The dry winter air in most climates can certainly do a number on your hair and skin, but it also can have a drying, irritating effect on another, less visible area – your scalp. Scalp health is incredibly important when it comes to overall hair health and the ability of your hair follicles to produce plentiful and strong hair.
An itchy, dry and flaky scalp is all too common in a day and age where so many shampoos, conditioners and other hair care products contain harsh chemicals, drying surfactants and strong perfumes. These can all further dry and damage the scalp.
Combine this with diets that are often lacking in the fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy scalp (after all, the scalp is just skin, it needs the same nutrients healthy skin requires), and scalp health issues are a common complaint. Thankfully, there are several different natural oils and other naturally sourced remedies that can greatly help with the most commonly voiced scalp complaints.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary essential oil has several qualities that help with scalp irritations. Their therapeutic effect on the scalp is mostly due to the highly antifungal and antibacterial nature of the herb’s oil.
Why would a remedy that is anti-fungal be important for dandruff and a healthy scalp? Often times flaking and dandruff are at least partially caused by fungal growth on the scalp. Is also has a mildly astringent quality, which helps to clean the scalp and prevent flaking without drying it.
Because it is an oil, it also has some moisturizing qualities in and of itself as well. Rosemary oil is also anti-inflammatory, and can help soothe any irritations, bumps or scabbing on the scalp that is caused by excessive itching or dryness.
Rosemary oil is also thought to help stimulate hair growth when applied topically to the scalp. Simply add a few drops to your shampoo for a pleasant, scalp-healing shampoo. It is strongly scented, so sparing application is usually the best way to test this oil out at first.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has long been a relied-on home remedy for scalp problems. It primarily helps with dandruff as well as psoriasis of the scalp. It also may help to promote healthy hair growth since it is excellent at removing buildup without drying the scalp.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent. Since dandruff and other scalp issues such as scabbing, dryness and flaking are due to excess yeast growth and inflammation, ACV helps by quelling yeast growth and soothing inflammation. It should be used in roughly a 1:4 ratio in a water rinse.
Apple cider vinegar also has a nice topical acidity which helps to clean away the waxy type of dandruff or buildup that occurs. It does this without drying out the hair since it is not a detergent, and is a great way to get this type of dandruff off the scalp for people who tend to have an oilier scalp (you don’t have to have a dry scalp to get dandruff).
Lemon oil
Lemon oil is excellent for clearing the waxy sebum on the scalp without drying or compromising the skin. It has natural anti-fungal qualities as well, so it helps to address any type of fungal growth. Lemon oil is also anti-bacterial, so it can help to clear up any type of bacterial infections on the scalp as well as calm inflammation.
Tea tree oil
Like lemon oil (it just doesn’t smell as good), tea tree oil is an excellent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It doesn’t have the same yeast-neutralizing qualities that lemon oil or apple cider vinegar may have, but it does address many of the underlying issues that commonly affect scalp health effectively just the same.
Tea tree oil is strongly antiseptic and anti-bacterial, so it really helps to clear up any minor infections that may be causing discomfort and scabbing. It also helps to relieve the itching that can go along with dandruff, psoriasis of the scalp and an overall dryness problem.
Often times when we’re experiencing scalp health issues, the scalp can begin to bleed and scab and these remedies all have anti-inflammatory properties to some degree, which helps to calm any existing inflammation.
Remember to hydrate your body well on the inside and out. Avoid harsh detergents on the scalp. This includes most of the dandruff shampoos you see in stores since they use harsh sudsing agents.
Try to wash your hair a few times a week since scabbing, itchiness and problems can start after a few days without washing if you have a particularly oily scalp. If you’re using the right products to clean your hair and scalp, then you should really notice an improvement in your scalp health over time.
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com, which offers natural alternatives to traditional shampoos and conditioner for the hair, including a popular sulfate free, Shine Enhancing Shampoo that includes many of the ingredients talked about above, and a Deep Hydration Conditioner.
Sources for this article include:
http://healthfreedoms.org/2013/12/20/rosemary-for-hair-loss/
