According to Earth Clinic readers, the best home remedy for dandruff and itchy scalp is apple cider vinegar! Our readers use organic and raw apple cider vinegar with “the mother”.
Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Purified Water
Dilute apple cider vinegar 1:1 with water. Use this mixture just like shampoo to clean your hair and scalp. By killing off the yeast that cause dandruff, this treatment should cure the itch instantly and help to get rid of dandruff within a few days of applications.
Continue reading below to discover how our readers applied diluted apple cider vinegar to their scalps for infection and itch and whether it helped or not.
Dealt with bothersome dander most of my life. Sometimes it would flare up worse than others. Using conditioner seemed to help in those cases. But recently things flared up bad. It was like Christmas all year around my shoulders. I was using an all natural shampoo and conditioner so it wasn't a chemically product that was the problem. But I stopped using them anyway and washed my hair with baking soda with ACV for conditioner. This helped for a few weeks but then it came back. So I got radical and washed my hair only in plain water. As a side note my hair does not smell nor look oily making me think shampoos and conditioners are superfluous. Anyway this has mostly worked keeping the dander at bay but not totally cured.
However things are slowly getting worse again and now I suspect much of the problem is the water itself. Our city among other things puts a toxic form of fluoride and chloramines in the water so my next venture will be to get a water filter for the shower. It makes me mad I have to go to such lengths as our government should provide clean non toxic water to us. But what can you do? So I'll just pony up for a filter and see what happens. I strongly suspect this will be the best remedy yet. I'll report back with the results as soon as I buy one and try it out.
ACV treatment for dandruff:
ACV mixed 50/50 with water, sprayed on to scalp, allow to sit for 5-10 minutes, wash off. Make sure you try going gluten, dairy and carb free for a couple weeks to make sure it isn't skin autoimmunity dermatitis. If you have rosacea or dry skin in places other than scalp, this could be a tell.
My Dr. swears by apple cider vinegar as a dandruff treatment, as the acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, making it harder for yeast to grow. Mix a quarter cup apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup water in a spray bottle and spritz on your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and let sit for 15 minutes to an hour, then wash your hair as usual. Do this twice a week.
Apple Cider Vinegar has worsened my condition…. I went from having a few thick flakes to having the full top of my head to flake consistently…. I'm going to try coconut oil next :/
Sounds like scalp psoriasis. My sister has it, it's an autoimmune disease that is manageable.
I have been diagnosed with all sorts of sensitive skin and dermatitis problems over the past 6 years. I cannot believe after only one use of the apple cider vinegar/ water mixture sprayed on my scalp for 20 minutes, my flaky scalp and the itchiness is almost gone. I even used regualr shampoo and conditioner for the first time in 6 years after using the vinegar treatment. I will absolutely keep using it. I have been suffering for so long emotionally and physically, I am so thankful for your suggestions and reader comments. I cannot believe after years of buying endless hair treatments and medications, a natural non toxic $0.99 bottle of apple cider vinegar worked!! Thank you, thank you!!
Mild case of dry scalp and dandruff.
Following the advice posted I tried a 1:1 ACV and tap water mix. 1 cup in total, no pre wash. I wet my hair then slightly dried then poured half the solution over the back of my scalp while rubbing it in. It stung a little where I had been scratching perviously but it was a good “this is working” sting. I let the solution soak in for – 10 min. Then poured the other half on my head just before I stepped into the shower. I rinsed my hair well but did not wash with shampoo.
It has been a few hours since this treatment and I already feel a huge difference. My scalp is not itchy and the dandruff I had this morning is now non existent. And on a side note my hair feels conditioned and soft after the treatment a double win .
It is currently winter here in California and that seems to be the time I am most prone to a mild case of dry scalp with a slight itch and small but noticible amounts of dandruff. Lucky for me this solution worked wonders and will be my go to from now on.
Many thanks to the Earth Clinic community.
Distilled water, please. No tap water
I suffered with dandruff for years, and it got worst as those years went on. Like many others with this problem, I tried every dandruff shampoo. Nothing worked. I even bought I lice treatment because I thought I had lice. I thought about shaving my head many times.
