How to Avoid Dry and Itchy Scalp during Winter Season

February 03, 2025 by Dr. Shweta Netke

Table of Contents

Winter season can be tough on your scalp, making it dry, flaky, and irritated. The drop in temperature, combined with the dry indoor heat, strips natural moisture from the scalp leading to uncomfortable itchiness that many of you may struggle with. But fear not, there are simple, effective ways to protect your scalp. A basic understanding of Ayurvedic elements can protect you through seasonal changes and help you avoid an itchy scalp in winter.

Understanding Winter from An Ayurvedic Perspective

According to Ayurveda, winter consists of Hemanta and Shishira Ritu, starting from mid-November till mid-March. It is a season of highest strength or ‘Bala’ and due to that special attention should be given to your diet and physical activity to retain and utilise the energy for the rest of the year.

Winter season brings aggravation of Vata dosha which is notoriously known to have dry, light, and cold qualities. The surroundings also exhibit all these characteristics, which wreak havoc on our body, hair, and skin.

A simple understanding of the finer aspects of Ayurveda and incorporating a few lifestyle changes will help you avoid drastic variations in health and ensure a smooth transition without falling ill.

Skin & Hair Concerns During Winter Season

The first thing we notice at the onset of the winter season is the nip in the air and the slight change in the texture of our skin and hair. Having a dry scalp in winter is not something uncommon. Not only this, but the cold weather also tends to bring a series of concerns apart from dryness. Your scalp starts to feel itchy and might become greasy soon after washing. We do our best to change our hair care routine, but nothing seems to work, and the hair still looks unkempt and tangled with frizz.

Reasons Why We Suffer from Dry and Itchy Scalp

Seasonal Variations

The most important reason for an itchy and flaky scalp is lack of hydration. During the winter season, the cold dry atmospheric air strips hydration from the scalp and makes it dry and some people tend to have an itchy scalp, no dandruff.

Lack of Head Massage

Our hectic life demands us to compromise on a lot of things, especially when it comes to devoting time to our self-care activities for the betterment of our skin and hair. Everyone just focuses on minimal hair care like shampoo conditioners or at most hair serums to style the hair while forgetting the ample benefits of a good oil champi.

Choosing Incorrect Products

Oftentimes we purchase a shampoo or conditioner that an influencer endorses on social media, or it has raving reviews, or it may have been suggested by friends. This may lead us to neglect the ingredients that are present in many of these products. They may contain SLS/SLES which are nothing but sodium lauryl sulphate or sodium lauryl ethyl sulphate that tend to irritate the scalp upon longer usage and strip the natural moisture from the hair making it dry.

Improper Diet and Lifestyle

If you’re wondering whether the food you eat can impact your hair, then let’s make it clear that it very well does. Ayurveda has greatly emphasised on hair conditions being affected by “Viruddha Anna” (Incompatible diet) and lack of exercise. Darunaka or dandruff is one such condition develops when an itchy or dry scalp is left untreated for a long period of time. The main reason is Tridosha (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) or imbalance at the hair roots.

Excessive Stress

Stress, unfortunately, has become an integral part of our everyday life and is the most common reason why we experience anxiety, palpitations, headaches and lethargy. It creates imbalances in the hair roots and increases hair fall along with excessive dryness (imbalanced Vata) creating an ideal environment for itchiness.

Constant Exposure to Sunlight & Dust

Pitta (fire energy) causes excessive sweating and heat exhaustion due to prolonged sun exposure. Excessive travelling stimulates the Vata (air energy) and creates dry scalp. Hence, you must have noticed dry hair and dandruff becoming a common cause of concern in winter due to increased air energy. An itchy scalp is caused by Kapha (earth and water energy) imbalance due to excessive sebum production in the scalp.

Lack of Proper Hygiene

At times excessive hair washing or not washing your hair for a long time may hamper the normal sebum production in the scalp and create an imbalance, resulting in dry and itchy scalp or excessively oily scalp.

How to Manage and Control an Itchy Scalp

Ayurveda has a beautiful concept of “Ritucharya”, which talks in depth about the changes that need to be implemented in terms of diet and lifestyle to make a smooth transition from spring to winter and not face the effects of flu, allergies, indigestion, skin flares and hair worries. To make sure you are not suffering from a dry and itchy scalp, reduce the intake of sour and salty foods and avoid excessive cold foods. It is also best to avoid curd, heavy-to-digest foods like sugar or milk and milk products. Increase the intake of light and easy-to-digest foods like warm soups and foods rich in Vitamin E like broccoli, spinach, almond, papaya etc. You can also include Omega-3-rich foods like flax seeds, chia seeds, tofu, salmon etc. Performing moderate exercises can help improve blood circulation and flush out toxins through sweat.

