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Hair masks against dandruff: effective home recipes
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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When dandruff appears, most of us immediately look for the most effective remedy: anti-dandruff shampoos, balms, conditioning rinses, and even creams and gels are used. Sometimes it seems that all means have been tried, and the problem is not going away. Is there a way out of this sad situation? Often, a regular anti-dandruff mask helps to completely get rid of the scourge. As a rule, it is prepared from available products or other components, and the effectiveness of such a procedure is tested and proven by time.
Indications for the procedure
Dandruff is considered one of the signs of pathology in medicine, so it is not recommended to treat it with cosmetics alone - primarily because of the temporary effect. Therefore, an anti-dandruff mask can be a good addition to the general therapy prescribed by a doctor (dermatologist or trichologist). [ 1 ]
What are the usual causes of dandruff in humans?
- Frequent or incorrect hair coloring, lack of hair care, violation of hygiene rules.
- Incorrectly selected, unsuitable shampoo.
- Digestive disorders, stomach and intestinal diseases, poor nutrition.
- Some chronic diseases, intoxications, infections (primarily fungal infections).
In these cases, it is important to eliminate the root cause of the problem - for example, establish a healthy diet, change shampoo, visit a cosmetologist, treat chronic ailments. And a dandruff mask will serve as a pleasant and useful addition: it will speed up the restoration of the sebaceous glands, help quickly cleanse the skin and improve the condition of the hair.
Preparation
In order for the dandruff mask to be as effective as possible, it must be prepared and used correctly. Usually, experts advise applying the mask to dry hair, but this point should be clarified, since sometimes the product works better on damp hair.
The anti-dandruff mask is distributed over the hair exclusively with hands, rubbing it little by little into the scalp. The treatment mass should be applied along the entire length of the hair, and as evenly as possible.
In case of oily dandruff, you need to thoroughly treat the hair roots and skin, and in case of dry dandruff, the hair itself.
To prepare a homemade mask for dandruff, you should use only clean ceramic or glassware. The ingredients, of course, should be fresh, and their quantity should correspond to one serving. It is not advisable to prepare the mass for the mask for future use: during storage, the products spoil, and as a result, the product will not bring benefit, but harm.
To make the anti-dandruff mask work faster and more fully, it is advisable to cover your head with an oilcloth cap or polyethylene after applying the product, and then with a towel. After the recommended time, remove the towel and cap, and wash off the mask with warm water. Hot water should not be used - especially if the mask contains a raw egg.
If the mask was applied to dry hair, it is better to wash it with water using shampoo, and if the head was washed before the procedure, then a regular rinse will be enough. It is optimal to repeat the anti-dandruff masks twice a week.
Technique dandruff masks
It is quite possible to prepare a mask against dandruff without leaving home: this is what most women do who do not have time or extra money to visit salons. The main thing is to choose the right composition of the mask, otherwise dandruff will bother you even more.
Anti-dandruff masks at home
Careful care is required if dry dandruff bothers you. In such a situation, the mask should not only eliminate excess flaking, but also restore the hair structure, moisturize and nourish. One of such products that meets all the specified requirements is olive oil, which is very often used during salon procedures for excessively dry skin. The oil nourishes and moisturizes well, heals microdamage and stimulates tissue regeneration. If you do not have an olive product at hand, you can use any vegetable oil, but preference should be given to sea buckthorn, grape, sesame, peanut analogues.
It is allowed to use an oil mixture: such a mixture is kept on the hair for 60 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water with the addition of shampoo. Such masks are repeated once every three days, for 1-1 ½ months.
Often, available recipes for hair masks against dandruff include chicken or quail eggs, or just the yolk, as well as castor oil, vinegar, glycerin, herbal infusions (chamomile, sage, string, nettle). As a rule, the prepared composition is applied to the scalp, gently rubbed into the root area, put on an oilcloth cap and wrapped in a towel. Wash off the product after 30-60 minutes, repeat the procedure once or twice a week.
Effective anti-dandruff masks
Anti-dandruff masks can contain a variety of ingredients. This depends on a person's cosmetic preferences, the severity of the problem, and the availability of certain components. For example, the cheapest ways to get rid of dandruff are considered to be masks based on onions, salt, soda, and mustard powder. Inexpensive and effective masks are made from kefir, clay, and rye bread.
