Each of us has, at some point in our lives, experienced a dry scalp. There are many things that can contribute to it, including seasonal changes. Whatever the cause, having a dry scalp can be extremely painful in addition to being irritating (literally) and annoying. 

If left untreated, a dry scalp can seriously interfere with our daily activities and even result in more severe skin conditions like fungal infections. However, you can easily treat a dry scalp at home with easy yet efficient home remedies.

Let’s begin with understanding what a dry scalp is. Then we’ll see the five most important signs of a dry scalp and, finally, look at some easy dry scalp remedies.

Table of Contents:

• What Is a Dry Scalp?
• Five Signs of a Dry Scalp
• Excessive itchiness
• Severe flaking
• Cracked skin
• Painful to the touch
• Dryness on other parts of the body
• Easy Dry Scalp Remedies
• Use a nourishing hair oil
• Use Apple Cider Vinegar
• Use tea tree oil
• Massage your scalp

What Is a Dry Scalp?

If your scalp is dry and flaky, you might think you have dandruff. However, it might be a sign of a dry scalp. Although flakes and an itchy scalp are the early indicators of both dandruff and dry scalp, they are two distinct conditions. 

Your skin becomes sore and flakes off when you have a dry scalp. The overproduction of the yeast Malassezia, along with an excessive amount of oil on the scalp, are the two main causes of dandruff. Skin cells accumulate due to the excess oil and then shed.

You can mainly distinguish between the two by the type of flakes. If they are small and dry, it’s a dry scalp. However, big, oily, yellowish flakes are a symptom of dandruff.

It’s important to treat a dry scalp as soon as you notice the signs to prevent it from turning into dandruff. A severely dry scalp causes itching and often leads to cracked, painful skin. This can allow bacteria to grow on your scalp and give way to fungal dandruff.

Five Signs of a Dry Scalp

Pay attention if you see any of the following five signs of a dry scalp to prevent it from getting worse!

• Excessive itchiness

The first and often most telling sign of a dry scalp is excessive itchiness. Your scalp may itch throughout the day to the point of interfering with your day-to-day life. The skin of the scalp may feel rough or uneven to the touch if you scratch it, and it will become inflamed easily.

• Severe flaking

You may also notice excessive “dandruff” when you scratch the itch. The flakes caused by a dry scalp come loose very easily and may fall everywhere, even if you simply run your hands through your hair. Keep in mind, though, that these flakes will be small, white, and dry rather than big, yellowish, and oily.

• Cracked skin

You may notice that the skin on your scalp is cracked, similar to how your lips chap when they’re dry. It may also ooze at times if it’s too dry and severely cracked.

• Painful to the touch

Cracked skin will be very painful and can sting even if your hairbrush runs over it.

• Dryness on other parts of the body

If you have dry skin on other parts of your body, it’s even more likely that you have a dry scalp. Notice if you have dry skin elsewhere and if it tends to flake off. Dry skin will often benefit from using good moisturizers. You can try applying a very light moisturizer on your scalp at night and see if it leads to reduced dandruff after you wash it off the next morning.

Easy Dry Scalp Remedies

Try the following home remedies that are easy and will help alleviate dryness of the scalp.

• Use a nourishing hair oil

Massage a nourishing hair oil into your scalp before each wash and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. You may leave it on for up to 2 hours and occasionally leave it on overnight as a hydrating treatment.

Try the WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Hair Oil for some intense hydration!

• Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is known to fight bacteria and restore your scalp’s natural pH balance. It is also an effective clarifying agent that can remove the build-up of harsh chemicals from your scalp.

Try the WOW Skin Science Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo for an easy way to use ACV in your routine and cleanse your scalp without drying it further!

• Use tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is known to soothe the skin while removing excess oil and maintaining a healthy scalp environment. However, it must never be applied to the skin directly. Always dilute it in a carrier oil like olive or coconut.

An easier alternative is the WOW Skin Science Green Tea and Tea Tree Shampoo that soothes a dry scalp and fights flakes!

• Massage your scalp

You may not always have time to massage a soothing oil into your hair and wash it off. But you can still dry-massage your scalp using a good-quality massage brush. It helps improve blood circulation, which automatically soothes dryness. It also helps the flakes loosen and fall off, making your hair wash more effective.

The WOW Skin Science Scalp Massager Brush is very effective for this and is also very gentle on your skin!

Dry skin can be very painful to deal with but can be easily treated with some basic home remedies. Look out for the five most important signs of a dry scalp and act on them immediately to keep the condition from getting worse!