Strengthen your hair with natural oils

Pollution, hectic lifestyle, mental stress and chemical exposure is a daily routine in metropolitan cities. These factors take a toll on long lustrous hair and result in hair fall, hair thinning, hair breakage. You purchase costly aromatic oils to provide nourishment to the scalp to grow dense, healthy and strong hair and also to fight against greying hair, dandruff, and scalp infection.

But the majority of these expensive aromatic oils, shampoos and hair care products are blended with mineral oils and preservatives which may end up doing more harm than good.Well, then what is the solution? It is time to go back to old advice "Oil your hair regularly with homemade hair oil". Homemade hair oil is a healthier option, which requires a little knowledge and some basic kitchen skills. 

In India, under the Ayurvedic system, the application of oil is an integral part of hair treatments. Washing and rinsing, or conditioning, come after oil applications. Oiling of the hair not only provides nourishment but is the best way to deal with dryness. It is also an excellent pre-shampoo treatment and helps the natural distribution of oils along the hair shaft. The scalp is rich in oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands). 

But, stress, pollution, dandruff and other factors can cause the pores to get blocked. This can also interfere with blood circulation. Thus the natural oil, called sebum, becomes dry and hard when the roots are starved. If this continues, the roots become weak and the hair may fall. Scalp conditions like dandruff may also occur. Ayurvedic massages with oil help to improve the circulation to the scalp surface and free the roots and pores of dry sebum. 

The oil application and massage also help to remove stress and tension, both physical and mental. The distribution of natural oil also improves and the hair looks more shiny and healthy. The oils also have their own benefits. Traditionally, a variety of herbal oils have been in use in the Ayurvedic system, for strengthening the roots and promoting hair growth.

You can also prepare some hair oils at home. Hair oil with amla and methi:  Take 10 to 15 gms of dry amla and one teaspoon fenugreek (methi) seeds. Grind both amla and methi seeds coarsely. Add them to 100 ml pure coconut oil or sesame seed (til) oil. Put all the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Keep it in the sun daily for 15 days, shaking it each day in order to stir the ingredients. After 15 days, strain the oil through a clean muslin cloth and keep the oil in a glass jar. This oil may be used to apply to the hair. It will benefit all hair types, as well as dandruff conditions.

Hair oil with leaves: You can take equal quantities of different leaves, like neem, tulsi, and curry leaves. Add to 200 ml almond oil. Wash the leaves well and crush them. Put the almond oil and crushed leaves in a pan and heat them till it boils. Turn off the gas and allow the oil to cool. Strain the oil through a clean muslin cloth and keep the oil in an airtight glass jar.

Essential oils can also be added to carrier (pressed) oils to make your own hair oil.Add 10 drops of essential oil of rose to 1 cup of pure coconut oil. Keep in an airtight glass bottle. Essential oils should not be used by themselves. They should be used according to specified quantities and diluted with other oils. This oil has a cooling effect and also helps hair growth.

Add 5 drops of Rosemary essential oil to 50 ml olive oil. Shake well and keep in a glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Apply this on the scalp using cotton wool and leave it on. This helps to prevent and remove dandruff.

Lemon hair oil: Take two lemons and olive oil. Grate the outer rind of the lemon (lemon zest) and put it in a glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Add 100 ml olive oil and put the bottle in the sun. Shake it regularly. After 3 to 4 days, strain the oil with a clean muslin cloth and keep it in an airtight bottle. It is ready for use. Lemon oil helps oily hair and oily scalp, as well as dandruff-prone hair.