Natural Remedies for Hair Care

Healthy and beautiful hair reflects the complete constitution of a person and boosts up the confidence and personality, so proper hair care is important.

Traditional and Natural Remedies for Hair Care

by Dr Deepak Acharya

Step-motherly behavior towards the hair makes hair thin, weak and dull. If ignored, hair complaints like dandruff, hair loss, graying of hair, scalp itching, etc, etc., become a matter of great concern. Where busy lifestyle does not give us time to take proper hair care, harsh environment and chemical assaults, junk food and diet devoid of one or more nutrients makes the condition worst. No doubt, it deplores the overall health of our body and hair. Do not lose hope about your hair. Here are some simple preventive measures and natural remedies for hair care that may help you combat hair problems.

General Hair Care Problems

Hair Care Problems – Hair loss

When hair loss is more than normal hair fall, it becomes a matter of great concern. Hair loss may happen due to various reasons. Mishandling of hair and chemical treatment to hair may be one of the reasons. The daily repetition of a hairstyle pulls out individual hairs; this can damage and completely destroy hair follicles such that hair doesn’t grow back. Others may be diet deficiency (it is reversible), iron deficiency, long-term illness and medicines (cause temporary hair loss), mental stress, hormonal imbalance, exposure to radiation and in women following pregnancy. Permanent hair loss may occur in disorders such as Androgenetic Alopecia, but medications are available for the treatment of such a condition.

Natural Hair Care Remedies – Hair Loss

~ Gently massage the scalp with the oil of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) or Almond (Prunus amygdalus) for 10-15 minutes. Wrap your hair with a warm towel and leave for 2-3 minutes. Following this tip at regular basis would help pores of hair get rejuvenated.

~ Boil Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves in water. Cool, strain and after shampoo, rinse hair with it.

~ Add more green leafy vegetables, sprouts, salad, and fruits in your diet and include yogurt, milk, buttermilk, soybeans, wheat germ, nuts, and whole grains.

~ Every morning eat a handful of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds. These seeds are rich in calcium and magnesium that fulfill the required nourishment for hair.

~ Once a week, massage into the scalp a mixture of an equal amount of Castor (Ricinus communis) and Almond (Prunus amygdalus) seed oil (make it little warm before applying).

~ Massage honey with egg yolk into the scalp. Leave it for 30 minutes and then rinse it with lukewarm water. Massage with Aloe (Aloe vera) gel or coconut milk into the scalp also prevents hair loss.

~ Once in a day, rub Onion (Allium cepa) over bald portion till it becomes red. Apply honey; leave it for some time and rinse.

Resembling like the skin of a fish, the structure of our hair is that of overlapping scales around a central core called ‘Cortical’. If the scales overlapping are smooth, hair appears smooth and glossy; while a rough overlapping makes hair look lifeless. Every two months, hair grows at an average length of an inch. We lose some hair every day (up to 100), which are then replaced as a part of our body‘s renewal process. But as we age, the event of new hair replacement slows down. This fact has been observed more in men than in women.

Hair Care Problems – Dandruff

When dry white flakes appear on the scalp and cause itching, it is Dandruff! It may result due to improper diet, untidy hair, use of strong shampoo, insufficient rinsing of hair with water after shampoo, poor blood circulation in the scalp and/ or excessive shedding of outermost cells of the scalp. Though we have various traditional remedies to get rid of dandruff but most important of all is to keep hair clean and do oil massage regularly. Use a gentle shampoo and intensive conditioner regularly.

Natural Hair Care Remedies – Dandruff

~ Prepare a mixture of Coconut, Castor, and Mustard (Brassica campestris) oil (1 teaspoon each) and massage into the roots of the hair.

~ Regular massage with pure Coconut oil helps in dandruff cure.

~ Apply a mixture of Coconut oil, Olive (Olea europaea) oil and Lemon (Citrus limon) juice with the fingertips. After that follow a “steam-towel-wrap” for 15-20 minutes.

~ Soak Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds overnight and grind them next morning. Add this paste to the juice of Neem leaves and apply this mixture on the scalp.

~ Drain water from cooked rice and to it, mix Soapnut (Acacia concinna) seed powder. Rinse your hair with it.

~ Obtain juice of Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) flower by crushing its petals and rinse your hair.

~ Lightly warm ½ cup Coconut oil or Olive oil and add a teaspoon of Camphor to it. Give a circular massage to the scalp.

~ Take a cup of curd and to it, mix a teaspoon of Lemon juice and paste of soaked Fenugreek seeds (1 teaspoon). Apply and leave for 30 minutes.

~ Mix Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) juice and Almond oil and apply on the scalp.

Natural Hair Care Remedies – Dandruff

~ Mix honey with grated Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and store it in a jar.

How to Determine Your Dosha

~ Boil dried Indian Gooseberry fruits in water till the quantity reduces to one-fourth of it. Mix it with Henna (Lawsonia inermis), Lemon juice and egg. Apply over hair for 2 hours.

~ Prepare a paste made from Henna powder, Fenugreek seeds powder, Basil (Ocimum sanctum) juice, Mint (Mentha arvensis) juice and Coffee (Coffea arabica). Apply this mixture over hair and rinse with a mild shampoo after 2 hours.

Hair Care Problems – Gray Hair

Though graying of hair is a natural phenomenon that starts as we age, but if it happens before the age of 35, it is a matter of concern. To avoid premature graying, reduce intake of tea, coffee, alcohol. Eating excess of sour, acidic, oily and spicy food also leads to such a hair problem. Mental stress, anxiety, excessive smoking, long-term use of medicines and hormonal imbalance are other causes. Bleaching, coloring and perming also promote graying.

Hair Care Problems – Split ends

The wrong manner of combing, use of hair dryers, color dyes and perming hair leads to split hair ends. Keep your hair clean. Eat a diet rich in proteins. Get your hair trim after every one and a half months. Use a padded comb or one with widely-spaced bristles. Use a good conditioner after shampooing.

Natural Hair Care Remedies – Split ends

~ Apply Sesame (Sesamum indicum) seed oil once in a week.

~ Add little Yoghurt in Coconut oil and massage your head. It helps in removing split ends and turning them into normal hair.

We pay attention to our hair only when such hair problems are encountered. Don’t you think “Prevention is better than cure”? Don’t you think, this crown on your head should look as beautiful as you are, so that if make you look more gorgeous. What do you think can be done? Oh, it’s simple. Follow a regular exercise regime. Improve your diet; make it rich with green leafy vegetables, fruits, salads, sprouts, milk and milk products. Also, regular bowel movement is important to maintain every day. Regular cleaning and brushing of hair is very important. Nourish them with good hair oil twice a week. Never comb your hair when wet. Last but not least, follow a healthy lifestyle and stay away from any such disorders. Enjoy every single moment of your life, follow the “Health Mantra” and live stress-free.

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About the Author

Dr. Deepak Acharya is an Internationally renowned Ethnobotanist, Scientist, a Herbal Hunter, Author, Writer and Director of Abhumka Herbal Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad- India. He has been involved in scouting, documentation, and validation of indigenous herbal practices of herbal healers from Patalkot, Dangs, and Aravalli hill areas in India. He is the author of 4 books. He can be contacted at deepak@patalkot.com. For more information about him, visit www.abhumka.com and www.patalkot.com.