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My Ayurvedic hair care regimen
In my previous article I talked about my natural hair journey and how I have been using Ayurvedic herbs and powders to grow and care for my natural hair.
Today, I am here to share with you how I use these herbs and powders in my hair care routine to achieve healthy hair growth and spend less on hair care products. So, take your notepad and pen and learn how Ayurveda can benefit your hair.
What is Ayurveda
Ayurveda is one of the oldest health systems in the world used in ancient India for more than 5,000 years. Our body is governed by what we eat, when we eat and how we eat. It balances the body and mind. But once the digestive system is imbalanced, it leads to a lot of diseases and illnesses. In Ayurveda, the functions of the body-mind complex are governed by the three Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and the imbalances in your Dosha affect your digestive system which in turn have an impact on your skin and hair.
Ayurvedic herbs
In Ayurveda, ingredients such as herbs and spices are used in Indian cuisine to cook amazing dishes and also as traditional medicines. Ayurvedic hair care is based on ingredients and methods that are natural and holistic.
“If you can eat it, you can use it on your skin and hair.”
By using these herbs in my regimen consistently, I have been able to see good results, my curls are defined and my hair is thicker and has a darker hue as compared to when I use regular store-bought products.
Aloe Vera
I use Aloe Vera in my hair regularly as it balances moisture levels in the hair, treats irritated scalp and promotes hair growth. I mix Aloe Vera juice in my homemade hair deep conditioners, hair masks, facial masks and leave-in conditioners. It is a very good moisturizer and makes my hair shinier.
Aritha, Reetha or Soap nuts
Aritha is a natural cleanser and acts as a natural shampoo. You can find artitha in powder form or as dried nuts. It gently removes dirt and oils from the scalp and reduces shedding.
Amla, Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry
Amla is high in vitamin C. It strengthens hair, controls hair loss, and promotes hair growth. It also conditions the hair and prevents premature graying. I use it in all my Ayurvedic recipes.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is rich in iron, fiber, protein, magnesium and manganese. It conditions and thickens the hair strands giving your hair the appearance of fuller hair. It also prevents hair fall and contributes to faster hair growth. You can use fenugreek seeds to make a hair spritz to moisturize your scalp.
Fenugreek is one of my favourite Ayurvedic herbs because within a few weeks of using it, I noticed that my thin fine hair became thick and strong.
Hibiscus or Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus is rich in Vitamin C and amino acids that nourish the hair and strengthen your roots. It also adds shine to your hair and stimulates blood flow to the scalp. I use dried hibiscus leaves in my herbal tea rinses and in my herbal infused oils. I noticed that using hibiscus in my herbal tea regularly gives my hair a red tone.
Neem
Neem is an excellent herb with antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It helps fight scalp issues such as dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis. Adding neem powder to your shampoo or using neem oil in your hair care routine is sure to improve your scalp condition and hair growth.
Shikakai
Shikakai also called ‘fruit of the hair’ cleanses the scalp without stripping it off its natural oils. It also works as a conditioner for your strands. This herb prevents hair loss as well as dry and itchy scalp and promotes hair growth.
How do Ayurvedic herbs and powders benefit your natural hair
For those suffering from hair loss, hair thinning and alopecia, Ayurvedic herbs work to combat hair scalp issues without the side effects caused by pharmaceutical hair growth treatment products.
I always emphasize on the fact that the use of Ayurvedic herbs and powders can only yield the expected results with patience and consistency.
My regimen
I start by washing my hair with this shampoo. It cleanses my scalp to remove build up and impurities from my hair. I shampoo my hair with this paste once a month. Other weeks I use my favorite shampoos.
L’Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care Safflower Rich Infusion Shampoo
DIY Ayurvedic Shampoo
Ingredients
2 tbsps Aritha powder
1 tbsp Shikakai powder
2 tbsp Amla powder
1 tbsp Neem powder
½ cup of warm water
Drops of tea tree essential oil (optional)
Directions:
In a ceramic bowl, mix all the powders with the warm water . Blend well with a wooden spoon until you obtain a smooth paste and add your essential oil. Apply to your hair in sections and massage lightly into your scalp to enjoy the benefits. Keep it for about 10 mins and rinse thoroughly.
Deep conditioning
After shampooing my hair, I proceed with my Fenugreek and Amla deep conditioner. Click here to know how I make it. I keep this deep conditioner in my hair for 45 minutes to get the benefits of the herbs.
After rinsing out the deep conditioner, I use a rinse out conditioner to detangle my hair and remove knots and tangles. Ayurvedic herbs can dry your hair out and the rinse out conditioner will restore the moisture back into my natural hair. After rinsing out the conditioner, I wrap my hair in a T-shirt for about one hour to squeeze out the excess water and to protect my hair from drying fast, as I have high porosity hair.
Styling
I apply my herbal infused oil on my scalp to keep my scalp moisturized. This is an important step in my routine as I have a dry scalp. Then I apply my Aloe Vera spritz as my leave-in conditioner. You can read how I make it here .
Then I seal in the moisture with my Kuza indian hemp pomade. At this stage, I style my hair into four big flat twists or I stretch my hair using the African threading method.
Interested in making your own Ayurvedic recipes, click on the link below to get them.
Check out the video below to see my Ayurvedic hair care routine
Do you have an Ayurvedic hair care regimen? I will be excited to know how you use Ayurvedic herbs to care for your natural hair. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive more tips, advice and recipes to help you take care of your natural hair.
