What Are The Best Essential Oils For Dandruff?

April 12, 2018

Jelly Bell

What Are The Best Essential Oils For Dandruff?

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Introduction

Everybody loves having silky hair with no dandruff. Unfortunately, some of us catch dandruff and this will largely diminish the beauty of our hair. Having dandruff affects our looks, hence our confidence.

Most people will come to anti-dandruff shampoo because it’s an easy way, but did you know people with sensitive skin using some particular dandruff shampoos might have certain side effects like dry skin or discolored hair? In this article, we introduce to you some basic knowledge about dandruff, what causes it, and our top 9 effective essential oils for dandruff that you will fall in love with!

What Is Dandruff?

If you have dandruff, you are not alone. It’s actually a very common skin condition, especially for men. In case you are looking for the right dandruff shampoo, check out our article BEST DANDRUFF SHAMPOO FOR MEN!

Dandruff is dead skin on your scalp, looking like little white flakes falling through your hair onto your shoulder. Most people with dandruff possibly find their scalp itchy. Dandruff can happen to anyone, and it does not mean you are practicing poor hygiene.

Dandruff is dead skin on your scalp, looking like little white flakes
Dandruff is dead skin on your scalp, looking like little white flakes

Having dandruff is surely embarrassing to anyone who has it, but luckily it’s not serious or contagious, and there are various ways to treat it, including regular anti-dandruff shampoos, medicated shampoos and home-based remedies that are easy and efficient, including essential oils for dandruff.

What Produces Dandruff?

Wondering what causes dandruff? We have the answer: The precise root of the problem hasn’t been discovered yet. Read more in our article WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH DANDRUFF!

Let’s look at the possibilities of how dandruff appears on our head!

Seborrheic Dermatitis

You might have heard of this. You might not have. But this is one of the main cause of dandruff. When you have seborrheic dermatitis, your scalp is red, itchy and producing dandruff. It might not happen in your case, but many people with this condition have dandruff flakes on their eyebrows, behind their ears, and at the sides of their nose as well.

Seborrheic can develop to a more serious problem where the affected areas are inflamed and swollen. It can cause discomfort and pain to the patient [1].

Malassezia Fungus

This is a type of fungus on your skin that feeds on fat. Naturally, we produce sebum under the surface of our skin, so they can develop on the scalp. What they can do is to make the speed of skin cell growth go faster, and dandruff is a production of this process.

Malassezia is most likely to be at its peak of development in summer when the weather is hot and we tend to sweat a lot, which creates humidity on the scalp.

Not Shampooing Enough

Who knows not washing frequently enough can lead to dandruff? But it’s the truth. When you don’t wash your hair after a certain amount of time, natural oil and dead skin cells will start accumulating, resulting in dandruff. For the same reason, you should brush your hair often so that the dead skin cells do not build up and flake down on your shoulders.

On the other hand, IS IT GOOD TO WASH YOUR HAIR EVERYDAY? Check out our article!

Hair Products

The shampoo or hair products you are using might be the culprit in the appearance of dandruff on your scalp. There is a chance that your skin is having allergic reactions to the components in certain hair products on your shelves.

You should switch to other products to find out what the real problem is.

Certain Medical Conditions

People with particular skin condition like eczema or psoriasis are more dandruff-prone. Eczema is a condition where your skin is dry, red, and itchy, while psoriasis makes your skin red, flaky with skin patches covered with silvery scales.

Other than that, Parkinson’s disease is a medical condition where the patient suffers from neurobehavioral problems. It can make their immune system weaker and they are more likely to have dandruff.

Stress

Stress is actually a risk factor for dandruff. Dandruff is not caused by stress, but they are related. When you are stressed, your immune system is weakened and fungi develop, leading to the exacerbation of dandruff.

Being stress has all kinds of negative effects on you, but surprisingly, it also makes you more susceptible to dandruff.

Do Essential Oils for Dandruff Work?

The answer is: Essential oils for dandruff do work! They can help you because they have amazing properties like antifungal, antibacterial, and calming the nerves, which will be so effective in helping you out with dandruff.

Essential oils for dandruff do work
Essential oils for dandruff do work

Besides essential oils for dandruff, there are ways you can make dandruff go away without shampooing. Read more in our article HOW TO GET RID OF DANDRUFF WITHOUT WASHING HAIR.

When you use essential oils for dandruff, you will soon no longer have to suffer from it anymore. They are easy to use, versatile and you have many options to choose from. They can soothe your discomfort and make you more beautiful and healthy. How do they do that? Let’s read on!

List of Essential Oils for Dandruff

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree oil made its way to the number one on this list because it has a long history of helping people treat many skin conditions. Tea tree oil is an ingredient in many hair products for dandruff for its antifungal quality. Only 5% of tea tree oil is needed for a shampoo to reduce scalp lesions like dandruff [2].

It’s also a very potent natural antibacterial, which means killing the bacteria and fungi that are causing dandruff on your scalp. Tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory as well and it will prevent inflammation that makes your skin irritated and itchy.

How to use it:

  • Mix half a teaspoon of tea tree oil with 4 tablespoons of a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil
  • Apply to your scalp
  • Massage for 3 minutes
  • Leave on overnight
  • Wash your hair with gentle shampoo and warm water

You should use this method twice a week.

Lemongrass Essential Oil

Similar to tea tree oil, lemongrass oil is antifungal so it’s a superstar in treating dandruff. A study conducted of people from 20 – 60 years old who have dandruff has shown that lemongrass essential oil helped them greatly in getting rid of dandruff within a week [3].

You can add lemongrass oil to your drinking water to consume internally. It balances the pH of your scalp and controls the amount of sebum.

