Causes of Gray Hair

Gray hair is supposedly a sign of wisdom. Well, Gray hair is caused when the follicle is unable to add color to the hair or when there is lack of melanin in the body. Melanin is responsible in giving color to the hair and due to the lack of which the hair starts to grey. Grey hair in old days was the sign of reaching mid life or starting with old age. But in today’s life even very young people get gray hair.

There are a lot of reasons for having grey hair. One reason could be stress and tension. Lot of stress and tension leads to early graying of hair. Another reason could be age. If a person is around 40 it is natural for him to start graying. It is not that every person who reaches 40 or 40+ has grey hair but generally this is the scenario every where. As you age your body capacity to produce melanin decreases and you tend to grey fast. Smoking can also be one of the reasons for gray hair at an early age. Smoking is generally said to be injurious to health so it has to be injurious to your hair too. Certain Illness can also lead to graying or premature ageing of hair. Some drugs can also lead to change of color of hair early.

 

Grey Hair Treatment

There are some grey hair treatment available. Apart from temporary cosmetic treatments like dyeing and coloring, you can try natural methods for gray hair treatment. While coloring could rid you of the problem for some months, to dye grey hair means you will face with the problem again in less than a month. Other cosmetics available in the market may just help you keep your hair in a good condition and healthy but they would not help in delaying the process of getting gray hair. Natural remedies are a better option as discussed in the next section.

 

Natural Remedies for Gray Hair

Given below are some natural remedies to cure grey hair. These need to be done diligently and patiently for some months for the results to be visible. Continued use would provide long-lasting results.

 

1. Take 100 gms of curd. Add about 1 gm of black pepper to it. Mix it well and apply it evenly on the hair and scalp. Keep it for an hour and then wash with warm water and mild shampoo. Do this treatment once a week to see the remarkable difference in the texture and color of your hair . Your hair will become silkier and regular use will also make the hair dandruff-free. Curd helps in curing dandruff and making the hair softer while black pepper helps make the hair black. So one recipe gives 3 benefits – a) dandruff-free hair b) soft and silky hair and c) black hair. Doing this once a week helps in maintaining the hair color and delaying greying to a great extent. This recipe should be avoided by people who have a tendency to catch frequent colds and coughs. Curd causes a cooling effect on the head and this may worsen a cold situation.

2. Rubbing your left and right hand nails with each other is a splendid way to cure hair fall, increase hair growth and get back the lost color. The beauty of the method lies in its simplicity and the fact that it is free, needs very little time and has absolutely no side-effects. Regular use brings back lost color. The new hair that grows back is also colored and not white. You need to fold both your palms inwards and place the fingernails of both hands against each other. Then with regular swift motions, rub them against each other. This rubbing procedure increases the blood flow to the scalp and helps in strengthening the roots. It is simple and can be done anywhere anytime. Do it for about 5-7 minutes twice a day. It is tried and tested and

is guaranteed to show results. It is well popularized by naturopaths and ayurvedic experts in India. You need to be patient though. You will begin to notice a difference in about a month and by the end of 6 months you will se remarkable improvements in your hair.

3. Mix sesame oil or olive oil in juice of bottle gourd and apply to hair. This helps make the hair long, black, thick and shiny. This helps prevent gray hair and hair fall and is very good for the overall health of hair.

4. Make a paste of gooseberries and mango seeds. Apply this onto the hair and scalp and leave on for some time before washing off. When done at regular intervals, this is a good grey hair treatment.

5. Boil tea leaves in water. Strain and let it cool down. Mix two teaspoonfuls of salt into it and apply to hair and scalp. Wash after an hour with plain water. This process when done once in 10 days can prevent gray hair.

6. Make a paste of henna in an iron vessel and leave overnight. Also add some walnut pulp in the morning. Apply this on the hair and make a neat bun. Leave for 1 – 2 hours or till it dries. Gently and carefully wash off. Apart from preventing early greying, it also adds a beautiful red tinge to the hair. It is completely natural and harmless. It also conditions hair.

Prevent Gray Hair

Prevention of graying is a difficult issue to handle as gray hair is caused by a lot of factors which may not be under our control. Grey hair due to age is not in our hands. It is a natural process and everybody has to go through it. Gray hair because of heredity is also beyond our control. May be by taking good care, good eating habits and good sleeping habits we could delay the process of graying.

Never having grey hair in life is I would say wishful thinking. Sooner or later everybody has to gray and that’s how we get wisdom, isn’t it?

1. Stop smoking! Smoking has been scientifically proven to cause premature aging of the entire body, and that includes getting grey hair. If you want to prevent grey hair and you smoke, quitting should be the first, most important step.

2. 2

Relax. It has been found that stress can be linked to premature grey hair. Stress has an effect on the body like smoking, causing it to age faster. Search for ways to calm your emotions - like regular exercise or meditation - and you will also prevent grey hair.

3. 3

Examine your diet. Grey hair begins to appear due to a breakdown in protein synthesis. In particular, this is caused by a copper insufficiency. Luckily, there are many ways to get more of this mineral:

1. Take a multi-vitamin. Most of them contain copper.

2. Eat foods that contain copper. I have included a link at the end of this article for copper-containing foods. Some common ones include turnip greens, lima beans, yams, spinach, and most meats.

3. Eat fruits and nuts, particularly - blackberries, pineapples, pomegranates, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

4. 4

Herbs. There are some herbs in Chinese medicine that people claim prevent grey hair. The most popular is called He Shou We, or Fo-ti. "He Shou Wu means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese. In the resources section below, I have included a link to how Fo-ti is used to prevent grey hair.

Anti-Aging Vitaminswww.AlSearsMD.comTaking Vitamins Can Keep You Younger Longer. Learn More!

