Loving It / Using It Vol. 12 - MABH Herbals Fast Growth Hair Oil

So, by now, you must surely be aware how huge a fan of hair oils I am and of hair care tips. My favourite time pass is to search out for new tips in hair care department. That is why the latest on the block is the egg hair oil I am using currently. Sounds interesting, right? Anyways, I shall discuss about this product some other time.

Let me jump right in for the current product we are here to talk about. So, this is a product by Lancy who runs the Makeup and Beauty Home blog. Apparently, this product is a concoction of a lot of herbs in a secret ratio which results in amazing hair which has given Lancy her long locks. And, no doubt, its a family secret which they have been carrying all along :)

Loving It / Using It : Using It

• Price - Rs 400 for 100ml. Really expensive!

• Availability - Online Website

• Packaging - Comes in a plastic bottle with a stopper so it does not really leak except for a few drops here and there. Might not be so travel-friendly but can not really comment on that!!

• Smells - Ok, so, here is something which I noticed that it smells a lot like the mom's oil I talked about. Well, my mum had put all the herbs she knew of in that oil, after all!! I could also smell a whiff of coconut oil but not very sure about that!! But, the smell is not really that strong that it would bother you though.

• Ingredients - It is a secret recipe but we can be assured that it is handmade and herbal.  

Usage and Results 

Well, honestly, one bottle lasted a hair oil junkie like me around 5-7 uses of heavy oiling using the regular oiling method I use. I love my hair oiled like a frying pan!! So, the oil does prove expensive in the long run. Anyways, I think I should have taken a before and after pic just to keep a record of how much has the product helped in hair growth.

But, then, I do not think there was any significant hair growth so can not really comment on that. As regards to how it treated my hair, well, there was no change in hair fall either. Lately, my hair has been falling in a larger quantity but then remember that there is comparatively more hair fall in the fall months because of the hair growth cycles. The resting hair falls to make way for new hair. And, hair growth is less in these months due to dry and cold weather.  

As regards to other results, unfortunately the conditions are too variable for my hair right now! My shampoo does not suit me, hair is dry and lanky and frizzy, conditioner is not in my routine and any hair mask has been abandoned since years!! So, any hair oil making a major impact immediately is going to go on my highly-coveted list but for now, this hair oil also fails to make that mark. I wish I could use it more to review it better. 

My Verdict

Well, I would say that the product better be used before any opinion is formed about it. I am kind of confused about it but then it is a completely herbal product which has showed promising results for many others.

So, what do you think? Have you used the product? How did you find it? Do you also feel that hair growth is affected by a lot of factors and it is difficult to form an opinion about a certain product sometimes? What are your tips and tricks for hair growth and healthy hair care?

Related Posts:

Loving It / Using It Vol. 11 - Omved Purifying Shampoo Brahmi & Peppermint for all hair types
Loving It / Using It Vol. 10 - Vaadi Herbals Face & Body Scrub with Walnut and Apricot
Loving It / Using It Vol. 9 - Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla

Are these factors causing hair fall for you and how you can work around them? {Hair Care}

A lack of an entire year of hair care and now I am sporting a shoulder length hair which I can not tie neither can I flaunt because it frizzes out crazily! And, facing a major amount of hair fall.

That reminds me that I get an insane amount of mails that everyone is facing a major amount of hair fall and I am not really mocking anyone, mind you. I am just trying to address a problem here. No one really specifies what major amount? Actually, does any one really know how much amount of hair falling is actually called a hair fall issue gone out of hand. 

How much hair fall can be called a hair fall problem?

Officially, everyday we can expect up to around 150-200 hairs coming out of the hair which if we look in a bunch would obviously look a lot!! And, this value can actually vary depending on our diet intake, lifestyle, stress, climate, lack or excess of exercise, lack of omega 3's and good fats in the system and what not!! Its not really easy to make out what is happening to hair and our internal body. Well, that is why probably yoga is one of the most preferred ways to keep body in balance. So, let me just try to write down what can be the most immediate factors for major hair fall in the body.

If you have a continuous hair fall of copious amount for more than two months under variable conditions, then probably it is something to pay attention to. But, again, may be you are pregnant or going through post-partum period or have been recovering from a major shock or change in your life. See what I told you - hair is damn fickle!!

May be you have thyroid or diabetes or anything else? 

Do check out with your doc and get some blood tests done and rule out the more serious health conditions. Thyroid is more often than not the culprit but then you can get yourselves scanned for cancer also, just in case!! Better to safe than sorry. And, then, do check out for antibiotics you are taking. They can weaken your immunity to an alarming rate and hair is the first to show such symptoms.

Oh btw, the list does not end here. Do you have PCOS or PCOD? Or, may be anaemia? Or, your body is basically using all its resources somewhere else. Hair and skin are the last organs to be given nutrients as they rank pretty low on the major organs list of the body so they are the first to show any symptoms of problem in the body. 

Do you have fine hair? 

Ok, this is a sad news for all those fine hair owners. Fine hair is more prone to hair fall than the thick hair counterparts. Now, I am not sure if it is because of the breakage or weak roots, both of which mean weak hair.

Keep changing your parting

If you have been parting your hair or your hair gets parted automatically at the same place, beware that the said area is a potential bald spot zone. It is prudent to keep changing your hair part often to encourage hair growth at all the hair lines. This can, especially, increase the female pattern hair baldness problem. Keep changing the part from extreme left to extreme right. 

Similarly, if you tie your hair constantly in one place, it is a good habit to sport different hair styles. Tying hair or sporting same hair style everyday at the same place creates strain and weakens the hair at that spot so it breaks off easily. So, if you are braiding the hair, leave it in a ponytail next day. 

