JOIN USWhat does it take to have gorgeous hair? Bharti Modi offers natural solutions to hair problems that plague everyone, men included.
Beautiful, healthy and thick locks are something that everyone wants to covet as you have the liberty of flaunting any hairstyle with them.
Naturally good looking hair is not only an asset to a person’s beauty, but it is also the barometer of your health. What goes inside your body is reflected through your hair. A happy and relaxed lifestyle translates to shiny, smooth and strong tresses.
But in today’s polluted and time-starved lifestyle, it is hard to maintain one’s hair.
Moreover, the abundance of artificial hair products adds more damage to your hair. Here are some suggestions to help you manage your crown of glory, the natural way:
Hot oil treatments: Take any natural oil – olive, coconut, canola – and heat it up so that it is warm, but not too hot.
Massage it gently onto your scalp. Put on a shower cap and leave it on for an hour and then, shampoo your hair. You can also prepare a mixture of one tbsp of
almond oil with one tbsp of coconut oil and apply on the scalp. It gives strong and healthy hair. Another hair pack can be made by mixing two tbsp of olive oil with the one tbsp of lemon juice. This helps in treating itchy scalp and also controls hair fall.
For a healthier option, try mixing two tbsp of black gram powder and one tbsp of fenugreek powder, and use this to wash your hair. It will clear all the grime and dandruff.
Head massages: Massage your scalp for a few minutes daily. This will stimulate the blood circulation. Good circulation in the scalp keeps hair follicles active, conditions the scalp, and strengthens the hair roots. For a more effective massage, use oils like lavender together with essential oils like almond or sesame. Regularly massaging your scalp has relaxing effects, thereby eliminating all stress.
Natural splash: You can rub your scalp with either garlic, onion or ginger juice. Leave it on overnight and wash it thoroughly in the morning. These natural juices are very beneficial for overall hair nourishment. You could also apply warm green tea (two bags brewed in one cup of water) on your scalp and leave the mixture on for an hour and then rinse. Green tea contains antioxidants, which help prevent hair loss and boost hair growth.
Herbal touch: You can use herbs to restore hair growth and thickness. Grind 50gm leaves of bhringraj plant and mix it with 200ml of coconut oil and two tbsp of fenugreek seeds. Boil the mixture for about 10 minutes. Put off the flame and let the oil cool overnight. Use it to massage your scalp daily. It will increase blood circulation to the scalp, aiding overall hair growth.
Aloe vera mask works well, too. Aloe vera contains enzymes that can eradicate the dead cells accumulated on your scalp – they clog hair follicles preventing
nutrients from nourishing the hair roots. Prepare a aloe vera hair mask with half cup of aloe vera gel with two tbsp each of castor oil, fenugreek powder and basil powder. Apply this mask over your scalp and leave it on for about eight hours. Wash off the mask with a mild shampoo. It helps in maintaining your hair’s ideal pH level, thus, promoting hair growth.
Manage stress: Believe it or not, most of the times, the root cause for hair loss is stress and tension. Meditation can help beat stress and restore hormonal balance.
When all else fails
Despite all these measures, if your hair still continues to give your problems, there could be other underlying causes:
Hormonal imbalances: The most common cause of hair loss is hormonal imbalance. Testosterone in men and androgen in women are the hormones responsible for hair loss. At a certain age, when hormonal imbalances strike your body, hair loss is the first casualty.
Thyroid problem: The thyroid gland controls and regulates the hormonal levels in the body. If the thyroid gland is not working properly, it causes hair thinning.
Scalp infections: Scalp infections like lice and dandruff weakens the hair roots and leads to hair loss.
Iron deficiency: Iron is the key mineral for the proper hair growth. Deficiency of iron reduces the carotene in roots, weakens the hair and ultimately causes hair loss.
Hairstyles: Increased usage of hair colour can damage your hair to a great extent, courtesy the chemical components like ammonia. Also, artificial styling can cause much harm. Not many know that combing your hair very often, weakens it, too.
Improper diet: An imbalanced and improper diet can lead to hair fall. Make sure to include proteins, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, and silica-rich foods in your diet.
(The author is technical director and ayurvedic expert at Vedic Line)