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.
Regularly cleaning and brushing the hair is very important. When the hairs are brushed, oil-producing glands in the scalp get stimulated. This natural oil makes the hair glossy and healthy. To give extra shine to the hair, after washing rinse the hair with some lemon juice mixed in a cup of warm water.
Some common hair related problems are as follows:
Dandruff
Dry skin flaking off the scalp and itchiness is referred to as dandruff. The aggravation of Vata generally causes this dryness.
Remedies
- 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.
Hair loss
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.
Remedies
- 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.
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.
Remedies
- Apply a paste made from 2-Tsp. henna powder, 1-tsp. curd, 1-tsp. fenugreek seed powder, 1 tbsp. coffee, 2-tbsp. mint juice and 2-tbsp. basil juice. Apply this paste to the hair for two hours. For a darker color, leave this paste in for 3 to 4 hours. Wash hair with any natural shampoo.
- Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon everyday.
Aggravation of Pitta dosha, stress, allergic reaction to shampoo, air conditioning, pollution and central heating lead to an itchy and red scalp, with tiny pimples or sores, dull and dry hair.
Remedies
- Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut oil and store it in glass container.
Grind some jasmine roots with lime juice. Wash the hair and scalp with it. The causes for these hair conditions are as follows:
- Excess of Pitta dosha in the body is the chief cause of hair problems.
- Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and excessive smoking.
- Eating too much fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour and acidic foods.
- Intake of too many chemical medicines, low blood circulation, anemia, general weakness after disease, stress, anxiety and mental tension.
- Chronic diseases like typhoid fever, presence of dandruff or lice and hormonal imbalance.
- Use natural shampoo or soap to clean the hair.
- Use amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) for washing the hair.
- Enhance oiling and massaging of scalp.
- Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times in a week.
- Use medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj oil', 'Amala oil' and 'Arnica oil'. Put oil on the scalp and massage gently in the roots of the hair.
- Maintain a regular bowel movement everyday.
- The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin A.
- Do regular physical exercise.
- A special Ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj (Eclipta elba), Amala, corals, iron and black sesame seeds is very useful and even stops the graying of hair.
- Rub the scalp vigorously after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation, and activates the sebaceous glands.
- A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice is also good to take.
- Daily application of coconut oil mixed with lime- juice on the hair is also beneficial. Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also good.
- Washing the hair with a paste of cooked Urad dal (black beans) and fenugreek (methi) 2-3 times a week.
- A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper may also be applied on the bald patches.
Remedies for Hair Loss and Balding
Hair loss, thinning of hair and balding are some of the common hair problems. Many of us suffer from these ailments due to our modern lifestyle and diet. Ayurveda can be very beneficial in treating these conditions as it investigates the root cause of the problem. The causes for these hair conditions are: - Excess of Pitta dosha in the body is the chief cause of hair problems. Pitta is increased by excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and excessive smoking. Pitta is also aggravated by eating too much fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods.
- Intake of too many chemical medicines, low blood circulation, anemia, general weakness after disease, stress, anxiety, and mental tension are also prime causes of hair loss.
- Chronic diseases like typhoid fever, presence of dandruff or lice and hormonal imbalance also cause hair loss.
Treatment
- The first step is to locate the root cause in your diet or lifestyle that may be increasing the Pitta dosha. Once you locate it, try to give up or at least reduce the diet, habit, or activity responsible for increasing Pitta.
- Always use a natural shampoo or soap to clean the hair. As most soaps and shampoos have chemicals, they might be the cause of your problem. Usually the chemicals have a heating effect, and increase Pitta locally. Amala (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) are very commonly used in India for washing the hair.
- Oiling and massaging of scalp is very beneficial for stopping the hair loss. Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times in a week. Certain medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj oil', 'Amala oil', and 'Arnica oil' are very useful. Put oil on the scalp, and massage gently in the roots of the hair.
- The person should maintain a regular bowel movement everyday. In case of constipation, a mild natural laxative can be taken. Triphala, an Ayurvedic herbal powder, is also useful.
- The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin A.
- Regular physical exercise is very beneficial as it helps in balancing the aggravated doshas.
- A special Ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj (Eclipta elba), Amala, corals, iron and black sesame seeds is very useful, and even stops the graying of hair.
- Rub your scalp vigorously after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation, and activates the sebaceous glands.
- A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice is also good to take.
- Daily application of coconut oil mixed with lime juice on the hair is also beneficial. Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also good.
- Washing the hair with a paste of cooked Urad dal (black beans) and fenugreek (methi) 2-3 times a week, is also good.
- A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper may also be applied on the bald patches.
Those of you who would prefer not to colour your hair, should choose softer colours in clothes and make-up, since the skin coloring is also toned down by the same natural ageing process. White hair can be dry and wiry, so a conditioner is a must. Even the cleanest white hair can go yellow at the edges from smoke, dust and dirt in the hair. To go further into the subject of colour, an understanding of the coloring treatment is essential.
Temporary hair coloring rinses - In this treatment, the hair shaft is coated with clear colour to darken or highlight. If you are not going to fight the white, the temporary rinse will keep it looking bright. It really is temporary, coating each hair only until the next shampoo. Colours come in coloured conditioning setting lotions; water rinses and shampoos, and will enhance white hair with silver pearl or blue colours.
A rinse can also add burnished gold or copper highlights to light or medium-coloured hair. It can bring out the red in the hair and brighten your dark hair with shine. With your next shampoo, the rinse washes away completely.
Semi-permanent treatment - Shampoos of semi-permanent hair colorants come in one bottle and need no mixing. They penetrate the hair slightly and don't require the aid of a peroxide developer. The hair colour produced by such products fades gradually and naturally, lasting through four to six shampoos. As the colour fades, there is no root retouching to do. But most semis will only hide up to 25 per cent grey. They blend white hairs into your natural shade, but usually don't cover them completely. The secret of success is to choose a colour as near your own as possible. Semi-permanent coloring is rather easy to do on your own. The results are very natural-looking and the colour never rubs off on linen or clothing. Touches aren't necessary because a new application is repeated every four weeks.
Hair coloring treatment with chemical dye - If you have a lot of white hairs, only a permanent colorant will cover them. Look for packs with two bottles to mix. One contains colour, the other peroxide which helps the colour penetrate deeply into the core of each hair to give longer lasting colour (six to eight weeks), and biggest colour change. You can even lighten your hair. Most are shampooed on. The colour doesn't wash out but after about every four weeks, the roots will need re-touching. Modern applicators make it easy to apply the colour just where you want on the roots where the new hair growth is showing.
The disadvantage of oxidation coloring is that it makes the hair dry and porous, so use plenty of conditioners. The hair colorants now available in the market are ammonia free. Ammonia is a strong alkali used to make the colour compound penetrate deeply. But colorants formulated without it, are less likely to irritate the skin, do not smell so strongly and leave the hair in better condition.