Dandruff can be caused by sensitive, dry scalp or skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Additionally, styling agents, shampoos and hair dyes can cause your scalp to become red, dry and itchy. This causes your scalp to shed flaky dandruff. If your hair is very thick, you might find it difficult to eliminate dandruff because your scalp is difficult to access. However, there are methods you can use to get rid of dandruff in thick hair.
Comb long and thick hair patiently, section by section, while shaking your hair vigorously to remove dandruff. Use a wide-tooth comb instead of a hairbrush.
Use a good anti-dandruff shampoo daily. There are numerous over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoos you can choose. Look for a shampoo that includes zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide. These ingredients lessen dandruff production by reducing the growth of skin cells on your scalp. You should see an improvement in your dandruff in three or four weeks. Use enough shampoo to get a good lather -- thick hair usually requires more shampoo than is indicated on the product label.
Apply a conditioner after shampooing to help stop dandruff from occurring. A conditioner moisturizes your hair and scalp, preventing them from becoming dry. Look for hair conditioners with sunscreen, minerals and vitamin E. Avoid conditioners that contain petroleum derivatives or sodium laureth sulfate, as these compounds can dry and irritate your scalp.
Apply 2 tablespoons of vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel and massage into your dry scalp and hair. Leave the vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel on your scalp overnight and rinse and shampoo in the morning. Applying vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel can soften and loosen dandruff so it washes out. They can also keep your scalp moisturized to prevent future dandruff outbreaks.
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Writer Bio
Frank Dioso is a trained medical technologist working for prominent research institutions such as Quest Diagnostics and California Clinical Trials. He has, for many years, ghostwritten clinical trial reports for confidential pharmaceutical drugs and is currently contributing his clinical laboratory science knowledge to online how-to articles.