While I cannot remember exactly how I came across this page promoting apple cider vinegar, I thank God I did. When I first read all of the positive reviews, I thought I would have to buy something when I scrolled down to the end of the page. The solution to intense itching and flaking could not be as simple as vinegar I thought.
So I went to walmart to purchase the vinegar. I was willing to try anything, as I was at my wits end. They did not have acv, but they did have a huge bottle of white distilled vinegar for $1.82.
When my hair began to itch, I sprayed the vinegar onto my scalp using a spray bottle. I did not dilute it. After the first few minutes, I felt relief. It also burned. I let it sit on for an hour, then washed my hair with a moisterizing shampoo.
My hair never felt so fresh. Usually I have flakes even after washing my hair. Usually I have an itching attack within the next 3 days. Not this time. Now I would not say I’m cured, but its a real improvement.
I wish I knew about this sooner! This is life changing! I no longer feel insecure that flakes may be showing. I feel normal now. Spread the word! Vinegar for dandruff should be common knowledge.
When first getting in the shower, wet hair and take 1 cup of white vinegar and distribute it over hair. I have mine ready to go in a glass measuring cup. Rinse WELL before opening eyes, and then shampoo and condition as you normally would. I do the vinegar first because otherwise it strips my conditioner off instead of the residues and hair products I want it to. This serves numerous remedial functions: dandruff, lice, improved hair shine, clarifying, just try it. It is cheap and amazing. Smell will disappear as hair dries.
Hello, is it normal that ACV worsens the condition in the beginning? I have severe dandruff since last year, I just know that it is NO fungus, but the rest is unclear to me. At the moment the worst areas are the ones over my ears and at my forehead. There, a very dry flaky condition even reaches into my face. But on my scalp, I am not even sure if it is a dry dandruff, the flakes are crusty and stick to the scalp, white and yellowy. I now tried ACV for the first time, I diluted it with water 1:1 and put it in a spray bottle, sprayed it on my dry scalp, waited for 15 minutes, went into the shower and washed it out. Now, the condition seems even dryer, the flakes are more visible, is it a bad or a good sign? Shall I proceed? Am I doing it right? Would love to hear about your experiences!
Looking for a natural cure for dandruff is what led me to this site. I’ve had dandruff all my life, but not the bad flaky kind. I’ve had sores/scabs in portions of my scalp, and the last few years I’ve had problems even with my eyebrows. I’ve tried dandruff shampoos but have only been able to control things, and even then the control has not been that good.
I’ve found that a 1:1 mixture of ACV and plain tap water works! I mixed 1 ounce of ACV with 1 ounce of water, and for good measure added in 20 drops of teatree oil. Thoroughy moisten hair in the shower with the concoction and massage in for a few minutes. I noticed results after the first application. I used it twice more a few more days apart and by the third application it appears the scabs are all gone. Even my eyebrows are cured (I made sure to apply the concoction).
Using tea tree oil also helps with the smell. It counteracts the smell of the ACV quite a bit, and I’m thinking of increasing the amount to 25 drops per 2 ounces.
The only other change I made was to switch to a baby shampoo instead of my regular “dry hair” shampoo. But I’m convinced it’s the ACV. I’ve used teatree oil before and I think it helped a bit, but it didn’t cure. I know it’s not hurting, and since I had some on hand I included it. And I’ve also gone against conventional wisdom I’ve read on this site and used regular filtered ACV that I picked up from the supermarket for $.99 If it didn’t work I was going to try the organic kind, but since I’m now cured of this ailment I won’t have to buy any more ACV.
I know that the baby shampoo must be helping, since I’ve always had a dry scalp and dry hair and now it’s much better. Yet the first time I used the ACV concoction I decided to try my regular shampoo, and even then I could swear that my hair was less dry and more manageable when I was done. So the concoction alone is good. But I’m sticking with the baby shampoo just to be sure, plus I really like the results.