If the procedure for applying a dandruff mask is to be carried out on colored hair, then in order to avoid damage and color change, only certain components should be used:
- for people with bleached hair, it is better to choose oil masks - for example, mix equal parts of castor and burdock oil, add a little lemon juice and keep it on the scalp for an hour;
- For those who prefer dark shades of dye, it is best to use anti-dandruff masks based on chicken or quail eggs, onion peels, cognac, and coffee grounds.
There are many effective masks that fight dandruff. On the one hand, such a variety can make it difficult to choose. But, on the other hand, each person has the opportunity to choose “their own” remedy that will not only get rid of the annoying problem, but also generally improve the condition of the curls.
- Masks for dandruff and hair loss are often prepared on the basis of oils: castor, burdock, coconut. They may also contain oil solutions of vitamins, yeast, fermented milk products, herbal infusions or decoctions, or components that stimulate local blood circulation (mustard powder, ground pepper, etc.). Herbal supplements, in addition to combating dandruff, pursue the goal of generally improving the condition of the scalp: such plants as chamomile, nettle, yarrow, sage, savory are ideal for this. These herbs can also be used as a rinse.
- Anti-dandruff and anti-itching egg masks have always been considered one of the most effective remedies. After a full course of egg procedures, not only does dandruff disappear, but the quality of hair also improves, becoming stronger and shinier. Egg masks are usually supplemented with such components as lemon juice, vinegar, garlic gruel, honey, and yeast.
- Masks for dry dandruff should contain oils (vegetable, essential), or dairy products (kefir, natural yogurt, whey), or oil solutions of vitamins (for example, tocopherol in capsules, Aevit, etc.). The main action of a mask for dry dandruff is moisturizing and nourishing tissues. Fresh vegetables and fruits are also excellent moisturizers: in addition to moisture, they share vitamins and microelements, antioxidants and acids with the skin. Under the influence of such a rich treatment, dandruff disappears many times faster. For example, a banana-based mask is considered relevant for dry dandruff. To carry out the procedure, take a couple of fully ripe bananas, one tablespoon of olive oil and the same amount of honey. All ingredients are mixed in a blender, the resulting mass is applied to the area of the hair follicles, rubbed into the skin, and then distributed over all the curls. Cover with an oilcloth cap and a towel, leave for 15 minutes, then wash with shampoo.
- Masks for oily dandruff, contrary to popular belief, should not dry out the skin, as this often causes disruption of sebum production. Proper care for oily dandruff involves stabilizing the sebaceous glands, saturating tissues with nutrients, and cleansing the skin. Masks that are supposed to be used in the presence of this problem should nourish, but not weigh down. For example, masks with rye bread, lemon juice or egg, as well as the well-known potato mask, meet these requirements. We will tell you how to prepare it. Grate a couple of raw potatoes, squeeze out the juice, which is then mixed with a glass of kefir. The resulting mixture is applied to the scalp, wrapped in a towel and kept for no more than half an hour, then washed off with water and shampoo. To enrich the mixture with vitamins, you can add grated cucumber or pumpkin pulp to the mixture.
- Anti-dandruff masks with oils can include various oil components. These are vegetable oils (usually olive or burdock, corn, grape seed, peanut or coconut), essential oils (tea tree, jojoba or citrus), oil vitamin solutions. For example, such a mask is effective, which can be used as a basis for all oil masks: take 3 tbsp. corn oil and 2 tsp. lemon juice, mix. Apply to dry curls, rub gently. Wrap your head in a towel, keep for 20 minutes and wash off using your usual shampoo. In this recipe, you can use different types of oils, alternating them at your discretion.
- An anti-dandruff mask with burdock oil helps to get rid of excessive dryness, and also generally strengthens the hair and prevents hair loss. A wonderful mask is prepared on the basis of burdock rhizome, burdock oil (ten tablespoons) and an oil solution of vitamin A (five drops). Fresh rhizome is cut into small pieces, filled with warm oil and placed in a cupboard for 14 days. After the specified time, the product is taken out, filtered, a vitamin solution is added and used as an anti-dandruff mask: apply to dry hair for about half an hour, wash off with shampoo.
- A dandruff mask with castor oil copes well with excessive dryness of the skin. To carry out the procedure, you will need the following ingredients: one tablespoon of castor oil, the same amount of strongly brewed black tea and vodka. Mix everything in a glass bowl, apply to the scalp, rub in lightly, wash off with shampoo after about half an hour.
