IS BANANA EFFECTIVE IN REMOVING DANDRUFF?

We all know that an apple a day can keep the doctor away. But can a banana do the same for your dandruff?

Eating bananas can help with your blood pressure, heart health, diabetes, and stomach issues, especially diarrhoea. But the use of banana for dandruff is something that doesn’t find too many takers. Even applying a banana for hair conditioning might gain some traction, but you might be rightfully hesitant to think of it as a method on how to get rid of dandruff .

Why banana for dandruff and hair?

Using a banana pack for hair and dandruff

What are the risks?

Let’s look at some of the properties of a banana that makes people think of using it for their hair and scalp troubles: • It contains anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.

• It contains silica that assists in synthesizing collagen within your body. This has a direct impact on your hair thickness and strength.

• It has a moisturising effect and can help retain hydration levels on the skin.

• It is rich in Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamins B6 and C.

• It is packed with antioxidants such as catechins. These can fight free radicals to stop the premature ageing of your skin and hair.

• Using bananas can increase shine, make your hair softer, and cut down on split ends.

But when it comes to using banana for dandruff, we must pause to understand what causes dandruff. This is a scalp ailment that is caused by an excessive build-up of oil or sebum on your scalp. Your scalp will always secrete sebum to lubricate and protect. But excessive amount of sebum production is fodder for a fungus found on your scalp, called Malassezia Globosa.

This fungus breaks down the sebum into acids that might be reactive on your skin. Almost half of the world falls in the category. Your body will respond in the form of redness, itching and white oily flakes of dead skin cells, which is what we know as dandruff.

Using a banana pack for hair dandruff might just work because of its intrinsic properties. It can reduce the build-up on your scalp, while maintaining moisture levels. The anti-microbial properties can go to work on the dandruff causing germs. And the vitamin B6 might help in regulating the sebum production that is causing the spike in dandruff. This is why some people use banana as one of the many dandruff home remedies.

You can create various concoctions but always remember to use a mashed banana for hair. You don’t want chunks of the fruit stuck in your hair. Also, most of these recipes require ripe bananas, not raw. Try the following banana packs for your scalp troubles and keep adjusting based on what might work for you, if at all.

• Banana and Eggs

  Mash the ripe banana until there are no chunks remaining and add eggs to it. Mix them together and apply it onto your head when you have a thick paste. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes and then shampoo with cold water. This should work on the greasiness and itching, while strengthening your hair strands.

• Banana and Curd

  Take mashed banana and curd, blending them together. Apply this to your scalp and hair, leaving it in for about 20-30 minutes. Wash with a gentle shampoo. The mixture should calm down your itching and work to reduce the impact of any microbes.

• Banana and Honey

  Mash the ripe banana and add honey to the mix. This combination does not strip away your natural oils and can clean the build-up on your scalp. It should reduce any itching and leave you with softer hair. Wash with a gentle shampoo after about 20-30 minutes.

• Banana and Ripe Papaya

  Take these two ripe fruits and mash them together to create a nice paste-like texture. Apply it onto your head for about 30 minutes and then wash with a gentle shampoo. Use smaller quantities of papaya and it should help to reduce the impact of bacteria, while moisturising your head.

• Banana and Aloe Vera

  This combination can clear your scalp of any build-up, while retaining moisture levels. Aloe Vera also contains enzymes that can soothe any skin irritation associated with dandruff. Blend these two into a paste, before applying it to your scalp. Leave it for an hour or so, before washing with a scalp shampoo.

• Banana and Apple Cider Vinegar

  Mash the fruit and add a small amount of apple cider vinegar to it. Create a consistent paste before applying it to your scalp. Keep it for 15 minutes and then wash with a gentle shampoo. Using apple cider vinegar and mashed banana for hair dandruff can clear off the sebum build-up, have an anti-bacterial effect and regulate the scalp pH balance.

Everything has some form of risk. Although banana is a common fruit, it has some concerns when used topically.

• Latex-fruit allergy is quite common with bananas. It is important to check whether you have any reaction through a simple patch test on a small part of your skin.

• Any banana uses for hair dandruff are anecdotal and there are very few studies that have tried to see the effectiveness. You’re trying an untested method, seldomly used outside of traditional medicine.

• Be careful with the ingredients that you combine with bananas, as different ingredients can have different reactions on your body.

Using a banana for dandruff is not a guaranteed solution. You might just be better off eating it rather than applying a pack on your head. If you’re not in the mood to experiment, or feel like you need a quicker result, try anti-dandruff products like the Head and Shoulders Lemon Fresh. It can clear off any dandruff causing germs and leave your hair with a citrusy shine. And if you’re looking for a product that leaves you dandruff free and softens damaged hair, try the Head and Shoulders Silky Black.