Getting rid of dandruff and dry hair

Dry hair and dandruff are common problems that can be easily treated at home by maintaining a nutritious diet and caring for your hair with some natural treatments. Dry hair can be a nuisance especially when accompanied with a dandruff problem. Dandruff occurs on account of a variety of factors, namely, meager nutrition, some kinds of yeast infections, excessive use of alkaline hair products and sometimes, a zinc deficiency.

A hot oil massage is the most effective treatment for dandruff. Massage your scalp with hot oil every night. Before washing off the oil in the morning, rub a few drops of lemon juice and vinegar on your scalp.

After washing your hair, rinse it with a cup of hot water mixed with the juice of one whole lemon. This should be continued for at least three months, twice a week. You can also try massaging your scalp with a mix of almond oil and olive oil to get rid of dandruff. Another effective remedy for dandruff is yogurt mixed with lemon juice. For this mixture, make sure you use yogurt that has fermented over three days. Apply equal quantities of both to your hair every night, wrap with a towel and then wash off in the morning.

Harsh hair products or even shampooing your hair too often may result in dry hair as your hair is stripped of all its natural oils. You need to protect your hair from sun exposure to prevent hair from becoming dry. Make sure you wear a cap if you swim to prevent exposure to chlorine, another significant contributor to dry hair. A hot oil massage is very effective in the treatment of dry hair as well. Keep your hair covered after massaging it with hot oil to help make hair soft and shiny.

Massaging your scalp also stimulates the oil glands responsible for providing nourishment to your hair. Don’t brush your hair too vigorously and only use brushes that are ‘boar-bristle’ or ‘vent’. Such brushes have rubberized tips that are gentle on the hair. Too much exposure to heat aggravates dry hair so ensure that your blow dryer is always set to a medium heat setting.
Increasing your intake of protein is the best method of accelerating hair growth. This is essential for the growth and health of your hair and the production of keratin, the most essential protein component of hair. Granulated lecithin, wheat germ and brewer’s yeast are an excellent source of protein for the hair. Foods like yogurt, beans, soy, eggs and fish are also rich in their protein content.