Herbs and Shea Butter as Natural Conditioners

Natural herbs are the best hair conditioners. The synthetic or chemical products cause hair loss and may turn the black hair white. Here are the few best natural hair conditioners.

Women with beautiful Hair
Wikimedia Commons by Andrea Pavanello

1. Fenugreek Seeds
Methi or fenugreek seeds are used for flavor and health benefits in foods. These seeds remove dandruff and promote the overall hair health and growth. Soak the dry seeds in water for at least 6 hours and apply the paste on the roots of the hair and rinse after drying.

2. Coconut Milk
The coconut milk prepared from fresh or grated coconuts prevents hair fall and strengthens, moisturizes and disentangle the long hair. It is not necessary to soap wash the hair afterward as it does not make the hair oily. Just water rinsing is enough.

3. Oil Massage

Give a weekly hot oil treatment to hair by massaging the hair with slightly hot natural oil for few minutes and wash with soap or shampoo after half an hour. It reduces hair fall and promotes hair growth by increasing the blood circulation. The herbal oils extracted from coconut, olive, sesame, almond etc. could be used after infusing them with herbs.

4. Aloe vera 
Extract the Aloe Vera gel with a knife, apply it on the hair and wash after half an hour. It will condition the hair and make them smooth and silky. This gel is used in skin burns too.

5. Shikakai

The dry and powdered seeds or leaves or bark of acacia concinna or shikakai are the best natural hair cleansers and conditioners. The paste of these is used as a shampoo. Washing the hair with leaf infusion is the best for dandruff while the extract is used in shampoos.

6. Shea Butter as Natural Conditioner
Shea Butter is the fat extracted from the nuts produced of African Shea tree is applied on hair as a natural hair moisturizer and conditioner. 
The Shea butter is also good for skin.
It is advisable to use the Shea butter on wet hair. It gives best results in hair treatment if coconut oil is applied just before its application. 
Check for any allergic reactions, as some people are susceptible to it.

Natural Home Remedies for Baldness

Close-up of the flower of the sesame plant.
Wikimedia Commons

1. Mix equal amount of sesame flowers and murex or caltrop or singhara and prepare the paste by grinding it in butter oil and honey. Apply the paste to remove baldness.

2. Taking 2-3 grams of the powder of the roots of the vine Indian Sarsaparilla or Hemidesmus indicus or Anantamul thrice a day with water cures baldness. 

3. Massage the hair with sesame oil. After an hour wrap the hair in a towel soaked in hot water and replace the towel on cooling. Repeat the hot towel treatment for 5- 10 minutes and then wash the hair with cold water. It removes the dandruff and increases the blood circulation in hair roots. 

4. Snake Cucumber has rich amounts of silicon and sulfur which help in the growth of hair. Washing the hair with the juice of snake cucumber and taking the juice of it with carrot and spinach juice help in the growth of hair. It also helps in the growth of healthy nails and nail loss.

Home Remedies for Long and Dense Hair

It is better to void the use of synthetic shampoos and use the herbal one instead as the former contain harmful chemicals and preservatives. The home remedies of Indian herbs have been tried and tested since ages and ages. 

Woman with long hair
Wikimedia Commons by Viethavvh

1. Amerbel
Boil about 200 gram of dodder (ruscuta reflexa or Amarbel or mistletoe,  a leathery-leaved parasitic plant which grows on apple, oak, and other broadleaf trees and bears white glutinous berries in winter) in 2 liters of water till the water is reduced to one liter. Wash the hair with this water in the morning. It is the best remedy for the growth of hair. 

2. Ginger, Garlic
Apply the juice of garlic on hair for the growth of new hair. The hair regrows after the regular massage of the ginger juice on scalp for a month or so.

3. Mango Kernel
Grind about 10-15 gram of mango kernel in the juice of Indian gooseberry or amala. It will make the hair curly and long.

4. Radish
Regularly eat a radish with black pepper and rock salt after lunch for 3-4 months. The intake of the mixture of carrot, spinach and cucumber juice also increase the growth of hair and stops the loss or falling off of nails. 

5. Henna and Amla
Soak equal amount of dry powder of henna and Indian gooseberry overnight and wash the hair with this water in the morning. Repeat the remedy for few days for soft and long hair.

Woman with long hair
Wikimedia Commons by Sylvia Ismus

6. Kalonji
Boil about 50-60 grams of nigella stevia or kalonji in a liter of water and wash the hair with the extract. Repeat the remedy for a month to get long and strong hair. 

7. Cucumber
The silicon and sulfur contained in cucumber help in the growth of hair. So wash the hair with the juice of cucumber. Eat cucumber and snake cucumber too.

8. Wild Berries
Prepare the paste of the leaves of wild berries and neem (or margosa) and apply on the hair. Rinse the hair for half an hour. Repeat this remedy on every alternate day for a month or so to stop the hair loss and to get the long and shining hair.

9. Hibiscus
Apply the juice of hibiscus flower to increases the growth of hair. Make a paste of the leaves of hibiscus and massage it on the hair two hours before bathing. It is the best remedy to increase the growth of hair. 