I’m 24 years old, and I’ve had dandruff for several years. Often I would get build-ups of cells and scabs on the back of my itchy scalp. I started mixing one part raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar with one part filtered water in a spray bottle and spraying it all over my scalp, massaging briefly, and rinsing before I shampoo. My dandruff was completely gone within the first two treatments and has been gone for months now. I do it a few times a week. Although the smell was hard to handle at first, I’m now in love with apple cider vinegar. It’s still not exactly pleasant, but the benefits are so worth the smell and taste, which don’t last very long anyway. I use it for many other things, which I’ll report later! 🙂
Ok so I have been keeping up with my treatment of the ACV and water for my scalp, and although the mixture feels really good on my scalp…. My flakes and dandruff have increased a lot! Before the flakes would be somewhat visible but mostly just to me…. Now when I brush my hair my shirt/shoulders are covered! I think this is great for people that it works for, but I just don’t think that I am one of those people. I do like how soft my hair is, but the flakes getting worse I just can’t handle. I did a spin class at the gym today and when I began to sweat I smelled like vinegar 🙁 Oh well, I guess I am on to another product.
Thank you so much for this REALLY simple remedy that REALLY works! My head was itching a lot, but I use hairgel and hairspray every day, so I thought it might be that. But to rule out dandruff, I tried this method. I put equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water in an empty hairspray bottle. I then shampooed my hair as usual and rinsed it. Then I sprayed (and poured) the mixture on my head and rubbed it in for about 4 minutes (careful not to get it in your eyes! ). Then I rinsed it out. Then I put in some Tea Tree oil conditioner I found at a nearby healthfood store, and rubbed that into my scalp. I let it sit for another 4 mins or so, then rinsed it out. I did this twice, about 2 days apart, and my head doesn’t itch AT ALL anymore! and I still use my same hairgel and hairspray. What a wonderful cure! Thank you Earth Clinic for sharing it!
Perhaps the ACV works as a preventative, but Ted’s other remedies perhaps have to be applied first to get rid of the dandruff? I use and have for years used ACV (raw with mother in, not pasteurized at the grocery store) full strength in a spritzer I keep in the shower. I only use shampoo about once a month but I do use a hypoallergenic scent free conditioner from the health food store as my hair is very long and curly. I spritz with the apple cider vinegar and always leave it in and on my scalp. Perhaps diluting it would be better? I do notice if I put too much in, then it gets ‘heavy’ and yes, almost greasy like or filmy and weighs down my curls ;-(
I am going to try the Apple Cider Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Will post back! I have done tea tree oil neat (straight) on my scalp a bunch of times in the past and felt ‘freaked’ out, can’t sleep, wicked headache etc. In my ‘brain’ area- too strong and too much absorbing into the brain? I haven’t the nerve to do it quite like that again, so I will try diluting it. I have added it to our shampoos and stuff when I remember. My dandruff is not ‘that bad’ visually unless I put my head over a black cloth and scratch really good! LOL Mind you my scalp has been really itchy and burning lately- which could be food allergies but or mites/fungus etc. As spring as arrived… Right on cue! Thanks Ted for all your advice ;=)
Yes, I do agree with the dandruff treatment here. I am suffering from moderate dandruff as well. I've tried Nizoral and Selsun Blue but got little success with those. I tried mixing Nizoral with hot cream oil and I was dandruff free for a month. But then Nizoral is quite expensive for my budget so I looked for a substitute.
So I tried mixing hot cream oil and apple cider vinegar and my ordinary shampoo. Apply the mixture onto my scalp for 30 minutes and rinse it thoroughly. Tried this 3 times a week and it works for me.
I have read on your site on the Teds dandruff remedy or what not section, after mixing the 1 part acv, 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 10 parts water treatment< I soaked my hair ( after washing my hair first) then applied this to my hair. It seemed to have worked at first usage, I went to repeat three days later and my scalp has now become extremely itchy, and tingly thoughout the day, and night sometimes evena burning sensation and my dandruff has become much worse< I trusted this site because it seems to be authentic. I dont have any other skin problems at all just dandruff. Please help me fix this
Dandruff: ACV-H202 mix worked!!
