How to Treat Dandruff With Listerine

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Did you know that back in the early 1900s, the makers of Listerine actually advertised that their product could fight dandruff? It hasn't been advertised as a dandruff cure in years, but there are still people who swear by the stuff. If you are frustrated with the normal remedies and want to try it out, here's how to use Listerine to treat your dandruff.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Mirror to inspect your scalp prior to treatment
Bottle of Listerine
Shampoo
Water

Step 1

Make sure you don't have any broken or sensitive skin on the top of your head. The alcohol in Listerine will sting and could very well aggravate it.
Step 2

Purchase a bottle of the old fashioned, yellow Listerine. This is the original formula, and the one that supposedly works best as a dandruff cure.
Step 3

Pour out a good measure of the Listerine into the bottle cap before your shower. Proceed to shampoo your hair as you normally do and rinse completely.
Step 4

Dump the capful of Listerine onto your scalp. Tip your head back to keep it from getting into your eyes. Let it sit there for about 5 minutes.
Step 5

Rinse out the Listerine from your hair. Repeat this treatment every day for the next week or so. You should see some kind of improvement.

Tips & Warnings

Consider soaking your brushes, combs and hair styling tools in Listerine to kill any fungus or bacteria that could be causing your dandruff. If a tool can't be safely soaked, like a curling iron, wipe down the part of the tool that comes in contact with your hair with a Listerine-soaked cloth.
Some advocates of Listerine as a dandruff treatment prefer to cut it with baby oil and water first. They normally use a ratio of 1/3 Listerine, 1/3 baby oil and 1/3 water to treat dandruff.
While no medical authorities have endorsed Listerine as a dandruff cure, Listerine does contain several essential oils that have known fungus-fighting qualities (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate).

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