Nutritional deficiencies, environmental pollution, hormone imbalances and a
stressful lifestyle lead
to lacklustre and thinning hair. The use of chemical-laden hairstyling products like soaps, shampoo, hair masks clog the pores leading to dead, dull, greasy and lifeless hair.
Too much styling and colouring at hair salons lead to breakage, dull and split ends.
We spend so much time and energy to protect outward skin beauty on a daily basis but not enough on cleaning, purging or re-energising our hair. Beauty expert Shahnaz Husain will tell you how to keep your hair healthy and shiny.
Regular washing is not enough to keep your hair clean. Shampooing alone does not cleanse your scalp deep enough to get rid of pollutant and dirt.
A thorough cleansing of scalp with natural ingredients can revive your pretty, shiny hair and restore back hair health and lustre.
The most common causes of hair damage are repeated use of chemical hairstyling lotions or colouring, dyeing, bleaching and direct heat applications. The chemical lotions disrupt the normal acid-alkaline balance of the scalp and leave it prone to problems. Damaged hair means that it is time to detox.
First of all, discontinue the procedures which lead to damage.
Damaged hair is in a fragile condition so treat it gently. Avoid brushes and use a wide-toothed comb with smooth edges. To heal damaged hair, have detox treatments to help nurse the hair back to good health. First of all, have the hair trimmed to remove split ends. Then start with warm oil therapy.
Mix one part castor oil with two parts of coconut oil. Heat and apply on the hair. Remember to apply on the ends too. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Avoid vigorous massage and rubbing when you apply oil. Keep the oil on overnight and wash hair the next day using a mild herbal shampoo. Avoid very hot water. After shampoo, wrap a towel around the head and allow it to absorb excess water.
You can use baking soda for hair detox. Sodium bicarbonate is an extraordinary cleanser and a great exfoliate that gently removes product build-up. Mix half cup baking soda in 3 cups of hot water and massage your scalp with the mixture for a few minutes and then rinse it .It will remove oil accumulation on scalp and fight dandruff . You can use it once in a week.
The apple cider vinegar helps wipe out product residue and oil while adding shine. As a home remedy mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a mug of water. Shampoo and condition your hair as usual and then pour the diluted apple cider vinegar on your hair and do not rinse. It is the easiest way to detox and you can use it once in a week
You can also detox your hair using sea salt. Mix two parts of sea salt with one part shampoo and apply it on your hair till it creates good lather. Rinse it off with cool water and you will get rid of dead skin. You can use this once in a month.
Tea tree oil is natural antiseptic that eliminates bacteria, flakes and dandruff from scalp. Add few drops of natural tea tree oil in your regular shampoo. Massage in your scalp and leave it for few minutes before rinsing.
You can detox your hair with herbal tea. Brew the tea with one tablespoon of anyherb of your choice like amla, shikakai or rosemary and one cup of boiling water. Keep it for a few minutes to cool down and then use.
Keep it hydrated by drinking plenty of water in every season. Water is a powerful detox ingredient and flushes out toxins and dirt out of body.
Intake of seasonal fruits and vegetables promotes digestion and cleanses the digestive tract facilitating proper absorption of minerals, vitamins which keep skin healthy and radiant. You can add amla, aloe vera, ghee made from cow’s milk and beetroot in your diet for naturally detoxifying your hair.
The best way to disentangle the hair or comb wet hair is to use a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends and working upwards. Avoid hair dryers and styling rods for some time and allow the hair to dry naturally.
After shampoo, condition the hair with a conditioner lotion. If there is dandruff, use anti-dandruff herbal hair rinse. For oily and limp hair, apply a hair pack once a week. These packs cleanse, condition and rejuvenate the hair. They also repair hair damage and restore health to the hair.
Hair conditioners, rinses and serums help to soften the hair and add shine. They also coat the hair and help to protect it. They also remove toxins and purify the hair and scalp. Have herb and spice teas to detox. Internal good health revives the hair. Add spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper to tea. Ginger boiled in water can also be had as ginger tea. Chamomile tea, which removes toxins and induces relaxation, is available as tea-bags.
If you have a detox programme from time to time, you can restore the health and beauty of the hair. Also, the hair is like a delicate fabric, so learn to treat it that way.