Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Like plants need sunlight and water, your scalp needs moisture and hydration to blossom its beautiful strands. But as the weather cools and we cozy up in knit sweaters and sip hot cocoa, the air dries up, and along with it comes dry scalp.
Suddenly, it seems like the most wonderful time of year commences with white flakes sprinkling all around — and I’m not talking about snow. You know the feeling: you suddenly notice yourself itching your scalp more, and the flakes come pouring down. What gives?
These are token signs of dry scalp, but you might not immediately realize what’s going on or how to treat a dry scalp.
Symptoms like itchiness, soreness, dandruff, and shedding can put a damper on the holiday season. As uncomfortable as an itchy scalp is, there are trusty remedies to provide adequate relief.
If you’d rather spend your winter break cozying up by the fire instead of battling an itch-frenzy, keep reading for dry scalp remedies that work!
What to Do for a Dry Scalp
If you’re familiar with dry scalp, you’re so over the constant itching and scratching, ponytail soreness, flaking, and painful brushing.
As hindering as it can be, dry scalp is a common issue affecting many people, particularly when the temps start to drop. It’s important to know that while dry scalp and dandruff share similar symptoms, they are separate issues.
The leading cause of dry scalp is dryness, which we’ll elaborate further on in this article.
Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) is the growth of skin flora produced by yeast, resulting in a flaky, sticky, oily, and irritated scalp.
We’re focusing on dry scalp treatments, which ultimately hinge on hydration, hydration, hydration. The solution requires a dash of adjusting your daily routine and a heavy pour of moisturizer.
Like skin, the scalp needs natural oils to stay hydrated and lubricated. Certain products, washing routines, and weather conditions can strip natural oils from your scalp. When that happens, down comes the dry scalp snowstorm.
The worst thing you can do is nothing because, without treatment, small symptoms can mutate into chronic discomfort.
If the flaking happens alongside scalp tenderness and itching, you’re most likely dealing with a dry scalp.
WHAT CAUSES A DRY SCALP?
Dry scalp causes vary, but ultimately, the leading cause is lack of hydration.
Do you know how your skin gets drier in the later months of the year? When the seasons change and dry air fills the chilly autumn and winter months, our skin dries, cracks, and even bleeds. For many, the scalp does, too.
That’s because the scalp is part of the body’s largest organ: the skin.
The scalp has five layers of soft tissue. The outer layer is skin like the rest of the body, and it contains blood vessels that pump to the hair follicles in the skin’s dermal layer.
When the air becomes drier, water within the skin evaporates, resulting in uncomfortable dryness.
But dry air isn’t the only culprit here: introducing a new product can soak up the scalp’s natural oils and cause dryness.
Whether dry air or a new product is causing a dry scalp, let’s explore some treatment options you can grab for fast relief.
TIPS TO GET RID OF A DRY SCALP
The best way to treat a dry scalp is to bring moisture to the follicles and roots. Fortunately, many of these dry scalp remedies are likely already in your kitchen cupboards. The goal is to replenish the scalp with nourishment and natural oils.
You’ll also want to avoid heat styling tools like blow dryers and curling irons until your scalp’s moisture balance is restored.
Best products for dry scalp:
- Coconut Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Aloe Vera
- Avocado Oil
- INTACT Anti Hair Shedding Treatment
Let's see what each of these remedies for a dry scalp can do to help!
1. Coconut Oil
As one of the most diverse natural lubricants, coconut oil is a trusted dry scalp treatment thanks to its moisturizing properties. This fatty oil is a natural antibacterial and defense against infection, and people have grabbed coconut oil to soothe dry skin for years. Not surprisingly, science supports its position as a natural moisturizer.
One study found coconut oil to treat eczema in children better than mineral oil. Another study discovered it acts as a double agent, offering both moisture and antifungal properties.
According to researchers, coconut oil penetrates through the follicles to get to the cuticles to offer soothing hydration.
So, we know coconut oil for dry scalp works wonders, but how do you use it?
The most direct relief will come from a hot coconut oil scalp massage. Melt the coconut oil and apply it to your scalp, then massage it and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. After, wash and condition your hair for the silkiest strands ever — and a happy scalp.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Like coconut oil, tea tree oil’s natural antifungal, antibiotic, and antiseptic properties offer effective dry scalp relief. Additionally, this tingly oil nourishes hair roots and unclogs follicles, which stimulates hair growth!
