That persistent itchiness keeps annoying you. Those white flakes make you self-conscious. Those sensations of dryness and soreness ruin your day. 

A dry scalp is nothing to be joking about. 

And if you’re dealing with it, you know. 

Discover how to help dry scalp issues with some lifehacks, the proper natural products, and the haircare specially designed to soothe your ailment. 

Yes, they do exist!

Table of Contents:

• Common Causes and Symptoms of Dry Scalp: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding It.
• Scalp conditions that lead to dryness and dehydration
• Habits that remove moisture and your scalp’s natural oils
• Dandruff vs Dry Scalp: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters
• Fixing Dry Scalp with Products: Best Shampoos, Conditioners, and Oils to Try
• How do you hydrate your scalp with the help of nurturing, moisturizing ingredients?
• What is the best shampoo for a dry scalp?
• How do you stop dry scalp: include essential oils in your routine!
• How to help dry scalp: try a scalp massage

Common Causes and Symptoms of Dry Scalp: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding It.

Before we dive deep into the most effective natural scalp treatments, we must focus on the causes. The underlying problem that determines scalp dryness requires different treatments.   

Scalp conditions that lead to dryness and dehydration

A dehydrated, itchy scalp could be the result of a hidden internal ailment. If the outer layer of the skin in the scalp sheds, leaving flakes in your tresses, it can signal, in some cases, a chronic health issue:

• Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff) is caused by excess sebaceous glands and yeast-like fungus infection of the hair follicle.
• Atopic dermatitis happens when the immune system attacks the scalp and other areas of the skin.
• Scalp psoriasis can also cause dry, scaly patches of skin and is triggered by an autoimmune disorder.
• Eczema can manifest due to stress and allergies as well.

Habits that remove moisture and your scalp’s natural oils

Most of the time, dry, flaky scalp is caused by external factors. They can be environmental factors that strip the scalp of its natural oils. Or they can be bad habits in your hair care routine that trigger dehydration and inflammation.

• Too much washing can remove the oils from your scalp and can make hair brittle.
• Contact dermatitis, aka eczema, appears due to an allergic reaction to an irritant: medication, shampoo, soap. Harsh hair care products trigger flakiness and dryness.
• Cold weather, extreme heat, the humidity (those in your washing routine included) can lead to scalp dryness. Such manifestations are also called eczema but with external causes. 
• Dietary deficiencies can cause a dry scalp. Boosting Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and iron-rich foods in your diet will bring improvements.

Dandruff vs Dry Scalp: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters

Of all the skin conditions that can cause flaky skin, dandruff is the most prevalent. The treatment for dandruff caused by the fungal infection is rather similar to the ones for an oily scalp and not a dehydrated scalp. 

Fixing Dry Scalp with Products: Best Shampoos, Conditioners, and Oils to Try

A dry skin that produces scales is not something to live with. That nerve-wrenching itchy skin that causes irritation and even bleeding or hair loss, that’s not something to be taken lightly. 

While we recommend you seek medical help and find the underlying cause for your problem, we also suggest a natural approach to complete your treatment. 

Since most medical treatments can also cause dehydration and more irritation, some of the following natural ingredients can help.

How do you hydrate your scalp with the help of nurturing, moisturizing ingredients?

• Humectants attract and hold moisture in the skin. If you’re dealing with a dehydrated scalp, they are your go-to choice. Honey, flaxseed, algae, and aloe vera are natural humectants. 
• Occlusives seal in the moisture and prevent its evaporation. They create a barrier coating the skin, preventing hydration from escaping. According to scientific data, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil are recommended for scalp care. They are non-comedogenic oils, and the risk of clogging the follicles is small when using them.

• Exfoliants strip dead skin cells and excess sebum from the scalp. They can cause the skin to dry out, but they are necessary when dealing with product or yeast build-up. Gentle exfoliants like lemon juice, green tea extract, or baking soda reduce dandruff flakes.
• Astringents smooth the surface of the skin, reducing moisture in the tissues. They tend to dry out the skin but can help when dealing with excess oil that causes a dry scalp. Mild natural ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or witch hazel can help. 
• Counter-irritants and demulcents have anti-inflammatory properties. They offer temporary relief from the discomfort of itching and soreness while reducing dry flakes. Such counter-irritants are tea tree, peppermint, or rosemary oil. 

What is the best shampoo for a dry scalp?

Sometimes switching to a gentle shampoo makes all the difference. The washing frequency and the temperature of the water are not the only things that matter. 

The ingredients in most commercial shampoos tend to provide instant hydration and dryness in the long run. A gentle, moisturizing shampoo with natural active ingredients can reduce white flakes and dehydration a la long.

Your anti-dandruff shampoo could make your scalp dryer. We recommend you complete your treatment with a natural, emollient shampoo. A nourishing, balanced conditioner is just as important. 

Himalayan Rose Shampoo And Himalayan Rose Conditioner Combo. 

The shampoo gently cleanses product build-up. The conditioner restores the hair's moisture barrier.

Say goodbye to harsh shampoos! 

Let go of parabens, fragrances, alcohol, silicones, and sulfates. 

Focus on gentle shampoos. They will not cause flare-ups and can contribute to balancing your scalp and hair. 

Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo is free from any harmful or harsh chemicals that can eventually dry out your hair and scalp, containing many nourishing, soothing ingredients.

How do you stop dry scalp: include essential oils in your routine!

According to research, tea tree oil is highly effective in treating fungal and bacterial dandruff and dry scalp. 

This essential oil has known antibacterial properties and antifungal properties, removing excess sebum and killing off microbes. 

Peppermint oil and rosemary oil both have antimicrobial properties, as well as anti-irritant effects. They also stimulate circulation to the follicles and strengthen the hair shaft.  

How to help dry scalp: try a scalp massage

Some of the oils mentioned above can help when trying scalp massages. The hot oil technique is very well-known for conditioning the scalp. 

Scalp massages stimulate the circulation to the follicles and improve moisture retention as well as hair strength.  

A dry scalp is no longer a secret when it comes to soothing. It all starts with pinpointing the underlying cause. 

After that, it is about giving your hair and scalp some well-deserved TLC.