The dictionary meaning of the word ‘hair’ is – it is a thread like keratinized outgrowth of epidermis of the skin. It develops inside a tubular hair follicle, a sheath of epidermal cells and connective tissue that surrounds the root of hair. The part of the hair above the

skin: consists of three layers - the outer cuticle: a cortex containing the pigment that gives hair its colour and a central core (medulla) which may be hollow. The root of the hair, beneath the surface of the skin, is expanded at its base to form the bulb. Ayurveda says that if your hair is thin, dry and frizzy and prone to split ends, you have ‘Vata’ hair. If you have fine hair prone to premature thinning or graying, you are pitta prominent. If you are the “kapha” type, your hair tends to be thick and oily. Skin, nails and hair are made of keratin. The chief component of keratin is sulphur. The relationship between hair and skin is very important. The skin is like a soil in which the hair grows, like a plant. The skin supplies the nutrients for the growth of the hair, through hair follicle. Sebaceous glands open into follicle through a duct. The secreted sebum lubricates the hair automatically and as we brush or comb the hair. Activity of the gland varies with age. The shape and size of the follicle decides what kind of hair will grow out of it. For instance, curved follicles produce wavy hair. Hair grows at about 1 cm per month.

Hair Problems

Hair Loss / Thinning - Most people lose 50 to 150 hairs every day. You have around 100,000 hairs on your head. Sudden hair losses are caused by a genetic autoimmune condition called alopecia areata

Ayurveda cites Pitta Dosha in the body as the chief cause of all hair problems. Pitta gets increased by eating too much spicy fried food, coffee & tea, meats, alcoholic drinks, and also excessive smoking. Also stress can trigger hair loss. In adequate supply of proteins may also cause hair loss.

Solution

• Change your life style. Find out the part of your food which causes increase in ‘Pitta Dosha” once you locate this, you can try to eliminate the particular food from your diet. Your diet should contain more greens, vegetables, fruits, salads, milk, buttermilk, wheat germ, Soya and vitamin ‘A’. Some spices like cumin, turmeric and black pepper are good. You can sauté these spices (1/2 tsp each) in 1 tsp ghee and add to your vegetable.
• Natural shampoo is better than the chemical ones, to wash you hair. Amla and shikkai, commonly used by Indians, are better; you can also wash your hair with water in which few drops of lemon juice have been added.
• A warm oil massage done at least once a week has lot of benefits. More of oil massage is described below.
• Regulate your bowel movements. Constipation may cause hair loss. Use of mild natural laxative or Triphala, an ayurvedic medicine will help.
• Regular physical activity / exercise balance the aggravated doshas. Will reduce stress.
• While taking bath, cover your hair with shower cap so that the hair does not get wet. Wet hair comes off easily and increases hair loss especially when your hair roots are weak.
• After a hair – wash use wide toothed comb. Better use your fingers! Understand that wet hair is weak and tends to fall of easily. Massage your hair with fingers to increase blood circulation and activate secretion of sebum.
• Always use towel to dry hair and sit under a ceiling fan. Do not use hairdryer if it is switched on to “hottest” position.
• Brush your hair from the nape of your neck to forehead covering the hair to its full length. 50 strokes during the day and 50 strokes in the night leave the hair clean. Do not Brush in hurry. If you have dandruff, avoid brushing.
• Excessive heat affects scalp & hair. Moderate sunlight and fresh air are beneficial. Use an umbrella or cap while you go out in the hot sun.
• An ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj, Amla, corals, Iron and black sesame seed is very useful.
• A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice induces hair growth.
• Application of juice of green coriander leaves on the head is good.
• If you have dandruff, lice, get rid of them.
• Wooden combs are better as these may not generate static electricity.
• It is repeated again here that ‘stress’ can seriously affect hair. Relaxation methods, meditation may help. If you keep on worrying about your hair loss, you are likely to loose more.
• Do not tighten your hair with tight rubber bands for too long a period. Any thing tight on the hair breaks it.

Dandruff

• This is a condition in which the scalp is covered with small flakes. The flakes come away while brushing or combing the hair. Dandruff causes itching and hair loss. Itching induces scratching which causes further damage.

• Malassazia is the fungus believed to cause dandruff.

• This fungus is difficult to eradicate Dandruff may be caused by aggravated ‘Vata’ dosha.

Solution

• Massage scalp every night at bed time with one tsp each of castor oil, mustard oil and coconut oil.
• Massage the scalp with a mixture of one part of lemon juice to two parts of coconut oil. Leave for 3 to 4 hours; then wash off with warm water.
• Sandal wood oil (1 part) mixed with lemon juice (3 parts) is very effective.
• Do not use other people’s comb and do not lend yours. Dandruff is infective.
  

Premature graying

• When a person’s hair turns grey before the age of 35, the condition is then called “premature graying of hair”. Excessive pitta dosha is the cause. Pitta is increased by wrong diet as said earlier. Some kind of illness, anemia, shock, and certain drugs may also cause premature graying.

Solution

• Mix equal quantities of turmeric, amla and neem leaves and powder. One tsp of this powder taken daily twice, with water may help.
• As said earlier follow a bland diet regimen avoiding too much spiced food.
  

Massaging the hair (scalp) The benefits

• It enhances blood circulation in the scalp.
• It strengthens the hair roots, supplying additional nutrients to the hair.
• Makes hair more soft and pliable.
• It rejuvenates damaged hair.
• It helps balancing vata dosha.
• Reduces body heat in general.
  

Choosing the correct massage oil

• For vata predominant persons:- Almond oil or sesame oil as the base oils.
• For pitta persons:- Coconut oil
• For kapha dominant persons:- Almond oil or sesame oil.
  

Herbs that are added to the massage oil

• For vata persons:- Brahmi, Amalaki
• For pitta persons:- Amalaki, Bhringaraj, Hibiscus.
• For kapha persons:- Neem
• All types: Rose mary, Lavender, Jasmine.
  

How to do the self – scalp massage

• The oil for massaging should be warm. Use fingers and pads of your fingers. Apply the oil little by little to different sections of the scalp, parting the hair as needed; Get some oil rubbed along the length of the hair with circular motions, slow deliberate movements cover the entire scalp.
• Leave the oil on for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Wash off with a gentle, natural shampoo.
• Oil massaging should be done at least 2 times a week.
• Medicated oils like “Maha bringraj oil, Amla oil and Arnica oil are highly useful.

 

Ayurvedic oils / herbs friendly to the hair

Lawsonia Intermis, Terminalia balerica, Centella asiatica, Cannarium Strictum, Coccinia Indica, Pongamia Glabra, Indigofera tinctoria, Eclipta alba etc. A number of factors like age, season, pollution, stress, anxiety, contaminated tap water and faulty diet affect your scalp and hair. Ayurveda has a lot of medications to enhance the health of your hair and cure hair problems. However, even in these modern era where foreign cosmetics are widely available, the Indian women especially south Indian women, always use natural hair oils like coconut oil, shying away from oil free, chemical and synthetic products for hair. Weekly oil bath is very common. Therefore our women probably have the most beautiful, luxuriant and long hair.