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Hair Care The structure of hair is like the scales on the skin of a fish that has overlapping scales around a central core called the cortical. Smoother overlapping more shiny and smooth the hair looks. This also leads to easy combing while a tangled or roughed-up structure makes the hair look rough and dull. Diet and lifestyle are two major factors that influence the health of the hair. Poor diet, illness and deficiencies of any particular vitamin and mineral affects the quality of hair and problems like dandruff, thinning, hair, balding, premature graying etc. spoil the hair. In an individual the condition of the hair is a reflection of the complete constitution of him. If the person is not healthy then the health of the hair will be deplorable. Example: If a person has vata constitution, the hairs are dark, dry, coarse, wiry or frizzy and tend to tangle easily, are prone to dullness, split ends and dandruff. The constitution comprising of Pitta has hair that is light brown, blonde or red and tend to grow gray or thin prematurely and are fine and silky with a tendency to become oily. Hairs are thick, wavy and shiny if the composition is of kapha. Hair Tips » Clean and brush hair on regular intervals. » Rinse the washed hair with lemon in a cup of warm water for extra sheen. » Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol content. » Eat nutritious food for healthy hair. Some common Hair Problems: Dandruff Dry skin flaking off the scalp and itchiness is referred to as dandruff. The aggravation of Vata generally causes this dryness. Home Remedies for Dandruff • Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut or neem oil. Store it in glass container. Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed. • Mix 1 teaspoon of castor, mustard and coconut oil each and massage into the scalp. • Mix one part of lemon juice with two parts of coconut oil. Massage into the roots of the hair regularly. Dosage: Wash with warm water after three to four hours or leave overnight. Hair Loss / Balding when the amount of hair lost grows higher than the normal hair fall that takes place due to the change in environment, increasing age or growth of new hairs, it is referred to as hair loss problem that needs special care. Improper or poor diet, exposure to a lot of chemicals or cosmetics, hormonal imbalance, stress, anxiety and mental tension are some causes of hair loss. Home Remedies For Hair Loss • Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes. • Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it. • Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soya beans, whole grains and nuts. Premature Graying of Hair Graying of hair is a natural process that happens with increasing age, but if the hair starts graying before the age of 35, it is termed as premature graying that occurs due to the aggravation of Pitta dosha. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods increases pitta and leads to graying prematurely. What can you do to make sure that your hair stays looking wonderful all year long! Ayurvedic Tips for your HairOils are used as a protective conditioner and for treating problems of the hair and scalp. They can be used daily to protect hair from various ailments. Apply oils to the scalp daily as a pre-wash to treat scalp conditions. Do pre-wash oiling on dry hair at least 30 minutes before washing. Non-wash day oiling can be done on dry or damp (misted) hair depending on how hair reacts to oiling. Amount used depends on hair length and how much oil the hair absorbs. Start with small amounts and increase as needed. Some useful oils that can be used for oiling are Amla oil, Coconut oil, Mustard oil and sesame oil. In the winter season, dandruff is a common problem. For this, mix the juice of lemon with some coconut oil and apply on to the scalp overnight. Wash in the morning. It has magical effects on dandruff conditions. ArticleWashing is an important part of hair care. For this, you can use the following hair washing recipe: Take 2 tbsp. of shikakai powder and 2 tbsp. amla powder. Add 4 cups of heated water to powdered herbs. Allow to steep until comfortably warm (at least 5 minutes), strain (use a metal tea filter), and pour over wet hair and massage in. Wash thoroughly. The amla is conditioning, but for a little extra boost, apply coconut oil as a prewash treatment and apply a conditioning rinse after washing. ArticleTake two tablespoons of powdered hibiscus flowers and mix with a cup of boiling water. Let cool. Apply to hair and leave for 5 to 20 minutes. Rinse well. Gives shine and cleans non-oiled hair well. Would be good for those who want to wash very often (daily or every other day) or for non-oiled naturally dry hair/ scalp. Normally, pre-wash oiling and using conditioning herbs in the washing mix serve as the conditioners. However, for additional conditioning needs or for deep treatments following the conditioning recipe given below can be used in the winters: 5 flowers of hibiscus, one tablespoon fenugreek seeds (coarse powder or just crushed) and 1 table spoon of arrowroot powder/starch. Mix arrowroot powder or starch with a little bit of water to get a solution. Make a large mug of strong tea with hibiscus and fenugreek. Strain and add arrowroot solution. Allow to cool and use as a conditioning rinse. For more information on Yoga, Ayurveda, diet, nutrition, health, weight loss or fitness contact DesiDieter Health and Diet Experts
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