Do you realise that your poor nutrition and lifestyle are reflected in your unruly hair? Yes! Traditional Ayurvedic research insists that diet and lifestyle have a direct impact on how healthy your hair is.
According to Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, “Ayurveda encompasses the notion of healthy Ahara-Vihara (food and lifestyle), which helps the wholesome well-being of your body and mind as well as your hair health. This is in addition to topical therapies using medicinal herbs.
A constant hair care practise is required by this comprehensive Ayurvedic approach to maintain healthy hair. Let’s go into more detail about what that is and how you can adopt it.
The 13 Essential Steps of an Ayurvedic Hair Care Routine
1.Understand your hair type
The three vital energies Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, according to Ayurveda, control our body functions [1]. These tridoshas combine to form each person, with one or two doshas predominating. Your hair’s health and type are determined by this.
Hair Type Vata
If your Prakriti is Vata-dominant, you will have a Vata hair type. Your hair follicles’ proper nutrition maintains the balance of the Vata dosha. Normal Vata hair is typically thin, straight, and more porous.
Your scalp and hair get dry and your sebum production is drastically reduced as the Vata dosha becomes more severe in your body. Eventually, this leads to split ends, dry, frizzy hair, and hair loss.
Hair Type Pitta
If your Prakriti is predominantly Pitta, you will have Pitta-type hair. Pitta controls the generation of pigments and hair proteins as well as the metabolic activity in the hair.
A Pitta’s hair is usually medium in thickness and wavy. Pitta imbalance results in premature greying, clogged follicles with bacteria buildup, scalp inflammation, redness, hair loss, etc.
Type of Hair Kapha
If your Prakriti is predominately Kapha, you will have a Kapha hair type. The lubrication and structure of your hair are governed by kapha energy. Hair in the Kapha sign is curly, thick, and shiny.
Any imbalance in the kapha dosha causes your scalp to overproduce sebum, which finally results in oily dandruff, a greasy scalp, itching, hair loss, etc.
You can use certain Ayurvedic herbs that are tailored to your particular hair needs into your hair care routine by being aware of your hair type and the current state of your dosha levels.
2.Based on the kind of your hair, select a shampoo and hair oil
Make sure that the shampoo and hair oil you use on a regular basis contain Ayurvedic ingredients that can help balance out your inflamed dosha levels. By selecting the incorrect hair products, you could make your doshas imbalanced and your hair condition worse.
Here is a list of a few plants that correspond to certain doshas that you might look for in hair care products:
A.Herbs that pacify Vata
Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus), Krishna Tila (black sesame), Yashtimadhu (licorice), Devdar (cedar), Palandu (onion), Gunja (rosepea), etc.
Herbs that pacify Pitta
In addition to Yashtimadhu (licorice), Japa (hibiscus), Kamala (nelumbo nucifera), Nimba (neem), Lodhra (symplocos racemosa), and Karanja (pongamia pinnata), there are other plants like Yashtimadhu.
Herbs for Kapha Calming
Rosepea (Gunja), grapeseed (Kushta), fenugreek (Methika), camphor (Karpoora), celastrus (Celastrus Paniculatus), daruharidra (Berberis Aristata), etc.
Tridosha Haras, (Herbs To Pacify All Three Doshas)
Aloe vera, Bacopa monnieri, Amalaki, Bhringraj, Tagara, and Kumari are some examples of medicinal plants.
3.Regularly lubricate your hair
Your scalp is made up of many energy-relieving places called “Marmas,” according to Ayurveda. The rejuvenation method to remove any excess or severe doshas generated in your head through marmas is oiling your scalp and hair, according to Dr. Zeel.
Along with rejuvenation, the nourishing, root-strengthening, and conditioning characteristics of Ayurvedic oils used in scalp and hair massages regularly encourage the growth of healthy, strong, and glossy hair.
Hair oiling is advised by Ayurveda two to three times a week. Depending on the nature of your hair, you can also set your oiling frequency. Vata hair needs more oiling than Pitta and Kapha types, although Kapha hair can be oiled less frequently.
Before washing your hair, you should oil your hair for at least 20 minutes according to traditional Ayurvedic traditions. Massage your scalp and hair with warm oil at night for best effects, then wash your hair the next day. This works wonders for your hair and scalp when it comes to conditioning.
Procedure
- Spread heated oil evenly over your scalp.
- For around 15 minutes, use your finger pads to massage your entire scalp in a circular motion.
- Next, gently massage some oil through your hair from the roots to the tips.
Circular scalp massaging [5] improves oil absorption into deep layers of your scalp and promotes blood flow. To frequently massage your scalp and hair, you can also use oils like coconut, sesame, almond, and olive.
