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Is your hair feeling limp and dry? Beautiful long and shiny hair equals to an asset for a person. Owning a healthy and vibrant crowning glory is considered to be an achievement and adds a lot to one’s personality.
Ayurveda, as an ancient science, talks elaborately about hair and its care in its scriptures. Ayurveda is all about your uniqueness and celebrates different kinds of hair, from thick and lustrous, to grey and thin, and finally to fine and silky depending on its Prakriti (mind-body makeup). However, in this advanced modernized era, humans have worked hard with a lot of sophistication and achieving luxuries but at the same time, been left with a sedentary lifestyle, stress-induced hectic schedules along with faulty dietary habits. All these habits influence the wellbeing of the mind and body and come with a host of health problems. As people are getting aware of the ill effects of chemical products, they are inclined towards Ayurveda to seek a healthy and safer treatment for beauty issues especially the ones concerned with hair.
A major haircare concern is the dryness of hair (Rooksha) and being prone to easy breakage. There are several reasons for hair to lose its natural lustre and shine. Ayurveda can relate this concern to the increase in the Air element i.e. Vata predominance, which causes dryness and easy breakage of hair. To maintain, balance and bring the Vata Dosha in sync, given below are a few hair care tips that works as a dry hair treatment which will help you get your mane back.
We are what we eat!
As with so many things in Ayurveda, food and digestion are priorities! Lank, lifeless hair may be the result of poor nutrition and/or absorption. In Ayurveda, your hair and nails are the by-products of your bone metabolism, so it is essential to follow a diet that nourishes your bone tissue. Basically, you can be your own physician at home and perform dry hair treatment at home itself!
Ayurvedic Vaidyas recommend eating cooked greens and bitter, leafy, green vegetables for the health of your hair.
Incorporate some of these nutritious “hair foods” in your diet: fresh coconut pulp/milk, almonds, cashews, sprouted wheat/wheat germ, and walnuts.
Spices play a very important role in promoting digestion and assimilation of nutrients, which ultimately support your hair. Season your food with a varied mixture of spices available in your kitchen such as fenugreek, cumin, turmeric, etc.
Natural is our own being
Unfortunately, many shampoos, conditioners, and other hair-care products contain chemicals like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS/SLES) and parabens, which can damage your hair and strip the natural lustre over time. The best dry hair care remedy, to begin with, is to read the labels carefully and preferably go for gentler or herbal-based formulas, as they are healthier for your hair in the end. A tip to enhance the benefits of natural products is to wash your hair with RO water as it negates the effect of heavy pollutant-based water, which weighs the hair down, and further causes dryness.
“Snehan” (Oleation/Love) is the key to everything!
“One who applies oil on his head regularly, does not suffer from headaches, and premature greying of hair. Nor does his hair fall. The strength of his head and forehead is specially enhanced; his hair becomes black, long, and deep-rooted. His sense organs work effectively. The skin on his face brightens. Applying oil on the head produces sound sleep and happiness.”
(Translated from Charak Samhita – the ancient Ayurveda text from 900 BCE – 600 BCE)
Moordha tailam (oiling) with warm oil stimulates and moisturizes your scalp and promotes hair growth. Oil should be regularly applied on the scalp, especially if you suffer from dry hair. This dry hair remedy also prevents hair fall, baldness and makes the hair black, long and deep-rooted. It provides nourishment to the hair follicles and gives strength to the hair. Bhringaraj Head Massage oil can be used regularly for massaging. To treat dry hair effectively, it is advised to oil massage your head at least once or twice a week.
Hair Care Tip: If you can, leave the oil on overnight (be sure to wrap your head in a towel to protect clothing and linens), or at least for an hour or two before cleansing. Doing so will nourish your hair, relax your mind, and body, and promote sound sleep and is a safe yet effective dry hair treatment at home.
Strengthen with Nutritional Supplements
Amla (Indian gooseberry), is celebrated in Ayurvedic literature for improving hair and nail strength and supports tissue rejuvenation and healthy elimination. It consists of five rasas out of the six rasas mentioned in Ayurveda. Similarly, herbs like Aloe Vera, Hibiscus and Brahmi, can be included in your routine to promote healthy hair growth. It is recommended to get advice from your family physician before including any supplements in your diet.
Nowadays even lack of proper food during the pandemic has worsened hair concerns. The inclusion of Vitamin supplements and keeping the calcium level in check will certainly add good strength to your hair.
Keep Stress in Check
Excessive stress can aggravate Prana Vata, a subtype of Vata, in the mind, which can disrupt the hair-building process and accelerate premature greying and further increase drynesn, resulting in brittle hair. Never underestimate the power of a routine. Follow a daily Ayurvedic Dinacharya to balance the mind and body to reduce stress and effectively manage you day.
Exercise regularly with Yoga Asanas (yoga postures) to help keep stress levels in check and to balance fat metabolism. “Sarvangasan” is one such Yogasana, which affects the Cardio-vascular System, C.N.S & Thyroid Gland. It increases blood flow in the brain, which nourishes the brain and hair. Regularly doing this prevents hair fall and promotes the growth of new hair, which is healthier and shinier.
