How Can Ayurveda Help You Reduce Hair Fall With Best Hair Oil
It’s all in the hair
The global hair care industry today is a multibillion-dollar one and understandably for a good reason. As one of the most important elements determining someone’s physical appearance, hair is a feature that everyone wants the best of. Few things enhance one’s beauty as much as a full head of thick, lustrous hair, and men and women around the world constantly seek the best products to enhance the appearance and health of their hair.
However, owing to various causes such as a poor diet, environmental factors, hormonal imbalance or stress, we often end up suffering from conditions like hair fall, premature greying, or thinning. Moreover, many commercial hair care products use a lot of chemicals that damage not only the hair but also, potentially, the body’s nervous and endocrine systems. And the products we buy to treat our damaged hair often have only a superficial effect and leave the underlying causes unanswered.
This is where the Ayurvedic treatment process is beneficial to combat hair fall and hair loss. Ayurveda intrinsically involves a holistic approach to healing. Not only are the treatments and products used 100% natural, but they are also designed to address the root cause of the problem – which often originates in underlying problems deep within your body. This holds true whether you choose a topical solution for hair damage or a more general approach to heal your body.
One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is that the health of the body’s digestive fire (Agni) determines the type of nourishment that the body’s tissues and organs receive. This, in turn, depends mainly on the kind of food we eat and the quality of the environment we are living in. Moreover, given how closely interlinked our bodily systems and tissues are, hair health can also depend on factors apart from digestive strength, including stress levels, hereditary factors, personality traits and the overall quality of life. This is why Ayurvedic hair care focuses largely on rejuvenation (Rasayana), which involves deeply nourishing the body at a cellular level to promote healing and regeneration.
The 5000-year-old practices of Ayurveda have been tested over time and hold a deep relevance even today. There are many excellent ayurvedic medicines for hair fall and hair damage that address the internal root causes and help you acquire the thick, lustrous hair you seek. This article provides you with an introduction to the different types of Ayurvedic hair remedies and helps you select the perfect hair care option for yourself.
Find out the best Ayurvedic hair oil based on your dosha type
In the Ayurvedic view of the body, your hair health reflects the unique combination of three doshas – Vata, pitta, and Kapha – in your body. Given that we all have each of these three doshas in our system, it is extremely likely that your hair will reflect characteristics of more than one dosha. It is, in fact, highly uncommon to find someone whose hair is exclusively Vata-type, pitta-type or Kapha-type. Here are the typical characteristics of each of these three hair types – you can refer to these and determine which characteristics best match your own hair. Ayurvedic hair loss solutions like Neelibringadi Keram, Kesini Oil and Virgin coconut oil contain essential nourishing ingredients like Bhringaraja, Brahmi, Amla and Neelini that help provide holistic hair care and act as natural remedies to combat baldness, dandruff, dry hair, split-ends and hair loss.
Vata-type hair – Healthy Vata-type hair is relatively thin in volume but tends to be coarse in texture. It grows rapidly and is usually curly, straight or somewhere in between. Owing to its rebellious nature, it can often be difficult to tame and style as you wish.
Pitta-type hair – Healthy pitta-type hair tends to be moderately thick, soft in texture, and straight in appearance. While it is easy to style, individual strands tend to be fine.
Kapha-type hair – Healthy Kapha-type hair is coarse in texture and tends to be very full and thick in volume. It is usually curly in appearance. This is typically considered as the most desirable type of hair.
When determining the ways in which your hair health has deteriorated, it is essential to keep in mind what your natural hair type is based on long-term patterns that you observed before your hair started getting damaged. In addition, it is important to remember that Ayurvedic treatment is not about altering one’s hair type but about encouraging one’s natural hair type to be in its best and healthiest state. It is not possible or desirable for us all to transform into Kapha-hair types – Ayurveda helps restore our hair to its natural health and encourages us to make the most of our unique, innate beauty in the process.
How does stress affect hair health?
Chronic stress plays a very important role in hair health, particularly for Vata and pitta doshas. Our body’s response to sources of stress is wired to maximize our chances of survival in the face of danger. When we encounter stress, resources are reallocated throughout the body –our heart rate goes up, our brain and muscles consume more energy, and less nutrition is available for our immune and digestive systems. This is part of the body’s defence mechanism and has no long-term effects as long as the body encounters stress infrequently and is allowed ample time to return to its equilibrium state. However, when we experience frequent stressful situations, the stress response ends up inhibiting many bodily functions by depriving them of nutrients. In particular, bone tissue is at risk because the body’s stress response tends to pace up the activity of the cells that break down bone cells. As a consequence, the bone structure – and by extension, the hair and nails – are at risk of malnutrition and damage.