- A hair mask with an egg for dandruff can include a whole egg or just the yolk (which is most common). The optimal composition is as follows: one raw yolk and 2 tablespoons of any vegetable oil. The ingredients are thoroughly ground, applied to the head and a warming towel or cap is put on. After half an hour, the mask is washed off with lukewarm water, additionally rinsing with shampoo. You should not wash off the product with hot water, since the egg can curdle, and getting rid of it will be much more difficult.
- A mask for dandruff with honey is prepared in different variations, but the most popular is a combination of honey, lemon juice and camphor oil. You need to take 1 tbsp. honey, 1 tsp. lemon juice and a couple of teaspoons of camphor oil. Mix everything, apply to unwashed hair, rub in well, wrap in a towel and leave for 15-20 minutes, then wash your hair as usual with shampoo. Repeat the procedure twice a week.
- A mustard mask for dandruff is considered one of the most popular, as it warms up perfectly, improves blood circulation, which helps to increase trophism, improve tissue nutrition. However, caution is necessary when applying the mask. First of all, mustard powder can cause allergies and skin irritation. And secondly, the product can get into the eyes, which will lead to the most unpleasant sensations and can even become a provoking factor in the development of conjunctivitis. If the mask is applied and used carefully, then you can quickly achieve a positive effect. How to carry out the procedure? Heat 1 liter of water, dilute 3 tbsp. mustard powder in it, treat the skin and hair with the resulting mixture, cover with a cap and a towel. Wash off the product after half an hour, using warm water. This procedure cannot be repeated often. Experts do not advise using it more than once a week.
- The onion mask for dandruff is applied only to the root area so that after the procedure there is no characteristic onion aroma. But few people know about this, continuing to distribute the mask over all their hair. When applying the onion mass for the first time, you should be extremely careful, since onions are quite an aggressive plant and can cause allergic reactions or even burns. If unpleasant symptoms begin to appear after application, the product must be washed off as quickly as possible. Onion masks come in different varieties, with all sorts of additional ingredients. But the simplest is considered to be a regular mono mask: take 2 tablespoons of onion juice, rub it thoroughly into the root area, warm your head and keep it for half an hour. Then wash off the product with shampoo (the water should be at room temperature). If desired, add honey, cognac, aloe juice to the onion juice.
- A dandruff mask with kefir can also be prepared with natural yogurt or fresh curdled milk. Additional ingredients usually include oils (olive, flaxseed, burdock) and a piece of rye bread. Take one teaspoon of oil base per 100 ml of kefir. Mix everything, add a piece of bread, and rub. Apply to the scalp for 25-30 minutes, rinse with water without detergent. If there is no time to prepare a mask, experts advise simply moistening the roots with fresh kefir and keeping it on the head for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Even periodic rinsing with a fermented milk product will help gradually get rid of the fungal infection, which in most cases causes dandruff.
- Lemon masks for dandruff come in different forms – for example, sometimes lemon juice or lemon tincture is used in the composition. The latter option is a very effective remedy that helps get rid of oily dandruff, but it should be used carefully to avoid excessive dryness of the skin. Here's how to prepare such a mask. Squeeze the juice from one medium lemon, mix with a glass of high-quality vodka. Soak the root area with the resulting product daily, leave for about half an hour and wash off with lemon water without using shampoo. Lemon water in this case is a mixture of 500 ml of boiled water and three tablespoons of lemon juice. Regular use of this procedure quickly reduces the amount of sebum secretions, normalizes the function and cleanses the epidermis, strengthens the hair.
- A salt mask for dandruff is also an excellent peeling agent, because the use of sea salt helps to get rid of exfoliated and dead cells much faster than other means. Dandruff disappears faster, hair becomes healthier, as it is saturated with nutrients and oxygen. The recipe for a salt mask is extremely simple: for a month, twice a week, the root zone is moistened with water and sea salt is rubbed into it. Then the hair is left for 15-20 minutes, after which it is washed with warm water without shampoo. If you add a few drops of essential oil to the salt, you can achieve not only the disappearance of dandruff, but also strengthen and improve the health of the hair follicles.
