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Hair Care & Treatments
The dictionary meaning of the word ‘hair’ is
– it is a thread like keratinized outgrowth of epidermis of the
skin. It develops inside a tubular hair follicle, a sheath of
epidermal cells and connective tissue that surrounds the root of
hair. The part of the hair above the
skin: consists of three layers - the outer
cuticle: a cortex containing the pigment that gives hair its
colour and a central core (medulla) which may be hollow. The
root of the hair, beneath the surface of the skin, is expanded
at its base to form the bulb. Ayurveda says that if your hair is
thin, dry and frizzy and prone to split ends, you have ‘Vata’
hair. If you have fine hair prone to premature thinning or
graying, you are pitta prominent. If you are the “kapha” type,
your hair tends to be thick and oily. Skin, nails and hair are
made of keratin. The chief component of keratin is sulphur. The
relationship between hair and skin is very important. The skin
is like a soil in which the hair grows, like a plant. The skin
supplies the nutrients for the growth of the hair, through hair
follicle. Sebaceous glands open into follicle through a duct.
The secreted sebum lubricates the hair automatically and as we
brush or comb the hair. Activity of the gland varies with age.
The shape and size of the follicle decides what kind of hair
will grow out of it. For instance, curved follicles produce wavy
hair. Hair grows at about 1 cm per month.
Hair Problems
Hair Loss / Thinning - Most people lose 50
to 150 hairs every day. You have around 100,000 hairs on your
head. Sudden hair losses are caused by a genetic autoimmune
condition called alopecia areata
Ayurveda cites Pitta Dosha in the body as the chief cause of
all hair problems. Pitta gets increased by eating too much spicy
fried food, coffee & tea, meats, alcoholic drinks, and also
excessive smoking. Also stress can trigger hair loss. In
adequate supply of proteins may also cause hair loss.
Solution
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Change your life style. Find out the part of your food
which causes increase in ‘Pitta Dosha” once you locate this,
you can try to eliminate the particular food from your diet.
Your diet should contain more greens, vegetables, fruits,
salads, milk, buttermilk, wheat germ, Soya and vitamin ‘A’.
Some spices like cumin, turmeric and black pepper are good.
You can sauté these spices (1/2 tsp each) in 1 tsp ghee and
add to your vegetable.
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Natural shampoo is better than the chemical ones, to wash
you hair. Amla and shikkai, commonly used by Indians, are
better; you can also wash your hair with water in which few
drops of lemon juice have been added.
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A warm oil massage done at least once a week has lot of
benefits. More of oil massage is described below.
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Regulate your bowel movements. Constipation may cause
hair loss. Use of mild natural laxative or Triphala, an
ayurvedic medicine will help.
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Regular physical activity / exercise balance the
aggravated doshas. Will reduce stress.
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While taking bath, cover your hair with shower cap so
that the hair does not get wet. Wet hair comes off easily
and increases hair loss especially when your hair roots are
weak.
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After a hair – wash use wide toothed comb. Better use
your fingers! Understand that wet hair is weak and tends to
fall of easily. Massage your hair with fingers to increase
blood circulation and activate secretion of sebum.
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Always use towel to dry hair and sit under a ceiling fan.
Do not use hairdryer if it is switched on to “hottest”
position.
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Brush your hair from the nape of your neck to forehead
covering the hair to its full length. 50 strokes during the
day and 50 strokes in the night leave the hair clean. Do not
Brush in hurry. If you have dandruff, avoid brushing.
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Excessive heat affects scalp & hair. Moderate sunlight
and fresh air are beneficial. Use an umbrella or cap while
you go out in the hot sun.
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An ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj, Amla,
corals, Iron and black sesame seed is very useful.
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A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice induces hair
growth.
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Application of juice of green coriander leaves on the
head is good.
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If you have dandruff, lice, get rid of them.
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Wooden combs are better as these may not generate static
electricity.
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It is repeated again here that ‘stress’ can seriously
affect hair. Relaxation methods, meditation may help. If you
keep on worrying about your hair loss, you are likely to
loose more.
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Do not tighten your hair with tight rubber bands for too
long a period. Any thing tight on the hair breaks it.
 Dandruff
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This is a condition in which the scalp is covered with
small flakes. The flakes come away while brushing or combing
the hair. Dandruff causes itching and hair loss. Itching
induces scratching which causes further damage.
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Malassazia is the fungus believed to cause dandruff.
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This fungus is difficult to eradicate Dandruff may be
caused by aggravated ‘Vata’ dosha.
Solution
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Massage scalp every night at bed time with one tsp each
of castor oil, mustard oil and coconut oil.
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Massage the scalp with a mixture of one part of lemon
juice to two parts of coconut oil. Leave for 3 to 4 hours;
then wash off with warm water.
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Sandal wood oil (1 part) mixed with lemon juice (3 parts)
is very effective.
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Do not use other people’s comb and do not lend yours.
Dandruff is infective.
Premature graying
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When a person’s hair turns grey before the age of 35, the
condition is then called “premature graying of hair”.
Excessive pitta dosha is the cause. Pitta is increased by
wrong diet as said earlier. Some kind of illness, anemia,
shock, and certain drugs may also cause premature graying.
Solution
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Mix equal quantities of turmeric, amla and neem leaves
and powder. One tsp of this powder taken daily twice, with
water may help.
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As said earlier follow a bland diet regimen avoiding too
much spiced food.
Massaging the hair (scalp) The benefits
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It enhances blood circulation in the scalp.
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It strengthens the hair roots, supplying additional
nutrients to the hair.
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Makes hair more soft and pliable.
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It rejuvenates damaged hair.
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It helps balancing vata dosha.
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Reduces body heat in general.
Choosing the correct massage oil
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For vata predominant persons:- Almond oil or sesame oil
as the base oils.
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For pitta persons:- Coconut oil
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For kapha dominant persons:- Almond oil or sesame oil.
Herbs that are added to the massage oil
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For vata persons:- Brahmi, Amalaki
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For pitta persons:- Amalaki, Bhringaraj, Hibiscus.
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For kapha persons:- Neem
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All types: Rose mary, Lavender, Jasmine.
How to do the self – scalp massage
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The oil for massaging should be warm. Use fingers and
pads of your fingers. Apply the oil little by little to
different sections of the scalp, parting the hair as needed;
Get some oil rubbed along the length of the hair with
circular motions, slow deliberate movements cover the entire
scalp.
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Leave the oil on for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Wash off
with a gentle, natural shampoo.
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Oil massaging should be done at least 2 times a week.
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Medicated oils like “Maha bringraj oil, Amla oil and
Arnica oil are highly useful.
Ayurvedic oils / herbs friendly to the hair
Lawsonia Intermis, Terminalia balerica, Centella asiatica,
Cannarium Strictum, Coccinia Indica, Pongamia Glabra, Indigofera
tinctoria, Eclipta alba etc.
A number of factors like age, season, pollution, stress,
anxiety, contaminated tap water and faulty diet affect your
scalp and hair. Ayurveda has a lot of medications to enhance the
health of your hair and cure hair problems. However, even in
these modern era where foreign cosmetics are widely available,
the Indian women especially south Indian women, always use
natural hair oils like coconut oil, shying away from oil free,
chemical and synthetic products for hair. Weekly oil bath is
very common. Therefore our women probably have the most
beautiful, luxuriant and long hair.
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