After using a baby shampoo I noticed my scalp flaking and itching. So I went and got a coal tar shampoo and things got worse. After a hair cut I could see the red scaly areas and my bald forehead was very red. I was so worried that I tried a little of everything, ACV, alcohol, milk of Magnesia, colloidal silver, it got better then it came back again a day or two later. Thinking that it was the coal tar that was working but it came back, knowing something worked I had to go through and try again, this time with Ted’s 1/p ACV 1/p H202, 10/p water and things are clearing up fast at 40 hours later.
I washed w/ ACV solution let it sit for 5 min then rinsed. Then applied Aloe Vera gel and let that set for the night next morn cold shower wash w/ ACV solution then shampooed w/ my old stand by natural citrus from TJ’s. I decided to stay away from SLS which is the main ingredient in the baby shampoo, coal tar, and many other so called psoriasis shampoos.
Ted’s remedy helped with the itching, however, I still have the flakes. Any ideas?
Continue using your ACV treatments until all the itching is gone, at least do weekly,,in between take a pea size amount of virgin cocunut oil and rub in your hand to melt it and rub in your hair, or you can put a lot in and put a shower cap on head and leave it it for several hours, then shower and dry naturally,,,that will moisturise and should help stop flaking.
Merryanne in Central FL
I will try the coconut oil for the flakes. Also, the iodine deficiency theory is interesting, as I avoid iodine because it was a trigger for my acne. Hmmmm. Flakes or pimples? Just kidding. I need to find a balance. Thank you both for the input.
While I know I still need to address the cause,( not drinking enough water and eating too much processed foods)I have found much relief to my very, very bad dandruff problem thanks to this site. I read through all the posts and did the following;
Raw, unfiltered, organic AC vinegar and tap water 1:1 ratio in spray bottle. Adjust to stream and seperated sections of hair to soak scalp. I just let it dry overnight, next morning I brushed it out and things looked better. I went to whole foods and picked up the tea tree oil.
When I got home, I added @25 drops of tea tree oil to spray bottle that had 1/2 cup ACV and 1/2 cup water. Same method of application and again, left it over night. I washed hair with my new DE shampoo and conditioner. WOW!! 90% better!! My hair has not been this shiny in ages. My scalp does not hurt. Minor,random itch.I can pull my hair back and am not worried. I have great hope that this is my answer.
Dandruff shampoos never really worked for me and this last batch seemed to make it worse. My hair looked awful. Keeping my fingers crossed and will post again after giving this method some time.
Thanks to all who posted information.
Day 4 update. I could not be happier. My hair looks great, my scalp does not itch, few (and I mean few) flakes and I can wear dark shirts again! I so hope this works forever. I strongly recommend searching out a shampoo/conditioner without any detergents or fragrance.
Thank You!!!!!
I didn’t suffer from severe dandruff or have any scalp conditions but just had bad, very visible dandruff in my brunette hair. I used one application of half acv and half water, and was cured. I also switched to shampoo without any sulfates in it, that helps too for maintenance.
Dandruff
Wow! As quickly as it came on it is now gone! Yesterday I noticed a scalp itch and of course, scratched it, and thought nothing of it again. That is until I looked in to the mirror, FLAKES…EVERY WERE!! Tried the ACV and H202 water (9parts water 1part ACV & H2O2), placed mixture into a spray bottle sprayed scalp to saturate, left in for approx. 3min. I then washed hair as usual. Today, all flakes are gone, no itch and as a bonus I am having a good hair day:)
I tried the apple cider vinegar for severe dandruff, and was shocked that it worked so well.
I’ve had terrible dandruff my entire life–I cannot think of a time when I didn’t have severe itching and a dry, flaky scalp. I also had little plaques of flakes all over my scalp, and if I scratched them they bled. It was really irritating.
I had tried every single dandruff shampoo and treatment available, and nothing helped AT ALL. I was at my wits end. When I saw the ACV cure here on Earth Clinic, I figured I would try it. Couldn’t hurt!