How to Treat Imbalances in the Hair Doshas through Ayurveda
Imbalances in hair health are quite common and occur for a variety of reasons. In Ayurveda, these imbalances are regarded as symptoms of deeper health conditions. Since the hair is closely interlinked with the teeth, nails, and bone structure, any ill health in these body parts also manifests as hair damage. The hair is also closely impacted by the health of the nervous system and the digestive system. This is where Ayurveda is superior to conventional treatments, as it stresses on providing the right nourishment and care to the body as a whole rather than superficially treating the hair alone.
Stress and anxiety are caused due to many reasons. It’s mainly because of the lifestyle we are following. A simple way to start managing your stress is by adopting the following five-step renewal process to mitigate the impact of excessive stress.
1. Slow down
This might seem impossible given the fast-paced world we live in, but it is absolutely crucial to slow down and start becoming more mindful about our lives if we are to combat stress. It will not happen easily but start by taking a few minutes out every day to be immersed in thought and quiet reflection. The more you gain control over the way your mind is running, the better you will be able to curb overthinking and stress.
2. Practise self-care
Having a dedicated self-care routine is crucial to restore emotional balance and ward off the ill-effects of stress. It helps to reaffirm our priority towards ourselves and our wellbeing even amidst the rush of daily life. Things, like getting adequate sleep and taking walks outdoors, can go a long way in restoring our internal balance and helping us feel more energized. Ayurveda also recommends practicing abhyanga (oil massage) to rejuvenate the body and mind. You can also benefit from taking warm baths or practicing Nasya (placing oil in the nasal passages to boost mental clarity and relieve stress).
There are a number of massage therapies for restoring the strength in your hair:
Shirodhara involves gently letting medicinal oil or liquids drip on your forehead from a container hung from the ceiling as you lie in a horizontal position. Shirodhara can greatly reduce greying of hair, stimulate sound sleep and cure a wide range of health conditions.
Shirovasti, unlike Shirodhara requires the person to be seated in an upright position. A special head-gear is placed on the head and medicinal oil is poured into the cap. This oil is kept for a period of 45 minutes after which it is drained. Shirovasti greatly helps is reducing stress and nourishes the roots of the hair.
Shiro lepam (also known as Thala Pothichil) is a form of Ayurvedic treatment in which medicinal paste is applied to the head region and is left covered/bandaged for a certain period of time. This treatment helps prevent premature greying of hair and helps relieve stress.
Shirobhyanga involves massaging the head neck and shoulders using special ayurvedic medicinal oils that help in nourishing the hair, relaxing the mind and releasing tension in the upper half of the body.
In the modern-day world, stress may seem like an inescapable part of life. Work, education, family, and multiple other responsibilities mean that most adults are suffering from stress on a daily basis, which in turn leads to hazardous health effects. Ayurveda teaches us how to manage tension to lead a healthy life by adopting practices that restore the balance of bodily elements. Visit the Ayurveda ayurvedic hair and skin care products page to start your journey towards hair you can be proud of.
premature greying of hair- ayurvedic treatment
Most of us ignore the initial gray strands, but it becomes a nightmare when hundreds of hair go grey. So, it is never suggested to ignore your greying hair problems. You need to keep an eye on your diet and take supplements to support mane health.
Just as the skin loses firmness and sag with age, hair goes through the aging process. They start turning gray naturally in your mid-40s, and this can’t be reversed. However, finding grey hairs in your 20s can be disturbing. Dealing with and accepting these silver streaks might feel difficult.
Let’s start by understanding the reasons why our hair turns grey before we cover some of the most effective home remedies for grey hair.
Why Does Our Hair Turn Gray?
For understanding the whole greying process, one needs to understand the basic structure of the hair. Every hair strand consists of concentric layers. The outer surface layer is the cuticle; it is made up of small transparent scales that help protect your hair and give them a shiny finish.
The cortex is the second layer; it is responsible for the color of the hair. Due to some external factors, the cortex can become incapable of producing the color pigment, melanin. Without this pigment, your hair turns white.
