Sadly, a very small ratio of ladies gives some time from their busy schedule to natural hair care. Rest all rely on the fast moves and shortcuts of expensive chemical based hair care products. But the fact doesn’t changes that every lady wants beautiful long and healthy hair.
Yes, the world has become fast paced but ladies you have to accept the fact that long and strong hair don’t grow overnight. To reap the fruit of healthy and long hair, keep in mind to stay patient while following natural ways and remedies. Here is the list of some preventive measures which should be followed strictly to avoid damage of hair:
Yes, washing of hair is necessary but only when it is really necessary. The statement means that washing hair daily or too many times in a week is not a healthy practice and makes it dry and brittle. Every time one washes hair, the scalp feels the need to produce sebum. So, if there would be regular washing of hair then scalp would generate more sebum making it oilier. And as a result one would think to wash it more often. Hence, to avoid such kind of damaging cycle, wash hair only twice or thrice in a week as per the need.
Using sulfate free shampoos:
Sulfate is a popular detergent ingredient that leads to generation of more foam as compared to other gentle detergents. Using sulfate rich shampoos lead to drying out of hair cuticles and making them prone to breakage and damage. Hence, it is advisable to use sulfate free shampoos, which consists some other mild detergents that are quite gentle and friendly to hair. Vatika Brave & Beautiful Shampoo could be used as mild shampoo for hair which is made from natural extracts and herbs and completely sulfate free shampoo.
Conditioning of hair:
As washing of hair is a necessary practice, conditioning of hair is also very important. Conditioning of hair by using any good conditioner helps in locking the moisture in hair and makes it soft and smooth. Always keep a note while applying any conditioner to hair, apply it only over the tips or ends of hair and avoid contact with hair scalp.
Avoid blow drying:
Using blow dryers for quick hair drying makes them dry and snatches away the moisture and natural oils from hair. Blow dryers and other professional equipment put hair in extensive heat environment, which is not at all good for hair. It also makes hair brittle, sensitive and prone to damage after few blow drying sessions.
Don’t do wet combing:
Generally in hurry, ladies get usual to the practice of combing wet hair. This is a very wrong practice from hair’s point of view. Reason being the hydrogen bonds in hair get broken when someone combs wet hair. This in result makes hair weaker and prone to breakage, it also leads to the problem of hair loss in many cases. Hence, avoid combing hairs when they are wet and let the hair dry naturally.
Avoid hair coloring:
Well, everyone loves to do some or the other styling or coloring with their hair. But all such practices are not healthy for hair; in fact it causes immense damage to hair. All types of hair color carries ammonia or peroxide that changes the pH of hair leading to its color change. Ammonia or peroxide in hair color leads to breaking down of proteins in hair shaft and making them brittle and weak. Hair coloring leads to the problem of hair loss. Hence, try and avoid hair coloring and look for some natural hair coloring alternatives.
Trim up regularly:
Well, the general logic of humans goes against this hair tip but ironically it’s true that trimming up hair regularly help in increasing hair growth. It is recommended that getting the hair trimmed after three months is necessary to get rid damaged bits and end of hair. In short, if one doesn’t go for trimming in regular interval thinking to grow long hair then they would eventually lead to growing up dry and damaged hair.
Oil Massage:
Massaging hair with regular hair oil such as Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil or any other essential oil has many benefits. Reason behind strong and positive appraisal of oil massage is it provides deep nourishment to hair, condition the hair naturally and helps in protecting them from external damage. Above that it increases the blood circulation in head which leads to better supply of essential nutrients, proteins and vitamins necessary for hair growth.
Avoid washing hair with hot water:
To avoid damaging your hair, you must avoid washing them with really hot water. Instead switch to using warm to lukewarm water to do the job. Warm water helps in opening hair cuticles and allows the shampoo and conditioner to seep in and effectively do the job. Thereafter pouring cold water can aid in sealing the moisture from the conditioner that makes your hair look healthy and shiny. So, wash your hair with warm water followed by a cold-water rinse to add healthy and strength to your hair. If washing your hair with cold water is not your thing, you can add one cup apple cider vinegar to two cups of lukewarm water and use this mix to rinse your hair with in the end. It will not only condition the scalp but also prevent dandruff and infection on the scalp.
