6 simple ways to treat dandruff with coconut oil to help dry and clean scalp

The white flakes on your scalp make your scalp itchy, which can even lead to irritation if you constantly scratch uncontrollably. Meanwhile, coconut oil is considered a natural dandruff remedy through an effective scalp moisturizing mechanism. Do you know how to treat dandruff with coconut oil?

Let Hello Bacsi introduce to you 6 ways to treat dandruff with coconut oil at home to help dry scalp and limit the attack of dandruff!

Causes of dandruff

Dandruff is a common scalp condition that usually occurs when excess skin cells build up and slough off. These flakes of dandruff can make the scalp itchy and irritated if accidentally scratched. Some cases of dandruff are caused by a fungus called Malassezia. Although fungi are harmful to your scalp, they are also really helpful in breaking down the oils on your scalp. However, scalp problems can arise when these fungi overproduce. They leave behind oleic acid which can irritate the scalp, which in turn leads to dryness and flaking of dandruff.

An oily scalp is another cause of dandruff, and can even lead to seborrheic dermatitis. When you have seborrheic dermatitis, your scalp still has normal dandruff flakes, but due to the excessive amount of oil, the dandruff flakes will turn yellow.

In addition, if you do not regularly wash your hair or use too much hair conditioner, it can cause dandruff to accumulate more and more.

Should I treat dandruff with coconut oil?

There are many anti-dandruff products on the market today such as over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription shampoos. However, if you prefer natural dandruff remedies to avoid the effects of chemicals on the scalp, then coconut oil may be the ingredient that you should refer to.

• Moisturize the scalp. The moisturizing effects of coconut oil can hold a lot of promise. Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, coconut oil can help treat dandruff and dry scalp in a benign way. A 2014 study showed that people with atopic dermatitis who used coconut oil effectively moisturize the scalp and prevent moisture loss. In addition, coconut oil is also used with natural antibacterial effects thanks to the lauric acid component in coconut oil. Therefore, this ingredient can help fight Malassezia’s attack.
• Prevents dandruff formation, improves scalp eczema. According to one study , coconut oil used on children with eczema was more effective than mineral oil. Coconut oil has the ability to penetrate underneath the epidermis (top layer of the skin) and act as a barrier to help protect the scalp from dryness and inflammation. Although dandruff was not studied in this case. However, you may still notice the same benefits if you have scalp eczema. A 2008 study found that using coconut oil in adults was helpful for treating both eczema and fungal infections at the same time. This means helping to reduce the number of these microorganisms on your scalp and prevent any problems associated with dandruff.
• Reduce inflammation. Other research shows that coconut oil can also reduce inflammation and scalp pain. From there, it helps to overcome dandruff-related cases of psoriasis and other skin diseases. However, more research is still needed on the effectiveness of coconut oil for dandruff before definite conclusions can be drawn.

Instructions for 6 ways to treat dandruff with natural, benign coconut oil for hair

1. Treat dandruff with virgin coconut oil

Using virgin organic coconut oil will give better anti-dandruff effect because it contains the purest concentration of nutrients. However, if you are taking medication for dermatitis, consult your doctor about using coconut oil for dandruff.

Ingredients: 3-4 tablespoons of coconut oil

Doing:

• Clean the scalp with cold water and dry the hair
• Apply coconut oil directly to the scalp (liquid form) and comb through the rest of the hair to increase absorption on the scalp.
• Then leave it on for a few minutes to make sure the coconut oil can fully penetrate your hair and scalp and rinse your hair with water.
• Use fingertips to massage for 3-5 minutes
• If you want to increase the foaming ability with coconut oil, you can mix it with warm water before use.
• Rinse the remaining coconut oil residue on the hair with regular shampoo, to avoid greasy hair.
• Repeat this process about twice a week.

2. Beat dandruff with coconut oil and jojoba oil

To enhance the effectiveness of coconut oil, you can combine it with jojoba oil to nourish your hair. Jojoba oil is a natural ester wax that helps repair damaged scalps caused by fungal infections such as seborrheic dermatitis, while moisturizing dry hair and stimulating hair growth. In addition, this material also has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties for the scalp, which is very suitable for effective dandruff treatment. Jojoba oil acts as a carrier, delivering nutrients to the scalp in the right concentration. Thereby helping to eliminate dandruff quickly and keep the scalp area in a dry state.

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons jojoba oil + 3 tablespoons coconut oil.

Doing:

• Mix coconut oil and jojoba oil well
• Wet your hair with clean water
• Apply this mixture on the scalp, massage the hair gently and incubate the hair for half an hour
• Wash your scalp with a mild shampoo.

