Hair health is becoming increasingly important due to rising levels of pollution, stress and unhealthy lifestyle practices. A majority of people nowadays suffer from hair problems such as hair fall, dandruff, split end, etc. Fortunately, Ayurveda has a solution for all these hair problems. There are many Ayurvedic hair care tips and practices that can boost hair health, promote hair growth and prevent hair fall.
Basics of Ayurveda for Hair
According to Ayurveda, different people have different Doshas, and hence, different hair types. It is important to understand your hair type, so that you may apply Dosha-specific Ayurvedic herbs and remedies for your hair care problems.
- Vata Hair Type: thin, straight and highly porous hair; may suffer from dryness of the scalp, frizzy hair, split ends and hair loss.
- Pitta Hair Type: naturally straight and silky hair with a medium thickness; may suffer from premature greying of hair, inflammation in the scalp, hair loss, etc.
- Kapha Hair Type: curly, thick and lustrous hair with an oily scalp; may suffer from brittle hair, oily dandruff, itching and hair fall.
Ayurvedic Hair Care Tips
- Take Proper Nutrition:
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is essential for hair health. Proper nutrition helps to nourish the follicles, prevent premature greying of hair and facilitate hair growth.
According to Ayurveda, you should eat a Dosha-specific diet to balance your Doshas and prevent hair problems.
Ayurveda also recommends eating foods that help to keep your hair healthy such as white sesame seeds, green vegetables, whole grains and yoghurt.
Eating a moderate amount of healthy fats, preferably in the form of ghee or nuts, is also extremely important to nourish your hair.
- Oil Your Hair Regularly:
Your scalp is full of energy-reliving points, called Marmas. When you apply oil to your scalp, you remove the excess Dosha accumulated in your head through these Marmas. Oiling also helps to nourish, strengthen and condition your hair.
According to Ayurveda, you must oil your hair at least 2-3 times a week. The Ayurvedic method of oiling the hair involves applying warm oil on your scalp and massaging it with your finger in a circular motion for about 15 minutes.
- Wash Your Hair Regularly:
Your hair follicles tend to get clogged with dirt and unwanted oils. Therefore, you must wash your hair regularly to keep your scalp clean.
However, according to Ayurveda, you should not wash your hair too frequently. It is recommended to wash your hair twice or thrice a week with lukewarm water and a gentle herbal shampoo or hair cleansing herbs such as Reetha, Shikakai, etc.
- Massage Your Scalp:
While washing or oiling your hair, massage your scalp in a circular motion with the tips of your fingers. It will stimulate the blood circulation in the hair follicles and promote the absorption of oils into the deep players of your scalp.
You can also massage your scalp while combing your hair. However, you should not brush your hair excessively. Otherwise, you may end up damaging your hair.
- Use Herbal Remedies:
Ayurvedic hair care also involves the use of many herbal remedies to treat your hair problems and promote hair growth. Depending on your Dosha, you can choose your herbs and apply them as hair masks, shampoos, etc.
If you have Vata hair type, you should use Palandu (onion), Yashtimadhu (Licorice), Devdar (Cedar), Krishna Tila (black sesame), Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus), etc.
A person with Pitta hair type should use Yashtimadhu (Licorice), Japa (Hibiscus) and Nimba (Neem).
For Kapha hair type, the recommended herbs in Ayurveda are Gunja (Rosepea), Methika (Fenugreek), Karpoora (Camphor), etc.
There are also some herbs that are beneficial for all Doshas, such as Kumari (Aloe Vera), Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri), Bhringraj (Eclipta Alba) and Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry).
- Take Adequate Sleep:
Nidra, or sleep, is the third most important pillar in Ayurveda. It is essential for repairing the tissues of all body organs, including hair. Therefore, you must get sufficient sleep every day to improve your hair health.
- Manage Your Stress:
Stress can aggravate all three Doshas and cause premature greying of hair and hair loss. Therefore, you must manage your stress well to encourage hair growth and prevent hair problems.
Some of the herbs that help in managing stress are Brahmi (bacopa monnieri), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Jatamansi (Nardostachys Jatamansi). Massaging your scalp with herbal oils also helps to manage stress.
You may also practice stress-relieving techniques such as Yoga, meditation and Pranayama.
- Avoid Harmful Hair Treatments:
While following Ayurvedic practices for hair care, it is also crucial to avoid harmful chemical hair treatments that may damage your hair or scalp.
Avoid colouring your hair with chemicals. Also, avoid using heat treatments for your hair, such as blow-drying, straightening or curling. Applying heat can cause dryness and consequently damage your hair.
- Exercise Regularly:
According to Ayurveda, you should exercise regularly to facilitate the growth of healthy hair. Exercising unclogs your hair follicles and removes toxins from the scalp. It also improves blood circulation, allowing better absorption of nutrients and oxygen by the scalp tissues.
- Indulge in Ayurvedic Therapies:
Many Ayurvedic therapies, such as Panchakarma, which involves practices like Nasya, Basti, Shirodhara, etc., can detoxify your body and balance your Doshas, thereby facilitating hair growth.
The Takeaway
Hair is an indicator of the overall health of the body and mind. Therefore, it is essential to take care of your hair and prevent hair loss.
Ayurvedic hair care tips promote hair growth through a holistic self-care routine. It helps to balance your Doshas through diet and herbs and then indulge in healthy practices of oiling and massaging to boost hair health.