Improper Diet

Well, isn't diet the most obvious cause of any issue in the body? Lack of iron, lack of sulphur, lack of zinc, lack of magnesium or potassium, lack of good fats, lack of Vitamin A or B family or C or even D, anything can result in hair fall. Vitamin B family is way too important for hair growth whether it is a biotin or folic acid.

Also, lack of protein causes the hair to lose volume and become lanky. Lack of water makes hair lose all the shine and bounce. So, ultimately, it is the food which makes our hair look amazing. So, get your diet to include some eggs, green leafy veggies and fruits. Basically, eat everything and make your plate as colourful as possible!

So, this was just a basic round up of all the reason which might cause severe hair fall. Let us discuss more about them some other time. What all other reasons will you attribute to hair fall? Do add your comments :)

Related Posts:

Update on Onion Juice for Hair Growth - Part II
Why not shampoo everyday?
Do you warm up the oil before applying?

My Hair Diaries - October 2012

What did I do in October?

As such I have not done anything great in this month but yup, I did try to maintain my alternate day routine of oiling and washing the hair. Well, ok, skipped oiling quite a lot of times but kept up with washing part to keep the hair clean. No DIY again!! 

After using the Kamini treatment last month, my hair did become a lot softer and less dry. But, this time I changed the products except for the shampoo. Also, I did order Basil essential oil which is also supposed to be great for hair growth and jojoba and grapeseed oils which again are supposed to be amazing for hair.

One DIY which I tried was using vinegar as last rinse but I don't know if it really helped. Forgot to take the snaps that day!! Also, ordered Organic Surge finally and also got a pair of flats!! Never got footwear online....hope it fits ok!! Will share it with you when my camera gets ok :)

Products Used

• Soul Tree shampoo + Kamini Shampoo

• L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Hair Mask + Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment

• Rustic Art Aloevera gel (for hair length) + DIY Aloevera Scalp Gel (for scalp) + The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil (a drop is enough)

• Forest Essentials Sesame Oil (for scalp) + The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil (for the length)

What do you think about my hair this month?

Related Posts: 
My Hair Diaries - August + September 2012

My Hair Diaries - July 2012

My Hair Diaries - June 2012

My Hair Diaries - May 2012

My Hair Dairies - April 2012

My Hair Diaries - March 2012

My Hair Diaries - February 2012

My Hair Diaries - January 2012

High Frequency Treatment for Hair {Hair Care}

Some time back, I remember reading a reader's query regarding what is high frequency treatment and where to get these treatments. So, I thought of doing a post on this. I have been planning it since long but I was too lazy. Thanks for the push, dear reader :) And, I am sorry that I couldn't reply to the query personally.

I had come to know about this treatment in 2009 when I went to Lakme for Vital Indulgence. The name might sound really fancy but the entire thing is very simple. Now, if you remember the color spectrum which we has studied in physics, red has least frequency and blue or rather violet has most, right?
Similar principle applies here as well. What they do in this treatment is use high frequency light on the scalp. No, it doesn't hurt or anything. At max, if your scalp is very sensitive, you might feel a little spark shock for a moment. For that, you can get the strength of the frequency adjusted so that you are comfortable with it.

The instrument either in form of a comb or a single rod which is in fact a glass electrode which when placed in the holder creates the low current and lets it flow through it. You can see the blue light in the electrode. When the electrode touches the scalp, you feel a light tingling sensation and a very comfortable and soothing vibration on the scalp. 

High-frequency treatment uses low-current high-frequency alternating currents, delivered via a glass electrode. Because the high frequency current converts some of the oxygen in the air into ozone, the treatment has a germicidal action, and is also drying and warming. Consequently the treatment is used to aid healing, and also to help desquamation (the skin's natural exfoliation), and simulate sweat and sebaceous glands.

At up to 250,000 Hz frequency, the hollow glass electrode behaves like a glow discharge tube, and is sometime called a "violet ray" or "violent wand", (though the colour depends on the gas in the glass). Two electrodes are not required, and sparking may occur when the electrode is close to the skin. Because the effect may be pleasurable, similar devices are used in erotic electrostimulation. [Source: Wikipedia]

This comb is moved on the entire scalp. The treatment generally last for 15 minutes. The advantages of doing this treatment is that the high frequency kills any bacteria or other foreign bodies on the scalp preventing any scalp infection. The scalp has to be healthy for a healthy hair growth, right?

Moreover, the tingling and the vibration improves the blood circulation in the scalp and helps revitalizing the dormant hair follicles. This leads to better hair growth, controls hair loss, helps with dandruff issues as well. Also, the treatment in done in the hair spas so as to ensure better absorption of the treatment serums like hair growth serum or dandruff serums.

In fact, Punam also told me that this treatment is available for skin as well. It helps with breakouts and acne. The electrode is touched on the breakout and the effect is almost immediate. The pimple/acne is gone by the end of day or two. But, she also said that once we stop taking this treatment, the acne does come back. So, its kind of a curable treatment rather than a preventive measure.

I did think that whether its the same case with the hair as well but I think its more of a helpful treatment for hair because it can revive the dormant hair follicles which once revived and taken care of are not likely to become dormant again. It also helps relieve itchy scalp.

That's my theory and I might be wrong but one of my friend has attested that one entire sitting (which includes 4-8 treatments depending on the severity of the condition) of the dandruff treatment hair spa has really stopped her age-old problem of dandruff. So, guess, it might really work. 