- A dandruff mask with vinegar is more suitable for oily hair, but most often people simply rinse their hair with a vinegar solution after washing, not knowing that an excellent and effective mask can be prepared based on such a solution. We offer you one of the effective recipes for a similar dandruff mask. Take 2 tbsp. fresh nettle leaves, the same amount of chopped nettle roots, one liter of boiling water, 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and sea buckthorn oil. Pour the chopped nettle into boiling water, leave for half an hour to infuse. Filter, cool, add vinegar with oil, apply to the scalp for about 20 minutes (wrapped in a towel), rinse. Repeat the treatment twice a week.
- A dandruff mask with clay is the best remedy for oily seborrhea. Clay has long been used instead of shampoo: it absorbs and removes fat well, regulating the sebaceous glands. White cosmetic clay is best suited for getting rid of dandruff: it is applied to damp hair, rubbed well into the root zone, left for about 10 minutes and washed off without using detergent. The procedure can be repeated every other day, or once every three days. After about 3-4 procedures, the effect becomes especially noticeable: dandruff becomes significantly less, and the hair becomes stronger and healthier, oily shine and itching disappear. The recommended course of treatment is one month.
- A mask with dimexide for dandruff is used very carefully, observing all the rules, so as not to cause harm. The role of dimexide is to improve and facilitate the penetration of useful substances deep into the tissues, so this drug is always not the main, but a complementary component, along with vitamin and nutritional components. For example, this is what an ideal mask for dandruff with dimexide looks like: mix 1 teaspoon of burdock oil and the same amount of castor oil, open the contents of one capsule of Aevit, add one raw yolk, 1 teaspoon of vitamin B 6 and a third of a teaspoon of dimexide. The mask is applied to clean and dry hair (there should be nothing on the hair, not even balm or conditioner). The product is applied not to the hair itself, but to the skin underneath it (it is imperative to use protective gloves). The mask is kept on the head for half an hour, wrapped in a towel, and then washed off. Frequency of procedures – once every 3-4 days. After a month of treatment, you should take the same break. Contraindications – pregnancy, lactation period, liver diseases, glaucoma.
- There are several variations of a soda mask for dandruff. The first one involves mixing baking soda and a small amount of your favorite shampoo (about ½ teaspoon of soda per the same amount of detergent). Rub the resulting mixture into the skin, hold for 15-20 minutes and rinse with regular warm water. The second option is to rub a small amount of soda into the root zone. After 10-15 minutes, rinse the soda with water and shampoo, repeat the treatment 2-3 times a week. In addition, soda in small quantities can be added to almost any other anti-dandruff mask - for example, egg, honey, kefir. Soda is also used to rinse hair: in this case, mix 200 ml of warm water and 1 teaspoon of soda.
- An olive oil anti-dandruff mask is suitable for treating dry and damaged hair. The mask composition is as follows: 1 tbsp. of oil and the same amount of cognac. The ingredients are mixed, applied to the roots for about half an hour, then washed as usual with shampoo. Cognac can be replaced with vodka or rum, and olive oil - with another vegetable oil or castor oil.
- An aspirin mask for dandruff successfully fights the cause of the problem – a fungal infection. How to prepare such a mask correctly? Take 4 tablets of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), ¼ cup of linden tea (can be replaced with sage or chamomile infusion), 1 tbsp. lemon juice (optional), a few drops of essential oil (optional). Break the aspirin into powder, dilute it in the herbal infusion, add oil and juice. Apply the mixture to the root zone, wrap your head in a towel (you can additionally warm the towel with a hairdryer). Wash off the product after 15 minutes. The recommended frequency of use is once every 4-6 days. Aspirin should not be used for dry seborrhea, as well as by women during pregnancy.
Contraindications to the procedure
Anti-dandruff masks should not be used if a person is allergic to any of the ingredients in the product. It should also be taken into account that even completely healthy people who do not suffer from allergies may react to individual components: such a reaction is manifested by redness, skin irritation, itching, burning. To avoid this, do not overdo it with adding such components as mustard, cinnamon, pepper, coarse salt, onion, garlic to the mask.
To make sure that a product is safe to use in making an anti-dandruff mask, apply a small amount of it briefly to the inside of your elbow or behind your earlobe. If there is no redness or irritation, you can add this ingredient to the mask.
It is important to avoid the medicinal mass getting on the mucous membrane of the eye, since contact with the irritant can cause redness and lacrimation, up to the development of conjunctivitis. If part of the mask does get into the eye, it is necessary to rinse it with plenty of running water as soon as possible.
