Lemon for Dandruff: Is it Safe, How to Use, and Side Effects
Can We Apply Lemon on Hair?
Yes. As a matter of fact, lemon is one of the most effective cures for dandruff. As it is rich in antioxidants and contains essential vitamins like vitamin C, lemon helps maintain hair health.
Lemon For Dandruff
Is lemon good for dandruff?
Lemon helps strengthen hair follicles. It provides essential nutrients like flavonoids and citric acid to the hair.
As per a 2015 study, the citric acid present in lemon is a natural pH balancer. By balancing the scalp’s pH level, lemon helps keep dandruff at bay.
Often, excess oils in the scalp lead to scalp flakes and dandruff buildup. Lemon eliminates these excess oils and fights scalp flakes. It even has antimicrobial properties that fight the fungus causing dandruff. That is why haircare many companies include citrus fruits like lemons in their shampoos.
Certain items when combined with lemon enhance its dandruff-treating properties. Here are some of the potent combinations that you can use to apply lemon juice for dandruff.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Cotton ball
How To Use:
- Put two tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl.
- Add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix.
- Dip the cotton ball into the mixture.
- Make thin partitions and apply them to the scalp.
- Let it rest for 20 minutes.
- Rinse it off.
How often: Twice a week
2. Almond Oil and Lemon Juice
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3-4 tablespoons almond oil
- 3 drops of tea tree oil (optional)
How To Use:
- Warm up the almond oil on indirect heat.
- Add tea tree oil and lemon juice to it.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage.
- Let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with a mild shampoo.
How often: 2-4 times a week
You can also use other oils in place of almond oil. Olive oil and lemon juice for dandruff is highly effective as is mustard oil and coconut oil mixed with lemon.
3. Aloe Vera and Lemon
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
How To Use Aloe Vera and Lemon For Hair Dandruff:
- Mix the lemon juice with aloe vera gel.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp.
- Massage and let the pack rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with a mild shampoo.
How often: Twice a week
4. Amla and Lemon
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons amla juice
- Cotton ball
How To Use:
- Mix lemon juice with amla juice in a bowl.
- Apply it to your scalp.
- Let it rest for half an hour.
- Rinse your hair with shampoo.
How often: Once every 3-4 days
5. Yoghurt and Lemon
Ingredients:
- One tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Yoghurt
- One tablespoon honey
How To Use:
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp.
- Let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with a mild shampoo.
How often: 2-3 times a week
Also Read: Lemon Juice and Curd Remedies for Dandruff
6. Egg and Lemon
Ingredients:
- One tablespoon lemon juice
- One egg
How To Use:
- Whip the egg in a bowl.
- Add lemon juice to it and mix.
- Apply it to your scalp and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Rinse it off with a mild shampoo.
How often: Once a week
7. Honey and Lemon
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
How To Use:
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl.
- Add some water to the mixture if required.
- Apply it to your hair and scalp.
- Let it rest for 10-12 minutes.
- Rinse it off with a mild shampoo.
How often: Once in every 4-5 days
8. Baking Soda and Lemon
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
How To Use Baking Soda and Lemon For Dandruff:
- Mix lemon juice with baking soda.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp.
- Let it rest for 4-5 minutes or till your scalp starts itching.
- Rinse it off thoroughly with water.
How often: Once a week
9. Tea and Lemon Juice
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons tea powder
- One tablespoon lemon juice
How To Use Tea and Lemon For Dandruff Treatment:
- Prepare a thick, consistent tea by adding water to the tea powder.
- Brew the tea for a few minutes.
- Now strain the decoction and add lemon juice to it.
- Mix the ingredients well.
- Use the cotton ball to apply the solution to your scalp
- Let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Rinse it off.
How Often: Twice a week
How To Use Lemons To Treat Dandruff
To treat dandruff, you can apply lemon directly or mix it with other ingredients. All the ingredients mentioned above are exceedingly potent to get rid of dandruff.
Lemon for scalp care is highly effective. For direct application, you can apply lemon juice to the scalp as a pre-shampoo therapy.
Let it rest for a few minutes before rinsing. It allows the lemon to penetrate the hair follicles. For consistent results, you can repeat applying lemon juice for dandruff on every wash day.
Lemon For Dandruff Side Effects
Here are a few side effects of lemon on hair:
- Redness
- Dryness
- Increased dandruff
- Stinging
- Burning
These side effects result from directly applying lemon to your scalp. So if you experience any of these, stop using lemon for the scalp immediately.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lemon-juice-in-hair