10 Everyday Kitchen Ingredients To Beat Hair Fall & Dandruff
Published on Sep 16, 2012
By Dr. Surya Bhagwati
Chief In- House Doctor
BAMS, DHA, DHHCM, DHBTC | 30+ Years of Experience
If you’re struggling with hair loss and dandruff, you can’t be blamed for your frustration. It can incredibly tough to find good hair products that do the job without causing other problems. Fortunately, you don’t need expensive and ineffective hair products - everything you need is right in your kitchen. You can get relief by using common kitchen ingredients to treat hair fall and dandruff naturally or you could simply grab an Ayurvedic shampoo for dandruff and hair fall. Ayurvedic herbs like bhringraj, tulsi, amla, brahmi, shikakai, and areetha are especially effective, so look for an Ayurvedic shampoo for hair fall that contains such ingredients. Aside from your herbal hair care shampoos, you should also spend some more time in your kitchen caring for your hair with these ingredients.
10 Kitchen Ingredients to Beat Hair Fall & Dandruff
1. Onion
It’s probably not the first ingredient to come to mind when you think of hair care, but it’s one of the most effective natural remedies for hair loss and dandruff. Research suggests that onion juice could be used to treat some types of alopecia by promoting hair growth, even improving keratin growth factor and collagen growth. The antimicrobial activity of onions can also help provide relief from dandruff. You can just extract onion juice at home and use it as a hair mask before shampooing.
2. Coconut
Massaging coconut oil into your scalp is one of the simplest hair care practices to treat or prevent hair fall and dandruff. It is known to improve skin hydration and even helps in the treatment of skin conditions like eczema, which are sometimes linked to dandruff. Fatty acids in the oil also have a strengthening effect on the hair shafts, reducing breakage and thinning of hair. With proven antifungal effects, coconut oil may also help to control dandruff naturally.
3. Amla
Amla is best known for its detoxifying and immune boosting medicine in Ayurved, but it is also a common ingredient in Ayurvedic anti-dandruff and hair growth shampoos. There’s good reason for this and you can use the fruit or powder to make your own amla hair paste to treat the conditions at home. Amla most likely works to improve hair growth by inhibiting an enzyme that is linked to male pattern balding.
4. Tulsi
One of the most revered herbs in Ayurvedic medicine and Indian culture, tulsi is used in religious rituals, local cuisine, and natural medications. It’s also an important ingredient in some Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers for dandruff because of proven antifungal properties that can help fight the underlying cause of dandruff. It also has a soothing effect because of its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce scalp inflammation, in turn reducing hair fall.
5. Baking soda
It’s no surprise that baking soda is on this list. This common kitchen ingredient seems to have no limit to its usefulness in DIY treatments and it’s one of the best natural treatments for dandruff and hair fall. The ingredient has strong antifungal properties, with studies showing that it can inhibit the growth of a wide range of fungal infections, including dandruff. It also relieves inflammation and skin irritation, protecting your scalp and lowering the risk of hair loss. The next time you shower, just use a baking soda paste instead of shampooing.
6. Lemon
You can simply squeeze a fresh lemon for the juice or use lemon oil as a soak or hair rinse to beat dandruff naturally. If you’re using oil, you’d need to rinse it after use with a shampoo. Lemon juice and oil can help fight dandruff and the associated hair loss by restoring the pH balance of your scalp with the fruit’s citric acid content. Similarly, you could use other citric juices, but always dilute them water first.
7. Garlic
Adding garlic to your diet may one of the best ways to protect against heart disease, but it can also play a role in your hair care routine. Crushed garlic made into a paste can be massaged into the scalp and left on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. You can use an Ayurvedic herbal shampoo to get rid of the smell. Garlic is highly effective against dandruff because of its potent antimicrobial properties. Moreover, one study found that the application of garlic gel could reduce hair fall and increase hair growth more effectively than steroidal treatments.
8. Bhringraj
When it comes to hair care, no Ayurvedic herb is more highly valued than bhringraj. It’s a primary ingredient in a wide range of herbal oils, shampoos, and cleansers to promote hair growth, fight hair fall, and relieve dandruff. You can use the oil or powder in combination with amla or coconut oil to make your own anti-hair fall mask. Studies show that bhringraj and products containing the ingredient can increase hair growth, reduce growth time, and lower hair fall.
9. Methi
Although it’s a staple in Indian cuisine, this leafy green may not be everyone’s favorite food because of its bitter taste. However, the veggie is noted for its varied health benefits and it may also have a role to play in your hair care regimen. You can use the seeds to make a paste after soaking them overnight and apply it to your scalp as natural hair mask. This can help reduce hair fall and promote hair growth as has been suggested from research.
10. Curry Leaves
This one probably comes as a surprise to you. It’s a staple ingredient in Indian cuisine, used in almost every dish from dal fry to kormas. We tend to regard it as nothing more than a flavoring ingredient, but some findings suggest that the leaves may actually stimulate hair growth and reduce greying, although more research is needed.
In addition to the ingredients mentioned above, you should also consider using curd, gram flour, multani mutti, and Ayurvedic herbs like shikakai and reetha to treat dandruff and hair fall at home. The simplest solution would be to pick up an Ayurvedic shampoo for hair fall and dandruff that contains some of these ingredients. If you don’t get respite from the problem even after 3 months of consistent use it would be best to consult a doctor.
References:
- Sharquie, Khalifa E., and Hala K. Al-Obaidi. “Onion Juice (Allium Cepa L.), A New Topical Treatment for Alopecia Areata.” The Journal of Dermatology, vol. 29, no. 6, June 2002, pp. 343–346., doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2002.tb00277.x
- Ogbolu, D.o., et al. “In VitroAntimicrobial Properties of Coconut Oil OnCandidaSpecies in Ibadan, Nigeria.” Journal of Medicinal Food, vol. 10, no. 2, June 2007, pp. 384–387., doi:10.1089/jmf.2006.1209
- Kumar, Naphatsorn, et al. “5α-Reductase Inhibition and Hair Growth Promotion of Some Thai Plants Traditionally Used for Hair Treatment.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 139, no. 3, Feb. 2012, pp. 765–771., doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.12.010
- Letscher-Bru, V., et al. “Antifungal Activity of Sodium Bicarbonate Against Fungal Agents Causing Superficial Infections.” Mycopathologia, vol. 175, no. 1-2, Sept. 2012, pp. 153–158., doi:10.1007/s11046-012-9583-2
- Hajheydari, Zohreh, et al. “Combination of Topical Garlic Gel and Betamethasone Valerate Cream in the Treatment of Localized Alopecia Areata: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.” Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, vol. 73, no. 1, 2007, p. 29., doi:10.4103/0378-6323.30648
- Roy, R. K., et al. “Hair Growth Promoting Activity of Eclipta Alba in Male Albino Rats.” Archives of Dermatological Research, vol. 300, no. 7, May 2008, pp. 357–364., doi:10.1007/s00403-008-0860-3
- Semalty, M., et al. “In Vivo Hair Growth Activity of Herbal Formulations.” International Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 6, no. 1, 2010, pp. 53–57., doi:10.3923/ijp.2010.53.57
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Dr. Surya Bhagwati
BAMS (Ayurveda), DHA (Hospital Admin), DHHCM (Health Management), DHBTC (Herbal Beauty and Cosmetology)
Dr. Surya Bhagwati is an established, well-known Ayurvedic expert with over 30 years of experience in treating and consulting in the field of Ayurveda. She is known for the timely, efficient, and patient-centred delivery of quality health care. The patients under her care receive a unique holistic treatment comprising not only medicinal treatment but also spiritual empowerment.