Was your once beautiful and thick mane now thinning? Are you losing a lot of hair lately?
Although there are a number of hair issues and they vary from person to person, the above two complaints however, are the common problems for many.
Although there are a number of hair issues and they vary from person to person, the above two complaints however, are the common problems for many.
To be honest, it is quite normal to be dissatisfied with your present hair texture or worry about hair fall or have any other hair related concerns. At the same time, it is also understandable, if you are looking for ways to improve it. However, if you are trying to regrow your lost hair for some time now and your methods are not yielding results, then it is time to give these techniques a halt.
Stop subjecting your scalp and hair to a whole lot of chemicals and heat. Instead, go back to the basics. Massaging and oiling your scalp and hair, washing your hair twice or thrice a week, drinking sufficient water to keep your body hydrated, improving your diet and following some grandma's remedies is the ideal way to go about it.
To elucidate further, I have given below the top 10 tips that you would want to follow, to keep your scalp squeaky clean and healthy, encourage hair growth and make your existing hair soft, strong and shinier.
Does head massage really help in re growing your lost hair or is it just a myth?
The right answer is - yes, they certainly do. Head massages are relaxing and they help you destress after a hard day's work. Aside from this, many studies have shown that head massages stimulate the blood vessels and bring more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. In fact, studies have also shown that a good 5-6 minutes of head massage at least once a week is quite effective in keeping your scalp happy, nourishing the hair shafts and promoting new hair growth.
So why not use this simple DIY trick at home? For a good head massage, use the fingertips of both your hands and apply gentle pressure to your scalp. Try moving in small circles till you cover your entire scalp. This traditional head massage can be done with the help of warm oil or without them. By the way, if you are planning to use hair oil, then choose cold pressed oils of coconut, castor, olive, sweet almond, olive or jojoba. Let this oil soak in for at least one hour, before you wash it off with a natural shampoo.
Also Read: 10 Best Hair Oils for Faster Hair Growth and Thickness
2. Eat Food that Boost Hair Growth
It is often seen that the need for hair growth and improvement in its quality rises, as we get older. With genetics, age, health, pollution, diet and hair hygiene all coming into play, the least we can do is to have a control on factors that we really can.
Diet and nutrition for example is under one's control. Consuming a diet that is not balanced or that lacks sufficient nutrients is known to be one of the contributing factors for hair loss. On the other hand, eating a variety of seasonal and locally available fresh vegetables and fruits, will not only supply you with a good dose of vitamins, calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, fibre and antioxidants for the healthy growth of your hair but will also improve its overall health in a natural manner.
Again, consuming every healthy food is good for one's health. However, there are a few food items that are particularly good for supporting healthy hair growth. Some of these being spinach, kale, asparagus, sweet potatoes, avocadoes, carrots, pumpkin, French beans, beetroots, broccoli, tomatoes, onions, berries, citrus fruits, amla (Indian gooseberry), papaya, nuts (particularly almonds and walnuts), flaxseeds, chia seeds, eggs, oily fish (like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring) and oysters. Hence, make it a point to include more of these protein and nutrient-rich food in your regular diet ASAP.
3. Fingernail Rubbing Exercise
Though this ancient technique is not backed scientifically, a lot of people swear by the nail rubbing exercise and admit on how it has helped them regrow lost hair naturally. This fingernail rubbing exercise, also known as Balayam - were Bal means hair and vyayam means exercise, is a reflexology therapy that claims to be one of the easiest yogic technique to stop hair fall, revitalise hair follicles and tackle premature greying.
How to do it? For this exercise, bring both your hands close to each other (like a half fist) and then start rubbing the 4 fingernails of both the hands with each other. Do not involve your thumbs in it. The entire surface of your fingernails should be rubbed swiftly for 8-10 minutes. Do this exercise daily for at least 4 months to see visible results.
As you can see, this exercise is simple and easy. Also it can be done anytime and anywhere. Try doing it when travelling, watching TV or anytime when you are not busy using your hands. Being absolutely free of cost and effortless, honestly you have nothing to lose. So why not do this exercise everyday along with the other remedies given here and help your scalp and hair get better naturally?
As you can see, this exercise is simple and easy. Also it can be done anytime and anywhere. Try doing it when travelling, watching TV or anytime when you are not busy using your hands. Being absolutely free of cost and effortless, honestly you have nothing to lose. So why not do this exercise everyday along with the other remedies given here and help your scalp and hair get better naturally?
