How do we choose the best hair oil for dandruff? Before we choose products, we shoud understand what dandruff is and what triggers it.

Dandruff is , an extremely common condition. It is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis which causes greasy shiny patches, itchiness and shedding of skin – its usually found in the scalp and close to the hair line. It often worsens in winter and many of us tend to experience scalp itchiness and high shedding with large oily flakes.

The most common advice we get when we develop dandruff is to wash the hair frequently and use a strong synthetic shampoo for dandruff. However, this approach doesn’t effectively tackle the root cause of dandruff. And dandruff keeps on recurring.

 Ayurveda offers a better, more holistic solution to dandruff. And we use gentle but highly effective herbs that actually improve scalp health in the long term.

How is dandruff caused according to Ayurveda?

Dandruff is described as a minor “roga” (health condition) in Ayurveda . Depending upon which dosha is aggravated, we may see slightly different symptoms. However, in all kinds of dandruff, we see itching / irritation in the scalp, flaking of the scalp, sometimes thickening of the scalp flakes, and hair loss .

Dandruff can be of two types and are commonly called Dry dandruff and Oily Dandruff.

In Dry dandruff there is an aggravation in Vata dosha, caused primarily by the use of strong drying shampoos on the hair and neglecting regular hair oiling. This is further exacerbated by eating dry, crisp , hard foods, high mental stress, long commutes and a vata aggravating lifestyle.

This manifests as small, white and powdery flakes. This reduces when we cut doen on shampoos, oil the scalp regularly and reduce vata aggaravation overall.

 Oily dandruff is often referred to as seborrheic dermatitis . This manifests as thick, yellow oily looking flakes, with scab formation and scalp thickening in these areas. There is intense itching and when the scalp is scratched, there is a visible sticky clump of scalp flakes that is dislodged form the scalp.

Oily dandruff has a Pitta-Kapha aggravation along with Vata aggravation. Pitta dosha aggravation contributes to the minor inflammations & the watery, smelly scalp secretions that attract fungal micro-organisms to the scalp. Kapha contributes to the scalp oiliness, thickening of the scalp due to the oily, fat rich deposits in the sebum & the itching feeling. Vata dosha aggravation contributes to the scalp prickling and pain.

How oily / fungal dandruff progresses in the scalp:

When oily / fungal dandruff is untreated, we start to see hair loss around the areas of the dandruff patches. Using a clarifying anti dandruff shampoo dries out these patches temporarily. But as the oiliness keeps coming back, over time we start to see hair clumping and falling in these spots.

Therefore it is important to treat the root cause of the dandruff in order to improve the scalp health.

In the case of Oily / Fungal dandruff, the  actual problem starts internally . Perhaps due to an improper diet, lifestyle changes, there is an internal dosha imbalance. The quality of all secretions from the body (sweat, urine, semen, etc) is determined by the quality of food we take. So when our system has a pitta kapha imbalance, the sweat will also be rich in pitta and kapha based substances. To repeat: the  underlying body imbalance causes the sweat emanating from the scalp to have a composition that is sweet & fat rich. This attracts the presence of otherwise benign fungal organisms which then begin rapidly multiplying on the head. 

As the condition develops, there is itching, thickening and scaling of the scalp with thick, oily , large, creamy looking flakes. Due to incessant scratching, there could be micro tears in the scalp, which offer more food to the fungal micro organisms. In very chronic cases, at these infestation spots there is poor hair growth, and sometimes the hair falls out in clumps in these areas.

How to craft the best hair oil for dandruff - Ayurvedic POV 

We face a unique challenge in creating the Krya  ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil to discourage fungal dandruff. Ayurveda does not ever recommend the use of harsh “silver bullet” products which harshly discourage fungal organisms. As the underlying imbalance is not addressed, such products tend to give only temporary relief but also severely damage the scalp and make it very dry. This is why dandruff tends to be such a chronic problem.

 The tricky part of creating an ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil is this: All ayurvedic oil formulations that encourage good hair growth essentially need to be Madhura (sweet), and Sheetya (cooling) in nature. But such nourishing hair oil products give more nutrition to fungal micro organisms. So we cannot use a regular ayurvedic hair oil formulation to tackle dandruff.

This is exactly why using good quality vegetable oils like cold pressed or virgin coconut oil actually worsens fungal dandruff. The oil feeds instead of deterring the fungal micro organisms.