He Shou Wuwww.eastwestherbshop.com100g Concentrated Extract (GMP) Made from 500g herb - £8.00

L Oreal Hair SolutionsDrBatras.co.inRs.1000 OFF on treatment @ Dr. Batra's. Book an appointment now!

Read more: How to Prevent Grey Hair | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4864476_prevent-grey-hair.html#ixzz16R6j6NkQ

Prevent Gray Hair

Is There any Effective Treatment?

Are there any effective ways to prevent gray hair? This article will examine some new gray hair solutions.

Why Hair Turns Gray

Hair typically turns gray as a result of the natural aging process.

The pigment in the hair shaft comes from cells (called melanocytes) at the root of the hair. These cells create pigment (melanin) but during the aging process, they start to make less pigment until the hair has little or no color at all.

Gray hair has some pigment remaining while white hair has no pigment at all.

A report posted on the journal Science by the Boston-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute explain: What actually happens during the graying process is that the melanocyte cells not only become depleted, they also make errors as they age, turning into 'fully committed' pigment cells that position themselves in the wrong part of the hair follicle, thus leading to a loss of pigmentation.

Research By L'Oreal on Gray Hair Solutions

In a May, 2004 story from BBC news, Dr. Bruno Bernard, who led the research for French cosmetics giant L'Oreal, announced that his team had identified a pair of genes that may play a role in hair turning gray.

The research was done on cells called melanocytes. These cells generate pigment (melanin) and are responsible for your hair color.

Dr. Bernard said that much more research is needed but that findings could lead to a new gray hair solution in the form of pills or topical treatments. In other words, his research could some day help prevent gray hair.

Gray Hair Solution From Shiseido and Kirin Brewery

Leading Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido announced on July 23, 2004 that its research group, working in collaboration with Kirin Brewery, has discovered a unique property of an extract of hops.

The research shows the hops extract helps activate the melanocyte cells that generate hair pigment. Furthermore, the hops can control Microphthalmia-associated Transcription

Factor (MITF), a gene involved in the activity of melanocyte cells.

Based on these results, Shiseido plans to introduce new hair care products.

Prevent Gray Hair With Two Tablets a Day!

It seems that US company Melancor has already made this breakthrough. The nutraceutical researcher and developer announced a new product and new information about the cause and treatment of thinning and graying hair.

According to the company, their product Melancor-NH uses a formula to generate melanin throughout the body, including the hair. Melancor-NH not only can prevent gray hair, but can also stop male pattern baldness by blocking DHT. (Dihydrotestosterone or DHT is responsible for thinning hair and hair loss problems mostly in men. To prevent male pattern hair loss, DHT must be either prevented from forming or removed from the scalp.)

But does Melancor Really Works?

According to their information: Melancor-NH works for those suffering from gray hair, thinning hair, receding hair, and hair loss due to natural aging or genetic factors. Here are some facts about this product:

Melancor-NH is an oral treatment (two tablets a day).

Melancor-NH can prevent gray hair and male pattern baldness.

Most people see results in 3 - 6 months, in some cases up to 9 months.

Success rate: According to Melancor this product does not work for everyone - the success rate is about 78%.

Melancor-NH increases your body’s ability to produce melanin pigments, thereby improving its ability to prevent gray hair and restore your natural hair color.

Side effects: According to Melancor, 2% of people using this product reported some nausea or headache.

Food and Drug Administration approval: It seems that Melancor-NH is not required to have USFDA approval because it is based on natural ingredients (a blend of nutrients and herbs). This does not mean that products are safe just because they're labeled "natural".

Many herbal supplements contain active ingredients that can harm you if taken with certain prescription drugs.

Always check with your doctor before using any herbal or natural supplement.

At-home coloring or tinting treatments

So far it was all about preventing gray hair, but let’s look at advancement made in one of the most common solutions- Covering Gray hair.

DeveloPlus announced a new product that when mixed with a home hair-coloring product, it adds additional pigments to the color mixture and helps the hair color to penetrate the hair fiber more effectively.

No Gray™ is specially formulated to mix with hair dye or tint (permanent or semipermanent color) and will keep the gray from breaking through for up to six weeks. According to DeveloPlus, this new additive works with any oxidation hair color and any hair type (Afro American Hair type included), but for those stubborn gray hair, they do recommend using either double amount of product or using a special cover gray developer by developlus.

fitness articlesbeauty & fashion

Greying Hair

Grey hair is a familiar sign of ageing. The age when greying starts depends on your genetic inheritance, but around 50 per cent of Caucasians find that half their hair has turned grey by the age of 50.

Loss of hair colour is due to a gradual decline in the production of a pigment, melanin, in the hair bulb. White hair has no pigment, and gray hair has some but not as much as a red, black or brown hair. Not all hairs respond in the same way or at the same time. So the graying process usually is gradual. You can't prevent graying. If you look at individual hairs on a greying head you will see a full colour range, from the original shade to white - all along each hair. and from one hair to another. The first grey hairs usually appears near the temples. Then the greyness spreads to the crown, and later to the back of the head.

Apparent rapid greying may be due to the selective shedding of pigmented hair in a person who already has some grey hairs, which are retained. This kind of shedding usually takes several months. But it can occur in a few days, when the effects are dramatic, since the person's grey hairs would not have been so obvious until the darker hairs were lost. Loss of hair colour before the age of 35 is termed premature greying.

Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, and fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods can reduce the moisture and nutrients reaching the hair follicles and may lead to premature greying.

A drop in melanin production may be caused by a lack of the mineral copper. Eat foods such as crab, oysters, sunflower seeds, cashews and almonds, which have significant amounts of copper.