I do have a feeling that it does work. Yes, I would recommend this treatment especially for the brides who are interested in getting hair growth or preventing hair loss. Its not that expensive either. Do check out the rates across all salons. Have you taken the treatment? How did you like it?

Hard Water affecting Hair? {Hair Care}

A couple of days back, I received two-three queries as to how to control hair fall due to hard water. When we shift places and go to a new place, hair fall is kinda inevitable. The change in climate, water, air, everything affects the hair. But, water is the most common reason for damaged hair texture and hair fall. You can not make the water soft so what you can do is try out a few tricks which might help. 

Use mineral water or boiled water only

This is the most common way to soften the water. Using the water from the mineral water bottles. But, honestly, affording that much is not exactly easy. But, more often than not, you will definitely find aqua guards at the water taps. So, use that water and remember to have enough of aqua guard water in reserve while having shower.

This is something which you can easily do when you are staying in a hostel. More often than not, hostels have bore well water which is extremely hard and harsh on the hair. Boiled water also helps but the problem is having enough of water which has been boiled and cooled down for the reserve. You will probably need 4-5 buckets :D

Shower Filters

I have read a lot about them that they can help filter out certain chemicals right from the tap or the showers so you might use them. Apparently, there are a lot of varieties of shower filters available but the problem is availability. I don't know if they are as easily available and affordable and not overtly expensive. But, you can try going around the bathroom accessory shops. 

Use Deep Conditioning Treatments Regularly

Unfortunately, the hard water makes the hair much like straw. So, deep conditioning treatments are very important. Invest in salon range products for regular usage and go for egg and yogurt treatments once a week, if possible. Also, a monthly hair spa does help, provided you can afford it. Also, make sure, you are doing hot oil treatment regularly. 

Make sure there is No Residue

Make sure you do not use any styling tools and products because they can create a lot of residue. If you do, don't forget to use a clarifying shampoo or add a tea spoon of vinegar once a month to your shampoo and wash your hair. And, avoid chemical treatments like rebonding and coloring till you are sure your hair has accommodated to the change.

I know I have not answered the question on how to prevent the hair fall but honestly, its something which one can't do unless the hair has accommodated to the change. Using an SLS-free shampoo might help. What do you think? How do you deal with hard water? And, how do you manage your hair in hard water? Looking forward to your tips :)

Hair Care during and after Pregnancy {Pregnancy}

A normal, healthy person sheds about 50 to 100 (or up to 200 because of the lifestyle choices) strands of hair every day, and most of these hairs grow back. A healthy hair has a life cycle of about three to six years, depending on your termination length. Hair loss becomes a problem when the hair do not grow back or when hair sheds at an abnormally rapid rate (several hundreds hairs per day), the latter case generally seen during pregnancy.

A hair's life has three phases - growing phase, maturing phase (in which it stops growing and follicles prepare for resting phase) and resting phase. Thus, even the actively growing hair may go into the resting phase. This occurs because of an increased amount of estrogen (called happy hormones) in the body. Increased number of hairs enter the resting phase, disturbing the normal hair growth and loss process and causing more hair than usual to fall out.

During pregnancy, the body's resources are more necessary for the foetus development so the external functions of the body which are not directly related to the regulation of body functions are temporarily suspended. My experience was really weird during pregnancy. Even when I got my hands waxed, I couldn't see any growth for many months which was great but I also noticed hairs on my scalp were comparatively thinner.

So, I asked my husband for advice and I am sharing all of them with you.

• Improve intake of vitamin C : Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen which in turn supports hair follicles and keeps blood vessels in the scalp healthy.

• Improve intake of Protein : Hair is 95 percent protein and a diet too low in protein may cause hair loss.

• Step up your Silica intake : An adequate intake of silica is thought to prevent baldness and stimulate hair growth. Silica is present in substantial amounts in a wide range of foods, including strawberries, green and red peppers, miller, barley, wheat, cucumbers, oats, rice, bean sprouts, potatoes.

• Iron : Hemoglobin is needed for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the other tissues in the body, including hair. An undisrupted supply of oxygen is necessary for healthy hair. So eat more spinach & beet root which will improve your iron intake as well.

Since he is a doctor, his main focus is always a better diet to fulfil all the nutritional deficiencies. Hope this helps you all :) Do let me know how you like the post.

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Thanks a lot, Punam, for this helpful post. Isn't having a doctor at disposal amazing? I do think so but she says its quite overwhelming sometimes because of the amount of obsession they have towards hygiene and health!! Well, that's also probably true. Do check out her review on Auravedic skin polish.

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Related Posts:
How to deal with nausea?
Dealing With Heightened Sense Of Smell
Importance Of Folic Acid
Using laptop and mobiles during Pregnancy
Pomegranate Health Drink for Pregnant Women

My Hair Diary - September 2013

So, this month also I did not really concentrate on my hair. I got a hair cut in August and now I am just trying to prevent the split ends. I did not even oil my hair religiously. Its more of a washing your hair routine after coming from the office.

I hate sleeping with oil on my hair coz it stains the pillows and everything badly. And, most of the time, I wash my hair on the weekdays so there was no time for pampering. Also, I tried to use a shampoo which was totally not suiting me. Its not worth talking about so lets skip it but it did give me hair fall while I used it.

So, once I stopped using it, my hair was back to normal. So, if you are looking to change your shampoo be very very sure. Also, I have ordered Organic Surge shampoo back again as it had suited me so well. And, I am loving the conditioner as well. I can suggest it but I am not gonna review it anytime soon.