Alternatively, prepare a paste of equal amount of hibiscus flower and its leaves and apply on hair before going to bed at night and wash in the morning. This remedy is very effective for the growth of hair.

10. Chinese Rose

Washing the hair with the juice of the petals of Gurhal or Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis or shoe flower or Chinese rose increases the growth of hair.
Prepare the paste of the flower and massage the roots of the hair and take shower after 2 hours. The regular application of this juice nourishes the hair and reverses the speed of hair loss.

Add olive oil to the fresh juice of hibiscus flowers and cook till the water evaporates. Store the extract in a vial and regularly apply this oil on hair after taking the shower. It increases the length of hair and makes them healthy and strong. 

Woman with long black hair
Wikimedia Commons by Risingstarmanager

Heat the mixture of olive oil and the fresh juice of hibiscus flowers till the water evaporates. Keep the residue in a glass bottle and massage it on the hair after bathing. It will make the hair shiny and long.

11. Triphla
The intake of 5-7 grams of the powder of triphla with 1 gram of incinerated iron or Loh Bhasm (Iron ash) in the morning and in the evening stops the hair loss. Triphla means means "three fruits," namely amla (Indian gooseberry), bahera (Terminalia bellirica), and hurd (Terminalia chebula). 

12. Apple
Grind equal amount of the seeds of custard apple and berries and apply the paste on the roots of the hair. This remedy helps in hair growth.

13. Sand Ginger
Prepare the powder of about 100 gram of Kapur kachri (or sand ginger or aromatic ginger or resurrection lily, Botanical Name- Hedychium Spicatum), 100 gram nagarmotha (or nut grass or purple nutsedge or cypriol Botanical name Cyperus rotundus), 50 gram each of camphor and kernel of soap nut,  250 gram shikakai or acacia concinna and 250 gram Indian gooseberries. Prepare the paste of 50 gram of these powdered contents with water and apply on hair. Let the contents dry. Wash the hair with warm water. It increases the growth of soft hair and also gives relief from lice and nit.

Woman with long black hair
Wikimedia Commons by Ryan Lackey

14. Reetha

Apply the paste of reetha or soap nut, shikakai or acacia concinna on hair and wash after drying to get soft, silky, shiny, dandruff free dense hair. 

15. Bhringraj
Cut the hair short at the places where they are sparse and massage the juice of the leaves of bhringraj or bhangra or Eclipta Alba where there is no hair. Repeat the remedy for few days and the black hair will appear on bald areas. This remedy also helps in split hair.

16. Anantmula
The regular intake of a pinch or 3-4 gram of the powder of Hemidesmus indicus (or Indian sarsaparilla or popularly known as amarbel or anantmula or endless root) with water 2-3 times a day removes baldness. 

17. Sesame Flower
Prepare the paste of equal amounts of the flower of sesame and caltrop or cow’s foot or gokshura with equal amounts of honey and buttermilk and apply it on bald patches of the head. Repeat the remedy for a few days and the hair will start growing.

18. Indian Gooseberries

Woman with beautiful hair
Wikimedia Commons by Andrey Maximov

Washing the hair with the mixture of Indian gooseberries, soap nut and acacia concina or shikakai removes dandruff (a chief cause of hair loss) and makes the hair long dense and shiny.
Keep the powdered Indian gooseberry and Heena soaked in water overnight. Wash the hair with this water in the morning to stop hair loss and to get soft and long hair. Repeat the remedy for a month or so.   

Add lemon juice in the powder of Indian gooseberry and wash the hair with the contents in case of hair loss, white hair, dandruff and the problem of nit and louse.

19. Sitaphal
Grind equal amounts of the seeds and leaves both of annona squamosa or sitaphal or Sharifa and wild berries. Apply the paste on the roots of hair for the growth of long hair.  

20. Castor Oil
 The castor oil or Arandi oil could be used for long hair as it is a natural treatment. Massage the castor oil on the roots of hair for a few minutes and then wash off with water. 

Caution

1. It is advisable to conduct an allergic test on a small patch of skin before using any of the products.

2. Take care of the requirements of the hormones and nutrient in the body as the hair loss is generally a sign of an internal problem caused by disorders and imbalances.

How to Stop the Hair Loss and Increase Hair Growth with Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil has a pleasant smell and has many health and cosmetic benefits. It is especially used in hair loss and hair growth. It removes dandruff and gives thick and long hair. Eucalyptus oil is used in several hair packs.

Start using the eucalyptus oil in case of hair loss or thin hair. The following remedies could be used for the growth of hair.

1. Hair Massage of Eucalyptus Oil 

Transparent oil dots on Eucalyptus leaves 
Wikimedia Commons by John Moss

Massage of warm eucalyptus oil at night before going to bed and wash the hair in the morning with herbal shampoo. It will increase the growth of the soft and silky hair and keep the scalp clear and clean.

