One of the most frequent questions I get asked is how to maintain healthy hair and prevent hair loss and graying. Ayurveda treats hair loss two ways from the inside-out and the outside-in. According to Ayurveda the health of your hair is a reflection of both your internal health and the level of stress you endure. For many people the loss of hair is often sudden and can be severe. Hair loss can be caused by increased stress, imbalanced hormones, poor nutrition and mineral deficiencies. No matter the reason Ayurveda offers a number of diet and lifestyle suggestions to restore balance and hair health.
Top Tips for Healthy Hair
Use Oil.
Your hair is craving oil. This may seem like a foreign concept in our culture but in Ayurveda oil has been used for thousands of years to create healthy hair. I oil my hair once a week and leave it on overnight. Massage a small amount of oil onto your scalp and throughout your hair before bed. Oiling your scalp not only supports healthy hair but promotes sound sleep. This practice can be done daily as needed.
The best oil to use is Bhringaraj herbed oil. Bhringaraj is known as the “lord of hair” and has been used since ancient times to rejuvenate hair and skin. Premature hair loss and graying is considered a pitta imbalance. Bhringaraj also helps to calm and cool down pitta dosha, strengthening resistance to stress.
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Other great choices are sesame, coconut or Argan oil.
Mind Your Minerals
Eating a diet rich in whole organic foods is the foundation of Ayurvedic nutrition. In Ayurveda, healthy hair is related to bone tissue health. Mineral depletion can weaken bone tissue and therefore affect hair health. Keeping the proper pH balance is key to maintaining mineral balance in our bodies. See my blog on pH for more. Consume foods that are naturally high in minerals Ca, Mg, iron and zinc including sea kelp, dark leafy green veggies, sesame seeds, sprouts, nutritional yeast, nuts, pumpkin seeds, figs, berries and whole grains.
Relax
Stress is one of the biggest factors in hair loss and calming the nervous system will go a long way in restoring and maintaining your luscious locks. Keeping up with your self-care practices is key to maintaining healthy hair. Daily meditation, yoga, exercise and any other activities that bring you joy and lighten your mood are essential to any healthy hair routine.
Nourishing your hair and scalp through diet, Ayurvedic herbs and oils can not only produce healthy lustrous hair, but can also calm the mind, balance the nervous system and strengthen your overall wellbeing.
Wishing You Vibrant Living,
Kate