To obtain better results, iron & iodine should be taken in form of sea food. Besides fish, which is the main source of iodine, the requirement of this mineral can be met by adequate intake of carrots, bananas & similar other vegetables & fruits. Carrots are especially useful in furnishing fresh blood & maintaining the health of the hair.

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All three of these vitamins, belonging to B group, should be supplied at one time preferably in a form which gives all B vitamins, such as yeast, wheat germ & liver. The three anti-grey hair vitamins can be produced in the intestinal track by bacteria. Thus drinking a litre of yoghurt daily with a tablespoon of yeast before each meal will be an excellent remedy for the prevention & the treatment of premature greying of hair. If one wishes to take tablets of calcium pantothenate & paba, they should be taken in addition to the yeast & yoghurt & not as a substitute for them.

Avoid foods loaded with artificial colours and preservatives, as these put a strain on your digestive system and can lead to dry, brittle hair and a dehydrated scalp. Too many carbohydrates, such a pasta and bread, can diminish levels of antioxidants in your body that are needed to neutralize free radicals.

Instead of reaching for a packet of hair dye, try some natural applications. Sage or tea will temporarily coat the hair shaft, hiding the grey. Grey hair tends to be coarse and wiry, owing to a lack of moisture. Apply a hair mask once a week. Olive oil, avocado or banana are excellent nourishing masks.

Hair cannot really turn white "overnight" - this is an urban myth. Hairs grow with the pigment already inside them. As hair is dead there is no process by which the melanin throughout a hair can be destroyed rapidly by natural causes, rather than chemicals

(although it may be bleached by sunlight over many years).

DAILY EATING PLAN FOR GREY HAIR

The rapid greying that occurs when pigmented hair falls out to reveal underlying grey hairs can be delayed by keeping your hair as healthy as possible. If you are going prematurely grey, drink plenty of water and fruit and vegetable juices. Fresh juice is full of antioxidants that help detoxify the body and protect the pigmented hairs that remain, and so delay the onset of premature greying.

BREAKFASTS

Porridge with prunes and apricots, strawberry starter smoothie

LUNCH

Chicken salad with soy dressing with a wide variety of vegetables

DINNER

Vegetable and bean soup with wholemeal pita bread

DESSERT

Fresh fruit salad and natural yoghurt

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Home Remedies

Certain home remedies have been found useful in the prevention & treatment of premature greying of hair.

1. The foremost among these is the use of Indian Gooseberries or amla which is valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth & hair pigmentation. The fruit cut into pieces should be dried, preferably in shade. These pieces should be boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter becomes like charred dust. The darkish oil is very useful in preventing greying.

2. The water in which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is also nourishing to the hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Massaging the scalp with a teaspoon of amla juice mixed with a teaspoon of almond oil or few drops of lime juice, every night has proved beneficial.

3. When curry leaves are boiled in coconut oil, the oil forms an excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth & bring back hair pigmentation.

4. The butter made from cow's milk has the property to prevent premature greying of hair. This can be massaged into the hair roots twice a week.

5. Ribbed gourd or torai, boiled in coconut oil is another effective remedy to prevent premature greying of hair.Pieces of this vegetables should be dried in the shade.These dried pieces should be soaked in coconut oil & kept aside for 3-4 days. The oil should be boiled till the solid is reduced to the blackened residue. This oil should be massaged into the scalp. It will help enrich the hair roots & restore pigment to the hair.

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Related Links Choosing a product for Hair care Daily Hair Care Do & Don't of Healthy Hair Some important findings on hair coloring products

Enriching your hair colour :

For natural black hair, brew one strong cup of espresso and let cool completely. Pour on dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.

For blond hair, brew some chamomile tea and let cool completely. Pour on dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse. For red hair, use lemon-balm tea.

If you have been contemplating adding a little 'gold' to your locks go ahead. Summer is the perfect time to do it. Keep the bleach and chemicals off of your scalp and have a professional do it. It is worth the money. Don't do the do-it yourself highlighter kits unless you really know what you are doing.

Using Mehendi :

While it is true that hair dyes contain chemicals that may damage your hair in the long run, that does mean that there is no hope for people with gray hair. Our very own Mehendi is a very good alternative. Further if used properly, it will not give your hair the traditional red colour. Here are a few pointers to help you colour gray hair the right way. First of all always use Mehendi of a good quality.

Soak mehendi overnight in an iron vessel and then use it the other day. If you do not want to colour your hair and only want to use it as a conditioner,

then oil your hair before applying it and leave it on only for an hour or so. If you wish to give your hair a reddish tinge, add 'katha' to it. Or boil and add

grated beet. If you want a bronze effect, add coffee powder to mehendi. You can also add oil

to the mehendi paste. For jet black hair, soak Amla overnight and then add this to the mehendi paste

and keep this overnight in an iron vessel. Apply it the next day. Wrap a cloth around your shoulders and use gloves to apply mehendi in order to

avoid soiling your clothes. Take care that mehendi does not touch your ears or face, or else the colour won't go for some days.

For best results, do not shampoo your hair after applying mehendi. Rinse your hair with plain water.

Shades of Grey :

While it is true that hair dyes contain chemicals that may damage your hair in the long run, that does mean that there is no hope for people with gray hair. Our very own Mehendi is a very good alternative. Further if used properly, it will not give your hair the traditional red colour.

Here are a few pointers to help you colour gray hair the right way.

First of all always use Mehendi of a good quality. Soak mehendi overnight in an iron vessel and then use it the other day. If you do not want to colour your hair and only want to use it as a conditioner,

then oil your hair before applying it and leave it on only for an hour or so. If you wish to give your hair a reddish tinge, add 'katha' to it. Or boil and add

grated beet. If you want a bronze effect, add coffee powder to mehendi. You can also add oil

to the mehendi paste. For jet black hair, soak Amla overnight and then add this to the mehendi paste

and keep this overnight in an iron vessel. Apply it the next day. Wrap a cloth around your shoulders and use gloves to apply mehendi in order to

avoid soiling your clothes. Take care that mehendi does not touch your ears or face, or else the colour won't go for some days.