Yes, one treatment which I gave my hair in this last month was regularly using aloevera gel on the scalp and the body of the hair instead of using any oil. Why? Well, one is for a change and second, I think the oil was weighing my hair down the next day.

But, I would absolutely suggest this aloevera gel treatment. It gives such a beautiful definition to your curls and following with a drop of oil leaves your hair bouncy and next day the hair does not even end up weighed down. And, the hair is sooooooooo soft to touch.

What products I used?

• Shampoo - Kamini Shampoo

• Conditioner - Kamini Conditioner + Organic Surge Color Protect Conditioner

• Hair Oil - Vaadi Herbals Amla Oil

• Hair Treatment and Styling - Aloevera Gel

So, how is your hair doing now? 

Related Posts:

My Hair Diary - August 2013
My Hair Diary - July 2013
My Hair Diaries - June 2013

Is your scalp sensitive? {Hair Care}

Ohk, so, on Sunday, I went for another hair cut coz my splits were not eliminated in the August hair cut!! On an impulse, I also got a hair spa done. Yup, I know my last was probably two weeks back only!!! But, that was something which I didn't really enjoy but this was better and inexpensive as well (when compared to the previous one).

There, I asked the girl to observe and comment on the condition of my scalp so she replied that my scalp is sensitive. I asked her how did she come to know about that. And, this is what she said - 

If you touch your scalp and can feel it to be soft, it is sensitive. The scalp is not soft or supple like skin, in fact its generally hard, but you might feel it to be a little spongy, especially on the areas where you might have had excess of hair fall. You might want to compare your bald spots/hair fall areas to the areas where there is no hair issue at all. Also, if you ever felt that your hair hurts, you are sure to have a sensitive scalp.

I don't know if this test is actually genuine or not coz I did try to google it out but couldn't really find any leads on it but yup, there are soft spots on the scalp and hair hurting thing is very much valid. I just wanted to share this information as I found it interesting. So, what do you say? Do you find it creditable or is it just a way to lure the customers? And, did you try to find any soft spots on your scalp? Waiting for your comments so go down and write them away :)

My Hair Diary - September 2014

Huh...I miss doing these series the most and guess what, there are only 12 of these posts in a year! And, this is the 10th month of the year and next month would be my first wedding anniversary. Gosh, how time flies! Soon, I will be the old bride :(

Anyways, this year has been really tough on my hair. If you actually notice there are only four hair diaries this year - January, February, June and now this one! So, let me just list down what I did which is not really much!

• Hair Cut - Totally cut off the entire length to get rid of the splits and straw-like ends. Mr. Hubs was a little peeved with it, though! But, I think the new length suits me differently. Will post the snaps soon enough :) 

• Oiling - Have been more or less diligent about it. And, mixing castor oil in the regular oil as well. 

• Massaging - Recently, I have been feeling a lot of pain in my hair roots. So, a light massage really helps calm down the scalp. And, regular massage helps the hair to grow. 

So, that is it! Not really much but it is a start :) Now check out the products I used:

• Hair Oil - Kamini Oil + Dabur Olive Oil + Castor Oil

• Shampoo - Omved Shampoo (review coming soon)

• Conditioner - Omved Conditioner (but only 2-3 times, review coming soon)

• Scalp Treatment - Aloevera Gel

• Leave-in - Morrocan Hair Treatment (review coming soon)
  

What all did you do for your hair this month?

Related Posts:
My Hair Diary - September 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013

From the Archives : Turn your regular shampoo into a homemade herbal shampoo {DIY}

Today, I would be sharing with you a recipe which I have been using for long for my hair and believe me, it has done wonders. I no longer believe in buying hair products according to your needs like a hair fall shampoo as a solution to hair loss or a damage repair shampoo for a heat burnt hair. I have got rid of these things using simple home remedies and I would suggest you to practice them regularly to see quick and long lasting results. You can use tomato repair the dry dull hair or fenugreek for hair loss. If you feel like, you can top your treatment with such fancy hair products too. They might do you some good, who knows!!!

Coming back to the topic, the recipe is very simple.

Ingredients (practically everything you think is good for hair and worth boiling in water)

- Indian Gooseberry (fresh or sun-dried amla) 

- fenugreek seeds and leaves (methi)

- curry leaves

- sage leaves / basil leaves (tulsi)

- hibiscus flower and leaves 

- mehendi leaves (henna)

- jasmine flowers and leaves

- rose petals

- lavender and rosemary flowers (if available)

Method
Soak them all the ingredients in two liters of water overnight. Boil next morning till water remains half of the original quantity. Let the water cool and strain. You can use this directly as a shampoo but it would not lather and I don't know if it removes the oil completely. And, you might not get satisfied with it.

So, take a fresh clean bottle. Pour your regular shampoo to a one-third quantity of the bottle. And, pour this liquid over it. Shake well. Your herbal shampoo is ready. Do not worry about diluting your shampoo. It is good for you as less number of chemicals are applied on your hair and your shampoo lasts longer.

This shampoo works better than the regular shampoo. And, it will definitely give better results than the regular application. Do not judge it until you try this out. It might sound weird to some people. But, if you have ever heard, many people advice that one should dilute the shampoo with water to decrease the harshness of chemicals on the hair. I will request you all to give it a try.

You can use a shampoo sachet for a trial. And, then, you can decide for your own self whether this shampoo will suit you or not. And, it surely does help in hair growth too.

Words of Caution
Please refrain from using any ingredient, which you already know, you will be allergic to. If you want to dye your hair some color, you can continue with using henna leaves. But, remember that though henna is conditioning for hair, it is extremely drying too. So, you can skip it.