I went to a beauty supply store and bought an 8 ounce hair dye applicator bottle. I filled it with 4 ounces of ACV and 4 ounces of water and shook it to mix the two. Then, in the shower, I washed my hair with an olive oil soap [I had cut out using shampoo, figuring the sulfates were drying out my hair], rinsed, combed out the tangles, and then applied about 2 ounces of the ACV mixture to my hair and scalp. I left it on for a minute or so and then rinsed.
It worked! When I dried my hair, ALL the dandruff was gone. My head didn’t itch at all, and my hair was also very soft and shiny. I have continued to use this method for the past month, and the dandruff has never returned.
This stuff is a godsend. I can’t believe how well it worked, and it’s so inexpensive. Thanks very much, Earth Clinic!
I was surprised at the benefits of using apple cider vinegar for the control of dandruff. It is brilliant. My dandruff issue, while not fully cured, is much, much better.
I’ve suffered with dandruff since childhood (i’m 37). I’ve spent thousands of dollars on various otc dandruff shampoos and treatments. About 2 yrs ago the scaling got so bad I had no choice but to turn to a dermatologist, I was prescribed a shampoo and foam, which worked, at first but then the more I used them less effective they seemed to be. And then when I stopped using them completely the scaling came back with a VENGENCE! Two weeks ago I did a search looking for a natural cure for dandruff, and came across this site. I made a rinse of 4 tbsps acv, 4 tbsps hydrogen peroxide, and 8 tbsps water, i put the mixture in a clean sqeeze bottle, and gently massaged the mixture into my scalp with towel draped over my neck. I then put a plastic shower cap over my head and let it penetrate 2 hours. I rinsed and shampooed with my usual shampoo made for relaxed hair, and blow dried/ styled my hair, and my flakes were 99% gone. I was amazed! I kept checking every inch of my scalp every day just to make sure..and yes I pretty much dandruff free. 4 days after the treatment i did see a tiny bit of flaking by my forehead, but it was barely noticeable. Usually with other shampoos my entire scalp would be comepletely scaly again by day 3. Day 7 I did another treatment, except this time I used coconut vinegar (available in asian grocery stores) as is does not smell nearly as strong as acv, also I made hot oil treatment using ___ ___ coconut oil (available in asian, west indian, and all “wf” stores…Now I can say I am 100% dandruff free. My hair/scalp is so soft, and healthy looking, and to think it cost me less than 5 dollars! I cant thank you enough for this natural remedy!!
This remedy does indeed work! I tried this and after two treatments, I was dandruff free! The only thing I tried differently was to add a few drops of tea tree oil to the hydrogen peroxide, ACV mixture. Thanks again Earthclinic!
Please help! I am sure that apple cider vinegar actually made my scalp much worse and gave me horrible dandruff. I recently stopped using shampoo and instead tried cleaning with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar diluted with water. Dandruff worsened.
So I added tea tree oil and lavendar and still my scalp got worse. Also, I noticed my thick head of hair getting thinner because of hair loss.
I have stopped using baking soda and ACV – and now have to deal with a dry, itchy scalp. At least my hair has stopped falling out.
Hi, I’ve been reading about the ACV treatment for dandruff. I’m really excited about trying it, but at the same time I have a bit of a concern. I have color-treated hair. I dye my hair rather frequently (well, as frequently as they recommend) and I don’t want to waste money coloring my hair just to have what I’m doing for my dandruff condition stripping the color right back out. Is this safe for color treated hair?
Easiest way to find out: Snip a lock of hair from underneath in back and apply the ACV to it. Hang onto the lock and apply the ACV over days like you would on your whole head (including rinsing it out) if you really want to be sure.
I have color treated hair (due to gray) and use Apple Cider Vinegar every week to remove cigarette smoke smell cause I don’t smoke but they do at the bar where I play pool. I have been doing this for about 4 months now and have not had any problems.