Stay hydrated, drink lots of water:
Lack of water or dehydration and hair loss has a deep connection. Each hair shaft is made up of ¼ water and when you don’t provide your body with enough water, it leads to thinning of hair and ultimately their fall. Dehydrated scalp gives way to dull, brittle and damaged hair. Drinking good amount of water, approximately 2 liters a day, not only helps your body fit but also add strength to the hair. Water also stimulates re-growth of strong and problem free hair and put a stop to the problem of frequent hair fall, loss and breakage.
Avoid tying hair tight & wrapping up with towel post shower:
Hair tied in a tight ponytail or hairstyle can cause them to break & fall and also lead to baldness. Buns, ponytails & French knots though make you look well-turned out but can put great amount of pressure on the roots often leading to excessive hair breakage, fall and loss. When you tie your hair tightly, they are being pulled in one direction with force and going forward it can become a reason for potential damage like bald patches or alopecia. Make sure you tie your hair loose and avoid using a rubber band. Instead use a band made of cloth.
Tying your hair in towel when wet can also cause your hair to break and fall. Wet hair are at their vulnerable best and any kind of pressure applied to them can make them snap from the root and fall. So instead of tying them in wet towel, let them dry naturally to avoid any kind of damage.
Low stress levels:
Among many things that can cause your hair to fall, stress plays a major role. Stress leads to weakening of hair follicles and even lightest of pull applied to them can make them break and fall. Stress can lead to three kinds of hair falls namely, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium and trichotillomania. To avoid such situation try and uplift your mood by doing things that will make you feel happy, follow a good and nutritious diet and try and relax by doing light form of exercises like yoga and meditation.
Home remedy for hair care:
The more an individual believes in and follows any home remedy, the healthier their hair would be. Home remedy includes natural ingredients which has some hair friendly properties that help in increasing the growth of hair naturally. One good example of home remedy for hair care is coconut milk. One could use coconut milk to promote hair growth and condition the hair naturally. Also, coconut milk helps in improving the texture of hair. To use it appropriately, take fresh coconut milk and massage it over scalp gently. At the end, wash hair with cold water to see the magic of coconut oil.
Better diet for better hair care:
Whatever one eats ultimately reflects out in their beauty and hair. The right key to get healthy and strong hair is proper diet. Try and add more fruits and veggies in daily diet. Incorporate rice and grain that are high in vitamins, nutrients and fiber. Coconut and cashew nuts are good examples of increasing hair growth. On the other side, liquid is also necessary to keep the body hydrated. Good amount of water consumption is necessary to keep the body hydrated. Water helps in keeping the hair moist and soft.
Here is a list of foods that you should include in your diet for strong & healthy hair:
Hair does need pampering and for doing so one has to be regular to it. Applying any natural hair mask helps in healing the damage and repairs the hair naturally. There are plenty of natural hair mask one could make at home and here are few of them that you can easily prepare:
Egg mask:
One of the easiest is hair mask is egg mask. It adds natural shine to that hair as well as cleanses the scalp of any infection. To prepare egg hair mask:
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
2-3 drops lavender oil
4 teaspoons grapeseed oil
Method:
Whisk egg yolk properly
Now add few drops of lavender oil and four tablespoon of grapeseed oil
The mask is ready to be applied over hair and scalp thoroughly
Let it stay for half an hour
Wash head with a mild shampoo such as Dabur Almond Shampoo or any other reliable one using normal water.
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together and make a smooth paste
Apply the mix all over the scalp and hair (starting from roots and going down till the tips)
Leave it to rest for 1-2 hour
Wash with a mild shampoo followed by a conditioner
Repeat at least once a week for desired results
Avocado & egg mask:
From deep moisturizing and conditioning to revitalizing every strand of the hair, this avocado and egg hair mask is all you need to keep your hair healthy, strong and shiny.