Tea tree oil is typically the primary ingredient in dandruff hair products.
One study found a 41% improvement in dandruff-affected areas after administering a 5% tea tree oil shampoo daily for four weeks.
But you can easily benefit without having to buy devoted dandruff products.
Simply add up to ten drops of pure tea tree essential oil to your go-to shampoo. Massage the treatment into your scalp while washing your hair and let it work its magic for ten minutes. Then rinse and condition as usual.
Need an intensive dry scalp treatment? Blend coconut oil and tea tree oil together for immediate scalp hydration.
3. Aloe Vera
Have you ever baked too long under the sun without sunscreen? We’ve all been there, and you undoubtedly found relief in the soothing coolness of aloe vera gel. Fact is, aloe vera has provided healing to people for millennia, with the earliest records pointing to 2100 BCE.
Today, many cultures still consider aloe vera to be the best remedy for dry scalp.
One study followed 27 Palestinian families who frequently use plant oils and fruits to treat scalp and hair health issues. Researchers observed their use of aloe vera to treat dry scalp and wrinkles.
What can we glean from this natural healing method? That aloe vera is a time-honored home remedy for dry scalp. What’s more, the plant contains anti-inflammatory healing properties that soothe irritation while moisturizing dry skin.
Topical application is the best way to benefit from aloe vera and assuage dry scalp discomfort. You can either buy aloe vera hair products or gently massage pure aloe vera gel onto the scalp for ten minutes. Whichever method you try, your scalp is going to bask in lush moisture.
4. Avocado Oil
Avocados aren’t just for spreading on toast; they’re delicious, fatty snacks chock-full of natural moisture. But did you know that the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in avocados are rockstar moisturizers?
The health benefits of avocados are widely recognized, thanks to their bountiful blend of antioxidants, healthy fats, and vitamins. Squeeze that goodness into an oil, and what do you get? A natural moisturizing elixir that offers soothing aid to a dry scalp.
Here are three ways to use avocado oil to treat a dry scalp:
- Blend fresh avocados and apply them topically to your scalp. We recommend mixing the blended avocados with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil for easier distribution.
- Buy pure avocado oil and add it to your shampoo, or massage the oil onto your scalp and let it soak for 10-20 minutes.
- Mash avocados into a thick hair mask and apply to your scalp for intensive lubrication. Mix them with an egg yolk or honey for an added moisture boost.
After you’ve massaged the oil onto your scalp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, rinse your hair thoroughly. The result? An ultra moisturized healthy scalp and shiny, silky smooth hair.
5. INTACT Anti Hair Shedding Treatment
Daily routines play a significant role in scalp health, and susceptibility depends on your lifestyle. For example, living in drier climates like the Pacific Northwest can accelerate dryness. Additionally, beauty routines like tanning, blow-drying, curling, and straightening can absorb the scalp’s natural oils, leaving it dehydrated and craving moisture – as well as creating stress on the hair follicle leading to hair loss.
While a shift in your beauty routine can help, it’s also impractical to give up styling if you’ve got zoom meetings every day. One of the best products for dry scalp and to combat excessive shedding is INTACT Anti Hair Shedding Treatment.
How does it work?
INTACT is a dermatologist-developed shedding and dry scalp treatment that contains some of the natural lubricating, moisturizing emollients we covered above. Coconut fatty acids condition the scalp while hydrating the hair follicles. It’s unique and patented hair securing technology also helps minimize hair loss during routine washing, brushing and styling.
Before you wash your hair, massage this nourishing scalp treatment from your hair’s roots to ends. Thoroughly saturate the entire scalp and let the treatment sit for 30 minutes for a moisturizing bath. After, wash your hair and proceed with styling.
INTACT is an effective, fast-acting dry scalp treatment that reduces hair shedding, boosts volume, shine, and body, and infuses your scalp with the moisture it needs to produce gorgeous hair.
NOURISH DRY SCALP WITH INTACT!
Beautiful hair starts with a healthy, happy, hydrated scalp. During times of discomfort, it’s vital to know how to treat a dry scalp. Each of the home remedies above offers quick relief, and you’ll want to mix up your scalp massages with various natural oil treatments. For effective relief, keep INTACT within arm’s reach for instant moisture and silky smooth hair!