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?

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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:

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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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Do all shampoos work for me? {Hair Care}

Yeah, I know. Its a weird post but this is in reply to a really funny comment I got one one of my posts yesterday. So, the anonymous writes:

All shampoos give u good results?? Dove also kamini also Pantene?

I thought many of you might have the same question so I would rather do a post on it. Well, actually my hair type, as I have mentioned countless times is, dry and fine and feels soft to silky depending on its mood. I have colored it once last year and that was a disaster. But, otherwise, my hair generally behaves nicely.

As to all shampoos suiting me, mostly my answer would be yes. My hair doesn't react easily and result in hair fall. Yes, my hair does get dry and the scalp also feels dry but no shampoo has triggered any allergic reactions and I don't have any history of dandruff which needs taking care of. When talking about shampoos, let me start with ones I used this year.

Dove Nourishing Oil

It was drying for my hair but initially it was fine. The conditioner does a good job of preventing the dryness. But, why I said it worked was because of my lack of experience with better products. Now that I have used Kamini's shampoo, I know how some shampoos can be non-drying. So, yes, this shampoo is not for dry hair but it did not dry out my scalp excessively and my hair behaved decently when I was using it.

Pantene Total Damage
Yes, it suited my hair because it did not cause my hair to get dry really soon. And, no itchiness either. Its, in fact, a good shampoo and the conditioner is even better.

Dove Color Rescue
Definitely drying!!! And, I have recommended it for only oily hair.

Kamini Shampoo
Yes, it suits me but it does dry out my scalp and hair sometimes. That is why I am searching for some shampoo whose ingredients I am aware of and is natural as well.

Those were the shampoos I tried out in my recent memory and more or less, I did like all of them. But, one thing I would say is that whatever shampoo you use, never ever skip on conditioner. Its very essential even if you have oily hair.  

Find products which suit your hair type but never skip on the essential routines. 

Also, please note that a person's reaction to a product changes over time and may not remain same always whether the person is a blogger or a reader :)

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

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

So, long back in February I had done a first FAQ post on onion juice method. Please refer to this post to know how to apply onion juice. That is one of the most searched posts on my website and generates a lot of redundant questions which I had thought of answering at one go. This is the second part to this post.

Does it reduce hair fall?

Yes, it does reduce hair fall. But, apply it only as instructed.

Does it help with dandruff?

Yes, it helps with dandruff because of the sulphur present in it. 

How soon does the hair grow?

Depends on your hair growth cycle. The onion juice method just provides the sulphur topically to your hair follicles. It definitely helps in regenerating the dormant hair follicles.

How long should the juice be kept on hair?

15-30 minutes is a good time. Onion juice dries off in flakes so its best to remove asap. And, of course, the stink is horrible. 

Does it stink?

Yes, it does! And, no, I have not used it with essential oils to tell you that you can use them to make the onion juice pleasant. I have a feeling that both might not mix properly because one is water and another is concentrated oil. 

Does it change the hair color?

Actually, that depends. I think it changes my hair color to copper. But, it might just make my hair shine with its natural color. I have heard some people say that it made no difference to their hair color.

Does onion really help?

Now, that is something which you have to find out for yourself. It does for most but it might not for some just like all other home remedies!!

After applying onion juice, I had more hair fall. Will it reduce?

Well, it might be coz your hair is already a lot weak. Always comb your hair before you oil it and apply any kind of hair pack. That makes easy the application process. After combing your hair thoroughly, use a cotton ball to apply the onion juice and instead of rubbing the scalp, dab the cotton ball on the scalp. That way, there should be no breakage. Yes, the hair fall should reduce over time but if applying onion juice after combing your hair is still making your hair fall, you might want to avoid it altogether. Use your best judgment in this.

Do you have any more questions? Do let me know!

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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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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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Home Remedies for Hair Fall {Pregnancy}

Hair Fall is one of the very common issues. When I googled about this topic, I found one common suggestion which was to use a shampoo that contains biotin and silica.

Honestly, I don’t have any idea of such shampoo but you might ask a dermatologist or a trichologist. If you can find such a shampoo, do let me also know :) And, coming on to the regular mom's remedies, let's check out what my mom suggests.

