Ayurvedic experts say that whatever measures you take for your skin in terms of diet and daily routine are directly going to benefit your hair. We've already gone through plenty of beauty secrets that Ayurveda offers. Most of which are going to benefit in keeping your hair healthy. Your hair and nails' health and wellness are the by- products of the transformation from bone to bone marrow tissue, therefore, your hair's health is basically dependent on your bones. So, to take special care of your hair, you must take good care of your bones as well. Ayurveda believes in healing from within. It doesn't matter how old you are, you may be twenty or forty or even fifty, you can still improve the quality of your hair. Your hair's quality and quantity signify the health of your bone tissue's health - if your bones are healthy then they'll be able to provide sufficient nutrition to your hair and increase its quality. So, just to kick- start the proper nourishment of your nails, hair, and bones, make sure to consume plenty of calcium- rich foods, such as milk products, leafy green veggies and sesame seeds.
Problems such as hair loss, dull hair or premature greying start with your liver. When the liver is strong, it filters out toxins. But if it is overtaxed or weak, the impurities that should be filtered out can accumulate in your scalp and hair follicles, causing problem hair. So, try to keep your liver in perfect condition. There are Ayurvedic herbal supplements in the market that directly address these problems. These supplements nourish the liver metabolism and Ayurvedic sub- doshas in charge of natural hair colour and brilliant luster.
How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type, which almost always corresponds to your skin type (Vata, Pitta or Kapha). Individuals with skin and hair that reflects Vata Dosha will have dry hair and would need to wash their hair less often. Dry hair doesn't need to cleanse off natural oils as much as other types of hair types.
Individuals with Pitta type of hair need to cleanse their hair moderately (say every alternate day or after skipping two days). Whereas, Kapha hair, which tends to get oily the most, need to be kept clean. So, people with Kapha hair type would need to wash their hair almost every day. Other reasons such as air pollutants, smoke, dust etc. get collected onto your hair too - so if you spend most of your time staying outdoors then you'd need to cleanse your hair more often.
There are numerous ayurvedic herbs that help in nourishing your scalp as they cleanse. One of the most unique and effective ayurvedic methods used caring for the hair is a warm oil massage of the scalp or hot oil massage. The motion in which you massage your scalp with your fingertips helps in increasing circulation, cleansing the pores and purifying dead skin cells - all of which promotes improved hair growth. The base oil is lubricating, and the herbs infused in the oil, such as Shankapushpi and Gotu Kola have 'keshya' value - which is the ability to nurture the hair externally and internally.
You can simply use the oil which you apply on your skin for massaging your scalp as well. People with Vata hair can use sesame or almond oil; Pitta hair individuals can use soothing oils such as coconut oil or olive oil, and people with Kapha hair can use stimulating hair oils such as olive oil or sesame oil. To reap greater benefits, you should massage your hair and leave the oil in for about an hour or two and then wash it off.
Ayurveda believes that hair fall and hair fall control associated with the body type (Vata, Pitta or Kapha). It also believes that the stability of your mind- body structure is vital for nearly all aspects of your body, including your hair. We've already discussed in the very beginning how our hair is a by- product of bone formation; how the tissues which are responsible for formation and development of your bones are also responsible for your hair growth and overall hair health.
Hair fall is considered to be a problem that mostly individuals with a dominance of pitta dosha. According to Ayurveda, the excess of Pitta dosha in the body is the main cause of all major hair problems. Ayurvedic hair loss treatments are known for their quick effectiveness. The most common type of Ayurvedic treatment for hair loss looks something like this - focus on diet, yoga, meditation, and medicated herbal oil massage.
Now we know that as per Ayurveda hair fall is basically considered a problem of the pitta energy. You need to identify the negative eating habits that contribute to the increase of pitta in your body. For instance, Pitta is increased by excessive intake of coffee, alcohol, tea, meats and excessive smoking. Similarly, Pitta is also aggravated by having a lot of fried, greasy, spicy, oily, sour, and acidic foods.
Aloe vera - take a 1/3rd cup of aloe vera juice every day. Apart from this, you can also take a tablespoon of aloe vera gel with a pinch of cumin and have it thrice a day for three months straight in order to control hair fall.
Drink fresh juices - carrot, alfalfa, lettuce, and spinach - they all help in hair growth.
Sesame seeds - a spoonful of white sesame seeds every morning can be a great source of magnesium and calcium. These nutrients are brilliant hair loss checkers.
Yogurt - have a bowl or a cup full of yogurt every day, it can help in reducing hair fall to a large extent. It is a tested and trusted home remedy for hair related problems.
Green leafy vegetables & fresh fruits - we should never underestimate the ability of vegetables and fruits for warding off hair fall. Veggies that are are rich in fiber are an excellent source for preventing hair fall.