Nourish your mind and Prana Vata with the aid of Forest Essentials’ Nidra and Shanti Aromatherapy sprays, which work wonders to help you get undisturbed and restful sleep.
Any stress reduction activities or techniques that you practice will be beneficial. For instance, meditation techniques provide deep rest, stress release, build natural resistance to stress and have been shown to reverse the damage caused by stress.
It is mandatory to protect ourselves and our hair from harmful environmental stressors like exhaust fumes, by products such as silicones, sulphates, dust etc. that get dissolved into our skin and hair and cause irreversible damage. Hence protecting it by various methods such as wearing a turban or cap on the head protects the hair from wind, heat, dust etc. This also helps in increasing longevity of the hair.
Additionally, do not forget to play and have some fun! Your heart and hair will definitely thank you.
Tame those tresses.
Brush your hair each night to stimulate the scalp and get healthy, lustrous hair. This simple yet effective hair care tip to devote sometime to hair brushing every day and preferably do it post oiling to lets the oil absorb better into the roots and shaft of the hair. Brush in each direction — left to right, right to left, front to back and back to front. Use smooth, long strokes from the scalp to hair tips. Use a wooden comb to not generate static electricity and prevent breakage. Avoid brushing wet hair.
Beware of these!
The main target to avoid dry hair would be reducing “Vata “predominance and balance the Doshas. Avoid and cut down on cold, frozen foods or leftovers, refined, processed and canned foods. These foods lack prana, or life force, or in Ayurvedic terms, intelligence. Ayurveda considers foods with artificial preservatives and chemical additives stripped of their inherent “nutrients” and therefore not helpful in supplying nutrition to your body and mind. Ice-cold beverages also hamper the process of digestion and the assimilation of nutrients thereby increasing the cold, dry nature of hair, eventually resulting in dandruff.
Hot Showers are a no-no
Acharya Sushruta mentions that the head and hair should not be washed with warm or hot water or with very cold water. Pouring warm water over the head reduces the strength of hair and the eyes too. Hot water opens up your hair cuticles allowing the essential moisture to escape into the air. Hence, a hot shower can leave your hair porous, dry and more susceptible to breakage. Opt for lukewarm water if cold showers are not an option.
Heat Styling not so stylish.
You may risk damaging your hair shaft by excessively using heat tools on dry hair. Straighteners, curlers and blow dryers can strip your hair of its essential oils and increase chances of permanent damage to your hair strands. At a time when your hair is already in need of hydration, over styling will only dry your hair more. So, if you must style your hair, Using dry hair products and then using a heat protectant spray or serum to avoid breakage and hair fall and do not forget to oil properly before your next wash.
Mask it up!
Not just your face! Hair masking is an effective treatment to avoid dry hair. Deep conditioners or hair masks are your one-step solution to several hair problems. Pamper your hair with some nourishing hair masks that repair and replenish essential oils in your hair shaft. From ingredients like banana pulp, hibiscus, Aloe Vera, fenugreek, honey and many more to lock moisture in your hair shaft, prevent frizz and split ends to decreasing tangles, these products do it all. Deep condition your hair every time you wash your hair or whenever your hair feels dehydrated. Dry hair products like The Forest Essentials Intensive Hair Repair Masque are a perfect at home dry hair remedy to treat your hair, leaving it shiny and lustrous.
FAQ’s
What can I do for extremely dry hair?
The combination of internal and external care works like magic to combat dry hair concern. Incorporating some of the nutritious “hair foods” in your diet along with warm head massage with pure cold pressed oils decoction infused with Ayurvedic herbs and dissociating with use of harmful chemicals which strip the natural texture is an effective dry hair remedy.
How do you moisturize dry hair?
Dry hair is a result of little or no hydration or nourishment to the hair roots or shaft and the best remedy to moisturise dry hair is to use correct and effective products with no chemicals so as to bring life back in the lifeless dull hair. The best product for dry hair would be a potent head massage oil and regular usage of a creamy nourishing hair repair masques. The combination of these two products effectively moisturises your hair and prevents any harmful effects of dryness and establishes great strength to the hair and nourishment from within.
How can I moisturize my dry hair at home?
The first step to moisturising dry hair at home is to not stop oiling your hair as dry hair care requires TLC often even 2-3 times a week. Eating a well-balanced diet and lifestyle plays a major role in combating dry hair and also works effectively on the hair roots to nourish them from the core. This one easy DIY at home can be whipped up in no time and will guarantee you smooth and softer hair immediately. Whisk a ripe banana and add 1 tbsp honey with 1 tsp of fenugreek powder. You can even add 1 tbsp of Yogurt for added benefits. Apply it to the length of the hair and allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo and condition well. Repeat atleast once a week for best results.
What causes dry hair?
In this fast-paced life there are several reasons for dry and frizzy hair. The major reason is lack of nutrition from outside and even from within! Even in this pandemic situation we are trying to manage our diet, exercise, work, stress, sleep along with self-care on a tight rope. We do not always find time to indulge into a proper hair care regime hence that takes a toll on sour mane. The build up stress on a daily basis also affects the hair growth and increases Vata(air element) which causes lifeless brittle hair prone to easy breakage. Using too many styling tools or using incorrect hair care products adds to the depletion of the nutrients and further increase damage resulting in dry hair.