Warm Ghee
My mom suggests me to apply warm ghee (Indian butter) to reduce hair fall during pregnancy. I think this remedy can also be used when not pregnant. But, remember to use only the pure ghee. And, eat lots of sunflower seeds, walnut and almonds. I never tried this as I can’t bear that stickiness of ghee but my sister had good results using both the things.

Oils and Derivatives
Applying mixture of castor and almond oil does help a lot. Also, coconut milk hair mask was very useful during my pregnancy.

Regular Tips

• Avoid or minimize the use of hot styling instruments on your hair, such as blow dryers or flat irons.
• Be calm and happy during pregnancy, its really important coz stress can be the reason for your entire problem during pregnancy.
• Massage your scalp with warm oil and relax your self.
• Brush your hair regularly. 

Thanks a lot, Punam, for this helpful post. Co check out her blog here :) 

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My Hair Diary - February 2014

Finally, I have started taking back my life in control!! This month has been really good on my hair and the hair growth regime is back with a bang :D So, check out what happened.

The good news first. 

- One, I got a haircut so most splits gone :)

- Second, I have been pretty regular at oiling so my hair is back to its old silky self

- Third, less hair fall 

- Fourth, dandruff and lice gone :)

- Fifth, tried a new cocktail of oil!! Oh yes, I have new oils to talk about. 

- Sixth, I got the wooden comb finally! Oh, I forgot to tell you all that my TBS comb broke sometime back in December or January and I was not able to find it for one month in any of the outlets. Finally, got it in Del. And, my hair is happy again :) 

Now, coming to the bad part! My scalp still itches and hair fall is not entirely gone. Mum said that hair itches even during hair fall so I am guessing that might be it. And, I did not really get any time for hair spa which I had determined to get at least once in three weeks. 

Anyways, I have to mention a few points this time.

- Wooden comb is really better than plastic when it comes to frizzy hair! I do not know if it is more efficient in distributing the oils, though. 

- My hair gets itchy on the second day of the wash so it can also be due to any sweat or dirt which gets accumulated on the scalp and hair fall is a direct result of it. 

- My MIL also loved the Kamini shampoo! I got 3 bottles for her this time. I mean the shampoo is really awesome even though I do not know the ingredient list. 

- The Love Long Hair Range is performing well on my hair and I am guessing if it is Pantene only. My dad also suspected the same! 

- Since I got finished with the grapeseed oil, I got rosehip this time to use as a leave-in though I have not yet started trying it!

Products Used

• Shampoo - Madara Shampoo + Love Long Hair Range

• Conditioner - Love Long Hair Range

• Hair Oil - Cocktail (which I will talk about soon)

So, how was the month for your hair? Is it over the winter blues?

Related Posts: 

My Hair Diary - January 2014

My Hair Diary - September 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013

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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My Hair Diaries - January 2013

New year and new starts and I have again started taking care of my hair. Again the start was fresh and the first thing I did was chop off my hair to get rid of the split ends and damaged hair. I could not take a pic of my hair this time so excuse the missing pic. 

Also, my 10 days travel had affected my routine a bit and the products I carried were not the regular ones. Also, I did not use conditioner for those 10 days. But, there is one important observation I want to share. 

I have been oiling my hair with fingers or using this bottle which applies the oil right on the scalp. But, last year, I had also mentioned another way of oiling the hair using a cotton ball. Now, I am qualified enough to tell the difference between the two methods.

Firstly, the finger nails don't interfere. Secondly, more pertinent to the hair fall issue, when I use cotton ball method, it does result in many hairs falling the first few times which many people have reported to me but gradually hair fall decreases. And, what I have noticed was after few weeks, only the very fine hairs used to fall, may be due to weaker roots. But, that also stops after a while.

While when I resorted to the less time taking and easy to follow routine of using fingers or the nozzled bottle, I found much hair fall while oiling and even during combing with a wide-toothed comb. This was something which had completely stopped when I was following the cotton ball method.