Hair oiling (Shirobhyanga) is an age-old tradition which is losing its importance in the current times because people are relying more on quick fixes like serums and hair tonics. Nothing can replace the benefits of a head massage using a pure and natural oil. A warm head massage replenishes the nutrients in the scalp and makes your hair healthy, shiny and strong. Regularly massaging your hair with the Forest Essentials Japapatti head massage oil can benefit you in more ways than one. It is made with cold-pressed oils like Virgin Coconut and Black Sesame that help nourish the scalp and is infused with herbs like Hibiscus (Japapatti), known to combat hair fall and improve hair texture.

Choosing the correct hair shampoo and conditioner is important if you wish to target a particular set of concerns. Commercially available hair products are laden with chemicals, artificial fragrances and silicones for a better feel, but they do not work on any hair concerns. They rip off the hydration and nourishment resulting in lifeless and dull hair. Opting for natural hair care products, such as the Forest Essentials Japapatti and Brahmi Hair Cleanser and Conditioner ensures your hair remains healthy and free from concerns. They are from chemicals, parabens and petrochemicals and work to repair and nourish your hair from roots to tips.

Managing stress is crucial not only for your hair health but also for your overall physical and psychological health. Apart from doing calming Yogic postures and Pranayamas (deep breathing exercises), one should also maintain a habit of journalling or simply writing one’s thoughts. It makes us aware of the things we need to work towards and serves as a reminder to be grateful for the things we have rather than getting stressed about the things we don’t.

One of the best scalp treatments for itching is maintaining proper hygiene. One must not wash the hair too often; it is advised to cleanse your hair twice a week. You must avoid using products which cause buildup in the scalp. Also, you need to make sure you are not applying conditioner on the scalp and not putting too much shampoo on the strands of the hair. Combing tangled hair before washing is a good exercise as it increases blood circulation and prevents breakage.

If you are experiencing the recurrence of certain concerns very often, then it is also recommended to keep your hair tied and covered. Wear a scarf or a cloth over your head to avoid any external environmental traumas affecting your hair and to avoid catching dust and pollutants which initiate an itchy and dry scalp. If the problem persists, please visit a dermatologist to understand the underlying cause and correct it.

What is the symptom of an itchy scalp?

When you have an itchy scalp then you may tend to continually feel the need to scratch the scalp. It can also be an indication of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis or simply faulty diet or stress.

Why is my scalp so itchy?

There can be several reasons for the scalp to feel itchy. The most common ones are SLS/SLES-based products which strip moisture from the scalp and hair, or it can be a lifestyle disorder. It can also be due to not washing hair at proper intervals.

How to get rid of an itchy scalp?

To manage an itchy scalp, hair oiling is crucial and so is having a nourishing diet with good fats and vitamins that nourish and repair from within. Incorporating moderate exercises along with choosing the correct haircare products drastically improves the quality of hair health. Avoid too many chemical-laden products and go natural in every aspect to sustain it.

Can change in weather cause itchy scalp?

Changes in weather can cause the hair and scalp to change as dry weather rips off the moisture from the environment similarly it affects our skin and hair. Even indoors when we regulate the temperature with room heaters it further adds to the removal of any moisture from the scalp creating a dry and itchy scalp.

Does an itchy scalp mean hair loss?

Chronic itchy scalp is a sign of dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis which is an inflammatory condition. Prolonged skin conditions which are not treated may result in hair loss and affect the hair roots, resulting in hair loss.

Written By:

Forest Essentials Luxurious Ayurveda

India’s leading beauty brand with products offering a sensorial journey with the purest natural ingredients and traditional Ayurvedic formulations, bringing timeless beauty rituals to the forefront of your self-care routine.

Reviewed By:

Arjun Singh Senior Ayurveda Expert

Arjun is a marketing professional turned Ayurveda Expert. After the completion of his post-graduation in 2008, he started his journey in the beauty industry. He has since worked with several global luxury beauty brands including DIOR & Estee Lauder. With now more than 12 years of experience, he is driven by the idea of making Skin Care, ‘simple’ and ‘accessible’ for all and help clients transform their lifestyle and skin with solutions rooted in his extensive understanding of Ayurveda. A Senior Ayurveda Expert at Forest Essentials, he carefully curates Ayurvedic remedies and is continuously working towards bridging the gap between time-honoured skin care solutions and the modern consumer of the fast-paced world.

Disclaimer

The content provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.