Side effect reported
So I read that using apple cider vinegar is good for dandruff and your hair so i started using it and after my hair felt really clean and soft but the next day i went to take a shower and a lot of hair came out a lot more than usual and it was like that for about a month maybe longer is there any reason this might have happened ? i used about 1/8 a cup and the rest was just water
maybe you didn’t mix it with any shampoo. my friend told me that you should first shampoo then put in the vinegar the shampoo your hair one more time
The hair fall after the use of ACV is completely natural and you do not need to dread it. Those are just those hairs which have been already loosened.
I just wanted to mention that I have used ACV for YEARS, at least 10… On me, the dogs, it was the only things I used on my 3 kids for the first 2 yrs of life and now as a rinse for them.. My oldest is 9. None of us have ever had any problems with hair falling out and I use it straight undiluted and lots of it. Now mind you I am not using the same brand as say the company who makes ketchup- I’m using raw unpasteurized stuff from the health food store, so perhaps that makes a difference?, although in a pinch I even used white vinegar for a time when and it seemed to be ok but it dried my hair out a bit ;-( Anyhow I put the raw apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle from the dollar store (like one you would use for household cleaner) and I spray it all over my scalp and then in the ends of my hair while I am in the shower so I can comb it through but then I leave it in. If I spray too much in it seems to get heavy around my scalp area or ‘wet’ looking like I have mousse or something in it LOL But the ends of my hair are super fluffy. I have wavy/curly hair and ALOT of it, it’s at least 1/2 way down my back. I’m 42 and after stopping highlighting and bleaching my hair 11 yrs ago (after a lifetime of it) and switching to just the odd shampoo and using conditioner and then apple cider veingar every day in the shower, my hair looks and feels pretty amazing IMO 😉 ps hydrogen peroxide makes an excellent hair ‘lightener’ as does lemon juice in the summer- farrah fawcett did that for her highlights! LOL hth
My husband was suffering from very bad dandruff. There were flakes everywhere! I tried tea tree oil, but while it eliminated the lesions on his front hairline, the flakes remained. Finally, I mixed a solution of apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and water at a 2:2:1 ratio. I sprayed it on his scalp, massaged it in, and we left it on for about 10 minutes. Then he washed his hair with baby shampoo. Afterward I oiled his hair with cold pressed coconut oil. His dandruff has greatly diminished and we don’t see a single flake unless he goes more than a day or two without washing.
He’s down to the point now (after 1 1/2 weeks) where he doesn’t HAVE to wash his hair every day. He doesn’t do the vinegar/peroxide spray as often (about every other wash), but he continues the baby shampoo and coconut oil.
First of all, sugar cane "white" (clear) vinegar is better for topical use, as it does not make you stink after the shower. Use it full strength, do not mix it with anything. Just be careful not to get it into your eyes or on your teeth. I had dandruff and exema type problems on my scalp and face for decades, until I started using vinegar. I spray it and massage it 5 minutes before the shower, three times a week. It may take some time, but I am pretty sure you will succeed if you're persistant. For the first few days, you may do it every day, then every other day. I still have nightmares when I think about the times before I discovered vinegar: all the corticosteroids doctors had me use for years – they always gave me more side effects than relief…
I tried, and failed, to alleviate my dandruff using apple cider vinegar. I mixed a solution of 1/2 ACV with 1/2 water in a squirt bottle. I then applied this directly to my scalp while in the shower and let it sit for about 5 minutes. I did this about 3 times a week for 3 weeks. My dandruff has not improved and the skin on my forehead and back has begun to itch severely after I get out of the shower. Needless to stay, I have ceased using this treatment.
Hello Daryl, A final rinse of 50/50 ACV and warm water has been working for years for me and my used to be dandruff. I think it works by cutting the shampoo out of your hair & off your scalp. Please note that I said final rinse. You smell strongly of ACV until your hair dries, but not after it dries.
I’ve had rather intense dandruff for the last year, especially when it starts to get cold and dry outside. Fancy anti-dandruff shampoos, super mosturizing conditioners, cold water showers, even some crazy stinging stuff my dermatologist recommended didn’t work. Sure, it might slow it for a week, but then my scalp would get used to it and go right back to it’s naughty ways. Tried the ACV last night (50% AVC, 50% water with some tea tree oil in a spray bottle), left it on for about 10 minutes and then showered, and guess what? I didn’t scratch my head at all that night, and woke up with no dandruff!! Ok, well, I saw ONE flake, but it was all alone, rather than the usual accompaniment of hundreds of friends. Best of all, it didn’t smell as bad as people say after putting the tea tree oil in it.