2. Eucalyptus Oil and Lemon 
Add few drops of lemon to the warm eucalyptus oil and gently massage the hair for 10-15 minutes for an increased blood circulation. It also increases hair growth and cleans the scalp.

3. Eucalyptus Oil and Almond oil
In case of profuse hair loss, the warm mixture of almond oil and eucalyptus oil should be massaged. It strengthens the hair and makes them soft.

4. Eucalyptus oil and Hyena oil 
Massage the warm mixture of Eucalyptus oil, castor oil, and hyena oil.  Then wrap the head with a hot towel for half an hour and wash with herbal shampoo.

5. Eucalyptus Oil and Hibiscus Flower 
The hibiscus flowers are the best for the growth of the hair. Boil few hibiscus flowers in water and prepare a paste of the contents in a blender. Keep aside the water extract. Add few drops of eucalyptus oil and apply the paste on hair. Wash with herbal shampoo and the water extract of hibiscus flowers after half an hour.

6. Indian gooseberry or Amla
The taste of Indian gooseberry is slightly bitter. The fruit is hard with a very hard seed inside. It is a common ingredient in most of the herbal oils and conventional shampoos and is especially good for the health and texture of hair. The application of the paste of Indian gooseberry reduces hair falling and removes dandruff. It can also help in preventing premature graying of hair.  In case of non-availability of fresh fruits, the dried powdered is available in the market.

7. Henna
Henna, an excellent natural herb can prevent hair graying, and is used as a natural dye for grey and dark hair. Wash and grind the fresh henna leaves with little yogurt and coffee powder. Apply the paste on hair and let it dry for some time. Thereafter rinse off to turn grey hair into a natural reddish-brown tint with soft and smooth texture. This remedy also strengthens the hair roots and help in reducing the hair loss.

How to Make and Use the Dry Shampoo at Home

The process to make a dry shampoo at home with simple ingredients and without harmful chemicals, is very easy. It makes the hair look wonderful and is useful for oily hair. 

Wikimedia Commons by Paolo Neo

The dry shampooing just takes a few minutes and is a great way to keep the hair healthy and shiny.
To be fine enough to go through a salt shaker, finely grind 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in a blender. 
Properly mix 2 tablespoons each of cornstarch, cornmeal and baking soda to the ground oatmeal and an excellent homemade dry shampoo is ready. 
Put the mixture into a salt shaker style container for storing and future use. 
While applying the shampoo, sprinkle a little dry mixture onto the palm and gently rub it on the scalp like common shampoo. 
Rub extra shampoo on the top of the head where the oils gather the most. Leave it for few minutes and use the bristle brush to completely remove mixture off the hair. Thus without a shower, the hair will not look greasy. 

How to Take Care of Hair in Summer

The sunscreens and hats are used to save the skin and face from the harmful effects of the sunlight. But the hair too needs extra care during the scorching heat of summer. 

Tie the hair lightly
Wikimedia Commons by Anna reg 

The hair gets badly affected when they come in contact with the hard skin scorched in sunlight. 
The sweat, sunlight, moisture and excess time in swimming pool damage the hair. 

The hair becomes rough and hard in dust and hot air. 

Some extra care is needed in summer to keep the hair strong, shiny and healthy. 


The best way is to wash and dry them daily as it reduces the loss of hair due to moisture and sweating.

A healthy diet like soy and sprouted foods are also necessary for the nourishment of shiny hair. 


While going out in sunlight between 11 AM to 3 PM, always cover the head with a scarf, cap or umbrella, as the sunlight and hence the ultraviolet rays are the strongest at this time.


Trim the split hair caused due to dryness because they may fall off on becoming weak.


Use right shampoo and conditioner for the split hair.


Do not use color dye or chemicals or bleach in summer as it is not the right season for them.


Comb the hair regularly as it stops the knot formation and increases the blood circulation in the hair roots.

Do not tie the hair hard as it makes them lifeless and reduces their strength.

Basil for Pimples and Hair Fall

Holy basil or Ocimum is the most sacred plant for the Hindus and its leaves and flowers are used in religious ceremonies, prayers, and rites. This herb known as tulsi is grown in the courtyard of every Indian household. 

Ocimum basilicum or Basil
Wikimedia Commons by Nicholas Gemini 

The holy basil comes in some different varieties which have a slight difference in the color and appearance of leaves. But all varieties of holy basil are of medicinal value in Ayurveda. 

Hair Fall
Keep the basil powder and dry Indian gooseberry in water overnight and wash hair with filtrate to stop the hair fall.

Pimples
Keep some basil and lemon in a pewter container for 24 hours and use the paste as a face mask for the cure of pimples. 

White spots, Pimples, and Acne

Take equal amount of lemon juice and the juice of green basil leaves and keep in sun for 24 hours. Let the contents become thick. Thereafter apply it as a face mask on affected area regularly for few days to get rid of black spots, pimples, acne and white spots.  This remedy makes the face spotless. 

Snake Repellent
The strong and pleasant scent of the plant repels most of the household and garden insects and can even prevent the snakes from entering the garden.