Consequences after the procedure
Incorrectly selected ingredients for preparing a mask can provoke a number of problems that you will have to fight in the future along with the annoying dandruff. For example, many substances and products can cause the development of an allergic process, or even lead to more serious consequences than just deterioration in quality or hair loss.
The more natural the composition, the better and safer it is for your hair. The addition of hypoallergenic simple components, such as cosmetic types of clay, pharmacy vitamins, seaweed, essential and vegetable oils, glycerin is welcomed.
Complications after the procedure will not occur if you follow these simple recommendations:
- Decide how often you should repeat the procedure with a dandruff mask. As a rule, the frequency depends on the type of hair, as well as the degree of damage. Of course, the application should be systematic in any case, otherwise there will be no talk of any effectiveness. For dry hair, it is enough to use the mask once a week, and for oily dandruff - twice a week, but not more often than once every 3 days. Excessive diligence and frequent repetition of the procedure will not lead to anything good: firstly, the skin easily becomes oversaturated with oils and active substances, as a result of which the function of the sebaceous glands and the quality of the hair follicles can be disrupted. As a result - gradual alopecia, changes in oiliness, irritation of the skin. If the dandruff mask has a gelatin base, then it is allowed to apply it no more than once every 2-3 months.
- Many people believe that the longer the dandruff mask is on the head, the better it will work. This is not true: the optimal period of action of the mask is 20 minutes, while a deviation of up to 30 minutes is allowed, but no more. Long-term retention of the medicinal mass will lead to the exact opposite result: the quality of the hair and skin will deteriorate, dandruff will increase.
- If the mask contains active irritants - for example, mustard powder, cinnamon - then such procedures are carried out very carefully, for a period of no more than 2 months, with a further break of 4 weeks. Only after a break can the course of therapy be repeated. The fact is that these irritants can dry out tissues, which often leads to thinning hair, dry dandruff, itching and burning.
If the anti-dandruff mask is used for preventive purposes, it is advisable to repeat its application once every 2-3 weeks, and in case of increased oiliness - once a month.
Care after the procedure
Do you need special care after using the anti-dandruff mask? In order for your hair to become healthy and beautiful, and for dandruff to not return, you need to follow these recommendations:
- It is very important to use a suitable shampoo that matches your hair type and does not cause dandruff. It is better to choose such a shampoo in advance, consulting with a specialist.
- It is essential to comb your hair both before and after washing. This will improve blood circulation and improve the condition of your skin and hair.
- You should wash your hair only with warm water – that is, not hot and not cold, about 40°C. But as for rinsing, it is optimal to use cool water, about 30°C.
- After the procedure, you cannot rub your hair with a towel: you can only gently blot it, or simply wrap your head in a towel for about ten minutes. The latter method is the most optimal.
- You should not go to bed if your hair is not yet dry: this will negatively affect its condition.
- After each procedure, it is allowed to use a conditioner or rinse balm that is suitable for a particular case. However, experts advise using herbal decoctions or infusions instead of such a remedy - for example, chamomile or nettle.
During treatment with dandruff masks, other treatment methods can be used. In particular, additional intake of special multivitamin complexes containing B vitamins, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, and also have a wide microelement composition is welcomed.
Reviews of anti-dandruff masks
Dandruff often appears, seemingly, “out of the blue” due to temperature changes, weakened immunity, or when using a new shampoo. And often the problem is solved by regular use of special hair masks, which will help restore cleanliness to the scalp - provided that all the rules for their application are followed. The correct combinations of ingredients, proper application, post-procedure care - and dandruff really does recede.
If we consider the existing reviews, the main thing is to choose the right mask and use it regularly. The visible effect should be noticeable after the first procedure: the skin will be cleansed, the hair structure will be restored, smoothness and thickness will be revealed.
The advantage of "homemade" masks is that they are made from natural ingredients: oils, pharmacy vitamins, dairy products, herbal infusions, spices, etc. Egg-based masks are considered especially effective - usually citrus juice, aloe, honey or yeast are added to them. Dairy products have an excellent effect against dandruff, regulating the activity of bacteria in the hair area and improving the condition of the follicles.
"Homemade" masks are harmless, effective, natural. They are easy to prepare and affordable.
The anti-dandruff mask should not be applied daily. Skin and hair need time to recover, and too intensive procedures will only harm the healing process.