Cost: $1 for ACV, $1.29 for spray bottle and $7.59 for tea tree oil. Altogether less than that nasty smelling tar shampoo. Yeah! Thank you!
I’ve had mild-moderate dandruff all my life and nothing ever really worked. I’ve been applying ACV before shampooing about 3xs/week and it’s pretty much all cleared up. Still a little itchy sometimes but no more flakes! 🙂 Thanks for sharing all the great remedies!
To Jessica from Tempe, Az. The ACV better using it half water and half ACV as a final rinse after shampooing your hair. Of course you smell strong of vinegar until your hair dries. After it dries the smell goes away.
I struggled with dandruff and related skin problems all my life. They were present on my scalp, face, ears, nostrils, chest, and pubic area. I was constantly using different medications. Doctors were prescribing me corticosteroids, even in injections. During the nineties I started realizing that all my skin problems were fungus related. Nizoral shampoo was helping to some extend, but not all the way, and I was becoming more and more allergic to it. Other dandruff shampoos never worked at all. I tried many herbal remedies, with very mixed effects. Finally, a couple of years ago, I found information about using vinegar to treat dandruff. It took a couple of weeks, and some adjusting, but finally my skin started clearing up. I finally use it 3 times a week 5 min before shower (you can spray it, use an eye dropper, and your hand to massage it in). Careful with eyes, teeth, and lungs! Ever since I’ve been dandruff/exema free. Vinegar is my best friend! At the beginning I was using Apple Cider Vinegar, but my partner couldn’t stand the smell of it. He advised me to switch to white sugar cane vinegar, popular in Mexico, where we live – it works as well as ACV for me. Take care everyone!
hey!! i tried this and it really works tanks alot!!! and if you have any q’s or comments you can email me!!! I tried the appple cider vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar cured severe dandruff. I have had a case of dandruff that just kept getting worse over the last few years – I figured it must have been caused by an alergic reaction to hair dye over time. Even though I stopped dying my hair 2 years back, the dandruff never stopped. I tried all dandruff shampoos (which made the condition worse and gave me huge red lesions all along my hairline and forehead) then switched to natural shampoos only – which stopped it from getting worse, but not any better. I then finally tried the ACV on my scalp, left it on for about 15 minutes, then washed my hair with a frangrance free natural shampoo ( I added a few drops of tea tree into it) and rinsed with a 50/50 solution of ACV and water. I have been doing this for 2 weeks and everything has just about cleared up, apart from some tiny flakes here and there – no itching at all! Every wash it keeps getting better – and my hair is shinier! Yay!
For most my life I have suffered from severe dandruff and scalp scaling. Especially in the winter my scalp gets itchy, irritated with large scales. I have tried every dandruff shampoo and cream in the market and nothing worked. I would use a dandruff shampoo and as soon as my scalp dried, you could see the scales again. I finally found apple cider vinegar as a remedy only. I used regular ACV from the grocery store. I put it in a dropper, part my hair in sections and put several drops in the partings. It takes a while, especially to do the back of my head. I let it soak 1 to 2 hours and then wash my hair like normal. It works like MAGIC ! I am now 90% free of dandruff ! I usually do 3 applications (1 every other day). This lasts me 4 – 6 months with almost no dandruff.
I’ve tried ACV for over a month now & I can now surely confirm that it does not prevent nor cure Dandruff. We need to find another alternative. By the way, I’ve tried other natural cures as well: such as lime juice, neem oil, aloe vera etc…nothing seems to work.
MN from bombay. The problem may be in your water. Make sure that the water you use to wash your hair is soft water and not hard water. This is just a guess because it seems like you’ve tried everything.