Products Used

• Shampoo - Kamini shampoo + Neev Olive Neem Shampoo
• Conditioner - L'Oreal Total Repair 5 + Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment
• Leave-in - Dove Nourishing Oil Care Serum
• Hair Oil - Kamini Oil + Sesa Herbal Oil + Patanjali Coconut Oil

Ok, don't bother with L'Oreal Total Repair because it turns the hair really dry!! And, I think Sesa herbal oil is a good one. I bought a travel pack of it which had just 2-3 uses but it did impress me a lot :) I am not gonna buy it very soon but if you are on a look out, its a good one to try. 

Oh, you know what, yesterday the Dove oil bottle BROKE! I know I didn't even get a chance to try it another time but honestly I am relieved. Now, I know the problems with glass packaging :D It was really messy! And, yes, I am liking Patanjali coconut oil :)

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My Hair Diaries - November 2012
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My Hair Diaries - August + September 2012

#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! 

Related Posts:

Why Hair Tangles - Reasons and How to Avoid?
What I am doing for my Skin and Hair this Winter?
Are these factors causing hair fall for you and how you can work around them?

Eyova Hair Nutrient with Egg Oil {Product Review}

Tags : Home >> Product Reviews >> Hair Oils

After a very very long time, I came across an interesting product on the block. Well, we all already know that egg is amazing for hair but who knew there was something called Egg Oil. Check out what the website says about their product. So, let us directly check out how I liked the product!!

Other Particulars

• Price: Rs 590 for (extremely expensive!)

• Availability: Online Website

• Packaging: Not really great! Comes in a flip top bottle and I am not really sure if it completely travel-friendly. 

• Smell: Ohk, this has to be one of the hugest problems with the product! I hate the smell. No, it is not the egg smell at all!! It is sickly sweet and very artificial. And, even the brand people assured me that they are working on improving it!!

• Texture: The oil looks extremely dense but is not really that dense on touch. And, it is silky to touch. (last pic)

• Usage: It is recommended to be used on scalp. 

• Results: Makes the hair extremely soft and leaves the scalp nourished after wash.  

• Ingredients: It mentions egg oil, canola oil and fragrance (shown in pic below).

How I use the product? 

As I mentioned, I hate the smell. What I recommend is mixing essential oils with it. I did not do that due to the review purposes. But, I highly recommend it. Now that we have this issue out of the way, lets get to how does the product perform!

Regarding ingredient clarification when I asked the brand, this was their reply: Yes Eyova has a mix of egg oil and canola. Egg oil is as high as 80-85%; canola oil is used only to make it easy to apply.  Well, I would have loved if it was almond or coconut or even olive oil in its place, though!

The oil has to be applied only on the scalp so I did that and obviously it is too expensive to use on the entire hair length! Well, I have to say that you might go on using this product because it just does not end up getting oily. The product either gets absorbed too quickly or is extremely dry (as in like a dry oil, not the skin dryness).

Well, I would not really comment on the hair growth part as I am not too sure about it. But, if I recollect, I had been facing hair fall issue back in November which seems to have gone away now! So, may be it is due to this product considering I did not do anything else specifically for it!! But, what I love most is that it actually makes the hair roots extremely soft and since the oil is silky to touch, massaging with it feels really soothing on scalp!

And, one more thing is it is supposed to work for gray hair as well which I had planned to test out on Mr. P but since he was mostly away on client location, I could not do that. But, this is what the brand said about gray hair and the product: Yes it works for premature hair graying. So your husband can try it as well. You don’t have to apply the oil across the length of the hair (even if you do its safe so don’t worry). It’s primarily scalp massage oil that works on hair follicle level so ensure a good scalp application. The hair grows ½ inch every month, so kindly keep that in mind while checking for results for graying.

My Recommendation

One problem with the product is that it is definitely expensive and one bottle of 50ml would probably last (if used miserly) only 6-8 times!! For me, I would say I need one bottle every month. But, yes, I would definitely recommend the product. It is different than others in the market and definitely worth a try!!

So, what do you think? Would you like to try out this product? Or, are you allergic to eggs? Btw, I have to tell ya that this product is also for the people who are allergic to eggs so yes you can use it! So, do try it out and let me know if you like it. 

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Love Long Hair Range - Update III
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