For best results, do not shampoo your hair after applying mehendi. Rinse your hair with plain water.

Here is a very good natural remedy for gray hair.

Ingredients :

250 Gms mehendi [old and of a good quality]

2 spoons Amla powder

2 spoon Shikakai powder

2 spoon Aritha powder

Method :

Mix all of these together. Dissolve half a cup of coffee powder in water and boil it. When it cools, mix all the ingredients and make a smooth paste. Keep this paste for 12 hours. Before applying to hair, add some curd to it. Instead of curd you can also use an egg. Hair should be preferably clean and specifically not oily before applying this paste or else the treatment won't work. Wash off the hair pack after 4 hours. Take this treatment once in every 15 days regularly to effectively darken gray hair and reduce their further appearance.

Henna is an excellent conditioner for the hair. For dry hair it is better to avoid it or use it as sparingly as possible, since henna tends to dry out hair further. 

For normal hair: Use a paste made of henna and curds.

For oily hair: Use a paste made of henna, lime juice and dried gooseberry

(amla, nellika ) powder. This not only cleans the scalp but also lends a lustre to it.

Application: Section hair and apply the henna paste all over the scalp and

hair ensuring that no portion of hair is left untouched. Pile each section up as you proceed. Cover your head with a shower cap. Soak for at least half an hour. Rinse off thoroughly and shampoo as usual.

Henna as a hair dye: Ideal for those who have a low proportion of grey hair. No need to use chemical dyes! Things required: an iron kadai (frying pan), 1 cup of powdered henna leaves (the powder should be as fresh as possible), 1 tsp dried amla powder, ½ cup strong tea decoction, 1 tsp coffee powder, 1 piece white katha (available in shops selling country medicines or herbs), 1 egg, 1 lemon. You could also add dried and powdered kadukkai and dhaanikkai (The iron kadai will oxidize and add colour)

Preparation: Mix all ingredients except lemon and egg. Add just a little water

to make a thick paste in the iron kadai. Leave for at least 12 hours or overnight. Just before applying, add the egg and juice of the lemon. Mix well.

Application: Do not apply oil to the scalp. Section hair and apply the henna

paste all over the scalp and hair ensuring that no portion of hair is left untouched. Pile each section up as you proceed. Cover your head with a shower cap. Soak for at least 4 hours. To wash off, first wet hair well. Then slowly loosen the hair stands. Rinse off under running water. Shampoo as usual. The first time

the grey hair will turn dark brown (coffee brown). Apply the paste again after a week. Subsequent applications (every month ) will darken it further.

Applying henna on hands/feet

If you are using henna powder: To get a rich red colour, add eucalyptus oil, and tea decoction

to the henna paste.

If you are grinding fresh leaves: You can add the sap of ladies finger, tamarind for getting a

smooth consistency.

This natural beautifier that is available in plenty is a good alternative to costly chemical treatments that affect the skin adversely.

(Courtesy : LIFCO)

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Herbal Remedies for Hair Problems

Categorized in: Hairstyles & Care

 

 

Boils on Scalp

 

'Kola Jeera'

If there are small crop of boils on the scalp or intense itching or eruptions with red surroundings, try 

application of mixture of powdered 'kala Jeera' and water. Apply this at least twice a day and you 

will find the boils gone within seven days.

 

Graying and Falling of Hair

 

'Trifflo'

 

• Triffla is a mixture of Amla-Behrha-Hararh' available in the market from any Ayurved chemist shop.

• Take a teaspoon of 'Triffla' powder every night with lukewarm water or milk.

• Mix two teaspoon of same 'Triffla' and dissolve it in a glass of water in the night.

• In the morning, filter the mixture with a fine cloth.

• Rinse your hair with this mixture.

• Taking 'Triffla' at night and washing hair with it as stated above should be continued for at least six 

months.

• Another method is to prepare a grinded mixture of Amla', 'Bhringraj', 'Mishri' and 'Kala Til'.

• Take teaspoon of this mixture morning and evening everyday for six months.

• In place of 'Mishri', in the above mixture, 'Gokhru' can also be used.

 

 Falling of Hair and Dandruff

1st Method

• Take one teaspoon of coconut oil and half teaspoon of lime juice.

• Mix them and apply on the hair with the help of fingers by massaging.

• Leave it for at least one hour and then wash the hair. 

 

IInd Method

• Mix one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of onion-juice.

• Apply in the same above manner and wash after an hour.

  

Dandruff

Procedure

• Make a solution of sugar and water and add lemon in it.

• Apply it on the hair with fingers and do massaging.

• Leave it on the hair for half an hour.

• Wash the hair.

 

Falling of Hair

Procedure

• Mix two teaspoon of vinegar ('sirka') in one liter of water.

• Wash your hair and dry them.

• Take a teaspoon of vinegar and mix it in a teaspoon of water.

• Apply this mixture on the roots of hair. Coconut Oil

Regular application of coconut oil on the hair stops falling of hair. It lengthens the hair also.

 

'Chukandar' (Beet)

• Application of grinded leaf of beet and 'Mehndi' together help remove falling of hair and enhances 

the growth of hairs.

 

'Kakrhi' (Cucumber)

Taking cucumber daily helps reduce falling of hair. Its juice can be used for washing the hair to make 

hair strong. Cucumber has more of sulphur and silica and hence they give life to hair and nails. Take 

it with its skin and without salt.

