If you are wondering how to treat that annoying dry scalp, then look no further. We have got you covered with a detailed guide on treatment of dry scalp. You will get handy tips on how to treat dry scalp at home be it for toddlers and infants or for adults. And if you are a fun of natural remedies, then you will delight in the “how to treat dry scalp naturally” section.
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Treatment for Dry Scalp – How to Treat Dry Scalp
If you are into the habit of reading around in hair care and beauty websites, then you have most likely come across statements and questions like, “Can someone tell me how to treat dry scalp?” “What is the best treatment for dry scalp?” and “How do you treat dry scalp in children?”
Before we go into treatment of dry scalp, let us reiterate here that dry scalp and dandruff is not one and the same thing. Dry scalp is just like it sound; a scalp lacking in moisture which is characterized by itching and small white flakes that come off very easily.
Dandruff on the other hand is characterized by yellowish white flakes that are typically greasy and comes off the scalp less easily.
This article will focus on treatment for dry scalp in the first context as opposed to dandruff even though it is sometimes not easy to draw a line between the two. Without further ado here is how to treat dry scalp.
Hot oil Treatment
The sebaceous glands in the scalp (as with any part of the skin) produce oils called sebum which keeps the scalp moisturized naturally. Sometimes sebum is not produces in adequate quantities which often lead to dryness. Factors such as dehydrating winter conditions and poor diet can also lead to scalp dryness.
Applying oil to your scalp can help make up for the deficit. Hot oil treatment is an awesome treatment for dry scalp and is my first choice for dry

scalp treatment. Here is how to give your scalp a hot oil treatment at home:
Requirements
- Coconut oil (olive oil and grapeseed oil can also be used)
- Saucepan
Procedure
- Pour some of your oil into the saucepan and warm it up. Remember that you will be applying the oil on your scalp and ending up with a scald is the last thing you would want.
- Apply the warm (not hot) oil onto your scalp
- Wrap your head with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave it on for half hour
- Wash the oil off with warm water and finish by shampooing and conditioning your hair as you normally do.
Apple cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another popular treatment for dry scalp. Apple cider vinegar balances the ph on your hair and scalp while removing and buildup of hair care products that often cause scalp dryness. You can use apple cider vinegar diluted with water to treat dry scalp or else follow the following recipe.
Ingredients

- 3 cups water
- rosemary oil
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
Directions
- In a small pot or saucepan, pour the water and then mix it with about 10 drops of rosemary oil
- Boil the mixture and then allow it to simmer over low heat for 45 minutes
- Allow the mixture to cool down and then pour in the apple cider vinegar
- Pour the mix into a spray bottle and apply it to your hair and scalp after shampooing
- Rinse it out with water but is you want, you can as well leave it in
How to Treat Dry Scalp At Home with Eggs, Olive Oil and Mayonnaise
Here is another procedure that you may want to use to treat dry scalp at home:

In a small basin, add 2 egg yolks, 1/8 cup of water and 2 teaspoonfuls of olive oil. Stir them until well blended.
Shampoo your hair and then apply the mixture thoroughly all over your scalp using your fingertips and a comb to separate the hair
Allow the mixture some 15 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Don’t use very hot water lest you end up having scrambled eggs on your hair.
The good thing about this treatment for dry scalp is that it gives the added benefit of supplying the hair with protein (from the egg yolk) in addition to the moisturizing effect that helps to heal dry scalp.
How to Treat Dry Scalp Naturally with Avocado, Olive Oil and Honey
If you are fun of natural remedies, then you may want to treat that dry scalp naturally using the following procedure:
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
Directions
- In a small bowl, mix the ingredients and stir them thoroughly till well blended
- Apply the mixture all over your scalp using your fingertips
- Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the mixture on for at least 30 minutes
- Rinse it off with warm water and then shampoo your hair lightly.
Infant Dry Scalp Treatment
Infants get dry scalp for largely the same reasons as adults. For example, weather changes in winter (low humidity that is) and the associated use of heating furnaces inside the house can lead to scalp dryness. Hard water and poor diet can as well lead to infants’ dry scalp.
Applying some olive oil onto your baby’s scalp is the best treatment option for dry scalp in infants. There are also several moisturizing shampoo brands that are formulated for use in babies but you should ideally stay away from them if your child is below 6 years old.
Toddler Dry Scalp Treatment
Toddlers (babies aged between 1 and 3 years) are even more susceptible to dry scalp because they get exposed to more causative factors for dry scalp. For example, they are more likely to go outside in the sun which can dry out their scalp.