You may put some green tea (or your favorite flavor) too in the boiling water. Do not add anything which has short shelf life as it will spoil the whole recipe like lemon peels, soapnuts or shikakai. Use them fresh. You can use lemon juice as a hair rinse for shine. But, lemon causes hair to get dry. So, you might want to try out other remedies for shiny hair.

Have you tried something like this ever?

Related Posts:

From the Archives : Get rid of Split Ends {Hair care}
From the Archives : Hair Types and their Hair Care Routine {Hair Care}
From the Archives : Use "Shaving Oil" to get rid of unwanted hair {Skin Care}

From the Archives : Hair Tips for Monsoon {Hair Care}

PS: Even though this is an old post, the introduction holds true for this year as well :D

I am loving, adoring and blissfully bathing in Hyderabad weather after the sultry Delhi :) Ok, yes, it is humid and that does increase the suffocation at times but the cool breeze in the evenings and the lovely rains are just too romantic too ignore!!! But, then, monsoons always bring a spate of hair problems with them. 

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PS: I have nominated Perfect Skin Care for you for Indiblogger awards. If you like the post and my blog, please go on this link and write your reviews about the blog and make the blog one of the winners! You will have my undying gratitude :)

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Humid Hair

The scalp gets all dirty very soon even though the pollution is in control. The reason for this is because of the amount of humidity which accumulates the dust and sweat in the hair and makes the scalp dirty very quickly. So, hair wash should be frequent, preferably on alternate days and you should always make sure to leave your hair open for at least an hour everyday to let the roots and the scalp get some air through them and get dry.

If you get wet in the rain, let your hair air dry and then go for a hair wash. Immediate washing is generally not preferable as it may lead to diseases and illness.

• Hair Fall: This is the most common problem of hair in monsoons and even I can see those effects. One way to control it is to keep the hair and scalp always clean as mentioned above and to keep the hair always dry as even a little wet hair is also prone to a lot breakage. Do not comb your hair immediately on returning home after a long day. Leave your hair untied for a good half hour to an hour and let it dry thoroughly before running a comb. 

• Dandruff: Even though the weather is humid, the scalp can dry out easily because of the climate changes and weather fluctuations. And, that can lead to a lot of dead skin being accumulated on the scalp and leading to dandruff issues. This also contributes to hair fall in the monsoons. Ultimately, this issue can also be resolved by keeping the scalp and hair clean and dry at all times.

Hair Accessories

Avoid using scarfs and stoles to keep your hair protected from rain or even pollution. Because, lack of air circulation causes the sweat to get entrapped and accumulated on the scalp. Instead, carry an umbrella to protect you in sudden rains. And, pollution is anyway in control in monsoons so don't worry about that. Btw, it may be necessary for you to wash your hair everyday at times. Go ahead and do it. Only make sure that you use a good quality shampoo, preferably a high-end brand or an SLS-free shampoo like Organic Surge.

Keep your hair tools clean and dry

Clean your comb, hair brush and even the scrunchies and hair clips you use as they gather the sweat when you use them on dirty hair!!!

How do you protect your hair in monsoons? Comment below with your tips!

Image Courtesy:idiva.com

Related Posts:
How long and how often should henna be for?
Home Remedies for Hair Fall
High Frequency Treatment for Hair

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My Hair Diary - June 2014

Good Morning folks or should I say afternoon. As I ranted yesterday about the bad condition of my hair, let me say I have to restart my hair caring routines :( The volume is gone, strands are full of splits and hair is peachy and strawy in texture. But, off late, I have inculcated a few good things in my routine so let us have a look at them.

• Oiling - I hate this step!! Of course, I love to oil my hair but damn the timing. I prefer to wash my hair at night and sometimes it gets so late for me to get back from office that sometimes I do not get time to do this. And, then, hot oil massage happens probably once a month so I really miss this step. I do try to keep it up but mostly I miss it. 

• Cuts and Trims - Last hair cut was in April and that too not a good one and I need to go for it again soon enough.

• Massage - I have developed this habit of massaging my hair while I am idle. This happens especially in the office (the environment is pretty relaxed!!) when I am thinking of something or watching House of Cards or The Originals! 

• Rubbing the nails together - Do you think this helps? Well, no scientific proof but people think so let me also give it a try.

• Scalp Serum - Coming to the more practical aspects, I got this Keo Karpin scalp vitaliser. I try to apply it once a week or in two weeks, though it says it should be done everyday. And, then, I stopped using it right away so its lying in the shelf.

• Leave-in - I shifted to rosehip from grapeseed for leave-in. I have no idea how it is working but lets see!! 

• Cocoa Butter Hair Mask - So, I had a lot of cocoa butter from a long time and I have been just wishing to put it to good use. And, finally I have a chance to do it. So, let me see when I will try it!!

And, I think Organic Surge has pulled out of India (not really sure but shampoos are not available online on couple of websites) so guess I shall have to find a new shampoo :( Also, it has been ages since I have used a conditioner. 

Products Used

• Hair Oil - Dabur Olive Oil 

• Shampoo - Madara + Kamini Shampoo

So, how is your hair doing?

Related Posts:
My Hair Diary - February 2014
My Hair Diary - January 2014
My Hair Diary - September 2013

From the Archives : Aloevera for Hair : a quickfix {DIY}

As you all know, I swear by aloevera anytime of the day for hair. This was a tip I had found works really great when I had been at home and was trying out aloevera gel on my hair. I realized that applying aloevera gel is really messy but the gel dries off after a little while leaving really soft and really shiny hair. 

