According to staff at the Mayo Clinic, dandruff isn’t always a cosmetic problem. Many times a medical cause is at the root. Yeast, bacteria or fungus are often responsible for those symptoms of itching and flaking on your scalp. The American Academy of Dermatology agrees that flaking doesn’t necessarily mean your scalp is dry. If you have a mild case of dandruff and are looking for a home remedy to try in place of using a medicated shampoo, apple cider vinegar may help kill bacteria, which clog pores in your scalp.
50/50 Method
Mix together ¼ cup apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup of water. Pour the mixture into a spritz bottle and spray onto your hair and scalp. Wrap a towel around your head. Leave in place for 15 minutes and then wash your hair as you normally would. Since hair is mildly acidic, vinegar helps restore pH to maintain a healthy acid/alkaline balance in your scalp and hair. Repeat this regimen twice each week until you begin to see some improvement. Follow your usual hair-washing routine when shampooing in between. Keep in mind that using a dandruff shampoo while you are treating your hair with vinegar may be counterproductive.
1/3 — 2/3 Method
Mix two parts apple cider vinegar or white distilled vinegar with one part warm water. Add in a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oils. These herbs add fragrance and help to condition and highlight the color of your hair. Do a skin test first on the inside of your elbow or wrist to make sure you aren’t allergic to these herbs. Check to see if there is any redness or other skin irritation present. Also avoid the use essential oils if you are pregnant, as the effects on a developing fetus are unknown.
25/75 Method
If dandruff is not too severe, mix together one part vinegar and three parts water. Rub the solution into your scalp and hair. You can rinse it out after 10 minutes, or apply the vinegar and water solution before bedtime and wait until morning to wash it out of your hair. The smell of vinegar will evaporate as your hair dries. For a milder case of dandruff, you may choose to dilute the vinegar more.
Undiluted Vinegar Method
Take two tablespoons of undiluted vinegar and apply it directly to your scalp. This is a more aggressive treatment, although most people prefer to dilute the vinegar. Leave the vinegar in your hair from 15 minutes to three hours before shampooing. Do this for a couple weeks as you watch for improvements. Use vinegar remedies only once or twice each week, not every time you wash your hair. Depending on your hair structure and chemistry, vinegar may be drying if you use it too often.