Fortunately toddlers are better suited to withstand most of the treatment options for dry scalp. In addition to the home remedies mentioned in this article, you may want to try applying some olive oil, baby oil, Vaseline onto your toddler’s scalp. A moisturizing baby shampoo such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and Selsum Blue can also help to treat dry scalp.
All said and done, you can prevent toddler dry scalp by using mild baby soaps and products and addressing any underlying factors around your home. For example, you may want to add a humidifier in your house during winter months and ensure proper diet for your loved one.
Best Dry Scalp Treatment
So what is the best dry scalp treatment? Well let’s just say that the results of each dry scalp treatment option vary from one person to another. No single treatment option is guaranteed to work for everyone and for every case of dry scalp.
However a hot oil treatment would make for a safe bet in most instances. The principle behind hot oil treatment is provision and restoration of skin moisture since loss of moisture is the most common culprit for dry scalp (NB: I am not talking about dandruff (or cradle cap when it occurs in babies).
Heating the oil increase the rate of its absorption but you should be careful not to scald your head with excessively hot oil (as a matter of fact we should be talking about warming the oil here).
Depending on the ingredients you have at home, and/or your budget you can use one form of essential oil (olive oil has a relatively higher rating) for hot oil treatment or use a combination of two or more. For example, you can mix coconut oil with olive and grapeseed oil.
For instructions on how to prepare oil treatment remedy at home, see the “Treatment for Dry Scalp” section above.
Beyond These Cures for Dry Scalp – More Helpful Tips

You may also want to observe the following tips for a more-complete treatment regime for dry scalp:
- Avoid harsh soaps and detergents: you’ll especially want to avoid products that contains sodium lauryl sulfate as it can dry and irritate the scalp
- Avoid using hard water on your scalp; using a filter on the showerhead can help to remove some of the minerals responsible for the hardness
- Observe proper nutrition: in addition to getting lots of leafy vegetables, whole grain foods and lean meat, you should consider taking foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as spinach, walnuts, salmon, and flaxseeds
- Avoid excessive styling of your hair: frequent blow-drying and straightening are known to particularly cause drying of the scalp and you may want to cut down on such treatments if you are experiencing dry scalp
- Hydrocortisone Cream: If all the above dry scalp treatment options don’t seem to help, try using 1% hydrocortisone cream twice a day and if that still don’t work out, consider seeking the advice of your doctor health care provider.
Further Suggested Reading
- Dry Patches on Scalp – Flaky, White, Scaly, Itch and Red
- Dry Scalp Shampoo – Best Brands, For Men, Women, Kids and Moisturizing
- How to Get Rid of Dry Scalp – Naturally, Itchy, for Men
- Dry Scalp Remedies and Home Remedies for Dry Scalp
- Dry Itchy Scalp Causes, Home Remedies, Shampoos and Treatment
- Baby Dry Scalp – Newborn, Toddler, Infant Treatment and Remedies
- Dry Flaky Scalp – Cause, Flakey, Treatment and Remedies
- Extremely Dry Scalp, Very Dry, Chronic, Excessive and Extra Dry Scalp
- Dry Scalp – What to Do For Dry Scalp, What Is Good, Products, and Solutions
- What Causes Dry Scalp, What Is, Hair Loss, Dandruff and Prevention