Ingredients:
½ mashed avocado
2 egg yolks
Method:
Mix the two ingredients together in a bowl
Apply the mix to wet hair and leave it to dry for 45-50 minutes
Wash it off with lukewarm water followed by a shampoo
Repeat at least once a week for effective results
Yogurt, honey & olive oil hair mask:
Tired of dull and unmanageable hair? This hair mask will put all your hair problems to an end and instead give you silky-soft and smooth hair.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
¼ cup yogurt
Methods:
In a bowl, take all the ingredients and mash into a smooth paste
Apply the paste on the hair and leave it to rest for an hour
Rinse it off with cold water and later on with a mild shampoo
Repeat at least once a week for smooth and beautiful hair
Lemon & olive oil hair mask:
Most hair problems stem out of lack of moisture in the hair. Applying a mix of olive oil, lemon and milk will not only provide all the essential nourishment your hair requires to look beautiful and healthy but also cleanse the scalp of any harmful toxins and infection that can mar the growth of hair.
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 cup milk
Juice of ½ lemon
2 tablespoon olive oil
Method:
All the ingredients are mixed together to make a smooth runny solution
Use this mix to gently massage the scalp for 5-10 minutes
Thereafter, leave the mix in the head to dry for 40-45 minutes
Rinse it off with warm water followed by a mild shampoo
Repeat at least once a week for desired effect
Yogurt & apple cider hair mask:
With amazing moisturizing properties, yogurt helps get rid of oil and grease in the scalp and revitalize hair strands. Apple cider on the other hand work well for dry and dandruff infested scalps as it aids in reducing and controlling the problem.
Ingredients:
½ cup yogurt
1 teaspoon apple cider
1 teaspoon honey
Method:
Mix everything together in a bowl and apply all over the scalp and hair
Leave it to dry for 30-40 minutes
Rinse off using lukewarm water
Repeat at least once a week
Strawberry hair mask:
Loaded with vitamin C, they work perfect in controlling excess oil in the scalp. Using them regularly in the form of a hair mask will regulate the scalp’s pH balance and give you shiny and glossy hair.
Ingredients:
4-5 whole strawberries
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon honey
Method:
In a blender, put the strawberries and make a smooth puree
Now add honey and coconut oil and blend again
Apply the mix all over the hair and scalp area
Leave it to rest in the hair for 40-45 minutes
Wash it off with warm water
Repeat at least once a month for improved hair texture
Coconut & olive oil:
Both these oils work well on dry and brittle hair. They provide moisture to the hair and scalp and keep the hair hydrated for long.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon coconut oil
2 tablespoon Vatika Enriched Olive Hair Oil
Method:
Mix equal quantities of both the oils in a bowl
Gently apply the mix and massage for 10-15 minutes
Leave it in the head for 30 minutes
Wash it off with a mild shampoo
Repeat once a week for soft and healthy hair
Mayonnaise hair mask:
Want voluminous, shiny and hydrated hair? Try this mask.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon mayonnaise
2-3 drops tea tree oil
Method:
Mix both the ingredients together in a bowl
Apply on the hair and leave it to rest for 30-40 minutes
Wash it off with warm water followed by a mild shampoo rinse
Repeat at least once a week
Aloe Vera hair mask:
It cleanses the scalp, moisturizes the hair, keeps the scalp hydrated and stimulate growth of healthy and soft hair.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 egg yolk
Method:
Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients in it to make a smooth paste
Apply the paste on the hair and scalp and leave it to dry for 45 minutes
Rinse it off with a mild shampoo
Repeat at least once a week for effective results
There are plenty of other hair care tips for shiny long hair, which could increase the volume as well as length of hair drastically. Also read about different hairstyles for long hair & hair care home remedies for monsoon.