by Tiffany Walking Eagle | 3-minute read

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If you've ever had dandruff, you know how frustrating and embarrassing it can be. I myself get pesky flakes on occasion, and my husband has a particularly irritated scalp that drives him crazy. We've tried all the usual methods and shampoos and nothing seemed to work...except for these awesome, all natural remedies.

Whether you've tried strong-scented dandruff shampoos with no luck or you'd just prefer to try a more natural approach, check out these simple remedies to calm your angry, flaky scalp.

1. Douse on the Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural cleaner, made into salad dressing, aid in weight loss (so they say?), and -- you guessed it -- banish dandruff. What can't it do? Anyway, the pH of your skin and hair is naturally supposed to be slightly acidic, and the acid in ACV helps to restore balance to your scalp and eliminate dandruff fast. Just mix equal parts ACV and filtered water in a spray bottle, spritz it on in the shower, and rinse. Whether you apply it before or after you shampoo and condition doesn't really matter, so just play around with this method to see what works best for you (if you hate the smell, shampoo afterward, but either way it fades as your hair dries). I recommend this brand, but any unfiltered kind will do.

2. Treat with Tea Tree Oil.

There are a number of ways you can use tea tree oil to treat dandruff. Mix in a few drops into another oil such as olive, almond, or coconut oil, massage into the scalp, and let it soak for about ten minutes or so before shampooing it out. Adding a few drops to your regular shampoo is also effective. It is a pretty strong essential oil though, so don't put it directly on your scalp, and it's recommended you do a skin patch test before use.

3. Use a Dandruff Brush.

Dandruff brushes are small, genius little devices you can use in the shower to loosen dandruff flakes so they can be easily washed away. Simply apply shampoo and scrub your entire head with the brush. It's basically an invigorating scalp massage, and it doubles as a way to give you a little extra boost of energy in the morning. This one is from Amazon is cheap and works like a charm.

4. Moisturize Your Scalp with Coconut Oil.

Usually ACV is my go-to method that works every time, but when we moved from always-tropical California to the dry-as-a-bone Kansas winters, even ACV wasn't always doing the trick. If you live in an extremely dry area or you tend to get dandruff in the winter months, your scalp could be begging for moisture, so try massaging your scalp with coconut oil before washing your hair. (Be sure to shampoo thoroughly afterwards if you want to avoid that wet hair look; coconut oil is thick!)

5. Take Probiotics.

Taking probiotics is highly beneficial for your digestive health, and it's also been shown to help reduce dandruff. In this small study, dandruff was drastically reduced in participants who took probiotics daily for two months, and they also noticed their scalps were much less oily.

Do you have any awesome dandruff remedies you'd like to share? Post them in the comments!