The best part is you can use the aloevera gel on the not-freshly washed hair to give it bounce! It can be applied everyday as well and you can use essential oils as well.

Also, when removing the gel from the leaf, the yellow parts or the green sticky messy parts should be avoided and only the clear gel be removes otherwise they get tangled in the hair.  

A quick fix to make your hair beautiful and style it in a short time is to apply Aloevera gel. Take a little of Aloevera according to your hair length in the palms and apply it to the hair. Massage some of it into the scalp and apply the rest on the hair. Pay special attention to the ends. Aloevera makes the hair sticky till it gets absorbed into the hair so you can style your hair in the mean time. It takes around 5-15 minutes for aloevera to get absorbed into the hair and does not weigh your hair down. After getting absorbed, Aloevera makes your hair shiny and bouncy.

Aloevera conditions your hair, makes hair smooth and soft and protects it from sun. It also stimulates hair growth if used on a regular basis. Aloevera can be used to moisturize hair. It is a natural humectant like honey and retains moisture. It can also be used on a daily basis. The gel from the plant can be applied directly on the hair. If bought from store, ensure that aloevera is pure and does not contain artificial additives.

Have you applied aloevera gel on your hair?

PS: The italicized paragraphs are the new updates. Rest of the post is same as it was originally published. 

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Why not shampoo everyday? {Your Opinion}

Do not wash hair everyday is a common diktat when it comes to hair care routines. But, I have always wondered if it should really be so?. Now, there are quite a lot of scenarios in which I would say its better to wash hair than not in order to prevent damage.

For example, commuting in the peak hours of the traffic in a tropical weather does nothing but make you sweaty and dirty unless you are in your own car with air conditioning running which is not something everyone can afford.

Or, street shopping on a sunny day can accumulate lot of sweat on your scalp and salt in the sweat is a major cause of hair fall. Or, let us see, workouts!! An hour of workout session can cause the hair to get all sweaty and stringy. And, if you do swim, it is advisable to wash your hair after the session to prevent hair damage due to chlorine.

So, in all the above cases, it becomes more or less mandatory to wash the hair. So, why not wash it everyday? And, does no hair wash with such routine mean more damage to hair? Well, in my case, wash the hair as and when necessary. Only take care to use an SLS-free shampoo to prevent more damage.

What do you think? Would you wash your hair everyday if you do follow such routines? 

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Mom's Oil {DIY}

I remember talking about this oil sometime last year and many of you had asked me the recipe for this. I did not really talk about the DIY since then because I did not have the recipe and I was not sure how good it really was.

But, this time when I went home, I made sure that I get the recipe from mum and also try out the oil so that I can actually share it with you with its amazing benefits!! And, it has been ages since I have done any DIY and I am really glad to do it.

First, I am sorry I do not have any pic. But, the oil is very pretty red in color thanks to one of the herbs! Anyways, let me speak about the results first. I have kept the oil only for 2 hours at max before washing it off.

So, it makes my hair more shiny and really really soft (unbelievably so!). I am missing the softness. Hair is also better hydrated but one has to apply the oil once in 2 days. I guess this part applies to all oils. The oil gets washed off pretty easily. It nourishes the scalp as well, thanks to all kinds of herbs put into it. I have not seen any hair fall with the oil and neither did my mom. That is interesting because my mom actually faces hair fall quite a lot! So, that is quite a small list of amazing results. But, I have used the oil only a few times.

Anyways lets check out the Ingredients.

Base Oil - Refined Oil. I was completely against it but my mom does not really listen to me :D Now, she is going to use sesame oil. I would suggest any cold-pressed organic oil like coconut, almond, sesame.

Herbs:

- dried fenugreek seeds (methi)

- dried Tulsi leaves (basil or sage)

- Dhaniya (coriander seeds)

- Jeera (cumin seeds)

- Black pepper (kali mirch)

- Green tea

- Cinnamon stick (dal chini)

- Laung (cloves)

- dried kari patta (curry leaves)

- dried Rose petals

- Sesame seeds (til)

- Mustard seeds

- groundnut

- badam (almonds)

- walnuts (akhrot)

- ratanjot (this is an interesting herb)

- Bhringraj

- Brahmi

- Amla (if not using triphala otherwise only triphala)

- Triphala

- dried Hibiscus leaves and flowers

- dried Neem leaves (margosa)

- Dried ginger (sounth)

- dry jasmine flowers

- dried marigold petals

- dried paan patta (betel leaves)

- dried mango leaves

Yeah, a long list of ingredients and I have no idea if she forgot some of the other ingredients! Anyways, let us talk about Ratanjot herb.

This is the one which gives the lovely red color to the oil. It is basically a red dye which is used in oils like dabur lal tail. It is actually a rare herb which might not be available everywhere. If you live in Himachal or Jammu, you can still get it in ayurvedic shops but I have not idea if you can get in normal shops.

Rest of all the ingredients are known pretty widely. I have no idea what some of the herbs actually do to hair like mango leaves or paan patta. And, I am not googling it right away. Ok, how to use these herbs. First of all, the herbs should be air-dried in shade but not in direct sunlight.

Once they are all dry, powder all the ingredients together. Take a two heaped tablespoons of the powder and put it in a bottle or a jar of 200-300 ml. Pour the oil in the jar till it is full. Adjust the quantity of herbs according to the quantity of oil you are going to use. Generally, one tablespoon is enough for 100ml.

Leave the jar aside for a month. Keep stirring the oil in between. And, try to keep the in direct sunlight for sometime. Read about how to infuse oil with herbs for more specific instructions. There is another way to infuse as well but the temperature of the oil should be carefully controlled so that it is not burned. That damages the hydrogen bonds in the oil which can destroy the properties of the oil.

