Warning: This article is rooted in the principles of Ayurveda and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially if you have a chronic condition, please consult your healthcare provider or a certified nutrition specialist.
In all cultures of the world, hair has had metaphorical significance and symbolized strength, health, and power. Notably, the Vedic gods, avatars, and heroes of the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are depicted with long hair. Some Hindu religions, e.g. Jainism and Sikhism, require adherents to wear long hair even today. And, throughout the world, Indian women are associated with long, thick hair.
How do Indians manage to maintain their beauty? They are aided by the knowledge of Ayurveda, which has been tested over centuries and proven effective by many generations of people. Ayurveda strives to create a balance between an individual’s body, mind, emotions, spirit, and environment; it emphasizes the body’s ability to self-heal through natural remedies, proper diet, and timely cleansing. Many “groundbreaking” discoveries in the field of modern medicine have long been known and documented by Ayurvedic practitioners.
Hair care according to Ayurveda
Who wouldn’t want to have beautiful, healthy hair? After all, hair is a key characteristic of one’s appearance, second in importance only to the face. If hair didn’t hold such an important place in the collective unconscious, there wouldn’t be a multi-billion dollar hair care industry. The problem is that many of these substances contain harmful chemicals that are detrimental to both hair and vital bodily functions, such as the endocrine and nervous systems. Furthermore, most substances work superficially and temporarily, often damaging the hair and scalp in the process.
Ayurveda for hair is characterized by a systematic approach that takes into account individual characteristics and aims to eliminate the root of the problem, which is often deeper than it seems.
One of Ayurveda’s fundamental principles is that the strength of agni (digestive fire) determines the quality of nutrients received by bodily tissue and hair. For this reason, hair care begins with the food we eat and largely depends on the capabilities of the digestive system. Since all bodily systems are interconnected, a plethora of other factors– dosha disbalance, heredity, and lifestyle– can affect the hair.
In Ayurveda, hair is considered a product of bone tissue, just like nails and teeth, and is therefore connected to these parts of the body. Hair is also connected to the nervous system and the intestines, so deterioration of any of these systems directly affects hair health.
Chronic stress or severe emotional shock can negatively affect the condition of one’s hair. Few sources of stress are truly life-threatening nowadays, but the nervous system doesn’t know this. Therefore, the amount of hormones released during stress is the same for all situations, be they serious (e.g. escaping a predator) or trivial (being late to work).
The stress response redistributes physical resources to help survive danger: heart rate increases, allocating more energy to the brain and large muscles while digestive and immune functions slow down. This adaptation is not a problem for someone who rarely encounters stress, but chronic stress deprives many bodily tissues of vital nutrients and can trigger their depletion. Eventually, the vulnerability of bone tissue can have detrimental effects on hair. As we can see, eliminating stressors from one’s life can be an important step in hair care or restoration.
Hair often reflects a person’s individual constitution, the unique balance between Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Most often, this constitution contains all three doshas and represents the individual’s unique characteristics. In other words, it’s difficult to find a person with hair that is exclusively Vata, Pitta, or Kapha type.
Vata-type hair
This is soft, fine, straight hair with relatively high porosity. The scalp and hair become very dry when Vata dosha is out of balance, causing more frequent hair loss and split ends.
Pitta-type hair
Healthy Pitta-type hair is usually wavy and of medium thickness. Pitta disbalance leads to hair loss, premature graying, and inflammation or redness of the scalp.
Kapha-type hair
This hair is thick, healthy, and often curly, but excess Kapha can lead to overproduction of sebum, itching, oily dandruff, and hair loss.
Understanding your hair type and current balance of doshas in the body is crucial for choosing the right treatment or care. Still, it’s important to remember that the Ayurvedic approach is about making hair healthier, not about changing its nature. This is an important point, as many people consider their hair “improper” and strive to change its natural characteristics rather than accepting and respecting their unique, inherent beauty.
Ayurvedic hair products
Ayurvedic hair care includes various products for hair treatment and restoration. In addition to shampoos, masks made from medicinal oils or churnas (powders) are quite popular. Ayurveda devotes great attention to the massage, proper washing, combing, and cutting of hair.
