The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
15 Second Rinse
Posted by Annette (Fairbanks, Alaska) on 12/31/2011
★★★★★
Dandruff remedy -- According to this
BBC News Health article, dandruff and itchy scalp are caused by overactive Malassezia fungus.
This fungus is naturally found on human skin, but if it's overactive it causes a fast turnover of skin cells. In other words, Malassezia produces flakes faster in dandruff sufferers than in people without dandruff.
If you have oily hair (like me) then you're more susceptible to dandruff, since Malassezia feeds on sebum, the oily matter produced by the sebaceous glands in our skin.
This is the real secret. When I tell most people they just think it's gross and don't hear me out. :)
When I hop in the shower in the morning I give my scalp a vigorous 15 second rinse under the water. This gets the visible oiliness out of my hair, but doesn't actually strip my scalp of any oil.
It's washing without washing.
When you first do this you'll notice that your hair might feel a little "sticky. " Don't worry, you have to give it time to adjust.
The interesting thing is after a few days my scalp seemingly stopped producing so much oil. I don't know the science behind it, and I haven't been able to find conclusive studies about it, I just know it works.
Some people use baking soda and vinegar. Or lemon juice. These products don't strip your hair of its oils.
Good luck to all of us suffering from... I call it: "shampoo-itis"
Replied by Francisca
(Zug, Switzerland)
01/01/2012
Replied by Jennywren
(Perth, Western Australia, Australia)
02/12/2012
Replied by Annette
(Fairbanks, Alaska)
07/21/2012
★★★★★
Replied by Florie
(Henly, Texas, Usa)
01/07/2013
Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda
Posted by Lover Of Truth (In) on 12/22/2017
★★★☆☆
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Arthur (Edmonton, Ab) on 10/07/2010
★☆☆☆☆
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
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Mrloux (Bay Area, Ca) on 02/13/2010
★★★★★
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.
Replied by Regulator555
(Grand Rapids, Mi, Usa)
06/02/2010
★★★★☆
Replied by
Merryanne (Orange City, Florida, Usa)
06/02/2010
113 posts
Replied by Regulator555
(Grand Rapids, Mi, Usa)
06/04/2010
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Carmen (Nova Scotia, Canada) on 10/02/2009
★★★★★
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:)
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by honeydip1228 (New York, NY) on 07/26/2009
★★★★★
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!!
Replied by Misha
(Binghamton, New York)
07/29/2009
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Keyana (Ridgeland, Mississippi) on 12/01/2008
★★★★★
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.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jacqui (Orlando, FL) on 02/13/2006
★★★★★
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!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Shey (Lanan)
★★★★★
Thank you for the input, my son has had a terrible case of dandruff for more than two years now, I tried tea tree oil before I ever read this and was not persistent with it. Now I know it's the apple-cider that works, makes a lot of sense and it's right in the kitchen, thank you.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by M Joy (Lusby, MD)
★☆☆☆☆
I tried the Apple Cider/Peroxide treatment. It did not help my severe dandruff. I have tried everything available naturally and over the counter as well. Nothing helps. It may seem to help for a day or so, but then the severe itching and flaking returns in full force.
Replied by Nick
(Watford, Uk)
02/04/2013
Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Debbie (San Diego, California) on 01/31/2010
★★★★☆
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.
Replied by Debbie
(San Diego, California)
02/02/2010
Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Mia (Chicago, IL, USA) on 10/17/2008
★★★★★
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!
Beets
Posted by Dick (Raleigh, North Carolina) on 03/09/2008
★★★★★
I have a very Itchy Scalp. No Dandruff. I have tested for two months eating off the grocery shelf canned beets. I eat two (1 to 1 1/2 inch diameter beets)in the morning and two in the evening. Every day. It works.
Borax
Posted by Madeline (Sacramento, Ca) on 05/20/2017
★★★★★
My hairdresser was noticing I had a flaky scalp every time I got my hair cut. I tried borax to get rid of my dandruff and it works great. I mix about two tablespoons in about a cup of warm water, no need for exact measurements, and pour half on my hair and scrub it around, then do the same with the next half and rinse. Using it once a week with regular shampooings in between is probably good for maintenance.
The first time I did it, I used cold water and the borax didn't really dissolve, and I thought, well that must be how it works, by exfoliating! But it is the borax itself, so go ahead and use warm water to dissolve it. It does clean my hair and leaves it nice and soft. And my hairdresser reports no dandruff to be seen!
Replied by Raul
(California)
08/02/2022
Art (California)
08/03/2022
2325 posts
Borax
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 07/01/2012
★★★★★
I often see posts asking for help with dandruff and itchy scalp. I was plagued with this problem for a very long time. When I read about borax here on earth clinic, I decided, why not? That was a couple of years ago. Once I used it, I have not been bothered with an itchy scalp or dandruff since. I do have to say though that over those couple of years I've done an awful lot of detoxing as well. Still, I remember the relief I had from the borax for my issues! Hope this helps others, Lisa
Replied by Shigure
(Everywhere)
11/16/2016
Replied by Josephine
(San Diego)
12/24/2016
★★★★★