Once the infusion process is over, oil is ready for use so filter the oil and pour in a glass bottle, preferably! Happy using in case you are going to give it a try :)

What do you say about the DIY?

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Loving / Using It Vol. 4 - Dabur Vatika Enriched Olive Hair Oil

Donchya think Monday is a better day to start over than waiting for the start of the new month? Coincidentally, the new month starts tomorrow. And, I am a day ahead. Reason being this review should have been done a month back but due to other preoccupations, I was lazy and busy.

And, thanks to the brand for being so generous as to provide me with two bottles of the product, I could use it for a longer time and come back with a thorough-er review. In fact, these past two months have subjected my hair to a very cruel regime so I can talk about the product effects more clearly.

Ingredients as specified on the product
Vegetable Oils including Olive oil, Bhringraj, Hibiscus and Aloe vera extracts 90%, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclomethicone, Almond Protein Ester, Sugandit Dravya, Vitamin E Acetate, Avobenzone, Antioxidant-TBHQ and C.I.47000,26100,61565 

• Smells nice. That is the first thing I noticed! It has Sugandhit dravya as one of the ingredients. And, its not overly strong so that saves the day!! 

• Not travel-friendly. One of the bottles leaked while the package came to me even after being wrapped pretty securely.

• Inexpensive at Rs 60 for 100ml and Rs 110 for 200ml. And, available everywhere.

• Makes Hair Shiny. No, it does not protect my hair when I am hell bent on damaging it but the days I use the oil and wash off my hair, I can see how shiny and soft it gets!! But, unless I care for my hair regularly, the product will not do anything more than that.

• No, I do not think it helped with any hair fall reduction. And, more often than not, your hair falls because of the dirt accumulated on the scalp so regular hair wash helps keeping hair fall in check. Try it!!

• Gets washed off easily. It does not need loads of shampoo or tons of water to wash off so environment friendly :D

• Only, it should have been packaged in pearlpet bottles or better yet, a glass bottle. The one right now is not of a very good quality.

• Not entirely Herbal. As specified in the Ingredient list, it has chemicals, especially, a silicone which might be responsible for the shine it imparts temporarily.    

Loving / Using It : Using It

 
Overall Verdict

Do give the product a try. It definitely is one of the better hair oils in the market. What do you think? Would you like to use it? 

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My Hair Diary - April 2013

No snaps this time! Apologies! Anyways, I did not really take that much care of my hair as I did in March. I did not do anything special for my hair except once treating it with egg and musk root. Btw, egg with musk root and ginger essential oil did not really stink! 

What else did I do? 

Since summers are a bane for me, I made do with a few drops of Navratan oil almost twice or thrice a week. Seriously, it helps with tiredness and mild insomnia! The review will come in due time.

And, no, I do not wash my hair daily even though I sometimes really wish it. One tip is just let the sweat on the scalp dry out before you tie your hair. And, keep the scalp clean. Itching can be considered an indication to wash the hair. And, for some, I think the hair be better washed everyday if they travel daily in lot of sun and pollution.

Oh btw, I have also been taking some supplements of which I shall talk in another post so stay tuned! 

Products Used

• Shampoo - Organic Surge Moisture Boost

• Conditioner - Kamini Conditioner

• Leave-in and Scalp Treatment - Soulflower Grapeseed Oil with Rosemary EO + Soulflower Pomegranate Seed Oil

• Hair Oil - Neelibrigandi + Navratan Oil

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5 Do's and Dont's for Hair {Five Series}

It has been ages since I have written any hair care post! But, this year, I have resolved to take more care of my hair. Good news is I am partly succeeding in the resolve.

Last month, sometime, I went to the Arya Vaidya Sala store where an Ayurvedic doc also sits. I consulted him for hair growth. So, following are the tips he gave regarding the hair well-being. They are something we already know but I would like to re-iterate them.

Exercise and Weight Loss

Always keep yourself active and take care of your weight. It is extremely important for healthy hair growth and the overall well-being of the person. Also, exercise improves the blood circulation and carries more oxygen to the scalp and hair follicles. 

Tip: Get a relaxing hair massage or use essential oils for improved oxygen flow to the scalp!

No Sugar, Salt and Spices

They interfere with your body's proper functioning and affect the digestive system as well. Salt bloats you, sugar increases the insulin which leads to hair loss and spices make your digestion haywire. So, make sure you eat balanced nutritional diet keeping all the spices, salt and sugar in control.

Note: You need only 1gm salt in a day which naturally is available to the body without the need to add extra salt!

Oiling the Scalp

Applying a few drops of lighter oils at night like grapeseed or argan oil which improve hair growth is good for hair. They nourish the scalp and improve the hair growth. It is especially important for dry hair as the new growth would have better moisture levels. 

Tip: Using essential oils with the oil improves the hair growth. Peppermint and Rosemary are especially helpful!!

Get a health checkup done!

PCOS, thyroid, diabetes are some of the issues which can cause hair loss and impede hair growth. So, if you are facing any such problem, it is always good to get a health checkup done. Prevention is better than cure! But, a proper health checkup is recommended only when the hair loss or itching or dandruff or any other issue is more than normal.

Tip: Make sure you are exercising properly and eating well and drinking a lots of water because more often than not we do not take care of the normal routine and rush to the doctor for every small thing!!

Drink lots of water

Yes, very very important! Hyderabad is so damn hot that I am literally gulping down the water every 15 minutes and the worst part is everything is evaporating :( It is becoming really difficult but this way I am at least intaking a lot of water. 