Instead, an ayurvedic anti dandruff oil formulation needs to be bitter, slightly astringent and cooling in nature – this will cut down the growth medium of the micro organisms and encourage proper scalp growth without the thickening and flaking we see. To encourage proper scalp nutrition, mildly bitter ayurvedic herbs are used, which continue to nourish the scalp WITHOUT encouraging fungal growth.

The problem with using castor oil or coconut oil for dandruff 

Castor oil helps pacify vata and pitta dosha but can aggarvate Kapha dosha. Hence in oly, fungal dandruff, using castor oil as is may further trigger scalp oiliness . It needs to be processed with herbs to make its suitable for fungal dandruff.

Similarly in the case of coconut oil, while it is in general a good Keshya (hair growth increasing) oil, it is contrindicated in aggravated Kapha dosha as we see in oily dandruff. So again here, if we use it directly it can feed the growth of fungal micro organisms and aggravate oily dandruff. It needs to be processed correctly with the right herbs to reduce its heavy, sweet nature. 

What is the ayurvedic POV on using essential oils for Dandruff

If we do a search online, we come across many essential oils that could potentially help with dandruff, like tea tree oil, rosemary oil. peppermint oil, etc.

However in Ayurveda, we do not use essential oils like this. For one essential oils are extremely concentrated and are extremley powerful. Certain essential oils like tea tree oil are so potent that they are not safe to be used around animals, etc.

For dandruff, we have to solve a variety of issues: we have to balance out the excess sebum, cut down the thickening of scalp, reduce itchiness and reduce scalp shedding. In addition we have to clean up the scalp and make it unsuitable for the fungal organisms that trigger dandruff. Finally, we have to ensure that the product stimulates hair growth besides offering a holistic remedy for dandruff.   

Most essential oils are unidimensional offering a limited range of benefits. Moreover they are also extremely potent and should only be used with caution. 

This is why a carefully formulated oil as per ayurvedic principles is a better option to soothe an itchy scalp, & as a holistic dandruff treatment product.

The Krya anti dandruff hair oil - The best hair oil to reduce dandruff

Going by the principles of Ayurveda, we also formulate our Anti dandruff hair oil to be HIGHLY bitter. We use different herb , fruit and vegetable compositions from our regular hair oils, selected to discourage the organisms we are dealing with.

 The Krya ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil is made from 30+ ayurvedic herbs, vegetables & fruits processed in 3 organic , cold pressed hair oils. Some of these herbs are repeated across Swarasa (fresh juice), Kashaya (herb decoction) and Kalpa (herb paste) to increase their potency in the formulation.

Each method of extracting them selectively extracts different kinds of actives from the herb / vegetable. The Samhitas guide us with the right extraction method for each herb - so for example, Bhringaraj is always used fresh as a Swarasa / Kalpa, never as a Kashaya as it loses its potency this way.

 For this formulation, we add a mixture of highly bitter , moderately bitter and mildly bitter herbs ! So we use 2 highly potent gourds, Bitter gourd and Bottle gourd in the formulation. Gourds are classified in Ayurveda as having astringent and bitter after taste, especially Bitter gourd. This helps clarify the scalp, cuts down sweetness and oiliness on the scalp . It also improves the health of hair follicles & the scalp condition.

Potent anti bacterial and anti fungal herbs like Kutuja, Bakuchi, Nimba & Khadira help discourage the growth of fungal micro organisms. Herbs like Kushta and Ratanjot soothe the scalp, improve scalp health and reduce the scalp irritation and itching we see in dandruff.

Moderately and mildly bitter herbs like Bottle gourd, Bhringaraj, Neem, Manjishta & boost scalp health, help seal micro tears and improve scalp blood circulation and encourage healthier hair growth.

 The Krya anti-dandruff hair oil can be used by any hair type if you have oily dandruff with large flakes. 

Benefits of the Krya Anti dandruff Hair oil

• Designed to help reduce dandruff with regular use
• Balances oil production in the scalp & cuts down growth of yeast that causes dandruff
• Helps reduce hair fall
• Improves hair texture
• Clarifies & supports healthy scalp

The Krya manufacturing process - classical ayurvedic process to transform the oil

We are proud to say that we make all our oils using the approved Ayurvedic manufacturing technique of Tila Paka veedhi at Krya. In this method, base oils are slow boiled and “cooked” over 5 days with a large volume of fresh herb juice (Swarasa), herb decocotions (kashayas), and fresh and dry herb pastes (kalpas). Generally the oil volume in this mixture is only about ¼ the volume of all other ingredients put together – this can vary depending upon application and formulation .

