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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.

A bottle of homemade dandruff shampoo.
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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 – thatโ€™s all Iโ€™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!

Pouring homemade dandruff shampoo onto the hands.

apple cider vinegar for dandruff

Iโ€™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.

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

Itโ€™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

Homemade dandruff shampoo bottle.

how to use dandruff shampoo

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

Thatโ€™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 Iโ€™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. 

Youโ€™ll want to give your scalp a massage or slight scrub, too, though, of course, be gentle and certainly donโ€™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.

A bottle of homemade dandruff shampoo with sprigs of lavender.

how often to use dandruff shampoo 

Iโ€™d say using this homemade dandruff shampoo once or twice a week is excellent for dandruff removal and prevention. 

Of course, if youโ€™re having a series of bad hair days, then using it more often wonโ€™t cause any harm. 

Donโ€™t be shy to apply more of this shampoo when using it, meaning your hair gets a good soaking. 

Youโ€™ll know if you donโ€™t use enough, as your hair wonโ€™t feel covered as well and will have dry patches with no shampoo on.

Itโ€™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

Hereโ€™s the recipe to make my DIY dandruff shampoo at home. Itโ€™s easy, and the results are superb – youโ€™ll never go back to buying anti-dandruff shampoo again!

Ingredients:

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.
Pouring homemade dandruff shampoo on the hands.

All about natural ingredients

Thereโ€™s a reason Iโ€™m so passionate about using natural products on my skin and hair. I just canโ€™t stand the thought of using toxic chemicals on myself or my family – it really bothers me!

Iโ€™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 itโ€™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, itโ€™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!

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4.74 from 26 votes

Homemade Dandruff Shampoo

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 Bottle
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.

Equipment

  • Glass Bottle
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • 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).
  • Secure the lid and shake well.
  • Give the bottle a good shake before you use the shampoo every time.ย 
  • Apply to wet hair and work the shampoo into the scalp.
  • Let it sit for several minutes before rinsing it out. Follow with a good hair shampoo and conditioner.ย 

Notes

You will still want to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner after using this.
Store out of direct sunlight for up to one month.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.74 from 26 votes (25 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. Al says:

    5 stars
    I have been using this for a week and no more dandruff! Works great

    1. Laura says:

      So happy to hear that!

  2. Cristina says:

    Iโ€™m excited to try this out. Is it safe on color treated hair?

  3. Jackie says:

    Probably a silly question but do you wet your hair first? Or apply to dry hair?

    1. Laura says:

      Wet hair!

  4. Katerina says:

    This is not a shampoo, there is no ingredience which could wash hair only lots of oil. It will leave your hair very greasy. U could use it as a hair mask and then follow with wash.

  5. Debbye Reedy says:

    My hair was SO greasy and oily after using this I couldn’t even dry it!!!

  6. Taylor says:

    Do you have to use Wheat Germ Oil in this reciepe?

    1. Laura says:

      It can be substituted for fractionated coconut oil

  7. Heather I Granden says:

    How long is the shelf life of this shampoo?

    1. Laura says:

      Approximately one month.