 

'Dohi' (Curd)

 

• To avoid falling of hair, wash the hair with curds. Apply curds (sour curds is better) on the hair and 

leave it for 30 minutes.

• Wash it without use of any soap or shampoo.

• Cleaning and conditioning of hair is well done when the hair are washed with curds mixed with 

grinded ten pieces of black pepper, 'kali mirch'. Leave the mixture for 20 minutes on the hair then 

wash the hair without using soap or shampoo.

 

'Patta Gobhi' (Cabbage)

Wash and soak about 50 to 60 gms of leaf of cabbage in warm salty water for some time and eat 

them raw before meals for some days. It is said that cabbage even removes the habit of falling hair 

and new hair growth is established.

 

'Cholai' (Amaranthus Viridis)

 

Leaves of cholai (cholai saag) are very commonly used in Northern India. Taking 'cholai saag' at least 

twice in a week prevents falling of hair.

'Amla' (Emblica Officinalis)

 

Put some dried 'amla' in water and keep it overnight. In the morning rinse your hair with this water 

after filtering 'amla' out of water with a piece of clean cotton. Rinse your hair with this twice in a 

week. The roots of your hair will get strengthened and falling of hair will stop.

  

Alopecia Areata (Falling of Hair in Patches)

 

Lemon

In the case of alopecia areata (loss of hair in patches), rubbing of lemon every day for a prolonged 

period helps in growth of hair. Curds mixed with lemon juice gives a good conditioning to hair and its 

continuous use makes the gray hair black.

  

Arhar Daal' (Cajanus Cajan)

Grind 'arhar daal', make a paste with water and apply on the patch of hair loss (alopecia areata) after 

cleaning the bald spot with water. Leave it for at least half an hour and then sit in the sun next after 

applying mustard oil on the bald spot for ten to fifteen minutes. Do the same routine for some days.

 

Dandruff

Amla (Myrobalan / Emblica Officinalis)

In the case of falling hair and dandruff, dried 'amla' may be soaked in water overnight and in the 

morning, the filtered water of'amla' be applied on the hair everyday. It will stop dandruff.

 

'Til' (Sesamum Indicum)

Massaging 'til' oil is good for removing dandruff. After half an hour of this massaging, wrap the hair 

in hot water soaked towel and leave it there to cool. Repeat this procedure once again and then 

wash the hair with cold water.

 

'Dahi' (Curd) and Lemon

 

• Cut  the  lemon  in two and rub the same on the scalp while  squeezing the  lemon at  times,   in 

between. Leave the application for half an hour and then wash the hair. Let the hair dry.

• Next day, apply curd on the scalp and lei il be there for an hour. Wash the hair after one hour.

• This procedure should be repeated once a week, say Saturday and Sunday. This is one of the best 

methods to remove dandruff from hair and conditioning the hair.

 

 

Coconut Oil, Lemon and 'Reetha'

• Apply coconut oil mixed with some lemon juice on the hair at night. Let it remain there on the hair 

overnight.

• In the morning, wash your hair with 'reetha' water. For making 'reetha' water, immerse pieces of 

'reetha' in lukewarm water for half an hour. Filter the water with cotton cloth and use this water for 

washing.

• Use this method twice a week and after one month, the dandruff will be over.

• 'Reetha' alone when kept  in water overnight serves the purpose by washing the hair with this 

'reetha' water in the morning even if you have not oiled your hair at night.

 

Coconut and 'Kapoor'

Take 100 gm of coconut oil, 4 gms of 'Kapoor'. Mix them and store in a bottle. Massage this oil twice 

in a day. Wash the hair with lukewarm water after applying half-cut lemon on the scalp. Repeat this 

thrice in a week to remove dandruff.

 

Premature Gray Hair

'Tulsi', Basil (Occimum Sanctum)

It is wonderful herb for the health of hair and premature gray hair. The leaves of 'tulsi' and 'amla' 

powder mixed with some water and its paste should be applied on the hair. After fifteen minutes, 

wash the hair. Be careful that its contents should not enter the eyes when applying this paste and 

while washing the hair.

  

'Til' (Sesamum Indicum)

Eating about half teaspoonful of 'til' (black) every day turns the premature gray hair black 'til' should 

be preferably taken in winter for three-four months, for better results.

  

'Kali mirch' Black Pepper

• Five pieces of pepper and ten pieces of seeds of 'Sita-Phal' (a fruit) be grinded together with some 

water to make a paste.

• Mix some 'ghee' in it and apply on the scalp. Wrap the hair with cloth and leave this mixture for 

the night.

• In the morning, wash the hair. All the head-lice and dandruff will be removed.

• After seven days, this can be repeated. Caution is that while washing the eyes should be closed so 

that the contents do no enter the eyes.

• Black pepper is also useful to turn premature gray hairs black. Those who consider that their hair 

have turned gray due to frequent cold and coryza or sinus problem, black pepper is good. Such 

people should chew 6-8 pieces of pepper in the morning empty stomach and in the evening also. The 

result can only be seen after continuous use of pepper for a year.

 

I always advise my patients to use black pepper as a routine while they take homeopathic medicines 

for premature gray hair. My prescription is that 5 pieces of black pepper should be grinded and 

taken with water and along with it, 5 'tulsi' leaves should be swallowed with the help of water. 1 am 

not sure, which works, the homeopathic medicines or the pepper and tulsi but the results are seen 

after about six months, if the reason for premature gray hair is frequent cold, coryza and sinusitis.

 

The Natural Way to Make the Hair Black

1st method

Take about 100 gms each of 'Amla, Shikakai, Reetha, Bhrigraj, Brahmi, Methi dana, Til' oil and 50 gms 

of 'Kapoor Kachri'. Grind all of these items (except oil, naturally) into powder separately and then 

mix them. Now filter it in small sized net so that the powder has no rough contents and it is very 

thin. Now put this powder in an iron pan and mix 'Til' oil. 