 When the oil is processed this way, the nature of the base oils change completely. The addition of these different mediums of herbs (fresh juice, boiled decoction, and paste) delivers potent bio actives to the oil. Due to repeated boiling and stirring the oil is gently broken down over the process and the particle size of the oil becomes smaller, making the oil easier to penetrate skin and scalp. The oil also becomes less dense, less sticky and more penetrative.

The tila paka veedhi method is a transformative process. It transforms a good vegetable oil to a nutrition rich powerhouse – which can give your scalp and hair quicker and much more deeper and holistic benefits.  We use this manufacturing technique across all Krya oils to boost their potency and increase the bio availability of the herbs that are delivered via the oil to hair or skin.

How to use Krya hair oils for dandruff control? 

Correct hair care routines are extremely important in controlling chornic, stubborn dandruff.

The Krya Anti dandruff hair oil should be used several times a week as follows:

Scalp oiling 2-3 times a week:

• Use a few drops and massage well into the scalp 2-3 times a week - leaveit on without washing off. As the oil stays in contact with the scalp it cuts down and discourages fungal growth
• Regular scalp oiling works on the itchy scalp, & reduces fungal growth . It also encourages healthy hair growth & helps prevent hair fall.

Hair oiling before using Anti Dandruff hair mask and hair wash:

• Oil your hair and scalp generously before washing it or applying a hair mask
• This protects from the hair strands from going too dry during the wash
• This also evenly balances nourishment to the scalp so that the process of washing / masking doesnt over dry your hair or leave you with a dry scalp

User feedback for Krya ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil :

The Krya ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil has been rated by our community as being extremely effective for even chronic cases of dandruff. We have been able to help even very chronic cases of scalp psoriasis, very long term fungal dandruff which has lasted for years. No amount of ketoconazole / coal tar products can work as effectively as this oil - this is something we have seen and experienced repeated with users.

 The best part of using this oil? Unlike ketoconazole and coal tar products, the scalp is left well hydrated and healthy. The regular use of this product promotes scalp micro circulation and boosts root health and helps promote hair growth.   

Complete holistic dandruff control - The Krya Anti Dandruff hair system: 

While using the Krya Anti dandruff hair oil is an excellent way to work on your dandruff, for stubborn, chronic dandruff, we recommend using the complete Krya Anti dandruff hair system.

Use of all 3 products multiplies the bitter principle effect and helps effectively create an environment which is unpleasant for fungal organisms, helping solve the problem faster.

Most of our customers find that they are able to clarify and heal their scalp more completely and effectively when the use the complete anti dandruff hair system vs a single product.

The Dandruff discouraging Diet:

All dandruff starts with an improper diet which leads to the sweet / fatty secretions that fungal organisms seem to love. So it is important to watch your diet and cut down pitta - kapha aggravating foods like curd, cheese, sweets , etc.

Here is a quick list of foods / lifestyle modifications we suggest that can help fungal dandruff:

Cut down on:

• Maida
• Curd / yoghurt
• Ice creams
• Cakes, pastries
• Sweets
• Chocolates
• Cheese
• Paneer (especially if bought outside)
• Oily , fried food
• Do not binge eat
• Avoid getting dust into your hair (cover with a scarf)

Ensure that you:

• Eat strictly on time
• Eat home made food
• Eat food spiced with turmeric, black pepper, ginger and other Pitta-Kapha balancing spices
• Include fresh Amla in your diet regularly
• Drink warm water regularly
• Have a light dinner, early
• Exercise regularly to balance aggravated Kapha
• Ensure you do a regular abhyanga to balance doshas better

To Sum up: Choosing the best hair oil for Dandruff

In this post, we have described how an authentic ayurvedic anti dandruff hair oil is crafted. We also discussed how Ayurveda suggests we tackle dandruff holistically, yet effectively.

As we have seen, when the right products are used along with the correct diet and holistic lifestyle, there is a more rapid control of the problem. If you or a loved one are suffering from dandruff and are looking for a product that controls dandruff and works on hair fall control, do try out the Krya anti dandruff hair products.