4. Massage Your Scalp with Onion Juice
Though the juice of an onion seems like an odd hair regrowth tip, it is surprisingly one of the effective and cheapest DIY remedies to stimulate new hair growth. Since ages, onion juice is used as a home cure to minimize hair loss and hair thinning, to treat scalp infection and revive hair growth naturally. In fact, this has been backed by a few studies, which suggest that onion juice can be used as a topical remedy to successfully help battle a number of hair concerns.
Sciences says that these humble looking onions are rich in dietary sulfur, essential nutrients and antioxidants. When onion juice is massaged on the scalp, these very important nutrients help in providing nourishment to the hair follicles, thereby reducing hair damage and promoting hair growth. Again, onion juice exhibits strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. This may further help fight infections of the scalp, which are the root cause for hair loss.
How to use it? For those wanting to try onion juice to promote hair regrowth, peel about 2 onions and cut them into small pieces. Turn it into a paste by blending it in a mixer. Now collect this onion paste in a clean cloth and squeeze out all the juice. Massage this onion juice gently on your entire scalp and hair roots. Let it sit on your hair for 1 hour and then wash it off with water and a mild shampoo.
5. Infuse Essential Oils in Your Hair Care Treatments
Have you read articles in beauty magazines or heard haircare experts recommending essential oils and wondered why suddenly these oils are being spoken about so much? Well, though the use of essential oils is getting popular in recent years, the truth is that, they have been in use since centuries for their medicinal, aromatic and cosmetic value.
By the way, if you are wondering if essential oils are different from your regular hair oil, then let me tell you in brief about their difference.
Essential oils are typically extracted and distilled/cold pressed from the parts of the plant or herb itself. Hence, these oils (also called volatile oils) are available in its highly concentrated form. This is the main reason why essential oils are not used directly on the skin or scalp. Being concentrated, essential oils evaporate quickly and also have a strong fragrance.
Contrary, your regular hair oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, castor oil, etc. (also referred to as carrier oils) is not concentrated and has a typically neutral smell. Hence, despite being derived from plants, they can be directly used on your hair, scalp and skin. As a general rule, make sure to mix only a couple of drops of essential oil into a carrier oil of your choice before massaging it on your scalp.
With regards to facilitating hair growth, some herbs like rosemary, lavender, chamomile, cedarwood and clary sage have been found to be very beneficial. Viewing their popularity, essential oils of these herbs are nowadays readily available in the market. If you are planning to buy any of them, then here are some great choices for you - rosemary oil, lavender oil and cedarwood oil.
6. Homemade Hair Rinse
Have you ever tried a hair rinse? If not, then you are seriously missing out on some much needed nourishment and TLC towards your scalp and hair.
Hair rinses are one of the simplest ways to clean your scalp, hydrate your existing hair, bring shine to it and stimulate new hair growth. It is also easy to make and use. If you are washing your hair daily, then you can also ditch your shampoo and simply use this nourishing hair rinse to cleanse your scalp and hair. Or else use your homemade hair rinse after shampooing your hair.
By the way, there are many hair rinse recipes that you can easily try at home. Although, there is one hair rinse that I really love and would like to share the recipe here. It is the amla (Indian gooseberry)-reetha (soap nut)-shikakai (acacia concinna) hair rinse. If you can buy these dried herbs, then well and good or else you can purchase their powdered form here.
To prepare this herbal rinse, take 6 cups of water. To this, add 2 teaspoons each of these organic herbal powders. Bring this mixture to a boil, switch of the gas, cover it and let it 'steep'. After it cools down completely, strain the mixture. Use this herbal tea for rinsing your wet hair. Feel free to experiment with this hair rinse by adding a spoon of honey or any other herbs (like rosemary, lavender, hibiscus, lemon grass, nettle, chamomile, etc. while boiling).
Again, if you are buying dried herbs, then you need to pre-soak a couple of pods (of all the three herbs) for at least 7 hours. Post the 7-8 hours, grind the soaked herbs along with the water, in a blender. To this, add ample water (do your guess work) and then follow the above method of preparing tea. Simple isn't it?
7. Use a Wide-Toothed Wooden Comb
What kind of comb do you use to groom your hair? A plastic or a metal one? Well, if you are using any of these, then it might be the right time to switch to a wide-toothed wooden comb.
No doubt plastic combs are easily available in a number of varieties and colors. They are also quite light to handle and budget-friendly. But, on the flip side, plastic and metal combs are known to generate a lot of static electricity, especially during winters - when the air is dry. This makes the hair look brittle and dried out and more susceptible to damage. Not to forget, low-quality fine toothed plastic and metal combs can also scratch and hurt your delicate scalp.