Head massage with oils has a rejuvenating effect on the hair, nourishing and strengthening it as the oil seeps in. When choosing an oil, it’s important to consider your hair’s dosha type. It’s recommended to apply the oil 3 times a week, but this can vary based on individual characteristics and hair needs. For instance, Kapha-type hair can be nourished rarely with oil while Vata-type hair requires more frequent application. It’s best to leave the oil on the scalp for at least 20-30 minutes— or longer, if possible— before washing it off.
So, how do you correctly perform the massage? Apply warm oil to the scalp and massage in circular motions for 10-15 minutes, from the crown of the head towards the ears and neck. Cover the entire length of your hair with oil.
This type of massage promotes blood circulation and allows nutrients to permeate deeper layers of the skin. Sesame and almond oil are good oils to use, and brahmi, dashamula, and alma oil have also proven to be effective.
Hair masks made of churna are one of the most effective methods of prevention and treatment. This procedure supports the health of the skin and hair and helps combat stress and anxiety. It’s recommended to apply the masks every one to two weeks.
Various herbal powders (churnas) – alma, ashwagandha, dashamula, henna, and others – are best for Ayurvedic hair masks. The churnas are mixed with water, milk, or a herbal decoction to form a paste-like consistency, then applied to the roots of the hair. They are left on for 30-40 minutes and rinsed away with water.
Washing hair
Aside from Ayurvedic shampoos with herbs, plants with “soapy” properties are widely used today: reetha (soapnut), shikakai (soap pod), hibiscus flowers, and triphala churna.
Hair treatment according to Ayurveda
Ayurvedic hair care has preserved many recipes that can maintain the beauty and health of hair without side effects or harm to the body.
Bhringraj
This product relieves itching and irritation, increases blood flow to the skin, strengthens hair follicles, and promotes hair growth. Bhringraj greatly reduces stress levels by improving blood circulation to the scalp, making it especially useful as a massage oil.
Brahmi
Brahmi, a traditional Ayurvedic remedy used for follicle depletion, contains an alkaloid that strengthens the hair. Brahmi has the following positive effects:
Relieves stress and improves mood;
Revitalizes dry and damaged scalp;
Decreases the level of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Both brahmi churna and brahmi oil can be used here.
Fenugreek
This popular remedy owes its effectiveness to its high content of vitamins A, C, K, and folic acid. Fenugreek seeds contain nicotinic acid, which prevents hair loss, eliminates dandruff, and helps with other problems relating to the scalp.
To perform this procedure, soak the fenugreek seeds for 8-10 hours. Blend them in a blender until a paste is formed. Apply to the scalp, leave on for half an hour, and rinse away with warm water.
Amla
Amla contains vitamin C and other antioxidants, helps reduce dandruff, and normalizes the function of the sebaceous glands.
To eliminate dandruff, take 2 tablespoons of amla oil and 4-5 drops of lemon juice. Apply to the scalp and let sit for 20 minutes. Wash off with shampoo and repeat the procedure twice a week.
Amla oil is effective against premature aging of hair. This effect is achieved due to the high iron content in the amla plant. For prevention, you can use an amla oil mask or powder. The oil can be left on overnight while the mask should be rinsed off after 20-30 minutes.
Dashamula
It strengthens the hair, eliminating itching, irritation, and dandruff. Dashamula (dashmula, dasamula) is used in both powder and oil form to treat hair; both options work perfectly for restoration and treatment.
First, heat the dashamula oil and apply it to your hair. Massage the scalp for several minutes and leave it on for at least a half hour before rinsing off thoroughly.
If using powder, mix the dashamula powder with warm water until it forms a paste and apply it to the hair and scalp. Rinse off the mask after 20-30 minutes.
Hair can also be rinsed with dashamula extract; to do so, pour one tablespoon of the powder into 1 liter of water. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes or simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, then strain and rinse your hair with the resulting liquid.
Ayurveda asserts that everything from healthy hair to a healthy heart is determined by balance and emotional wellbeing. This can be achieved by putting the Ayurvedic concept of life, which includes lifestyle, proper nutrition, and regular relaxation, into practice.
Switch to natural, plant-based hair products. Avoid hair styling, blow-drying, and other procedures that cause irreparable damage to the hair and scalp. But even if your hair has already experienced the effects of the modern cosmetics industry, it’s never too late to revitalize and restore its natural beauty.
The views expressed are based on traditional Ayurvedic texts and do not constitute medical advice.