Natural tips for healthy hair

Hair Problems & Remedies  | Hair Treatment | Basic Hair Care Tips | Hair Care Tips from

NatureFor Dandruff

Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help growth of hair.

Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions for about 20 minutes.

Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked

(boiled) rice.

Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.

Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel-

wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a mild shampoo.

Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.

Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair

with it.

Crush  the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with

this juice.

Heat oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes.

After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal   shampoo . Do the steam -towel- wrap for

15 minutes.

For Healthy and Shiny   hair

It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.

Wash hair with tea once in a week.

Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

Soak a handful of gooseberries in a cup of milk for two hours. Make a paste and apply

on the hair.

Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoons of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in

the scalp   and   hair . Wash it after some time.

Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your

head with a hot towel and washyour   hair  after an hour or so. 

Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair   oil  to control hair loss

and thinning.

Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this

steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.

Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Apply it in the next

morning.

Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry.

Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.

Take a cup each coconut and mustard oil. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil

mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves

turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool

and then strain. Apply oil to hair   roots  using cotton wool along the parting and

massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next

morning. Repeat twice a week. 

Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

For Graying

Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of  half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee

powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.

Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep

boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an

egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair

after two hours.

Natural Conditioners 

Henna  is a herbal treatment with good conditioning abilities.

Egg white is a good conditioner for hair. 

Deep condition with curd, beer and egg. 

Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add

bounce to dull and lifeless   hair .

Here are some important and simple tips to hair fall control.

1. Apply oil to your hair before going to sleep everyday. And wash it next morning to keep it completely

oil free. Regular application of oil keeps the hair roots strong.

2. Do not ever let your hair to get wet in rains.

3. Always try to cover your hair with something or the other while riding on bike. It protects your hair from

dangerous pollution.

4. Avoid combing wet hair immediately after bath.

5. Do not use hair driers to dry your hair as it can damage your hair and make it too dry.

6. Do not ever wash your hair with too cold or too hot water. It can damage your scalp and hair as well.

7. Massage the scalp with Aloe vera gel or juice. This is an excellent remedy to fight hair fall.

8. Mix honey with egg yolk and apply it on the scalp. Leave it 30 minutes and wash it off with a gentle

shampoo.

9. Trim your mane regularly to get rid of split ends.

10. Soak a handful of gooseberries in a cup of milk for two hours. Make a paste and apply on the scalp

and hair.

11. Regularly apply henna paste one hour before taking bath. It helps in turning your grey hair into

black.

12. Boil some dried ridge gourd in coconut oil till it turns black. Massage this oil in scalp and roots of

hair.

13. A massage with sesame oil on the scalp could prevent premature graying of hair.

14. Beat lemon juice mixed with castor oil till it turns frothy. After that add henna to the mixture and

apply it on to the scalp. Let it dry for an hour and later wash it off with shampoo. It will visibly

cure your grey hair problem.

15. Amla is one of the best natural remedies to treat grey hair. Make a paste of Amla and rub it on

your scalp regularly.16.

Applying Onion paste on the scalp for days before taking bath helps Grey hair to turn gradually.

17. Lemon juice mixed with Gooseberry (Amla) powder applied on the scalp for few days helps Grey hair to turn black gradually.

18. Eating Sesame (Til) seeds daily and applying its oil regularly helps grey hair to turn black.

19. Eating Fenugreek(Memthi) sprouts regularly and applying Fenugreek paste on the scalp an hour before taking bath once in a week helps to overcome Grey hair problem.

20. Bael leaves grinded and applied 2 hours before taking bath regularly helps to overcome Grey hair problem.

21. Durva (Dub a grass used to worship Lord Ganesha) paste applied before taking bath regularly helps Grey hair to turn black gradually.

22. Regularly applying Butter or Butter mixed with Fenugreek powder on the scalp and taking bath with cold water helps to overcome Grey hair problem.

23. Neem oil prevents hair from graying and also effective in treating dandruff, lice and hair fall.

24. Half cup of Curd Mixed with a pinch of black pepper (kali mirch) powder and spoon of Lemon juice applied 15 minutes before taking bath helps grey hair to turn black slowly.

25. Regular application of Henna (Mehandi) paste applied an hour before taking bath helps Grey hair to turn black slowly.

26. Drinking Wheat grass juice everyday helps to overcome Grey hair problem.27. Boil Triphala (Triphala is composed of Harad (Haritaki) Amla (Indian gooseberries)

and behada (Bibhitaki) powder in Gingery (Thil) oil and this filtered oil applied regularly on the scalp help Grey hair to turn black.

28. Guava (Amrud)leaves grinded and applied regularly on the hair before taking bath helps Grey hair to turn black slowly.

29. Neem seeds grinded and applied on the scalp and boiled Neem leaves used for washing hair helps Grey hair to turn black slowly.

30. Massaging scalp regularly with ghee (Prepared from cow milk) also helps to overcome Grey hair problem.

31. Drinking Carrot juice everyday helps to keep hair black and helps to overcome Grey hair problem.

32. Neem oil prevents hair from graying and also effective in treating dandruff, lice and hair fall.

Normal skin

 

~ Extract the juice of half an orange or tomato, mix with two teaspoons of curd. Lightly massage onto your

face in an upward direction. Let it dry. Then, wash your face with cold water and wipe dry. This will give

your skin a nice glow.

 

~ Rub the inner part of the skin of a papaya on your face. Let it dry. Then, wash your face with cold water

and wipe dry. This will give your skin a nice glow.

Whenever you cut a papaya to eat, save a small portion of the peel for this purpose. You can store the

peel in an airtight container for about two days in the fridge; however, it is preferable to use it fresh. 

~ Grind 50 grams (around half a cup) of cabbage and extract the juice. Apply this on your face. After it

dries, wash with cool water and wipe dry. This helps tighten your skin and prevents wrinkles. 

