Tired of chemical solutions for itchy, flaky dandruff? Scalp health doesn’t have to come from a bottle. Free yourself from the tyranny of blue dandruff shampoos with these easy herbal alternatives:
Fenugreek is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine. But the seeds have also been used as an effective hair-health treatment throughout the subcontinent for thousands of years.
Crushed Fenugreek Scalp Treatment
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds
- 2 cups water
Directions:
Crush fenugreek seeds with a mortar and pestle and soak them in water overnight. The next day, apply the mixture to the scalp and massage well. Leave in for 10-15 minutes. Finish by washing hair with soap-nut (available at most natural food stores) or a mild shampoo. For maximum benefit, use this treatment twice a week.
Fenugreek and Yogurt Scalp Treatment
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds
- 1 cup plain yogurt
Directions:
Soak fenugreek seeds in yogurt overnight. The next day, apply the mixture to the scalp and leave in for 30 minutes. Finish by washing hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
Wash hair with witch hazel and lime juice to fight dandruff, naturally.
Witch hazel is a natural astringent with a wide variety of topical uses, from treating dandruff to bruises and insect bites.
Witch Hazel Wash
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup witch hazel
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 cup water
Directions:
Combine witch hazel, lime juice and water. Wash hair with mixture. Rinse well. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
Witch Hazel Finishing Rinse
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon dried witch hazel
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon dried nettle
- 2 cups water
Directions:
Add witch hazel, rosemary and nettle to boiling water. Steep the mixture overnight. Strain. Wash hair with mild shampoo, finish by working mixture through hair, rinsing clean. Apply twice a week.
Aloe vera is a succulent plant that’s a versatile staple of herbal pharmacopeias. It earliest reported medical use was in Egypt in the 16thcentury BC. It has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from burns to cancer.
Aloe Vera Hair Mask
Ingredients:
Aloe vera gel
Directions:
Apply aloe vera gel to scalp and massage well. Leave in for 10-15 minutes. Rinse, then wash hair with a mild shampoo.
Rosemary and sage are common but powerful medicinal herbs. The former is a member of the mint family, rich in antioxidants. The latter’s Latin name, salvia, means “to heal.”
Rosemary Wash
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce dried rosemary
- 1 ounce dried sage
- 2 cups water
Directions:
Stir sage and rosemary into boiled water. Allow to steep for 2-4 hours. Strain. Wash hair with the solution. Rinse well. Repeat every 2-3 days.
Rosemary Finishing Rinse
Ingredients:
- 1 handful rosemary leaves (dried or fresh)
- 1 quart water
- 1/2 cup vinegar
Directions:
Boil rosemary leaves in water. Steep overnight. The next day, strain and add vinegar. Wash hair with a mild shampoo. Finish by working rosemary mixture into hair. Rinse well.
Thyme was thought by the ancient Greeks—who used it in their baths and burned it as incense—to be a source of courage. Thymol, an antiseptic derived from thyme, is a powerful antiseptic that is the active ingredient in Listerine.
Thyme Hair Mask
Ingredients:
- 5 dried thyme leaves
- 2 cups water
Directions:
Boil thyme leaves in water for 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Massage scalp with the mixture and leave it in hair for 30 minutes. Rinse well. (Do not shampoo.) Repeat every 2-3 days.
Parsley, though primarily used as a fragrant finish in the kitchen, also has medicinal properties. It makes a mild but effective dandruff treatment, and can also be used to lighten freckles.
Parsley Hair Mask
Ingredients:
- 1/2; cup chopped fresh parley
- 2 cups boiling water
Directions:
Pour boiling water over parsley. Let stand for 30 minutes. Strain. Apply to scalp. Leave in for 15 minutes. Finish by washing hair with a mild shampoo. For maximum benefit, use this treatment twice a week.
Chamomile, sage and burdock are potent botanicals, prized for their medicinal properties. The US Library of Medicine maintains a database that includes over 100 ailments for which chamomile is recommended. The Romans used sage to treat all types of skin conditions. And burdock is a popular in Europe as both a dandruff cure, and to help prevent hair loss.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried burdock root
- 1 cup dried chamomile
- 1/2 cup sage
- 8 cups distilled vinegar
Directions:
Add burdock, chamomile and sage to vinegar. Place mixture in jar and allow to steep for two weeks. Work mixture into hair and allow to dry. The following day, wash hair with water only. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
