Dandruff is one of those things most of us have experienced but no one wants to talk about.
If you’ve ever worn your new black jacket only to find white flakes on your shoulders, you’re not alone. The majority of us have suffered from dandruff and it’s getting more common.
But there are easy ways to improve your scalp condition without resorting to harsh medicated shampoos.
1. Sunshine
One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to improve the health of your scalp is to catch a few more rays!
If you work at a desk, work out at the gym and spend your weekends shopping and sleeping in you may not be getting enough sunshine. Research shows that just an extra 10 mins of sunshine a day can improve dandruff especially oily dandruff that’s caused by bacteria or fungal infection.
Of course, there’s no need to overdo it, but upping the sunshine factor might be a great way to start healing your dandruff.
2. Eat the right foods
Omega 3, Zinc, B6 are all considered essential for avoiding or curing dandruff. But what should you actually eat to get enough of these scalp-healing superfoods in your diet?
Try oily fish, walnuts and leafy greens to help you get enough Omega 3s. Chia seeds and flax seeds also pack an omega 3 punch so adding these to your daily green smoothie is an easy and delicious way to protect your scalp.
To increase your Zinc intake try including oysters, dark chocolate and nuts at least a few times a week (doesn’t sound too bad does it?)
Vitamin B6 has been proven to help dandruff and scalp problems. By increasing the amount of avocado, sunflower and sesame seeds, hazelnuts and cashews in your diet you can up the amount of B6 without much effort.
3. More Water
I know you’ve heard this before but water really is the key to good health, and that includes scalp health!
We all know we should be drinking a couple of litres of water every day to ensure our bodies get the right amount of hydration but do you?
Here are some tips to help you:
- Measure the amount of water you want to drink over the day into a jug and leave it where you’ll see it.
- Add some flavour to your water - lemon, mint, cucumber, berries
- Record your progress
- Notice the early signs of dehydration - dry lips, tiredness, dry hands
- Don’t ignore feeling thirsty
4. Stress Less
Long-term stress can weaken your body’s ability to protect and heal itself. While you may not be able to completely avoid stress, supporting your body during stressful times will help counteract the negative effects.
Try:
- Cooking and eating healthy meals rather than fuelling yourself on takeaways and burgers.
- Book yourself a massage as a reward for a big week
- Move your body in your favourite way - dancing, walking or a sweaty workout
- Give yourself permission to have time out - Netflix and a glass of wine might be just what you need
- Connect with people who fill your soul
5. Choose the right shampoo
The first dandruff treatment many people turn to is medicated shampoos from your local chemist or supermarket. While these can may be effective short-term there are problems associated with them. The chemicals in them can cause damage to your hair or actually make your dandruff worse!
And did you know if you have coloured or chemically treated hair you shouldn’t even be using conventional anti-dandruff shampoo?!?
Like most things to do with our body, the cause of dandruff can be different for everyone. You might have a very sensitive and irritated scalp causing your scalp to flake, while someone else might have an extremely dry scalp caused by psoriasis or eczema. And the next person might have an oily scalp that means ‘wet dandruff’ is their problem. How can we expect the same shampoo to fix all these problems?
Look for an organic or natural dandruff treatment shampoo that will look after your hair as well as your scalp. And bonus points if you can find a shampoo that will treat the actual cause of your dandruff.
By trying even one or all of these easy solutions you may notice how much better your scalp feels. And then you can enjoy wearing your new black jacket worry-free!
About the author:
Melissa Foxx is a qualified natural therapist and owner of Eviva Organics - an online beauty boutique for busy women who’ve got better things to do than worry about choosing the right beauty products.
She’s an optimist who loves windy weather. She enjoys the idea of being a minimalist but instead lives a messy, fun, full life with her family in Adelaide.