Safety Issues Treating Dandruff

How hard can it be to get rid of dandruff?  And how harmful can it be to do so?  These are some easy questions that pop into your head when greeted with the potential perils of using certain anti-dandruff products.  In olden times, people were well off washing their hair with more natural extracts and remedies.  Nowadays, people seem content to purchase the cheapest and most convenient anti-dandruff shampoo on store shelves.  It’s hard to blame anybody, buying these products is too easy to do.  Remember, though, our hair and scalps were not meant to be treated with so many varying chemicals.   So here’s what you can do instead to safely treat dandruff.

Before looking for the right ingredients or natural formulas for your scalp, maybe you should first try watching out for the chemicals that you should avoid.  Number one on this list is sodium lauryl sulfate.  It’s a pretty corrosive substance and in the long run, it can cause cancer.  Another is isopropyl alcohol, which, while good for antiseptic purposes, is horrible for your head due to its capacity to dry it out.   Also watch out for chemicals that end in “thanolamine.”  These affect your hormones in a bad way and are possibly cancerous as well.  Even the color pigments and fragrances added can irritate the scalp and cause allergic reactions.  Watch out for chlorine and propylene glycol as well.  Pregnant women should avoid products that contain ketoconazole, as the ingredient may find itself in breast milk and in the bloodstream.  Dyeing should also be avoided due to the chemical phenylenediamine, which can cause serious irritation. 

Now that you know what to avoid, what should you patronize?  Well, if you have found a safe regular shampoo that works very well for you, it is possible to turn it into an effective anti dandruff shampoo just by adding a few natural oils.  These include lavender, rosemary, tea tree and coconut oil.  If you can find these extracts, just mix them with your shampoo, apply on your scalp, and rinse off.  If you want an even simpler method without having to purchase shampoo, you can just use baking soda and water.  Try washing your hair with this everyday kitchen product, without lathering up with shampoo.  By rubbing baking soda into your hair and scalp, you clean your head of dirt and excess oils.  By not completely stripping your hair of nutrients, more natural oils will nourish your scalp.  This method is highly recommended for being effective yet affordable.

On the case of using hair dyes though, one substance can actually help your hair and scalp, and that’s henna.  This substance can also be combined with other natural home remedies to take care of dandruff.  Mixing henna powder with lemon and egg is particularly good.  Just massage into the scalp and wash off.  The natural oils mentioned above can also be massaged onto the scalp for effective dandruff removal and excellent hair care.  Benefits may even include stress relief. 

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