You may already be aware that there are dozens of products that are made to specifically target this scalp problem. But before you delve into the various shampoos and chemicals used to control dandruff, here is some info about the physiological basis of this condition.

The skin on the scalp, like on the rest of the body, has an outer layer called the stratum corneum. This top layer of epidermis normally sheds off on a regular basis to give rise to healthier and younger skin cells. However, in the case of a scalp that is affected by dandruff, this skin shedding is abnormal, and more regular than usual.

What brings about this skin abnormality? The skin on the scalp tends to produce too much sebum or oil, which causes the growth of a fungus known as Malassezia. This fungal species feeds on sebum and secretes certain oils that affect the stratum corneum, causing the cells to be irritated and shed off more rapidly than it can regenerate.

Besides the physiological causes, there are some sources that define dandruff as a possible allergic reaction to certain hair products. There are also scientific and health sources that explain how dandruff can be aggravated by the type of diet as well as the hygiene habits of an individual.

To be more specific, there are foods that cause active secretions of the sebaceous glands in the skin, especially on the scalp. These include spicy foods and overly fatty foods. One way to reduce the occurrence of dandruff is to keep the scalp clean, thus reducing the possibility of fungi thriving on it.

Dandruff cannot be totally eliminated, contrary to what anti dandruff shampoo commercials claim to be able to do. However, with the right approach, this scalp irritating problem can be controlled. For one thing, you can switch to an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains any of the following active ingredients: zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, and salicylic acid. Ketoconazole is also a known type of medication that is formulated to kill fungal spores and stop the growth of fungi. Ketoconazole can actually be found in some specially medicated shampoos for people with dandruff.

Also, homemade recipes for hair are so simple to do, and you can even do it several times a week to maintain the hair beauty and strength of your tresses.

For people who have dandruff, you can do more than just wash your hair everyday with anti-dandruff shampoo. You can create a hair rinse using thyme to get rid of this fungal irritation on your hair. Boil a handful of fresh thyme leaves in water for about five minutes. Let it sit to cool before straining off the leaves.

While leaning over a bowl, pour this solution onto your hair, catching the liquid so you can use it again. Do not immediately shampoo your hair after using this anti-dandruff rinse. The aromatic oils in thyme will help stunt the growth of fungi that cause that itching and flaking associated with dandruff.

You can use a hair mask to care for your hair after it has become dry or overly damaged from the use of hair chemicals. A common mask that you can apply on your mane is composed of beaten egg and a few tablespoons of olive oil. These fatty foods help retain moisture on the scalp as well as stimulate growth of healthy hair.

Apply this oil and egg mixture on your hair from roots to tips, and also massage your scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap to allow your body heat to let the oils penetrate each strand of hair. Leave on for thirty minutes before rinsing completely with a mild shampoo, such as a baby shampoo.

You can also create a hair mask using dairy products, because they are good sources of protein which also help hair grow strong and healthy. Examples of these are yogurt and milk. Honey may also be added to hair masks to make strands shinier and smoother. Always remember to keep the hair mask on for at least half an hour before rinsing the mixture off using mild shampoos. Try these hair masks at least twice a week to maintain lovely, soft, and strong hair.

What does conditioner do for hair? As mentioned before, it makes unmanageable hair softer, smoother, and easier to control. But what is the mechanism behind this effect of conditioner on your lovely tresses? Before you get into the mechanism of hair conditioner, first have a look at each hair strand up close.

The coating of your hair strands is made up of a protein called keratin. Layers of keratin overlap each other, such that they look like fish scales or roof shingles. When hair is damaged or dry, the keratin appears very bristly, causing strands to easily get tangled up. Imagine how the rough ends of Velcro attach to each other. That is how you get mussed up hair.

Now, this is where hair conditioner comes into play. The pH of hair conditioner is slightly acidic, which means that it contains many hydrogen atoms. When they come in contact with the keratin on the hair surface, hydrogen bonds are formed, causing the shingles to flatten out and smoothen.

No longer is there a scaly or bristly appearance on the surface of hair strands. In this same manner, hair is untangled, leaving is smooth and soft at the same time. This is why hair becomes easier to brush after applying conditioner.

However, hair conditioner does more than just improve the texture of each hair strand. This hair product also is significant in maintaining the health of your tresses and your scalp. Because conditioners also contain moisturizers, the skin on your scalp becomes healthier and more nourished. When the scalp is healthy, good hair growth is achieved as well.

How do you use hair conditioner? After shampooing, wring out the excess water from your hair, and apply your conditioner while massaging your scalp. This also improves blood circulation in this part of your body. When done, rinse off the conditioner and towel try your hair. There are certain treatments that require conditioner to incubate on the hair to help penetrate it better, an example of which is deep hair conditioning.

What is the pH scale? This is the basis that helps determine how acidic or basic a chemical solution is. If the pH is measured at 7, such as in distilled water, you can expect it to be neutral. If it goes above 7, like for bleaches and detergents, it is considered basic or alkaline. If the pH is measured below 7, like for vinegar and lemon juice, it is now acidic.

Normally, most areas of the body like the scalp, skin surface, and the stomach contains acidic substances. The pH on the hair and scalp, to be more specific, is about 5. as said before, pH affects the health of the hair, which is why the pH of products used on hair can also have significant effects on your tresses.