3. Prevent dandruff from coming back with coconut oil and camphor oil

The combination of camphor oil and coconut oil is an effective solution to eliminate and prevent dandruff problems from returning.

Ingredient:

• 1 teaspoon camphor
• ½ cup virgin organic coconut oil.

Doing:

• Mix camphor oil and coconut oil well
• Wet hair and take a small amount on fingertips and spread over entire scalp
• Let this mixture fully absorb into the scalp for 10-20 minutes
• Repeat this process 1-2 times a week until the dandruff symptoms disappear
• For long-term storage, keep this mixture in an airtight container because camphor can cause coconut oil to decompose quickly.

>>> You may be interested: 11 uses of coconut oil that you didn’t expect

4. Treat dandruff with coconut oil and lemon juice

Normally, the scalp has a pH of 5.5, while the hair has an acidic pH of 3.46 and needs to be maintained to nourish healthy hair and scalp. In particular, some shampoos and conditioners contain ingredients that can raise the pH, which can cause scalp infections and make dandruff worse.

The citric acid in lemon helps maintain the pH of the hair and provides antioxidant properties that help protect the scalp from infections. When applying dandruff treatment with lemon juice and coconut oil, scalp health is quickly improved and dandruff is cleared.

Ingredient:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons virgin organic coconut oil.

Doing:

• Mix lemon juice and coconut oil together and cook on low heat
• Apply this mixture on the scalp for 5-10 minutes
• Keep the anti-dandruff mixture on for 20-30 minutes
• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and use warm water to clean up any remaining residue
• Repeat 1-2 times a week to feel the anti-dandruff effect improving.

5. Treat dandruff with coconut oil and fenugreek powder

If you are still having problems with dandruff, then the “combination” of coconut oil and fenugreek powder can overcome these problems, giving you dandruff-free hair.

Ingredient:

• 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds (crushed)
• 4 tablespoons virgin organic coconut oil (liquid).

Doing:

• Mix fenugreek powder and heated coconut oil, then let it cool
• Wet your hair and gently massage this mixture onto your scalp
• Keep this mixture on the scalp for 15-20 minutes (can be combined with a shower cap if necessary).
• Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and dry your hair gently
• Repeat 2-3 times a week until dandruff symptoms improve.

6. How to treat dandruff with coconut oil, honey, olive oil and yogurt

Honey and yogurt have moisturizing and antibacterial effects on the scalp, while olive oil softens and prevents frizz. The combination of all these ingredients together helps to maintain healthy hair and prevent the attack of bacteria that cause dandruff.

Ingredient:

• 2 tablespoons virgin organic coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons organic honey
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened yogurt.

Doing:

• Mix all the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until they have a uniform texture
• Apply these ingredients evenly to the hair and use the fingertips to gently massage for 5-10 minutes. This will help exfoliate the scalp and stimulate blood flow, which in turn helps open pores and accelerates scalp penetration.
• Cover your scalp with a shower cap for 10-20 minutes
• Wash off with mild shampoo. You should wash it thoroughly with a mild shampoo because this mixture is difficult to remove completely from the hair and scalp, so you should rinse your hair several times with warm water.
• Repeat this process 2-3 times a week until the dandruff conditions are eliminated.

Side effects

Because coconut oil is a natural ingredient, it is relatively safe for the scalp and hair. However, in some cases, coconut oil can still cause some unwanted effects.

If you have a sensitive scalp or suffer from eczema, then the effects of coconut oil can be too strong for your skin and cause a rash. Before applying coconut oil to your scalp, check your skin’s sensitivity to avoid irritation. By applying coconut oil to a small area of skin on your arm and waiting to see how it reacts, you will decide whether to apply coconut oil to treat dandruff or not. If you experience itchy skin, rashes or red rashes, then there is a high chance that coconut oil dandruff treatment will not be right for you.

However, these side effects only arise after the next few hours, so you should wait at least 1 day to observe any side effects on your skin. If the cause of dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis, then treating dandruff with coconut oil can worsen dandruff and stimulate the scalp to produce more excess oil.

So in any case where there are abnormalities when applying coconut oil to the scalp (spreading rash, difficulty breathing, etc.), these could be signs of an allergic reaction and should be treated urgently.

>>> You may be interested: Having dandruff after dyeing your hair: Causes and home remedies

Some remedies to treat dandruff with coconut oil instead

Coconut oil can help you prevent dandruff naturally. Besides, there are also some other herbs that help treat dandruff such as using tea tree oil and omega-3 supplements. If coconut oil or other natural anti-dandruff ingredients don’t work after 1 use, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) anti-dandruff shampoo. Contains ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide or ketoconazole or medicated shampoos to get rid of stubborn dandruff.