 

Add one litre of water in it and boil it over fire till the whole contents become half the total quantity. 

If the mixture is too thick, you can mix more water and boil. When the mixture is cooled, filter it with 

net so that the thick residues are removed. Wash your hair without using soap or shampoo. After 

washing the hair, dry your hair in natural way and apply this mixture on the hair gently with the help 

of fingers so that it spreads on the whole of scalp. 

 

It is better not to apply 'Mehndi' on your hair during the period when you continue application of 

mixture on hair. Apply this oil daily on the hair except on the day when you wash your hair with 

shampoo or soap. You will find the hair turning black after few months.

 

2nd method

 

One cup of 'Henna' powder, one teaspoonful each of curd, coffee powder, lemon juice, powdered 

'katha', powder of 'Brahmi Buti', 'Amla' powder and 'Pudina' powder should be mixed with water to 

make a paste. Keep this mixture in iron vessel for two hours. Apply this paste on your hair and let 

them dry for two hours.  Then wash the hair.  Apply this  mixture twice or at  least once a week. 

Continue this for six months and you will find your hair black.

 

3rd method

Do not wash your hair with shampoo or soap. Grind 'Amla' and mix it with 'Mehndi' powder. Mix this 

with water and keep it  overnight  in an iron vessel.   In the morning apply this paste on the hair. 

Repeat this twice a week. After six months, you will see that your premature gray hair have turned 

black and there is no need for further use of this mixture. Of course the balanced food and nutrition 

in meals is essential.

 

4th method

'Henna' powder and 'Amla' powder should be mixed in some milk to make a paste. Apply this paste 

over the hair and let it remain on the hair for one hour after which the hair should be washed with 

lukewarm water. Conduct this practice twice in a week for at least six months.

 

Removing Head Lice

 

Neem (Azadirachta Indica)

The leaves of'neem' tree should be boiled with water and then cooled. Now wash the hair with this 

water. If the hair have started falling recently, they will stop falling. Repeat this washing every third 

day for a total of four washings. This washing will also remove head-lice. The caution while washing 

the hair is that the neem-water should not enter your eyes. Keep your eyes closed while washing.

 

Juice of Onion

Apply the juice of onion on the head and let it remain for thirty minutes. Wash the hair. Conduct this 

practice thrice in a week.

 

'Suhagct and Fitkari' (Boric and Alum)

Grind fifty grams each of 'Suhaga' and 'Fitkari' and mix them. Take two spoonful of this mixture and 

mix it in a mug of water. Wash your hair with this water every third or fourth day.

 

Kerosene oil and Neem

In villages, I have seen ladies applying kerosene oil on the head. The kerosene oil is left overnight on 

the scalp that is covered with cloth. In the morning, the hair are washed with 'neem' soap. Almost all 

the lice get killed.

 

Hair Cuts and After Effects

Hair cut is a common monthly routine for men. Women working and living in cities are not exempted 

from it. Those who get accustomed to regular hair-cuts and shavings do not have after effects but 

children are more prone to it. The after effects vary from skin allergies, congestion, redness of face 

or   fear  /  anxiety,  etc.  Homeopathy has good medicines   to combat such problems.   It   should be 

assured that the hair-cuts should be from a barbershop that maintains cleanliness in its equipment 

and shaves or cuts the hair with a new blade.

 

Medicines Recommended

— Children, those who are afraid of hair-cuts and refuse to go to barbershop : Gna maritima 30, 4 

pills three times a day for two days.        *

— Fear, redness of face, anxiety, heat of head : Give Glonoinum 30, 4 pills three times a day for three 

days.

— Red eruptions over the neck area or surrounding area of hair cutting : Belladonna 30 in the above 

manner.

— Diarrhea after hair cutting : Belladonna 30 in the above manner.

— Earache after hair cutting : Ledum palustre 30 in the above manner.

— Hardness of hearing or feeling obstruction in ear after haircut : Ledum palustre 30 in the above 

manner.

— Stiffness of neck after the haircut : Belladonna 30 in the above manner.

— Cannot comb smoothly after haircut : Borax venera 30 in the above manner.

— Sneezing after haircut : Silicea terra 30 in the above manner.

— Hair entangle too much after hair cut : Borax veneta 30 in the above manner.

Hairstyles & Care

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Hair Care & Hairstyles: Homeopathy in Treatment for Hair Problems

Article

08-20-2010

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Those who have experienced the cures of homeopathy always adore this system of medicine. Those who

have not tried homeopathy have many misleading views and concepts about this therapy. With

homeopathy lingers a puzzling stigma as to whether it really works or not? Is homeopathy an ardent

belief that has no rational scientific proof ? Is it a trial people give when allopathy fails to cure a disease?

In the whole world, India ranks first in advocating and practicing homeopathy.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Styling of Hair and Different Hair Fixers

Article

08-20-2010

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The hair style is directly related to the shape of face and height. A proportion and relationship has to be

maintained in hair style and the shape of head. This can be adequately proved that only long, dense hair

do not decorate the personality of a lady, if she is of less than normal height and if her face is oval type.

In such person, the long hair cannot be left hanging.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Hair Care During Rainy Season

Article

08-20-2010

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After a spell of hot summer in which hair have to undergo tremendous heat, the rain comes as a relief to

the skin. The summer brings in small crop of boils or dandruff on the scalp in some persons and with the

onset of rains; all these skin problems get cured of their own without any treatment. This is true in North

India.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: What Brushes and Combs to Use on Hair?

Article

08-19-2010

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No force should be applied while combing and brushing.  Finally, never be in a hurry to comb your hair.

