Today I am going to tell you how to get rid of dandruff with Listerine. Yes, you read that right! I laughed out loud when I first came to know this, but when this hack went viral I did some research before pouring a whole bunch of mouth wash on my head! Read on for my experience with this hack …
History:
Kilmerhouse.com, a blog talking about Johnson& Johnson and its people says that Listerine was initially developed as a surgical antiseptic in 1879 and named after the physician Sir Joseph Lister. It was marketed for its germicidal properties making it OK to use on wounds, insect bites, and treat fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and dandruff. Only later around 1921, Listerine was introduced as a product to fight bad breath.
Photo Credit : Kilmerhouse.com]
It’s important to understand that dry scalp and dandruff are two different things. We should not confuse one for the other. With change of season it’s normal to have dry scalp. The dry skin will flake white, it can be cured by deep conditioning. Whereas dandruff on the contrary is caused by too much oil (sebum) in turn accelerating the growth of yeast. It is yellowish white in color and the flakes are larger as compared to the dry scalp flakes.
Listerine contains ingredients like menthol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and thymol; these are known for their antifungal properties. Therefore it can prove to be a great solution for dandruff, although it cannot be used as a permanent cure for severe cases.
Mix ¼ cup of Listerine (preferably the original – yellow in color) with 1 cup of water and pour it on your hair after your shampoo + conditioner routine. Make sure it spreads all over the scalp. You could also apply it to sections using cotton pads or spray it using a spray bottle. Keep it on for a few minutes and rinse it out. I used this twice in duration of three weeks and my dandruff reduced significantly. It should not be used on broken or irritated skin as it would aggravate the discomfort.
Pros:
- Quick Results
- Gives a cooling sensation to the scalp.
- Economical
Cons:
- Hair will smell like mouthwash for some time.
- Will slightly dry out the hair. (In case of severely dry hair, the mix should be applied only to the problem areas)
Closing Thoughts:
Don’t buy dandruff control shampoo; make your own by mixing Listerine with your normal shampoo!
Let me know if you have tried this hack and if it worked for you. I would love to know any other such hacks that you have tested. Also check out some hair products that have worked for me here and here.