When this white hair blends with your other dark hair, it will give you the grey hair impression. This is one of the main reasons for grey hair. (1)
While heredity, smoking, chewing tobacco, and emotional stress can cause grey hair, lack of nourishment is also one of the main reasons for greying. A few of the external factors behind premature greying can include:
Genetic tendency
A household history of early grey hair
Premature aging circumstances such as thyroid disorder, managerial and progeria
Iron deficiency
Anemia
Lessened melanocytes generation
Stress and pressures
Over usage of the soaps and synthetic shampoo
Exposure to the UV rays which damages the healthy hair follicles
Ayurveda has other reasons for the cause of grey hair. Let us get to know them!
What Does Ayurveda Say About Grey Hair?
As per the ancestral Ayurveda, the three doshas, Vata, Kapha, and pitta, regulate body activity. Depending upon the environment, geography, and natural genetics, every individual has a different mixture of these three doshas. This harmony is referred to as the intrinsic ‘Prakriti’ of the person. Any inequality happening in these dosha levels can result in diseases.
Premature greying, known as ‘Akala Palitya’ in Ayurveda, is the outcome of a disturbance in Pitta-Vata doshas. The Bhrajaka pitta, a subtype of the Pitta dosha, is responsible for your hair, skin complexion, and color.
It is associated with melanocytes that generate melanin pigment responsible for your hair’s natural color. Suppose there is any kind of inequality in the Bhrajaka Pitta. In that case, it results in insufficient melanin generation, which in turn results in premature greying.
Home Remedies For Grey Hair
Using hair products with toxic chemicals can result in more greying of the hair. But, don’t worry! Mother Nature blessed us with many natural ingredients, not one or two. Many home remedies will help you get back your dark hair. Help is right in the kitchen. It is possible to get rid of that grey hair naturally.
It is always ideal to use natural remedies for your hair to get rid of those pesky greys rather than going behind the chemical treatments. Here are the top 10 home remedies for grey hair. These remedies do more than prevent those pesky greys.
1. Curry Leaves And Coconut Oil
Curry leaves do an extraordinary job of revitalizing the roots of the hair. The vitamin B present in the curry leaves helps the hair follicles restore their biological color pigment while keeping premature greying at bay.
Coconut oil is best known as a natural coolant for the scalp and turns as the true combination with the curry leaves to restrain unnecessary Pitta dosha that controls your grey hairs.
Lifestyle Changes As Remedy For Grey Hair
Are you worried about the few gray hairs that you spotted? Then you have to make a few lifestyle changes that could help you maintain the original hair color longer. We know that premature greying results from stress, genetics, poor diet, hormonal imbalance, and lifestyle.
So, Ayurvedic experts offered advice on certain aspects that can play an important role in reversing your gray hair. Here are the few things which you can put in place to say adios to your gray hair.
1. Healthy Diet
Aging is unavoidable, yet gray hair doesn’t need to be! The primary and major way to stop gray hairs is to eat right. It makes a huge difference. Greens, fresh veggies, fruits with lots of yogurts are what you need to eat regularly. Eating right makes your hair soft and smooth. It even helps in achieving long glossy hair without those sparkling white hair strands hanging around.
There are certain foods with rich properties that prevent gray hair. What is the best part? These are simple and delicious and also provide minerals and vitamins that keep the body humming along. So, you can easily add them to the diet and prevent those white hairs –
A.Ginger
Ginger benefits the body, hair, and skin in many ways. It is even effective in protecting your hair against that premature greying. Have a teaspoon of grated ginger mixed with 1 tbsp of honey to prevent grey hairs. (7)
B. Black Sesame Seeds
Do you want hair that is as black as the black sesame seeds? These black sesame seeds are known to be powerful elixirs for grey hair; they boost melanin production, which helps in giving the hair a tremendous pigment. They are super filled with antioxidants which can neutralize your hair’s aging effect. Take one tablespoon of black sesame seeds two to three times a week to reverse the hair graying process.
C. Amla Juice
Amla is the best home remedy in terms of treating your hair. As it’s packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C properties, it doesn’t just prevent hair from premature graying but can even make it healthy and give the lustrous shine we all desire for. Try to intake six ounces of amla juice daily or massage your hair one time weekly.
D. Wheatgrass Juice
Drink one-two ounces of wheatgrass juice daily. You can also mix one tablespoon of fresh wheatgrass powder into the smoothies or soups. Fresh wheatgrass juice is healthy and offers many benefits for the body. Using it regularly can turn the gray hair back to its natural color. The lesser-known fact about wheatgrass is that it can enhance your hair health too. (8)
E. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is also known as Indian ginseng. The amino acid named ‘Tyrosine’ in the Ashwagandha helps stimulate the melanin generation in the hair follicles. Ashwagandha also deters melanin loss. So, girls or guys, you can prevent premature graying with Ashwagandha.