Always be patient while combing your hair and adopt above procedure of combing in a very slow manner

so that hair do not get entangled and fall. In case you are in a hurry, moist your hair a bit and apply very

little glycerin applied on your fingers and then on to the hair. Some branded gels are available in the

market, which claim that hair do not entangle while combing. These can be tried if you are in a hurry.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: How to Choose the Right Shampoo?

Article

08-19-2010

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Beauty experts prohibit use of bath soaps and advise use of shampoos only. It may be noted that in

Indian market, some soaps have been manufactured instead of shampoos. These soaps are made

exclusively for washing hair which suit many women. One can try these soaps and if they suit well, there

is no need for use of shampoos.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: How to Choose the Right Hair Oil?

Article

08-19-2010

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It is said that the best hair oil to be used is the one that you have been using since your childhood. If

mustard oil is used, continue its application throughout life. If coconut oil is used, keep it applying on the

hair all through the life. This is one aspect over which everyone agrees. There is no need to change the

oil.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Hair Care Tips

Article

08-19-2010

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MEN HAVE never taken care of hair seriously in the past. They were not so conscious about upkeep of

their hair. With the changing times from last one decade and with the advent of fashion inducted through

media, cinema and television, the men have changed. Businessmen have commercialized the beauty-

business and exclusive beauty parlors for men have started functioning in big towns and cities.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Herbal Remedies for Hair Problems

Article

08-19-2010

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Take about 100 gms each of 'Amla, Shikakai, Reetha, Bhrigraj, Brahmi, Methi dana, Til' oil and 50 gms of

'Kapoor Kachri'. Grind all of these items (except oil, naturally) into powder separately and then mix them.

Now filter it in small sized net so that the powder has no rough contents and it is very thin. Now put this

powder in an iron pan and mix 'Til' oil.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Guidelines for Healthy Hair

Article

08-18-2010

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If you have seen ladies from the countryside living near sea, you must have praised the shine and health

of their long hair. The reason is their fish eating habit. Bengalis have a special liking for fish and I have

seen most of Bengali men and women having very healthy long hair and seldom you will find them

suffering from premature gray hair problem or falling of hair. Similarly, ladies living near coastal areas of

Kerala, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, West Bengal and other states have long black hair.

Hair Care & Hairstyles: Hair Coloring Procedure

Article

08-18-2010

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It is to be understood that hair colors are not hair paints or dyes. There is a difference between color and

dye. The dyeing agent is to make gray color black or brown whereas the coloring of hair is the fashion of

the day when some one desires to give a different tinge (orange, golden, yellowish red and so on) to his

or her black, brown or gray hair. In both dyes and colors, the key or chief ingredient is again Para-

phenylenediamine.

http://www.remedyguru.com/categories/hairstyles-care.html?page=2

Ayurveda: Tips for Hair Care

Categorized in: Ayurveda

 

 

Ayurvedic herbs have long been associated with hair care. Very often, various herbs are used in making

conditioners, shampoos and rinses. If you were to consider your skin as a rolling landscape, the hair is

tall grassland needing moisture, nourishment, and a firm root system to flourish. Therefore, the beauty

of hair is largely dependent on your health.

 

Hair fall is the biggest and the most agonizing problem of the youth today. Ayurvedic remedies to

counter the problem are fast gaining popularity among the masses. In Ayurveda, hair fall is termed as

Indralupta. At times, it is also referred to as Khaalitya.

 

Ayurveda runs on tridosha theory; vaata, pitta and kapha are the tridoshas. These govern the physio-

chemical and physiological activities of the body. Coming to the problem of the hair, the vitiation of pitta

and kapha leads to graying and falling of the hair. A dry and rough appearance to the hair is usually

caused by vaata vitiation. Just as drought and blazing heat quickly destroy a lawn, heat is most

detrimental for the hair. Too much temperature dries the hair and heats the head, weakening the scalp

and hair roots.

 

Self-Help Guidelines

 

1. Cleanliness: To begin with, everything used for the hair should be spotlessly clean. Brushes should

be of good quality. The whalebone-bristle variety is perhaps the best, as it is not so stiff as to damage

the hair, but the bristles are long and stiff enough to brush the scalp apart from the hair. Remember,

combs should always be blunt-toothed. Both combs and brushes should be washed twice a week, and

kept in a bag, which should be washed frequently. Both the brain and scalp should be kept cool, so

whenever washing the hair, it is best to use lukewarm water and a cool water rinse. It helps in toning the

scalp and refreshing the nervous system.

 

2. Massage: Daily hair care is necessary. Massage of the scalp is perhaps the best method for keeping

your hair healthy and preventing hair loss. Though a good massage can be given with blunt-toothed

comb, the best way is to massage with hands. The thumbs should be placed at the back of the ears, and

the scalp rotated under the fingertips. Ensure that the scalp is also moved, apart from the fingers. Then,

deep pressure should be applied with palms pressed firmly against the scalp.

 

This ensures good circulation and an increased blood-supply to the hair roots. A head massage helps

relieve tension, improves circulation, and strengthens the hair roots.

 

3. Oil application: Massage should be done using either oils or lotions, both of which are useful in

different ways. They act as antiseptics or lubricants during massage. There are a variety of medicated

oils available in the market with good results like the neelikaadya taila, neelibhrungaadi taila, bhringa

raaja taila, to mention a few.

 

You can also prepare good hair oil at home. Take pure coconut oil and fresh Brahmi (Centella asiatica)

leaf juice, 16 parts each. To this, add cloves and cardamom, one part each. Heat the ingredients until all

the water evaporates and preserve in clean bottle. If you add fresh aamla (Emblica officinalis) juice equal

to brahmi leaf juice, the medicinal value of the oil will increase. Regular use of the oil has a cooling effect

on the eyes, helps you to sleep well and protects your hair from early fall and premature graying. It also

keeps the hair silky soft. These oils enhance the effect of the massage by nourishing and strengthening

the hair roots and promoting hair growth. Warm the oil before the massage as it is more relaxing and

penetrates better.

