SSENT Herbal Shop www.ssentherbalandtherapy.co.za
However, the use of chemical-rich shampoos and conditioners provides only temporary results and in the long run, can even harm the texture of your hair. Nature has provided us with several herbs that nourish and protect hair without any side effects and therefore, it makes sense to use these herbal remedies more often.
AMLA
A fruit that is best known for its high vitamin C levels, the Indian gooseberry or amla is great for hair, too, adding luster and softness to your hair and doing away with dryness of the scalp. It is also a rich source of essential fatty acids that serve to keep the hair follicles strong and nourish the hair from the roots.
Tip: Mix a little amla powder with water and keep overnight; the next day, apply this paste to your hair, leave on for a few hours and wash with a mild shampoo. Boil amla with a little shikakai and soapnut in an iron vessel, steep overnight and next day, use the strained liquid to shampoo. Make your own amla oil by soaking a few dried fruits in coconut or sesame oil for a few days; then filter and use.
HIBISCUS
Hibiscus has valuable hair care properties and is said to be capable of promoting hair growth, preventing loss of hair and also keeping away grey hair. With its astringent action, hibiscus reduces oiliness and prevents the scalp from becoming red and itchy.
Tip: Soak hibiscus flowers and leaves in water overnight (use a 1:6 ratio) and next day, squeeze them the next day to get an extract. Apply this extract onto your scalp and hair as a tonic using a cotton ball.Take 10 hibiscus flowers and 5 hibiscus leaves, crush them and boil with half a cup of coconut or sesame oil. When the liquid emits fumes, add in 3 tulsi leaves and switch off the flame, allowing the oil to cool naturally. Strain this liquid and apply to the scalp, leave it on for a few hours and wash with warm water.
SOAPNUT
Soapnuts have been used for ages by people in Asia and are now known to contain substances called saponins that have a natural soap-like action. In India, these nuts have been used in combination with shikakai to treat infections of the scalp and help with hair growth.
Tip: Soak a few soap nuts in water, shake occasionally, and leave for a few hours. Then remove the nuts and add to another vessel containing water and use the first liquid to wash your hair. Use the second batch of soap water to wash hair again and if necessary, prepare a new batch of soapnut liquid for a third wash. The best part is that you can use a few soapnuts multiple times to get your natural soap solution. Combine with shikakai fruits if you wish to have an even better effect.
BHRINGARAJ
Bhringaraj is traditionally considered an excellent hair growth promoter and this is evident from the many hair oils that contain this ingredient. It is also known to prevent greying of hair and helps to keep hair dark and shiny. It can be used in recipes of your own for easy hair care at home.
Health.india.com tip: Take a few leaves of the Bhringaraj plant and grind them to extract the juice. Boil this juice a little and mix in with coconut oil and apply the oil to the hair. If you cannot find leaves, look for Bhringaraj powder, mix it in oil and use.
SHIKAKAI
Shikakai is the fruit obtained from a plant that grows extensively in South India and for years, people there have used this to cleanse their hair. It helps to nourish the hair glands and scalp and because of its low pH, it does not allow infections and dandruff to take hold. Shikakai powder is commercially available or you can powder the fruits on your own at home to get the powder.
Tip: Mix a little shikakai powder with warm water to a consistency of dosa batter. Rub warm castor oil or coconut oil into your scalp, leave on for two to three hours, and then rub in the shikakai paste. To remove the paste, rinse hair with warm water. Do not use any shampoo or conditioner following this. For even better results, mix in a little soapnut powder with the shikakai powder in a ratio of two parts of soapnut to one part of shikakai.
TULSI
Although it is best known for its expectorant properties that are useful in cough and cold, Tulsi also has valuable action on the hair. It helps remove itchiness of the scalp and also removes bumps that may be present as a result of heat or dryness of the scalp.
Tip: Prepare about 5 tablespoons of paste by chopping and grinding tulsi leaves. Take the paste in a heating vessel, mix in half a cup of coconut or sesame oil and stir as you heat on a low flame. As the mix gives out fumes, mix in a few seeds of fenugreek (methi) and as they pop up, remove the vessel from the flame. Cool and strain the oil and apply to the scalp for dealing with itchiness.
When you look at someone the first time, besides the person’s eyes, nose, cheekbones and jawline, there is yet another factor that makes an impression – the hair. Paying attention to your hair care regimen is therefore as important as caring for the rest of your body and using these herbal remedies, you will soon be drawing second glances.
All the herbs mentioned here can be found at
SSENT Herbal Shop
www.ssentherbalandtherapy.co.za
No comments:
Post a Comment