The hair needs external nourishment. This is more so in winter, when the weather becomes dry and robs the hair of moisture and oils.
The application of oils provides nourishment to the hair and softens hair texture. If you apply oil with a light massage, it also helps to stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles. Dry, rough, brittle hair improves with regular oil applications. This would include hair that has been treated with chemical lotions, like dyed and coloured hair. The hair should not be rubbed vigorously. Only the finger tips should be used, to actually move the scalp with small rotary movements. Oils have their own particular properties and benefits. Olive oil, for instance, helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. It is useful for oily hair with dandruff. Castor oil is said to have hair darkening properties. While it will not turn white hair black, it will restore darkness to hair that has turned brown due to excessive sun-exposure. It is also useful in cases of hair damage. Pure coconut oil is most commonly used in India. It helps to improve hair texture and is said to promote growth. Almond oil is very nourishing for extremely dry hair. Oils can also be mixed with various other ingredients and applied on the hair. Two oils, like coconut oil and castor oil can also be mixed together. Warm the oil before application.
You can also use natural ingredients that are easily available at home, like milk, lemon juice, honey, vegetable oils, egg yolk and so on. For instance, greasy hair would benefit by lemon juice and egg white. Both help to cleanse and cut down on oiliness.
To nourish dry hair: Beat an egg with a cup of milk. Rub the mixture into the scalp and leave it for five minutes. Afterwards just rinse it with water. Do this twice a week.
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 on the hair. It will benefit all hair types, as well as dandruff conditions.
Egg is one of the most versatile ingredients. It contains silicon, sulphur and fatty acids that help to nourish the hair. The white of the egg has a powerful cleansing action too. Applied on the hair, egg coats the hair shaft and adds thickness, shine and body. Beat an egg with a little milk to form a thickish consistency and apply it on the scalp and hair. After half an hour, rinse the hair well with water. If you add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse, it will help to get rid of unpleasant odour.
Milk can be applied on the hair to nourish and soften it and also to give it a healthy lustre. If the hair has been subjected to sun-damage, applying milk would help to nourish, soften and restore health to it. After your shampoo, rinse the hair with milk and leave on for 5 minutes. Then rinse off with plain water. It would help to add body and shine to the hair.
If you have been using chemical colourants and styling procedures, it is all the more important to nourish your hair regularly with natural ingredients. They are non-toxic and do not harm the structure of the hair. In fact, they are ideal for protective, preventive and even corrective hair care.
