9 Ways To Treat An Itchy Scalp Naturally

That moment when you finally get home from a long day, you take your bra off to give the girls a breather; you remove your heels, take your bun down and look for a comfortable position to sit in so that you can go HAM on your scalp.

An itchy scalp is no joke; it can be considered a mini crisis especially if it seems like there is nothing in your medicine cabinet or hair arsenal that can cure it.

This ailment is actually quite common and it can be linked to complicated skin conditions like lice, dandruff, psoriasis or simply clogged pores. Depending on the severity of the condition you might be able to find a remedy for it at the drug store or with a visit to the dermatologist but for a simple solution you might be want to go with a natural approach for relief.

Here are 7 ways you can treat an itchy scalp naturally.

1. Wash your hair – This is your first line of defense when you have an itchy scalp. Most often itchiness is just a sign of clogged pores due to excessive amount of product residue on your scalp.

Even if you do not use a ton of product you must remember that your scalp moisturizes itself naturally by producing sebum, sebum clogs pores just as well as any added oil and washing the excess away will often times alleviate the problem.

2. ACV rinse– If you discover that washing is what your hair really needs, give your scalp a good rinse with some apple cider vinegar*. ACV rinses are very popular and for good reason, the vinegar is anti bacterial and acts as a natural clarifier when applied directly to the scalp.

If you want a great recipe for the rinse just remember 3 parts water to half a part vinegar that way you use just enough for your scalp.

4. Use witch hazel to clean your scalp – Witch hazel is an astringent and surprisingly effective at getting rid of build up in your scalp particularly if you are wearing a style that cannot be washed often.

Witch hazel applied to a cotton ball then rubbed over the scalp in between braids can be very useful for making protective styles more tolerable to wear over the long term.

5. Baking soda –  Though a great option, baking soda is considered a  bit controversial because of its pH.

Typically you want your products to be slightly acidic or neutral rather than alkaline like baking soda but if you choose to use it, ensure that you follow up with a pH balanced conditioner.

Baking soda breaks up dirt and gets rid of the build up that causes itchiness.

6. Coconut oil* – In Jamaica they have a saying that says ‘prevention betta than cure’ which is the basic idea behind using coconut oil* regularly.

The capyrilic acid in coconuts prevents fungus from growing on your scalp which can cause itchiness so as a preventative measure, lather your head up.

7. Tea tree oil* – Some people believe that tea tree oil* can cure anything. It probably can’t cure everything but it sure can help with a ton of stuff including a itchy scalp.

Tea tree* oil is commonly used in shampoos and conditioners for scalp care to relieve itchiness and clear up any fungal infections.

For a great pre-poo oil recipe grab a bowl melt some coconut oil, add some tea tree* oil and some olive oil* to create an anti fungal mask, apply to your hair and scalp before you shampoo. Use steam or heat to make it even more effective, or just sleep in it.

8. Give braids or dreads some time – Itchiness is a common phenomenon affecting those with newly installed braided styles or new dreadlocks. You scalp is simply not used to having your hair pulled into these intricate styles.

Regardless of tightness or lack thereof of the style, many women still find themselves with the dreaded itch soon after installing a new braided style. It is nothing to worry about and it should resolve itself in a week or two.

9. Diet – If your itchy scalp problem persists then you might have an overgrowth of yeast on the inside, specifically your gut. Yeast overgrowth can trigger many things one of which is an itchy scalp; it is generally caused from eating refined sugar, white bread, all carb everything and alcohol.

Yeast overload can be reduced by cutting carbs out and focusing your diet on lean meat, fresh produce and water. Sometimes we have to do more than just treat from the outside, especially if the itching is a reoccurring problem.