A person’s hair is like a second face-when it looks great it can take years off your looks and boost your confidence. So, dry, flakey, itchy scalps can be truly concerning! So, if you want healthy, strong, shiny, vibrant hair, without the itch and flakes, look no further than your own home to treat dry, itchy scalp issues!

My hair is clean, so why is my scalp so itchy?

Itchy scalp can be brought on by:

Many people experience dry, itchy scalp-especially in the winter! All that dry, indoor heat may have you seeing some flaking and even hair loss. This condition is not caused by dirty hair, but rather a lack of moisture in the skin on your scalp

Dry scalp is not to be confused with dandruff. Dandruff is caused by an overabundance of yeast on the skin surface, caused by too much oil being secreted through the pores in your scalp. Dandruff can be treated by washing the hair daily or with a dandruff shampoo containing zinc or selenium sulfide.

*Chemical hair treatments

*Harsh shampoos and conditioners

*Cold weather

*Product buildup

*Poor diet

*Too much sugar, fat and starch in your diet

*Heredity

*Hard water

*Emotional stress and lack of sleep

*Hormonal imbalances such as due to menopause or pregnancy

*Not thoroughly rinsing shampoo, conditioner and styling products when washing your hair

*Over-using bleach, hair color, perm or straightening solutions

The best way to combat a dry scalp:

Wash your hair every other day to remove dead skin cells while allowing the production of healthy oils. Use a gentle, natural shampoo and conditioner and apply chemical treatments sparingly. Go easy on the styling products and make sure you wash them out of the hair and rinse well.

In between treatments, try to minimize the damage caused to your scalp. Choose a gentle, natural shampoo or baby shampoo and wash your hair every two days and rinse well. Deep condition your hair once a week in the winter. Above all, drink plenty of fluids and eat a well-balanced, natural diet (skip the processed food It's full of preservatives, salt, fat, to name a few horrors!) to take care of your skin from the inside out.

Here are 10 natural ways to combat dry, itchy scalp:

1. Tea Tree Oil

This oil combats dry itchy skin in 3 ways. It has antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. There are two ways to apply Tea Tree Oil. You can add about 20 drops to a cup of baby shampoo or mix a few drops into a tablespoon of vegetable oil and massage it into your scalp, leaving it on for about 15 minutes. Within a week or two, you should start to see an improvement.

2. Lemon Juice

You can squeeze lemon juice directly onto your scalp or, for dandruff, add it to yogurt and apply it to the scalp for 5 minutes then shampoo. Lemon juice acts as a natural antiseptic which will help relieve itching. It smells good, too.

3. Baking Soda

This is a great way to exfoliate the scalp. Mix with water to form a paste and massage it into the scalp. When finished, shampoo. For severe dryness, rub some olive oil into the scalp before applying the paste.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar naturally balances the pH levels on the skin and its anti-inflammatory properties will help alleviate dry itchy skin. Just mix equal amounts of cider and water and spray it onto the scalp or apply with cotton balls twice a week.

5. Aloe Vera

If you don’t have an Aloe Vera plant, you can buy the gel in any health and beauty store. Massage it into your scalp, wait 15 minutes then wash hair with gentle shampoo. You can do this as often as you want.

6.) Witch Hazel

This is a natural astringent and will help relieve itching. Mix one part with hazel with two parts water and apply to the scalp. Let it sit for fifteen minutes and wash with a gentle shampoo.

7. Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise helps in two ways. One, it contains eggs, which are full of protein and that’s what hair is mostly made of. Two, the vinegar in it will disinfect and neutralize any fungus or bacteria that might be causing your scalp to itch. Massage it into your scalp and leave it on for fifteen minutes, then wash your hair with gentle shampoo.

8. Avocados

Avocados are rife with vitamins, minerals and natural oils. Blend or mash some avocado with coconut oil or olive oil and apply to the scalp for fifteen to twenty minutes before washing. This is also great for dry hair, just apply it all over.