JOIN USTreat your crowning glory to some amla
How does one maintain hair while living in a city filled with dust and grime? The secret lies in the miracle berry, says Sameer Wancho
In a city cloaked in pollution and water woes, maintaining your hair is no small feat. There are the few lucky ones who are gifted with naturally thick, long hair, thanks to their genes. For most others, it’s a distant dream.
Those hair types that fall into the latter category lose their natural lipids through styling, heat, pollution and the other stresses of work and personal life. Chemical treatments to correct this sometimes reinforces the already done chemical damage. Damage-free, natural ingredients are the need of the hour for women across all age groups.
Ayurvedic literature is replete with references to amla (Indian gooseberry) as the secret for beautiful hair. And women since ancient times have relied on amla to take care of their crowning glory. No wonder the berry is popularly nicknamed the miracle berry. And here’s why:
*According to Ayurveda, amla is one of the best drugs meant for treatment of pitta-dosha. The same dosha is also responsible for hair problems such as hair loss and premature greying.
*Amla is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C – 100 grams of amla contains 600 mg of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which is 20 times more than what’s found in many other fruits.
*Nutrients in amla don’t disappear through hair ironing or drying. Amla is an excellent anti-oxidant too.
*Amla contains 80 per cent moisture, calcium, carotene, iron, phosphorous and an essential oil. Here are a few tips that can help your hair benefit from the miracle berry.
*A final rinse post-wash with water in which amla has been soaked overnight is known to be an excellent conditioner.
*Customarily, a small amount of amla oil is applied to the hair after washing. This not only brings a rich, natural shine and soft texture to the hair, but also helps rejuvenate hair strands that are dull and damaged.
*Boiling amla in coconut oil and massaging it on scalp has been known to promote hair growth.
*Amla soaked in water and kept in an iron utensil overnight could be used as a shampoo-conditioner-hair colour to check hair greying and promote hair shine.