Ask an Ayurvedic expert on how to manage hair fall, and chances are that they will tell you to meditate regularly. Ask them about premature greying? Ashwagandha, of course, will be their answer. But can stress-management cure hair fall and do Ayurvedic hair products really slow down greying?
There’s still (and probably always shall be) a debate between Ayurvedic hair care and modern medicine on which works better with hair concerns. We asked dermatologists to shed some light on this ancient healing science’s influence on haircare and, unsurprisingly, their support for it was resounding.
What does Ayurveda say about hair health?
The health of our hair, according to Ayurveda, is a reflection of our overall well-being. Our well-being, in return, is influenced by the balance between three doshas – Vata (air and ether), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (earth and water). Each of the doshas is an energy that controls movement, digestion, and stability, respectively. Read on to discover what impact the imbalance of each dosha can have on your hair health.
Vata imbalance
- Problems: Dry and frizzy hair, hair loss, split ends, and itchy scalp
- Causes: Irregular routine, excessive travel, lack of sleep, stress, excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, and overstimulation.
Pitta imbalance
- Problems: Premature greying, thinning hair, oily scalp, and dandruff
- Causes: Consuming spicy, oily and fried foods, experiencing intense emotional situations, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, and exposure to high temperatures.
Kapha imbalance
- Problems: Excessive oil, greasy scalp, dandruff, and dull, lustreless hair
- Causes: Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, excessive sleep, emotional attachments and the consumption of heavy, oily, and sweet foods.
What do hair specialists say about Ayurveda?
1. Have a holistic approach
It’s nothing we haven’t heard before: eat a balanced diet, get a good night’s sleep, and work out on a regular basis. This is the Ayurvedic secret to treating hair issues from the inside out, and it makes complete sense to Dr Madhuri Agarwal. “The quality of hair is dependent on scalp health and scalp health is influenced by internal wellbeing,” she says. As a practising dermatologist, Dr Agarwal suggests striking a balance between the Ayurvedic way of life and allopathic treatments.
2. Focus on scalp health
As emphasised earlier, Ayurveda is all about getting to the root of the problem and, in the case of hair health, the condition of the scalp. There are natural haircare remedies for all scalp issues – be it dandruff or inflammation – and they begin and end with herbal oils and our grandmothers’ trusted champi. Dr Niketa Sonavane swears by this tradition, wherein “regularly massaging the scalp with fingertips in circular motion” encourages blood circulation and hair growth.
Dr Sonavane’s secret hair routine hacks:
- For a dry scalp, massage coconut oil or farm-fresh aloe vera gel into your scalp and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before washing your hair.
- For hair loss, create a concoction of ½ part rosemary oil and 2 parts castor oil and leave it on for a couple of hours to stimulate growth.
3. Use natural ingredients
If you live in an Indian household, most of what you need to build an Ayurvedic hair care routine can be found in your kitchen. Of the opinion that “modern treatment gives quick results while alternative medicine like Ayurveda addresses the source”, Dr Parul Khot shares a list of ingredients to infuse in our all-natural hair oils, hair masks and scalp scrubs that can easily be whipped up at home. These are: amla, brahmi, ashwagandha, hibiscus, shikakai, and lemon, each with unique benefits:
- Amla — nourishes follicles, promotes growth and strengthens the strands
- Brahmi — strengthens roots, prevents hair fall and calms the scalp
- Ashwagandha — combats internal stress that tends to cause external hair loss
- Hibiscus — naturally conditions the hair, making it smooth and manageable
- Shikakai — maintains scalp moisture, adds shine, and reduces dandruff
- Lemon – removes excess oil, dandruff and impurities for a healthy scalp