In contrast, wide toothed wooden combs are sturdy and gentle on the scalp and hair. These combs are known to naturally distribute the natural oil (sebum) from the scalp to hair. This prevents the hair from drying. Wide toothed wooden combs also offer a sensation that is similar to a massage. This further aids in improving blood circulation to your scalp and thereby nourish your hair roots. Additionally, a wooden comb glides smoothly through the hair. This action not only helps in detangling your hair easily but also means that they don't pull your hair harshly or cause its breakage.
Now that you know why wide toothed wooden combs are better than plastic and metal ones, why not buy one and feel the difference. To begin with, here are a few great options that you can consider - wooden combs and sandalwood and neem combs.
8. Check the Labels of Hair Products You Buy
Half your battle is won, if you are buying and using the right products for your hair. Shampoos, conditioners, hair coloring and styling products though packaged beautifully, contain several harsh and irritating chemicals that affect hair health. Some of them that you would probably like to avoid are sulfates - like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), alcohol, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, DEA, parfum or perfume (artificial fragrance), parabens, etc.
While I understand that it is not possible to avoid every single synthetic ingredient in a haircare product, you can however, learn to read the ingredients in the label correctly. The first 5 to 6 ingredients in particular matter the most. These form the base for the product and will be present in the highest concentration. Hence, read them carefully and gather information about them. At the same time, also ensure that the product you are buying has all the ingredients mentioned in their label and not a few key ones to attract customers.
Meanwhile, if you love herbal and organic hair products, then go for it. Still, remember to read the label. If the natural product mentions one or more herbs, flowers, moisturizing oils (like coconut, jojoba, olive, argon, avocado, etc), essential oils, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, shea butter, honey, water (aqua) etc., as their key or active ingredients, then they are comparatively a better option than completely chemical-based ones.
On the other hand, if you want to go fully natural, then try making a shampoo at home. Your homemade alternative will definitely be safe, gentle and completely devoid of chemicals and preservatives.
On the other hand, if you want to go fully natural, then try making a shampoo at home. Your homemade alternative will definitely be safe, gentle and completely devoid of chemicals and preservatives.
9. Avoid Heating Tools, Chemical Treatments & Tight Hair Styles
If you love hair coloring, straightening or styling your hair from time to time, then do not be surprised if your hair starts looking and feeling brittle and dry. Repeated exposure to grooming appliances like hair dryer, straightener or curling iron will affect your hair roots and eventually lead to hair damage and hair loss. Hence, use these hot appliances sparingly or for special occasions. In general, it is best to stick with air drying your hair.
Similarly, use of chemical treatments on your hair is a big NO. When you are in the mission to grow back your hair, then it is best to avoid these treatments, including the use of hair extensions and tight hair styles, as they tend to pull your existing hair and scalp hard. Instead, experiment with cool-looking and easy hairstyles, as they would be gentle on your hair and scalp.
Likewise, if you want to color your hair, then opt for natural colors instead of synthetic ones. For instance, henna (you can also mix indigo, coffee, tea, beet juice, etc. or use them individually) can produce some gorgeous colors, ranging from shades of brown, orange, burgundy, reddish to even black. Not to forget, these naturally produced plant based dyes also nourish your hair, make them shinier and improve your overall hair health.
Can insufficient sleep really affect your health? Surprisingly, despite there being quite a few hurdles in the process of hair growth, one of the main contributors amongst them is sleep deprivation.
Sleep is one of the basic necessities to lead a healthy life. It is essential to boost your energy levels, elevate your mood and improve your physical and emotional wellbeing. However, its importance in improving your skin and hair is also considerable. As a matter of fact, there is substantial studies which show that lack of quality sleep for prolonged period of time cause higher levels of stress and also affect the release of growth hormones, which lead to hairfall and thinning of hair.
Hence, if you really wish grow your hair back and also want it to be healthy and strong, then try and follow a daily sleeping routine. A 7 to 8 hour sleep, typically between 10 pm to 6 am is the preferred sleeping hours as per Ayurveda. Aim for that.
To conclude, I want to add that the above tips will not show you miraculously quick results. In short, do not expect new hair growing within a week or two. For the above remedies to show visible changes, you need to give them at least 3 to 4 months. So, be patient and persistent.
Meanwhile, if there is any other tip that has truly helped you grow back your lost hair, then I would love to hear from you. Use the comment box below and tell me more about it.
Also Read: How to Grow Your Hair Thick and Strong
Very nice information thank you, you can know more by reading our blogs on How to regrow hair naturally home remedies
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