All of us love that spirit lifting good hair day, don’t we? It magically transforms our look, and yet it seems so elusive, especially when we desperately want it. Although we might argue that healthy, shiny and problem free hair is just about sheer luck and good genes, there is no escaping the fact that by adopting good hair habits we can control the damage and make the best of what we have. Dull, brittle hair, premature greying and hair fall…the list of modern day hair problems is long. But the most embarrassing among these has to be Dandruff. Imagine going to a formal event in an all black ensemble only to have that sudden impulse to scratch your scalp and then follow the dreaded cascade of white flakes for everyone in public to see. Dandruff is actually a scalp condition, attributed to an inflammatory reaction to a fungus that feeds on your dead scalp tissue. Genetic and hormonal imbalances are also a predisposition for developing dandruff. Ayurveda considers dandruff as darunaka, caused by imbalance of tridoshas. Vitiated Kapha dosha causes oily flakes and vata causes dry flakes. The causes can also be attributed to faulty diet, constipation or impaired general health. What can you do to get rid of Dandruff? Following are a few effective remedies. Instead of using chemical shampoos, use powdered Mung lentils as a hair mask. Make a thick paste by mixing powdered mung lentils and water. Apply the paste on your scalp and rinse/wash hair after 20 minutes. In case you have oily scalp, you can use a mild herbal shampoo to wash hair. Loaded with protein, mung lentils have antibacterial properties which helps in getting rid of dandruff. Prepare a hair oil by adding 20-25 Tulsi leaves, 20-25 neem leaves, a spoon of fenugreek seed, 5-6 hibiscus flowers and a pinch of black pepper powder mixed in half a litre of sesame oil and exposing it to sunlight for 10 days. Strain, store it and apply over the scalp half an hour before washing hair. In case you have dry dandruff with extreme itching, adding a small amount of camphor will provide relief. Tulsi and neem have antimicrobial properties and fenugreek is rich in protein and nicotinic acid, that help prevent hair fall and dandruff. Black pepper has a combination of zinc and selenium, that fights dandruff. Sesame oil has antimicrobial action and moisturises the scalp. Camphor has antibacterial property and cools the scalp. Apply a paste of curry leaves, onion, amla and yogurt on the scalp for about 20-30 minutes once every week and wash off with a mild herbal shampoo. Curry leaves and amla have antibacterial property that wards off dandruff. Yogurt helps in exfoliating the scalp and onion pulp nourishes the hair follicles. Neem oil acts as an effective antifungal. Massage neem oil on scalp before hair wash or use water boiled with neem leaves as final wash. Applying freshly extracted aloe vera gel on the scalp gently exfoliates the skin and provides relief from itchy scalp. Include Amla or Indian gooseberry in your diet to improve your general health. Avoid taking spicy, oily and processed food. Restrict intake of caffeine. Change your pillow covers and bedsheets once every week and disinfect your comb often. Dandruff is a very common condition and you are definitely not alone and merely changing your habits can have a significant effect on your scalp health. If even after using all these remedies, you find that the problem persists, it's always better to get in touch with an Ayurvedic expert.