remedies To Treat Dry Scalp

A dry and itchy scalp robs your crowning glory of its luster and can even turn out to be embarrassing. Harsh soaps, the hot sun, and hot water can all strip natural oils meant to keep your scalp moisturized and your hair glossy. Even an overheated room or the cold, dry air of winter can sap your scalp just as it would your skin – the scalp is also skin, after all. And older skin, which is less effective as a barrier against the environment, is hit harder. But fret not: the easy home remedies below can help you tackle this common problem.

# Condition With Natural Oils

Many natural oils can help keep your scalp hydrated. Since oils help retain water best when applied on damp skin, wet your scalp slightly before massaging in a few drops of a vegetable oil to ease dryness. Some oils that you might want to try include:

- Coconut oil, which penetrates into your hair and helps reduce protein loss
- Argan oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E3
- Jojoba oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can also help tackle scalp infections
- Olive oil, which is also rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E

# Get A Weekly Hot Oil Treatment

Get a deep-conditioning hot oil treatment once a week to keep your scalp and hair healthy and moisturized. To do this, warm a tablespoon of avocado, jojoba, or olive oil and massage it into your scalp and hair. Wrap your head in a plastic shower cap and let the oil sit for around half an hour to an hour. Then rinse it off with a gentle shampoo.

# Apply Honey On Your Scalp

Honey is a humectant, which means that it can attract moisture. This makes it a great conditioner.5 But that’s not all. It also has antioxidant and antifungal properties and can help clear dandruff. In fact, a study found that participants who applied 90% honey diluted with a little warm water and left it in for 3 hours experienced freedom from itching and scaling due to dandruff within a week. Moreover, a weekly application of honey prevented the recurrence of dandruff.

To condition your scalp and hair and combat dryness, mix a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of coconut oil and apply it to your scalp and hair. You can dilute this with a little warm water if you need to. Rinse off after 10 minutes for a hydrated scalp and well-conditioned hair.

# Use An Avocado Head Mask

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and phytosterols which can help condition your scalp. Try this avocado mask to tackle a dry scalp: scoop out the flesh of an avocado and mash it with an egg yolk and a tablespoon each of honey and coconut oil. Apply to damp hair and massage it into your scalp. Now cover your head with a shower cap and let the mask work its magic for around 15 minutes before rinsing it off thoroughly.

# Apply Yogurt On Your Scalp

Yogurt contains lactic acid, a potent humectant. It also has proteins which can nourish your hair. To make a conditioning mask, whisk an egg yolk and a little yogurt. Massage this onto your scalp and hair and let it work its magic for around 15–20 minutes before you rinse it off.

# Use An Oatmeal Head Mask

Oatmeal improves the barrier function of skin. When water is added to ground oatmeal, the gluten present in it turns it into a gooey substance. This can coat your scalp (and skin!) and help seal in moisture. But that’s not all, it is an antioxidant and fights inflammation too.

So mix ground oats with water and apply it to a dampened scalp. Let it sit for about half an hour before rinsing it out to relieve dryness and itching. While this may seem a little messy, the result is well worth it!