Hello!

Hair is important.

It’s also a part of our body that has a lot of physical and physiological significance to us.

The physical effects of hair are varied and what happens to our hair during changes in our body is often one of the first signs of poor or deteriorating health. Though increasing age and hereditary factors do play a part in variations in our hair, there are many other factors including stress, illness poor nutrition, etc.

For centuries, hair has played a very imperative role in the beauty of humans, especially women. In many different cultures, hair also has a strong religious and territorial ethos related to it.

Though I am a firm believer and proud proponent of being free in one’s own body to express yourself (akin to the live and let live philosophy), I think we can all agree that being the healthiest we can be, both internally and externally is of the utmost importance for all of us. This is especially true for those of us looking at natural ways of keeping our families healthy all throughout the year.

Mother Nature has the solution!

Now that we know hair has been at the forefront of our health and beauty for centuries, it stands to reason that our ancestors were probably using many natural means to take care of our luscious locks!

The Indian Head Massage has been practiced in India for over 4500 years.

In fact, with all the success stories related to the Indian Head Massage, it would appear that the procedure is definitely worth it’s weight in gold! Used by the ancient Indians, well into modern day, this traditional and ancient practice is at the forefront for the international acclaim Indian people have for their lustrous, thick locks.

It is also one of the first pieces of advice given to Indians who want to naturally grow hair fast. It’s not uncommon to walk into an Indian household over the weekend and be encouraged to partake in the weekly (and in some places daily) traditional “bonding” routine where the matriarch of the family is oiling and massaging the scalp of the children in the family.

Though the traditional head massage does wonders for the quality and health of the hair and scalp, there are a few other easy hacks we can all include in our daily routine to ensure that our hair is getting the best care it can. Some of these hacks actually have a trickle-down effect for the rest of our bodies too!

Indian people use a variety of oils on their hair to promote healthy, long, thicker hair.

Often, this is dependent on region. The people in the South of India and Bengal region use Coconut Oils, due to their warmer, tropical climates, while North Indian people are strong supporters of Mustard Oil.

Also, certain oils are known for their own unique attributes.

Almond Oil is great for dandruff and flaky scalps.

Amla Oil is wonderful for keeping shine in your hair and for those raven haired people, promoting the blackness of it.

Jojoba Oil is wonderful for curly haired people as this lightweight oil adds to the bounce of curls naturally and easily.

Whatever your personal preference, unless you’re actually allergic to oils, oiling your hair with any natural oil is rarely going to be damaging or detrimental (always conduct a patch test before applying to your scalp to ensure you don’t have an adverse reaction to any oils).

Neem, the Tree of the 21st Century

Declared the Tree of the 21st Century by the United Nations, this amazing natural boon from Mother Nature is particularly famous for its numerous anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antipyretic, antiseptic and blood purifying properties.

What is unfortunate, is that herbs like Ginseng and Echinacea are more widely recognised worldwide and have been enjoying popularity that their sister, the Neem Tree, has been missing out on all these years, but that is all about to change.

Research has suggested that Neem has a wider array of uses than any other herb. Used in health and beauty throughout the ages, the first recorded indication of its use was 4500 years ago!

Affectionately called the “Village Pharmacy”, the use of Neem even predates the benefits of Willow Tree, Myrrh, Pine and Thyme. Many naturally focused organisations are beginning to utilise the Neem Tree in many of their natural products, bringing this ancient remedy back with a vengeance for all of us living in the modern world to enjoy.

Bonus tip alert! Keep hair lice & dandruff free naturally

Want to keep the kids hair protected against that latest lice epidemic in school that seems to never stop rearing its ugly head?

Plus, you want to do it chemical free so your children are protected from god-knows-what.

Here’s a quick, natural way to keep your children and yourself dandruff and lice free all throughout the year – just for you:

  1. If you can, purchase some neem leaves straight away. If you can’t source it, don’t worry! Purchase some neem powder instead (easily available at Health Food Outlets and most Indian Grocery Stores), which is fairly inexpensive.
  2. Soak some Neem leaves/Neem Powder in warm water and allow to rest overnight.
  3. Rinse your hair with the liquid and don’t wash it out for at least half an hour (preferably until dry).

Keep in mind that like most natural remedies, the effects will not be immediate and this process requires diligent commitment to work. You can do this as often as you like but attempt to do it at least twice a week.

I hope you’ve found some natural inspiration for your hair health after reading this.

Do you have any other natural ways to maintain good hair health? Share with us in the comments.

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  • Really interesting post and information. Thanks.

    Reply

  • Great post – now to find someone to massage my head. Just joking. Of course I can do it myself.

    Reply

  • I have a lot of problems

    Reply

  • Have to get my hand on some of those Neem leaves !

    Reply

  • I shampoo and condition every day and have never had a problem with hair health.

    Reply

  • Head massage is absolutely heavenly and I agree with the benefits to hair and mind too.

    Reply

  • I’ve never heard of those neem leaves before. It could be something for my daughter, who suffers of dry scalp.


    • Think there will be a few people looking for them! :)

    Reply

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