How to use it:

  • Mix a couple of lemongrass oil with 4 – 6 ounces of water
  • Stir well
  • Drink as a tonic

You can do this every day until your situation is better.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary is a popular herb that’s most likely to be in your kitchen right now, but did you know its essential oil is magical in treating dandruff? It has powerful antifungal and antimicrobial properties which do wonders in wiping out the fungus. Rosemary essential oil can also deeply influence your scalp and promote blood circulation so that you will feel less irritated!

How to use it:

  • Shampoo your hair as usual
  • Add 5 – 7 drops of rosemary essential oil to lukewarm water and use it to rinse your hair and scalp

You can use this home remedy every day or every other day.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is a popular oil and mostly known for its sedative effect. Simply inhaling the aroma of lavender essential oil can soothe your nerves and calm you down.

Not everyone knows the benefits lavender essential oil can bring to your skin. It is amongst the best essential oils for dandruff because it exhibits the antifungal property that will eliminate the fungus creating dandruff. This essential oil also calms your irritated scalp and it has a regenerative quality to make your skin healthy and fungus-free. It can inhibit the growth of Malassezia fungus.

Even though it is a mild oil, you still need to mix it with a carrier oil before applying on your skin.

How to use it:

  • Add 5 – 7 drops of lavender oil into your carrier oil
  • Apply to your scalp
  • Leave on overnight. It will relieve your irritation and make you sleep better
  • Wash your hair with warm water and shampoo

Thyme Essential Oil

Thyme is commonly known as an indispensable ingredient in many dishes. Its extract acts as a natural remedy for various disorders and it can certainly help with dandruff.

Amongst many essential oils for dandruff, thyme oil is also used in many anti-dandruff shampoos. It has been reported that thyme essential oil is fungicidal, so it can fight the Malassezia fungus and prevent it from developing and causing dandruff in scalp. Thyme oil can also protect your skin from getting infected!

How to use it:

  • Mix 5 drops of thyme essential oil to 1 – 2 tablespoons of carrier oil of your choice
  • Apply the mixture to your scalp after washing your hair
  • Massage for 5 minutes
  • Rinse well

Follow this remedy three times a week for best results.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint oil is extracted from fresh, minty peppermint leaves. It gives you a cooling and refreshing feeling after using. Peppermint essential oil contains menthol, zinc, and selenium, which are the components that help you fight dandruff. This is why it is one of the most effective essential oils for dandruff.

Besides, peppermint oil can relieve your irritation by preventing inflammation and promoting blood circulation.

How to use it:

  • Stir several drops of peppermint oil in 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Massage the scalp with this mixture
  • Leave on for at least 2 hours
  • Rinse well with warm water

Follow this technique every other day to quickly get rid of dandruff.

Patchouli Essential Oil

This essential oil is derived from the leaves of patchouli plants. It has a natural earthy and musky scent that you will love! Patchouli essential oil does not only give you a youthful and healthy skin when applied topically, but it is also fantastic in dealing with dandruff, that is the reason it is on our list of the most incredible essential oils for dandruff!

Thanks to its antifungal and antimicrobial nature, it destroys bacteria and yeast that make the dead skin cells accumulate on your scalp.

How to use it:

  • Dilute 3 drops of patchouli essential oil with 2 tablespoons of any carrier oil of your preference
  • Massage the mixture into your scalp for 5 – 10 minutes
  • Leave on for 10 minutes
  • Wash with mild shampoo

You should do this method twice to three times a week.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano essential oil has to be one of the most potent essential oils for dandruff! Its health benefits are amazing: it’s antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant. You can use it to prevent infections on your skin. People actually used oregano oil to preserve food from bacterial harm [4].

It’s because of the amazing qualities mentioned above, you should consider using oregano oil as a safe and valid way to get rid of dandruff. You can make a tonic with oregano oil.

How to use it:

  • Combine 1 – 2 drops of oregano oil with 4 – 6 ounces of water
  • Stir well
  • Drink throughout the day as a tonic

Follow this remedy every day for best results.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Just like other essential oils for dandruff, eucalyptus is an aromatic oil that includes antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory features which is just perfect for people who wants to treat dandruff.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus Essential Oil

It is because of these properties, you can see eucalyptus in a lot of hair and skin products.

How to use it:

  • Mix 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
  • Massage on your scalp for 5 minutes
  • Leave on for 30 minutes
  • Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo

Apply this technique twice to three times a week.

Alternatively, you can add a few drops of this oil to your regular shampoo and wash your hair as you normally do.

Tips and Recommendations for Essential Oils for Dandruff to Work

  • Shampoo regularly: You should wash your hair 3 – 4 times a week. For people with oily hair and scalp, you should wash it every day to make sure dead skin cells does not build up, leading to dandruff.
  • Always dilute your essential oils for dandruff before using. Essential oils are generally concentrated and volatile, so they might cause irritation. Using essential oils with a carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil, can help you a great deal!
  • If you are pregnant or nursing, consult with your doctor or medical practitioner before deciding to apply any essential oils to treat dandruff.
  • Have a healthy diet. You are what you eat! Drink lots of water and take in healthy foods daily. You should also say no to sugary and processed foods until you have treated dandruff.

Dandruff is preventable! How do you do that? Find out at HOW TO PREVENT DANDRUFF!

Conclusion

Treating dandruff is no longer a problem to you now, is it? There are dandruff shampoos, medications, and last but not least, essential oils which are safe and easy to use! If your case of dandruff is persistent after a month applying essential oils, you should see your doctor for stronger medications.

So there you have it! We have summed up everything you should know about essential oils for dandruff. Did we miss anything? Comment down below your opinion! If you find this piece of information useful, don’t forget to hit LIKE and SHARE!

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