Dry Scalp Natural Remedy – Gurl Gone Green

Dry scalp is unsightly and irritating but can also be a check engine light that something in your body is out of balance. The last thing you want to do is compound the problem with a treatment that makes the condition worse. Thankfully, dry scalp has many home remedies that make treating this condition a whole lot easier. Today, I’m sharing a round up of my favorite natural remedies for dry scalp so you can get back to doing the things you love, which I’m assuming is not treating your dry scalp!

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Dry Scalp Natural Remedy

While dry scalp can be annoying, it’s usually an easy fix. The first step is identifying the cause of dry scalp and then using the appropriate remedy. I created a list of natural remedies I have found helpful in solving my own dry scalp issues.

What Is Dry Scalp

Little white flakes, itching, a feeling of tightness or irritation, are signs of dry scalp. Dry scalp can develop when the protective barrier of skin on the scalp gets damaged. Under normal conditions, this layer of skin is full of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. If dry scalp weren’t so common, there wouldn’t be whole product lines dedicated to treating this condition!

What Causes Dry Scalp

Some of the causes of dry scalp include:

Weather conditions 

Dry air pulls water out of the scalp. 

Cold air constricts blood vessels which can reduce the delivery of nutrients to the scalp.

Excessive sun exposure can damage skin cells in the scalp’s outer layer and break down collagen, elastin, and lipids.

Hair care habits

The following hair care habits can strip away natural oils and disrupt the scalp’s protective skin barrier.

• Harsh moisture stripping shampoos 
• Washing hair too frequently 
• Using super hot water to wash hair
• Using hair products that contain alcohol, sulfates or other harsh chemicals
• Chemical relaxers

Scalp conditions

Psoriasis speeds up skin cell turnover, this can lead to a buildup of cells and a disrupted moisture barrier. 

Eczema (specifically atopic dermatitis) disrupts the skin’s protective barrier and increases inflammation. Addressing eczema requires ceramides, omega fatty acids, along with anti-inflammatory support.

Lifestyle factors

Dehydration can lead to a dry scalp because it affects your body’s ability to maintain supple skin including the skin on the scalp. It also affects the barrier function making it easier for water to evaporate.

Nutrient deficiencies (especially essential fatty acids, vitamin D, zinc) can cause dry scalp. Essential fatty acids keep the scalp barrier supple, Vitamin D ensures healthy skin cell turnover and immune balance, Zinc regulates oil production and repair.

Hormonal changes affect oil production, skin cell turnover, and inflammation. A decline in estrogen can reduce oil and increase sensitivity. Hypothyroidism can also cause dry scalp. Elevated cortisol levels can weaken the skin’s barrier. A sudden drop of hormones after pregnancy can increase a dry scalp and even shedding.

Fungal or microbial imbalance

Malassezia yeast is naturally present in our skin microbiome but when there is an imbalance of it, it can irritate the scalp, disrupt the scalp’s oil balance, skin barrier, and cell turnover. It is directly linked to a condition called Seborrheic dermatitis which can cause inflammation and intense itching and these side effects can even contribute to hair loss.

An imbalance in the scalp’s microbiome from frequent use of harsh hair products can contribute to dry scalp. 

Related Content: Best Natural Shampoo And Conditioner

What Are Natural Remedies For Dry Scalp

Oils

There are many different types of oils that can relieve a dry, itchy scalp.

Oils seep into the scalp and help alleviate dryness and hydrate. They can also protect the scalp from further dryness and soothe the scalp.  

Oil Recommendations:

• Jojoba oil – this closely resembles our skin’s natural sebum and can moisturize the scalp. It’s not as greasy as other oils.  
• Olive oil – this is a richer oil and filled with antioxidants, ideal for more intense dry scalps.
• Avocado oil- this is another oil that is rich in fatty acids and can soak deep into the scalp.  
• Tea Tree oil – this essential oil has been shown to be an effective remedy for scalp conditions such as psoriasis and Seborrheic dermatitis. Just be sure to use a diluted version of tea tree oil and not pure tea tree oil.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a great way to help balance the pH of the scalp and restore scalp health. It can gently detox the scalp and remove buildup, giving your scalp a fresh slate.  

Apple Cider Recommendations:

• Mix 2 TBSP of ACV with 1 cup of water and then pour over the scalp and rub the scalp.  Let it sit on the scalp for 15 minutes. Then shampoo and condition as normal.
• If you’re not too keen on using the ACV rinse, you could use one of my favorite Detox Hair Masks instead.  This mask helps to soothe the scalp, as well as purify it with Charcoal, Kaolin Clay and Certified Organic White Vinegar. But it does it without stripping the scalp.  

Related Content: Best Hair Mask

Scalp Brush

They have different kinds of scalp brushes that can help alleviate flakes, as well as stimulate the scalp to produce its own oils to counteract dryness. 

Scalp Brush Recommendations:

• You can use a scalp brush like this one that has larger silicone bristles or get one like this that has smaller silicone bristles.  Some people prefer the larger bristles, others, the smaller bristles. 
• The brush helps to remove flakes or dandruff and bring fresh blood flow to the scalp.

Diet

Often dry scalp can be a result of imbalances in the diet, such as low omega-3 intake or missing zinc or other key nutrients. Our body often shows signs of imbalances through outward expressions such as a dry scalp.

Diet Recommendations:

• Eating a whole foods based diet that includes healthy Omega-3’s such as salmon, sardines, olive oil, pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed beef, hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds.
• Drinking plenty of water to make sure the body is hydrated. 

Aloe Vera Gel

This has been shown to calm the irritation that often can accompany dry scalp and help soothe it.  It also can also hydrate dry scalp.

Aloe Vera Recommendations:

• Apply aloe vera gel on dry scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing.  This gives it time to soak in.  You can even massage it into your into your scalp to help stimulate blood flow and absorption.  

Avoid Hot Showers

When your scalp is dry, you want to avoid hot showers as that can exacerbate the problem more and cause more dryness to the scalp.  

Avoid Hot Shower Recommendations:

• Instead, try washing your hair with slightly warm water and wash your hair less overall.  The more you shampoo your hair, the more chance you have of disturbing the scalp.

Hair Products

There are many natural hair products out now that work great at nourishing the scalp and restoring the pH to a healthy place again.  From oils, to hair masks, to scalp treatments.  

Hair Product Recommendations:

• Innersense Organic Beauty Detox Mask– I mentioned this above, but this is a great mask to help purify the scalp and remove buildup. I like doing this once a week to keep my scalp in check and my hair free from excess products.
• Innersense Organic Beauty Hair Renew Scalp Oil- This is a lightweight oil that helps to promote healthy scalp.  It’s filled with essential nutrients to encourage healthy hair growth too. 
• Innersense Organic Beauty True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub– This is another product that works great at helping to clarify the scalp and stimulates it as well. It has a peppermint scent that feels so soothing and refreshing on the scalp. It has Hawaiian Red Salt, a mineral rich exfoliant to gently buff away dead skin, buildup and impurities. The scalp feels so revitalized after using this.
• Innersense Organic Beauty Harmonic Treatment Oil- This oil is going to nourish and hydrate. It’s filled with jojoba seed oil, evening primrose and certified organic tamanu oil, giving it a silky texture that readily absorbs into the skin to replenish moisture, soothe dryness, and deliver essential vitamins.

Did I miss your favorite remedy for a dry scalp? Share below!

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