Important nutrients - these include zinc, Vitamin C, vitamin B-complex, sulphur and some important fatty acids are vital for making the roots of your hair strong. You can find all of these nutrients in sprouts, yeast, nuts, milk, buttermilk, soy beans and whole grains. If you include these in your diet and you can expect to reduce your hair fall in a span few months.
Inverted asanas such as Sarvangasana that tend to reverse the gravity on the body are best suited for treatment of hair loss. They stimulate the flow of blood to the head. Make sure you practice such asanas under the guidance of a yoga teacher. What you must additionally do is practice deep breathing exercises to control stress, anxiety and keep your mind balanced.
Ayurvedic experts suggest the use of several herbs that can be applied directly to the scalp to treat hair loss. These herbs are ordinarily available in dry powdered form or in the form of oil in most Ayurvedic stores. Some that are pretty common are packaged and sold commercially in local grocery stores as well. Here's a list of the most powerful herbs recommended by Ayurvedic experts that are useful in preventing hair fall.
Bhringaraj, when translated into English means the 'king of hair'. Nothing can be a more apt name for this herb. It contains natural rejuvenating properties. Bhringaraj has an amazing ability for reversing (or halting) the process of premature balding - a major problem for a lot of men around the globe! One can only imagine the effect of this herb for the purpose of hair growth considering its ability to reverse balding.
Premature greying of hair is another concern of a lot of people - Bhringaraj can once again be used for solving this trouble. It's also considered as a natural hair conditioner. This herb is sold in the form of oil as well as dried powder. It transmits a calming effect when applied on the scalp, so if you have troubles with sleeping, apply Bhringaraj oil on your scalp to get a sound sleep. If ever you are exhausted from work or are under stress about something, or are tossing and turning simply because you can't sleep, massage some bhringaraj oil onto your scalp and you'll feel the difference immediately.
Make a paste out of the dry powdered herb or it's leaves and applies it on your scalp and let it stay on for some time before washing it off. It's not east to have access to this herb in its raw form. So, like I said, you can get a pack of dried Bhringraj and make a paste. Here's how - steep 5 to 6 tablespoons of powdered bhringaraj in warm water and apply the paste on your hair and scalp. Let it sit for about twenty to thirty minutes then wash it off. Doing this on a regular basis will promote hair growth.
To get best results, massage bhringraj oil onto your scalp and leave it on (preferably overnight). Shampoo in the morning and wash off with lukewarm water. Apart from that, you can also make a paste of bhringaraj powder, tulsi and amla powder - all of which contain splendid benefits for your hair. You can add a bit of coconut oil to this mixture to increase the luster of your hair. Wash off the hair pack after a couple of hours. This particular hair pack will help in hair growth and act as an amazing conditioner for your hair.
Ritha has been used by Indian women for centuries as a natural shampoo. It's mild and can be replaced with your shampoo, so you can wash your hair with this herb every day! Using it regularly will help in promoting hair growth, thicken your hair and add luster to it. If you worry about shampooing your hair daily then Ritha is a safe and suitable alternative provided by nature! It cleanses your hair and conditions it as well. What more can you ask for?
Here's what you need to do to make a daily use shampoo out of Ritha at home - remove seeds from the nuts, crush them and soak them in water for at least eight to ten hours (preferably, soak it overnight). The longer you let it soak, the more goodness & qualities of the herb will get extracted in the form of saponins.
Saponin is what makes your hair healthy and strong. Once you are content with the time taken to soak in all the saponin, then you can start to make your own shampoo. After the soaking bit is done then you can boil the obtained liquid. Once it starts boiling, let it simmer for a little while. Use this concentrated liquid as you use your shampoo. Keep in mind that it's a pure herbal shampoo so it won't lather much and you may need to use it a couple of times to understand the quantity your hair needs.
Shikakai means fruit for the hair. When Shikakai fruit is mixed in water, it foams up like a soap. Shikakai is packed with antioxidants and contains large amounts of Vitamin C and D - that is, all things good for hair growth and nourishment. Regular use of this ayurvedic herb will help your locks become long and lustrous.
Shikakai has low pH levels, therefore, like Ritha, this too is mild. Most hair damage is done by harsh chemicals used in commercial hair products, they strip your hair of natural oils. This ayurvedic substance won't strip your hair of the natural oils that they need, it's mild and will help in detangling your hair easily (a trouble that all people with curly hair are familiar with). It fights off dandruff and conditions the hair to make it look shiny and beautiful.
Hi! I’m Gunjan, a self-proclaimed tea fanatic and intrigued with alternative ways to lead a healthy life. I firmly believe that we should take care of our bodies because it’s the only place we live in.