 

4. Brushing: Hair should be brushed well for five minutes at night and in the morning, preferably in

front of an open window, as air is necessary for healthy hair. Brushing should not be so vigorous as to

stretch the hair, as it will weaken the hair. Brushing the hair from back to front ventilates the scalp.

 

5. Shampooing: No hard and fast rule can be laid down about the frequency of washing hair.

Traditionally, powdered herbs are used to cleanse the hair, which remove dirt without disturbing the

natural functioning of the scalp. You can also prepare your own wet shampoo. Take one tablespoonful of

grated or powdered ritha and shikakai. Add a handful of herbs (according to the need) and boil in half

pint of water. Alternately, you can pour the boiling water over the mixture also. Allow cooling. Strain and

use as you would use your regular shampoo. The foam of the chemical shampoos has little to do with the

cleaning effect. They are simple and harsh chemicals which strip the outer protein layer of the hair and

dry the scalp, making the use of conditioners necessary.

 

6. Conditioning: Artificial conditioners do little more than provide an oily film that traps dirt and makes

the hair look dull. If one feels the use of conditioners that are essential, one can always prepare an

effective conditioner at home: mix sugar or honey, lemon juice and water in the ratio of 2:1:5. Prepare

the needed quantity depending upon the length of your hair. After washing the hair, rub this mixture

over the entire scalp and the hair thoroughly. Rinse it after about a minute. If you have dry scalp or if the

skin keeps peeling off, use a decoction of yasthimadhu (Liquorice/Glyccyrrhiza glabra) roots. After

washing the hair, apply this decoction all over the scalp, rubbing and massaging with the fingers. Leave

it on for two-three minutes and then rinse once again with water.

 

Hair Ailments, Self-Help Guidelines & Ayurvedic Remedies

 

Hair ailments, such as dandruff and scurff, brittle and falling hair, grease or dryness should never be

neglected. Cases which do not yield to simple treatment always indicate an unhealthy condition, and

should be treated by a competent Ayurvedic medical practitioner.

 

Hair loss: Different causes are attributed to hair fall. Apart from a poor diet, hair can be severely

damaged by many other factors. It could be due to stress and tension, thyroid imbalance, medications—

especially diet pills, hormonal changes in pregnancy and menopause, allergies, shock or long-term

worry, over-processed food with colors and dyes, and genetic tendencies.

 

Baldness in men is a frequently occurring problem. One can act appropriately to prevent it. These

precautions should be taken when one feels an acute loss of hair and the loss is not proportionate to the

new growth. Actually, hair loss is a normal phenomenon as new hair replaces the old. However, when

this balance is disturbed and the lost hair is not replaced, one is heading toward baldness. The loss and

growth of hair is variable during different seasons.

 

From Ayurvedic point of view, good hair growth is linked to one's physical and mental health. When one

is cheerful, the hair looks lively too and when one is feeling depressed and pessimistic, the hair acquires

a fallen and 'lifeless' look. Problem with hair always indicates dosha imbalance as well as disequilibrium

in the activities of your mind. Following are some of the suggestions for hair care and prevention of hair

loss:

 

• Do not let kapha accumulate in your head. There are people who suffer perpetually from cold. These

people get grey hair at an early age. Do not take a persistent common cold lightly. Get rid of it.

 

• Do not neglect sinusitis. It has adverse effect on hair.

 

• Practice jaladhauti and yoga asanas (especially inverted positions).

 

• Make sure that the digestive system functions well, that your liver is healthy and that you do not suffer

from other gastric troubles. A sluggish liver and other digestive problems promote hair loss and turn the

hair grey.

 

• Regular care and an Ayurvedic massage of the head is essential to revitalize the scalp.

 

• Bhringaraaja is referred to as keshraja or 'king of the hair' as it promotes the growth of hair on the

head and makes it black and lustrous.

 

• It is the best known herb to effectively stop and reverse balding and premature graying. It cools the

brain and helps calm the mind from excessive activity, thus promoting sound sleep. Bhringaraaja is

taken internally and used externally as Bhringraj oil. It is an excellent rejuvenator.

 

Grey hair: As middle age comes on, the natural pigment of the hair tends to disappear, and the hair turns

grey, and finally, completely white. Sometimes, the hair begins to turn grey at an early age, which could

be due to heredity, nervous shock or diseases. When premature graying occurs, it is always advisable to

go for a thorough examination. However, there are certain preventive measures for premature graying of

hair.

 

Take aamla and almond oil, one tablespoon each, mix with few drops of lime juice, and apply externally.

Besides this, a tablespoonful of the curry leaves juice with a cup of buttermilk or lassi is the time-tested

medicine used for premature graying of hair. Among the vegetable hair dyes, henna is the most widely

used one.

 

Superfluous or unwanted hair: This term refers to hair growth at wrong places, like underarms, on the

legs and forearms, and especially on the face of women. Superfluous hair results from the development

of the long hairs into hairs of ordinary size.

 

Preparations for the removal of unwanted hair have been known for thousands of years. A mixture of

quicklime and arsenical pyrites in a ratio of 1:2 was said to be used by the dancing girls and male

artistes in ancient times. Sarangadhara Samhita, a treatise on Ayurveda, describes few formulae that act

as depilatories. For example, a paste made of conch-shell-lime (sankuvu soaked in the juice of plantain

tree) and of yellow-orpiment (haritaala; arsenic trisulphide or harataala) in equal parts can be used

externally.