Speaking of hair care, the most common product people can’t do without is shampoo. This has a slightly acidic pH, but more close to neutral for gentle shampoos. Shampoo has to have a lower pH to be able to clear off the scum and excess oils on the scalp and hair. A neutral shampoo is often used for babies or people with sensitive scalp and hair, to prevent irritation. Conditioners are also acidic, so that they can cause the surface of hair strands to flatten out and be smooth instead of bristly like roof shingles, as how hair strand surfaces would normally look when you have a bad hair day.

When you go for a perm, on the other hand, the chemicals used on hair are more basic, or have a pH above 7. This creates specific types of chemical bonds on the surfaces of hair strands, causing them to curl up. pH is also an important factor in other hair treatment products such as hair dyes or hair colors.

Here are simple recipes you can try for a home made hair mask, to moisturize your hair and keep your tresses nice, soft, and of course naturally healthy. For dull, damaged, and dry hair, olive oil or eggs can be used. You can create a basic mask by beating together one egg with a few tablespoons of olive oil.

These two items are high in fats that help replenish the lost moisture in dry hair. Massage this onto your scalp, paying close attention from roots to tips of hair. You may cover your head with a hot towel and a shower cap to allow the oils to penetrate your strands. After about half an hour, rinse off the mask thoroughly using gentle shampoo.

Another way to get rid of dry hair is to use honey and milk as a hair mask. In some recipes, yogurt is also used because of the high moisture content found in dairy products. At the same time, honey also helps make hair strands shiny. After using these types of hair masks, be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly and use a mild shampoo.

If you have that ever-present scalp irritation known as dandruff, there are also hair remedies you can try at home. You can create a hair rinse from an infusion of thyme, a very fragrant yet powerful herb. Boil a handful of fresh thyme leaves or a few tablespoons of dried ones in some water. Allow the solution to cool and drain off the leaves. Use this to rinse hair and soak it. It is best if you do not shampoo afterwards.

You can search more sources to find out useful recipes you can try on your hair. However, be careful about what you put on your tresses, as too much may be a bad thing. Another good word of advice would be to eat a healthy diet and maintain proper hygiene to be able to perfectly take care of your hair.

If you need a little help with this problematic scalp condition, here are some basic facts behind dandruff. Although it is said that the skin cells in the scalp are shed normally, there are cases wherein the shedding is more than usual, making it abnormal and very embarrassing. This is now known as dandruff, a condition which is characterized by the over secretion of oils by the sebaceous glands in the scalp. Most sources explain that these oil secretions are much adored by the fungus known as Malassezia. When these fungi thrive on the scalp, they secrete substances that irritate the top layer of the skin, or the stratum corneum, causing it to flake off.

The excessive shedding of the scalp epidermis or skin layer may cause further problems later on. Aside from the visible white flakes that are embarrassing, dandruff causes the scalp to be more prone to irritation or infection, since the top skin layer is never intact. For this reason, it is advised to seek hair aid in one of the many available methods for controlling dandruff. Take note, there is no sure-fire way or treatment found to be 100% free of dandruff, but there are ways of managing it and controlling the excessive oil secretions and shedding.

You can try to avoid eating foods that can cause your oil glands to be hyperactive, such as spicy and fat-laden foods. Also, always keep your scalp clean and healthy by choosing the right kind of anti-dandruff shampoos. Some of the active ingredients you might want to look for include selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, and salicylic acid. These components help kill the Malassezia fungi and protect the stratum corneum from over-shedding. Another powerful antifungal agent used in dandruff medications is ketoconazole, which may also be found in medicines for athletes’ foot and other skin conditions.

In the case of women, for instance, when they reach their menopausal age, they tend to have thinning hair due to the decline of certain types of hormones in the body. This condition is referred to as pattern baldness or alopecia. Hair loss may also be attributed to poor health habits, poor hygiene, constant stress, and improper care for hair.

Hair loss is not always caused by these external factors. In truth, as many scientists would try to explain, pattern baldness can actually be hereditary, or passed on from generation to generation. This is more apparently manifested in male members of the family; however, there are women who are prone to pattern baldness or hair loss because they have relatives who have the same condition.

For whatever causes it, there are now many ways to deal with hair loss. For one thing, it is recommended that hair-loss prone people, women especially, should avoid undergoing hair treatments that expose the tresses to harsh chemicals. Most of these will do more damage to the hair instead of good. Some beauty experts would say that blow drying on a regular basis is not good for hair growth, in the same way that constant hot water exposure to hair is not ideal.

To be able to keep hair growing healthy, one must avoid the intake of toxins in the body. Examples of these are excessive alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Foods that contain excessive amounts of sugar and fats should also be avoided. In return, people who want to prevent baldness should switch to vitamin-rich diets to nourish the scalp and hair. Exercise to keep the blood circulating throughout the body is also good, so that the scalp is stimulated for rapid hair growth. At the same time, enough rest is needed to help get rid of stress.

Other methods that may help individuals deal with their hair loss include hair transplantation or hair grafting surgery. There are some sources that provide info on herbal remedies or dietary supplements that stimulate hair growth and help prevent baldness. Regardless of these, the best option would be to consult a medical expert to determine the best method to deal with pattern baldness.