Homemade Dandruff Shampoo

Easy, quick to make, and even better to use on your hair! This homemade dandruff shampoo works miracles, being full of nurturing ingredients, leaving hair dandruff-free, glossy, and moisturized.

The first time I tried making a DIY shampoo for dandruff, I was pretty unsure what the outcome would be.

We get so used to shampoo being like it is from standard bottles in shops. You know, the thick, gloopy white stuff? 

Well, you can expect something totally different with this homemade dandruff shampoo recipe – in a good way!

This homemade dandruff shampoo (shared below) is made of powerful stuff, being jam-packed and full of dandruff-busting ingredients that are 100% natural and nurturing to your hair and scalp.

So, if dandruff is getting you down (and it gets me down big time), go ahead and make this homemade dandruff shampoo and use it straight away. 

Time to say bye-bye to white flakes and hello to gorgeous glossy, dandruff-free hair – that’s all I’ll say!

This recipe works similarly to shampoo for hard water buildup, effectively removing all foreign particles from the hair. It’s an easy and effective way to get rid of any buildup that might have settled in!

apple cider vinegar for dandruff

I’d love to share why this DIY dandruff shampoo works so well after experimenting so much to get the recipe right.

Its success is mainly due to the apple cider vinegar. 

Apple cider vinegar is one of those ingredients with many uses, from cooking to cleaning to body care. It works miracles, well and truly.

You’ll find apple cider vinegar in both my dandruff scalp scrub recipe and homemade clarifying shampoo.

It’s anti-fungal to start with, meaning it limits the production of bacteria on your scalp, which contributes to dandruff. 

It’s also fermented and contains various live cultures, promoting a healthier hair environment. 

I find it also relieves the itchiness you get with dandruff, meaning no more scratching (aka less visible flakes).

Source: NIH

how to use dandruff shampoo

The texture of this homemade dandruff shampoo is a little watery compared to other shampoos you can buy. 

That’s because those shampoos are packed with many extra ingredients to get that gloopy consistency. Truth bomb!

A more natural, watery consistency like this means it spreads easier onto your hair, reaching the delicate scalp area far better than anything else I’ve tried (in my opinion).

To use this dandruff shampoo for top results, leave it to soak in for at least five minutes before washing it out. 

You’ll want to give your scalp a massage or slight scrub, too, though, of course, be gentle and certainly don’t overdo it. 

Massaging the scalp helps clear dead, flaky skin and increases blood flow to the area, prompting healthier hair growth from the root and improving scalp condition. 

You can start with a DIY scalp scrub, but you’ll want to be gentle.

how often to use dandruff shampoo 

I’d say using this homemade dandruff shampoo once or twice a week is excellent for dandruff removal and prevention. 

Of course, if you’re having a series of bad hair days, then using it more often won’t cause any harm. 

Don’t be shy to apply more of this shampoo when using it, meaning your hair gets a good soaking. 

You’ll know if you don’t use enough, as your hair won’t feel covered as well and will have dry patches with no shampoo on.

It’s simple, really – use enough for your needs, and if you need more, top it up!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

Homemade dandruff shampoo recipe

Here’s the recipe to make my DIY dandruff shampoo at home. It’s easy, and the results are superb – you’ll never go back to buying anti-dandruff shampoo again!

Ingredients:

• Apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup
• Castor oil 1 tablespoon
• Argan oil 1/2 teaspoon
• Wheat germ oil 1/4 teaspoon (0ptional)
• Tea tree & lavender essential oil 5 drops of each

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients to a 4-ounce glass bottle with a disk top cap or an old shampoo bottle (just avoid plastic bottles as they can degrade with the vinegar inside).
2. Secure the lid and shake well.
3. Give the bottle a good shake before you use the shampoo every time. 
4. Apply to your hair and work the shampoo into the scalp.
5. Let it sit for several minutes before rinsing it out.
6. Follow with a good shampoo and homemade hair conditioner.

All about natural ingredients

There’s a reason I’m so passionate about using natural products on my skin and hair. I just can’t stand the thought of using toxic chemicals on myself or my family – it really bothers me!

I’m ultra careful around the house in general, opting for homemade, natural products wherever I can. 

The ingredients listed for this homemade dandruff shampoo are 100% natural and good for your body (and the environment.)

Apple cider vinegar is an antiseptic and anti-fungus, and it’s fermented, meaning it contains live cultures, helping to improve and maintain the condition of the scalp and keep it healthy. 

It literally kills off the bacteria that can cause dandruff to occur in the first place!

Both Castor oil and Argan oil are highly moisturizing (Argan oil, too, is anti-fungal), which is necessary to keep the hair and scalp hydrated and clean, minimizing the development of flakes and dandruff. 

Wheat germ oil is highly moisturizing and nutritious, containing multiple vitamins and minerals – read more about this magical ingredient here in this post.

Finally, the essential oils are used in this recipe to mask the scent of apple cider vinegar. 

As an added bonus, they positively impact your mood, giving you a lift right when you step in the shower!

Storage

As with any natural product, it’s best to store it in a cool, dry, dark place, such as a cabinet. You can expect a shelf life of around one month or more.

The reason is that essential oils can lose potency when left in direct sunlight.

Also, be sure to screw the lid on tight after every use to make the shampoo last as long as possible. 

I hope you love this homemade dandruff shampoo recipe as much as I do. Let me know how you get on in the comments below!

If you enjoyed reading this post today, be sure to read one of these next.

• Dandruff shampoo for beards
• All-natural nourishing hair serum
• Protein hair treatment
• Green tea hair rinse or green tea scrub
• Homemade scalp serum