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Women's Beauty
Nine Tips for Healthy Hair
Vasu Nargundkar
No matter what type of hair nature blessed you with,
there are things you can do to keep it healthy, lustrous, looking its best.
Here are some tips for a healthy head of hair from the tradition of Ayurveda,
the 5,000-year old healing tradition that originated in India:
* Like everything else about true, lasting beauty, healthy hair begins within
your body. Start with your diet. Include lots of green leafy vegetables and
sweet juicy fruits. Dairy products such as milk and fresh yogurt will also
help. Fresh coconut is also considered excellent "hair food" - sprinkle grated
coconut over salads, diced fresh fruit, or rice.
* Cut down on refined, processed and canned foods. Ayurveda considers foods
with artificial preservatives and chemical additives stripped of their inherent
"intelligence" and therefore not helpful in supplying nutrition to your body
and mind. Ice-cold beverages also hamper the process of digestion and
assimilation of nutrients.
* Cooking with certain spices adds flavor to your food and provides nourishment
for your hair. Cumin, turmeric and black pepper are some "hair-friendly"
spices. Add a healthy pinch of each to single-portion soups and stews as
they are cooking. Sauté 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon each of the three spices
in a teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil and add to cooked veggies.
Roasted and ground cumin and ground black pepper can be sprinkled over fresh
yogurt.
* Stress can be seriously injurious to long-term health and color of hair.
Try and manage your time and tasks to minimize time-related pressures. Practice
relaxation techniques such as meditation. Seek out tranquil sights in nature
to help restore balance to your mind. Relaxing or uplifting music can be
therapeutic. Get adequate, good quality sleep to help the natural process
of rejuvenation.
* Ayurvedic herbs that help hair health include Eclipta alba and Gotu Kola.
Eclipta alba is called "Bhringaraj" - literally, king of tresses. It nourishes
the hair and helps resistance to stress as well. Brahmi, sometimes called
Gotu Kola, also helps balance the mind and nourishes the hair and scalp.
Since Ayurveda considers the health, color and luster of hair so dependent
on overall mind/body health, synergistic Ayurvedic herbal preparations for
hair can also include herbs such as Country Mallow, which is supposed to
strengthen the physiology, and Winter Cherry, which aids resistance to stress.
* Stay away from harsh chemical topical products that can damage hair over
time. Look for gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners, especially if
you wash your hair more than three times a week. Shampoos and conditioners
that contain nourishing botanicals are even better. Read labels carefully
- sometimes, products that say "herbal" or "natural" can include no-no chemicals.
* A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate
and moisturize the scalp. You can use good quality coconut, almond or olive
oil. Ayurvedic hair oils also contain some of the herbs mentioned earlier.
Apply some mildly warmed oil to your hair and gently massage into your scalp
evenly with your fingertips. Leave on overnight if you can, if not, leave
on for at least an hour or two, then get it out by shampooing your hair.
The scalp massage helps you relax and aids sound sleep as well.
* Never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are.
Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. Use a wooden
comb if you can find one; it won't generate static electricity. Excessive
blow-drying can damage hair in the long-term, making it brittle and causing
split ends. If you can, let your hair dry naturally, then brush into place.
* Last, but not least, brushing your hair regularly to stimulate the scalp
will keep it looking healthy and lustrous. Brush each night in all directions
in turn - left to right, right to left, front to back and back to front.
Use smooth long strokes from scalp to hairtips.
Your hair can indeed be your crowning glory if you treat it right!
Note - This information is educational and is not intended to replace standard
medical treatment or advice.
For more information on Vata, Pitta and Kapha or Ayurveda, please visit
http://www.mapi.com. Discover Ayurvedic
recipes, articles, self-care quizzes and ayurvedic products.
Subscribe to receive Total Health News Online, an information-packed free
monthly newsletter on Ayurveda! Visit the newsletter section at
http://www.mapi.com.
Copyright: Vasu Nargundkar, 2001.
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