2. Stop Smoking
Did you know that more than 1 billion people smoke across the world? This statistic is very mind-boggling, yet it’s true. Smoking has always been linked with the premature aging of your skin and hair.
A study that is circulated in Indian Dermatology discovered that people who smoke are 2.5 times more likely to start greying prematurely than non-smokers. But why? Because smoking produces H2O2 and more toxic free radicals. We also know how much free radicals can break down your color-generating cells, melanocytes.
3. Protect Hair From Sun
Staying long hours in the sun could be the main cause of premature hair greying. Those toxic UV rays from the sun aren’t just bad for your skin, but for your hair too. Staying outside in the sun for a long time damages the scalp and hair, which results in grey and dry hair. So, it is advised to cover your hair with a scarf, umbrella to protect your hair from sun exposure.
4. Reduce The Intake Of Caffeine
Not just smoking, even drinking too much caffeine or tea can also cause grey hair. Drinking caffeine can lower energy levels and can make you mal-nutrition which in turn is responsible for premature greying.
5. Avoid Hair Damage
Few hair care actions could damage the hair. A few are listed below.
Bleaching hair
Utilizing a brush than a wide-toothed comb, mainly on wet hair
Applying much heat through a hair dryer or curling iron
Utilizing harsh shampoo and soaps
Washing hair frequently
6. Yoga And Pranayama
Premature graying of the hair is mostly observed in most young men and women these days. The main culprit is stress and an unhealthy lifestyle. Most of the time, it can be due to a deficiency of nutrients. Trying many hair dyeing medicines might not work yet; yoga and pranayama can save your hair from greying. Both yoga and pranayama are known for increasing the scalp blood circulation that improves healthy hair growth. Few yoga poses even help you in dealing with graying hair and offer natural and healthy black hair.
How To Dye Grey Hair Naturally
The basic and the most obsolete way to hide your grey hair is by dyeing it. Are you looking for any home remedies to dye hair naturally? We got you covered. There are several healthy alternatives for those synthetic hair dyes. Henna and Indigo natural dyes are an ideal option among those choices.
What Is Indigo Hair Dye?
Indigo hair dye is a raw dye from the Indigo plant, also known as Indigofera Tinctoria. The leaves of this plant are refined, sun-dried then granulated to a soft powder. When this mix is blended with water, it releases the blue dye. The application of Indigo over hair not only dyes your hair but also offers incredible hair benefits. It improves hair growth and treats scalp infections. The best part is the indigo hair dye is completely free of chemicals, so it doesn’t harm your skin, scalp, and hair in any way.
Benefits Of Indigo Powder For Your Hair:
Indigo provokes hair growth.
It is a cure for treating dandruff.
It is an all-time remedy for premature grey hair.
If it’s mixed with henna, you get the best source of gorgeous shades of brown.
What Is Henna Hair Dye?
Henna is also referred to as Mehndi across India. It is the natural hair dye that comes from the henna plant. We could use dried leaves powder or fresh leaves to dye your hair. To make the henna hair dye, collect the henna leaves, sundry until they are crisp and have no moisture and then powder it finely. (9)
Just like Indigo, henna has huge hair benefits. It conditions and strengthens the hair while also promoting hair growth.
Benefits Of Natural Henna For Hair
Maintains good health of hair and scalp
It makes your hair thick.
A trustworthy source of hair nourishment.
Act as a natural conditioner for your hair
Lessens the hair fall
Repair and treat damaged hair and split-ends
How To Use Henna & Indigo To Dye Hair Black
Make a paste of Organic Henna Powder with tea/coffee decoction & leave overnight. Apply to clean/dry hair.
Post 1.5 to 2 hours rinse clear with only water & let it dry
Make a paste of Organic Indigo Powder with lukewarm water & apply to clean, dry hair, due immediate color release.
Post 1.5 to 2 hours rinse clear with only water.
Patch/Strand test advised prior to global application, as some skin/ hair react to even natural products.
Allow 5-6 weeks if chemical dye used
How To Use Henna as Hair Pack or mask for Conditioning
Mix Henna with curd/egg or water to make a paste
Apply from root to tip wearing hand gloves & leave for 30 minutes. Cleanse off the hair using mild shampoo.