~ Grind one small carrot and squeeze the pulp to remove the juice. Apply the juice on your face and let it

dry. Then, wash with cold water and wipe your face dry. This helps to rejuvenate your skin.

 

~  Whenever eating an apple, do not discard the skin. Use it as a skin cleanser. 

Just rub the inner side of the peel in an upward direction and let your face dry. Then, wash with cool water

and pat dry. This helps tighten your skin.

 

~ Take an ice cube and rub on your face. Then, pat dry. This helps to improve blood circulation and

keeps your skin healthy. 

Variation: Boil some lemon grass in a small container of water and cool. Pour it in the ice tray and freeze.

Later, rub the ice cube on your face. 

 

~ Beat the white of one egg and apply on your face in an upward direction. Once it dries, wash with cold

water. It helps tighten your skin and delays wrinkles.

6 steps to beautiful skin

Oily skin

~ Make a paste of 2 tbsp of wheat flour using as much water as needed. Apply on your face in an upward

motion. Leave to dry. Then, wash with cool water and pat dry. This helps remove excess oil from your

skin.

~ Mix two teaspoons of raw milk, around the same quantity of cucumber juice and few drops of lemon.

With a cotton ball, apply the solution on your face and leave to dry. Then, wash with water and pat dry.

~Soak two to three teaspoons of methi (fenugreek) seeds overnight. Grind into a paste, then rub on your

face. Once it dries, wash with cool water. 

The granular effect helps remove blackheads. Methi also helps remove excess oil from your skin.

The excess paste can be stored in the refrigerator but should be used within a week.      

~ Soak two to three teaspoons of whole masoor dal (red gram) overnight. Grind into a paste and apply on

your face. Once it dries, wash your face with cold water and pat dry. It gives the same effect as methi. 

The excess paste can be stored in the refrigerator but should be used within two days. 

 

~  Grind half a cucumber and squeeze to remove the juice. Apply the juice on your face and leave to dry.

Then wash with water and pat dry.

It helps refresh and tighten your skin. 

Say goodbye to dry skin

For dry skin

 

~ Mash half a ripe banana, add a teaspoon of honey and make a paste. Apply on your face. Once it dries,

wash with cold water and pat dry.

This acts as a moisturiser and helps in tighten your skin.

 

~ Soak khus khus (poppy seeds) overnight. Grind it with just enough milk to make a paste. Apply on your

face. Once it dries, wash with cold water.

The natural oil present in khus khus helps to moisturise your skin. 

 

~ Just before boiling milk, remove two tablespoons. Massage it lightly on your face in an upward motion.

Leave to dry, then wash with water and pat dry.

This helps to keep your skin supple.

Variation: Add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the raw milk and follow the same process. However, avoid doing this

if you have pimples on your face.

~ Make a paste of 2-5 tablespoons of raw peanuts with milk. Add ¼ teaspoon of honey to it. Apply on

your face. Leave to dry. Then wash with cold water and pat dry.

The natural oils present in the peanuts help moisturise your skin. 

 

~ Make a paste of one teaspoon of malai, a pinch of turmeric and four to five drops of olive oil. Apply on

your face, leave to dry. Wash with cold water and pat dry. 

Malai acts as a natural moisturiser and turmeric and olive oil helps rejuvenate your skin.

Which perfume suits your personality?

Combination skin

~ Mix 3-4 tablespoons of Multani mitti (Fuller's Earth) with 8-10 ground pudina (mint) leaves. Freeze the

pack overnight.

Keep outside for 10-15 minutes and then apply on your face. After 10-15 minutes, wash off and pat dry. It

helps in cooling and cleansing your skin.

~ Boil a handful of lemon grass leaves in one litre of water, until you get the aroma. Then, place in an ice

tray and freeze. 

After returning home from work or an outing, rub a lemon grass ice cube all over your face. It cleanses the

dirt and grime accumulated in your skin's pores and shuts them.

Whisk away black spots and pimples

 

~ Make a paste of either half a piece of nutmeg/ six to eight jamun seeds with water/ rose water. Apply on

your face. Leave to dry. Then, wash with cold water and pat dry.

 

~ Squeeze half a fresh lemon into one glass of freshly boiled milk. Leave for half and hour, then apply on

your face before retiring to bed.

 

~ Take 125 ml (¾  cup) of tomato juice and squeeze in half a lemon. Add five to seven mashed mint

leaves and black salt to taste. 

Drink this every morning and evening for at least one week. It will help detoxify the body.

 

It also helps to relieve constipation and worm infestation.

 

For blemishes

 

~ Rub a slice of lemon or the remains a squeezed lemon on your face. Allow it to remain overnight, then

wash with cold water. It will restore your skin's softness and lend your complexion a glow. 

 

~ Squeeze the juice of one lemon into one ripe tomato (in which a hole has been made). Rub the tomato

on your face. Leave to dry. Then, wash with water and pat dry.

Skin solutions for men

Diet tips

 

Diet can play a major role in imparting glow and freshness to your skin, some of the tips that can help are:

~ Drink 12 to14 glasses of water everyday. 

~ Avoid eating to much of fried foods like vadas, samosa, chips, bhajias, etc. Stick to fresh vegetable

salads or fruit salads. 

Depending on the seasonal availability, eat all types of fresh, green vegetables and all types of fresh,

juicy fruits (except for strawberries and mangoes; they are heaty and overconsumption can lead to acne). 

~ Avoid consuming too much of heaty food like chillies, garlic, non-vegetarian items or dried fruits like

dates.

~ Detoxify once a month by consuming fresh vegetables, fruits and liquids all day. 

Seemaa Tarneja and Priya Khanna are consulting nutritionists. They are based in Mumbai

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