5 Home Remedies For Dandruff When You've Already Tried Everything Else

Dandruff may be the biggest bane of hair existence that you could ever encounter, and for some reason, this common scalp condition is persistent. It's like, no matter what you try, your scalp still won't give in. But guess what: You can try home remedies for dandruff and get into a new routine that targets these annoying flakes.

I know what you're thinking — you've tried everything. However, no matter how many times your dandruff-approved products have failed you, there are still better ways to treat this dreaded flakes of yours. Below are five home remedies that may help if you've literally tried everything else.

1. Pop Them Pills

Surprisingly, aspirin contains the same active ingredient (salicylic acid) as many medicated dandruff shampoos. To keep your flakes at bay, crush two aspirins into powder form and add it to your regular shampoo.

Let it sit in your hair for at most, five minutes, and then rinse. Then re-wash your hair with your shampoo once again (this time, sans aspirin). See how your scalp responds over the course of a week to determine if this should be your preferred regimen.

2. Tea Tree Oil Always Saves

Just 5 percent of tea tree oil in shampoo significantly minimizes the severity of dandruff, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. In the study, participants used a tea tree oil shampoo and applied it daily for four weeks. At the end of the four weeks, scalps showed a 41 percent improvement of scaliness, itchiness, and greasiness.

If I were you, I'd be rushing to add some tea tree droplets to my shampoo. After all, if you only need 5 percent, you can't go wrong.

3. Baking Soda

According to Livestrong, baking soda scrub works as an exfoliant that can remove dead skin from the scalp. Baking soda can also prevent or minimize excess oil, helping to reduce the chance of dandruff. And, its alkalinity can also help balance your scalp's pH levels.

4. Good Ol' Apple Cider Vinegar

Now I'm sure you knew this one was going to pop up. ACV literally solves everything. (Except for teeth whitening, I beg to differ on that one.) But as for those flaky flakes? Apple cider vinegar is an easy-go to.

This is because ACV's acidity is anti-fungal, which makes it more difficult for dandruff to build up on the scalp. Simply shampoo your hair like normal, mix ACV and water in a spray bottle, and spray all through your luscious locks. Try this for about a month and watch how your scalp responds.

5. But Mouthwash, Though?

Listen, if your dandruff is persistent, then desperate times calls for desperate measures, no?  Besides, it's not actually desperate if mouthwash, in fact, contains anti-fungal properties that fight dandruff.

Beauty vlogger Farah Dhukai swears by Listerine for dandruff control. All she does is shampoo and condition her hair like normal, then fills a spray bottle with half Listerine, half water, spraying it onto her scalp and letting it sit for a few minutes. Afterward, she rinses with water only and enjoys a squeaky clean scalp, dandruff free.

If I were you, I'd follow Dhukai's lead.