Tip: Drink green tea, watermelon juice, cucumber juice or eat cucumber or kakdi or coconut water! 

What are your tips for hair growth?  

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#OneMonthtoHealthyHair Challenge - How's my Hair doing?

Can you guess the products? I love how it adds a pop of color to my shelf!!

So, let me state three things which happened in the last week!!

1. I have been wanting to change my shampoo since quite long now - either the shampoo I have been using has stopped working or my hair needs a change or I am just too bored of using a single brand for more than two years. And, I had been seriously considering trying the two brand ranges which have been reportedly doing well for many! 

2. I am prepping the hair for the #OneMonthtoHealthyHair event starting March 1st!

3. And, then, I get a mail from a brand about a hair challenge they are conducting. I have to use their products for one month and report back! Incidentally, this range is one of the brands I had been seriously considering so I said yes! 

So, the first step in the activity is to detail out on the present condition of my hair!! 

My Biggest Hair Problem!

I have dry curly hair which tends to develop lot of splits if not cared for regularly, and by that I mean ever week!! And, it does tend to get a bit rough sometimes like it did these winters which is the major reason why I had been thinking of changing the shampoo. 

Also, it is possible that it has developed a product build-up so if you think your hair is going through the same phase, try out vinegar. Add a table spoon to the shampoo and then continue washing your hair!! Result - Bouncy and Shiny Hair.

Split Ends?

It has been again 3 months since I did my hair diaries post. I should have kept up with it! So, I had my hair cut in September and my hair did grow back but again a lot of split ends have developed. So, yup, hair cut is pending!! 

Hair Fall, Weak Roots?

I remember that it was November when I used to find so much hair in my comb. Thankfully, it has reduced now. But, itchy scalp still persists! No, I have not yet tried the essential oils. But, tea tree and rosemary essential oils work for itchy scalp!! 

Okay, I do not suffer from weak roots but for those who do, please remember that proper balanced diet is extremely important. Include a lot of protein in your diet and regular scalp massages help with improving blood circulation and improves the scalp conditions.

Frizziness, Dry Hair, Undernourished Hair, Rough Hair?

Due to the winter-y dryness, the hair has developed static and has become a little frizzy but regular after wash hair care does help with that!! Try to use 5 drops of rosehip or pomegranate oil. Even almond oil can help. 

Hot Oil Treatment has been helping a lot to control dryness and rough hair! Also, eating a lot omega 3 helps with hair dryness so do not forget nuts and other dry fruits.

 

Dull Hair? 

Curly hair, by default, lacks shine. So, yes, it is more prone to dullness. I, too, suffer from the same problem. 

Summary

So, I shall be reviewing the product on the grounds of split ends - not getting more of them (remember that existing split ends can NOT be repaired), dry hair - soft and healthier hair and, if possible, shinier hair as well. 

So, that is my hair condition right now. Let us see how much the product helps to improve it! And, by the way, you might have noticed I have blacked out the product name. So, can you guess it? Would you also like to take the hair challenge? Do share your hair condition in the comments below! 

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Update on Onion Juice for Hair Growth - Part I {Hair Care}

Since I have done the post on benefits of onion for hair and how to use onion juice for hair growth, I have received an onslaught of questions from various readers and they all ask me the same kind of questions. So, I thought I would create a small FAQ sort of post which will be helpful for one and all. Also, there have been some updates over the three years so check out the post for more!!

How does Onion help with hair growth?

Well, onion has sulphur which is an essential nutrient for hair growth. So, regular application of onion juice on the scalp enables the scalp to absorb the nutrient and nourish the follicles.

Big onions or small, red onions or white?

Big or small does not really matter but big makes the job easy! For one application of onion on my scalp and hair length which is medium, I prefer half an onion of medium size. And, red onions have more sulphur content than white ones so prefer them.  

How to apply onion juice?

Grate the onion - squeeze the pulp and extract the juice in a bowl - take a cotton ball - dip in the juice - apply on scalp - cover the entire scalp and hair length - let it dry for an hour - wash off.

Onion juice becomes powdery when it dries off so be careful and do not comb your hair after applying the juice!

How many times should the onion juice be used on the scalp?

It is completely safe so it can applied as many times as you want. But, if you want my advise, apply it every time before you shampoo depending on the condition of your hair.

If the hair fall is pretty bad or if the hair is very thin, you can do it three to four times a week in the starting for about 2-3 months and then reduce the application to once a week.

If it is only for hair care, once a week is fine. 

How long does it take to show the effects?

Ok, this is a trick question! Every person reacts differently to various home remedies so whether it will work for you or not is something I can not tell. Yes, I can at least say that you can always give any home remedy a try unless you are allergic to the ingredient. It will never harm you.

I have been using it for a month but I can see no difference is something I come across often. First, your body might be late in reacting to the remedy. Second, hair takes a lot of time to show any results as the growth rate is less comparatively. Thus, any hair remedy must be used for at least 2-3 months before you decide to discontinue it!!

Does it help with alopecia or male pattern baldness?

Honestly, I have no idea. If you have any of the skin disorders, you should ALWAYS consult a trichologist or a dermatologist and never completely rely on home remedies. The medicines prescribed to you can be taken in compliment to the home remedies.

Like, you take tablets and use other home remedies like applying oil or any juice to the scalp. Caution should be taken when you apply any ointment to the scalp. Always apply the ointments to the scalp after washing the hair. Its more effective that way and remember never to mix the ointment and juices.

More of the FAQ's to be continued in another post!! 

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