I couldn’t believe that something so simple & inexpensive could cure a dandruff problem I have had for over a decade. From the moment the cidar vinegar was applied I had instant relief from an itchy scalp & all the dandruff I had just lifted off. Unless I had tried this remedy, I honestly would of never believed all the feedback I have read on using cidar vinegar. Thank you very much, Jane.
Hi to all. I just want to share with you my experience. My husband is having severe dandruff for quite sometime (about 4 years or longer) and we have tried different types of costly dandruff shampoo’s but did not work, its so embarrasing specially when you are wearing black colour of shirt, my husband doesnt care at all because he cant do anything as he tried so many types of shampoos, and medicated shampoos and even tried coconut oil. but alas…. still the same, itchy, flaky scalp and hair looks very dry, I’m very much worried about it, as I feel that it reflect to me as a wife and it embarras me as well. I’m quite bothered by what people’s might say, as i am very particular when it comes to personal hygiene. I said, I must do something about it, I decided to browse “how to cure dandruff” then your website came out, and I read about ACV, i said to myself, no harm trying. I bought Organic Raw ACV, its sting…..I put a little amount (20ml) to a container and dip the cotton balls and massage to my hubby’s scalp, applied all over scalp, massage gently up to 10min, and leave it for about an hour and rinse with your normal shampoo, after I used it for about 4 times (every other day) i noticed the shines in his hair and i checked his scalp, to my surprise the dandruff is 90% gone, and i can see the shines in his scalp as well, now his hair looks healthy it is not dry anymore, i still continue using it as a maintenance (2x a week). My Hubby & I also drinks it 10ml dilute it into 8oz of water upon arising (do not brush your teeth yet, straight away take ACV – i noticed that it eliminates your Bad Breath and improve your bowel movement) mid morning and mid afternoon, I will share again the result after, specially for my husband’s who has diabetes if there’s an improvement. thanks so much for your sharing and i hope my sharing can help more people too who’s suffering the same. more power to this website.
After having my 3rd child, I developed severe greasy disgusting dandruff and what I deemed to be athletes foot. After EVERYthing short of hari kari.. I tried ACV. It burned-that oh my it hurts/it feels good kind of burn. True I did smell a bit like a salad if I perspired.. but within a week… POOF… it was gone. Ditto with the foot problem. Tonite- we try to cure the DH’s strep throat…
I was suffering from itchy skin, scalp and embarrassing dandruff for months. I read from the internet and heard at a health food store about apple cider vinegar treatment from dandruff. I was hesistant because I thought that I’d smell like vinegar. But, I had immediate relief when I rinsed my head and hair with it. Also, my hair is now very shiny and soft. I don’t even have to use conditioner. My next step is to try it for my acne. Wish me luck and thanks for your informative website.
I battled with dandruff for the better part of 4 years to varying degrees. Wearing black was embarrasing. I tried all the costly medicated shampoos and also switched out my different hair products in case were facilitated the dandruff. I had heard that apple cider vinegar was good for the skin so I figured why not the skin under my hair. To my joy it worked wonders. Although it does not prevent dandruff it obliterates it once you do have it. (To find the cause you may have to do a little research on dandruff). I started by applying it with a spray bottle onto my hair until saturated. This worked ok but I had much better results with the following…
Ok it sounds a little ridiculous…
Fill a large bowl that you can fit your head into (or maybe a sink) with undiluted apple cider vinegar so that there is enough to cover the majority of your scalp when you place your head in it. It may sting the firs couple of times but it is doing its job. It actually feels great. Repeat this for about 3 days to get rid of tough cases and then occasionally for maintenance. You may want to shampoo afterward since it does smell a bit. The next day or two it may seem like the dandruff went into overdrive but you are actually shedding off all the dead skin that the apple cider vinegar helped to loosen! Eventually your scalp will feel great. Plus your hair will feel softer than it ever has! Good luck!
I had tried everything short of going to a dermatologist, and everything seemed to make my dandruff worse. Thank God I found this! Within the first few applications my flaking entirely disappeared. I’ve used the solution once weekly followed by tea tree oil along the hairline, where it was worse, and have not had a problem. Again, thanks! This really did the trick!