4.Regularly wash your hair
Your scalp follicles become clogged by an unwelcome accumulation of extra oils, filth, and grime, which you must remove by regularly washing your hair using Ayurvedic shampoos.
You can choose natural hair-cleansing herbs like Reetha (Soapnut), Shikakai (Soappod), Hibiscus flowers, Triphala powder, etc. in addition to Ayurvedic shampoos with herbs that are particular to your dosha imbalances.
According to Ayurveda, you should wash your hair twice or three times a week while giving it a light massage and using regular or warm water.
5.Regularly use hair masks to condition your hair
Ayurvedic hair masks, known as “Shiro lepas,” are one of the most effective treatments for deeply nourishing and conditioning your scalp and hair. Ayurveda advises using hair masks once per week or two weeks to maintain the health of your scalp and hair while assisting you in overcoming internal hair loss reasons like stress and anxiety.
To make your nutrient-rich hair masks, you can use Ayurvedic herbal powders like Amalaki, henna, fenugreek, and solvents like egg white and aloe vera gel. From your hair’s roots to the tips, apply the mask, and then wait 30 to 40 minutes before rinsing it off with water.
6.Get a combing lesson
One of the best ways to improve blood flow to your scalp is by combing. It aids in detangling your hair and distributing the natural oils from your scalp evenly throughout your hair strands. However, aggressive combing can tear your hair, which can result in split ends and hair breakage.
According to Ayurveda, you should gently comb your hair once or twice with a wooden blunt-toothed comb. Don’t share your comb with others, and wash it frequently to prevent dirt buildup.
7.Regularly trim your hair
Your hair tips will appear sparse and rough due to split ends and broken hair. By regularly clipping your hair to remove split ends, you can prevent this. Trim your hair every 8 to 12 weeks to make sure you get rid of your split ends.
8.Steer clear of chemicals
The harsh chemicals found in hair products have the potential to alter the pH of your scalp while also removing the protein layers from your hair and your scalp’s natural oils. To achieve holistic hair health without unfavourable risks, switch to Ayurvedic products with natural herbal ingredients.
9.Neutralize heat styling
Overuse of heat styling products, such as blow dryers [6], straightening or curling irons, etc., dehydrates your hair over time and could cause major harm. Vata dosha is aggravated, resulting in dryness, breakage, split ends, and hair loss. After washing your hair, it is preferable to let it air dry.
10.Keep Your Hair Safe From Dangerous Environments
Your hair follicles are damaged by UV rays and environmental pollution because they interfere with the natural oils on your scalp. Your hair becomes lifeless and brittle as a result. Additionally, consuming too much alcohol and smoking might make your disease worse and result in significant hair loss.
11.Eat Healthy
One of the key elements that keeps your doshas in check and your hair healthy is a balanced nutritious diet [7]. Along with picking meals that suit your Prakriti, make sure to eat foods that are high in protein and necessary vitamins and minerals for hair growth, such as A, B, C, D, E, and K.
Tips for Ayurvedic Dining
- Food should be served in a serene, well-ventilated area.
- Never talk on the phone or watch TV or engage in any other activity while you are eating.
- You pay close attention to your food while maintaining a calm and peaceful attitude, and you chew it thoroughly before swallowing.
12.Regularly exercise
According to Ayurveda, your body has to be cleansed of toxins (ama) in order for good hair to flourish. The secret to detoxifying your body through sweating is regular exercise. Your hair follicles become unblocked by the sweat from your scalp tissues.
Exercise also improves blood flow, which supports your scalp tissues’ ability to absorb nutrients and oxygen. To maintain your body, mind, and spirit in balance, Ayurveda advises practising yoga, meditation, and pranayama on a regular basis. For healthy hair and a fit body, you can also incorporate moderate to intense cardio exercises like cycling, Zumba dancing, running, or brisk walking.
13.Alternative Medicine
The fundamental tenet of ayurvedic science is to cleanse, rejuvenate, and balance your body’s energy.
Ayurvedic therapies like Panchakarma, which include deep cleansing and nourishing procedures like Nasya, Basti, Shirodhara, Shiro Abhyanga, Shiro lepa, etc., can be done once a month in addition to regular at-home hair care routines.
These therapies calm and relax your mind and body in addition to aiding healthy hair regrowth and purifying your blood by harmonising your doshas.
The Final Word
By synchronising our biological rhythms with the rhythms of nature, ayurveda is a way of life that helps us stay healthy, balanced, and energised. This is accomplished by following a schedule that is appropriate for your particular Prakriti and hair type, and you can achieve great hair health by maintaining a balanced dosha system. In order to manage your hair loss, Vedix creates a personalised Ayurvedic hair care regimen by assessing your dosha levels.
