Ayurvedic Shampoos – Essential Ingredients

Ayurveda and ancient Indian texts have always depicted women with luxuriously long and dense tresses and have been long considered an asset of beauty.

However thick long hair has become a thing of the past with fading traditional hair care practices.

If you want a shampoo absolutely pure in nature with no preservatives, then why don’t you try homemade skin and hair care? You can now prepare even a herbal shampoo at home along with your face packs, masks, oils and so on.

If you want a natural hair care remedy, why not try that’s been tried for centuries? It helps to promote hair growth and damage repair, helpful in dandruff, keeps the scalp healthy and many other benefits.

Here are some common ingredients you can expect to find in many versions of the shampoo. Originating from India’s ancient Ayurveda holistic health system.

Let’s find out some ancient Indian beauty secrets.

Shikakai (Acacia concinna)

Shikakai means “fruit for hair” and is a staple of ayurvedic herbal hair care.

• It’s one of the excellent cleansers and doesn’t strip your natural oils from your hair as it respects the ph balance of your hair.
• For both environmental and personal health reasons, It is a better approach to hair care than the chemicals in many shampoos.
• Washing hair with shikakai alone works because the bark of shikakai pods contain naturally-occurring saponins which help clean off excess sebum and dirt from the scalp.¹
• it helps to control dandruff and also kills lice.¹
• It also has detangling properties, so no additional products are required.
• it is used as a natural hair wash for sensitive scalps.²
• It promotes hair growth,strengthen, hair roots and lengthy beautiful hair.²

Reetha (Sapindus Mukorossi) :

Also known as soapnut. Due to its lather-generating property, it is used as the main ingredient in soaps and shampoos for washing hair ³

• Also, it is anti-fungal, so it’s effective for treating dandruff and other scalp issues.
• It kills lice.
• Because of its anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties its powder is applied externally to treat boils, scorpion bite and itching lesions.
• In a study, it was found that the stem bark of soap nut has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic potential.

Amla: Emblica officinalis ⁵ 

Also known as the “Indian Gooseberry”, rich in antioxidant that’s been used for over 3,000 years.

• Controlling hair fall and hair loss:Amla is the richest source of Vitamin C which is essential for absorbing iron into the body. Iron deficiency is one of the common reasons behind hair fall.
• Stimulates the scalp: Collagens helps in replacing the dead cells of hair follicles with new hair cells. Vitamin C produces collagen protein which is helpful in stimulating hair growth, both length and volume wise.
• If having oily hair then Amla Powder will effortlessly soak in all the excess oil present on your scalp, along with conditioning it because One Amla fruit contains up to 81.2 percent of moisture content in it.
• Amla has moisture content in it that prevent cuticles from wearing off. Those are Split ends which is caused by peeling of opened cuticles.
• The antioxidants properties of Amla, protects our hair from damages, caused by smoke, dust, pollution, and hair styling tools , etc.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum):

Fenugreek seed is a commonly used in Indian households as a spice.  you can extract its numerous benefits by using it in home remedies – from aiding digestion to reducing hair fall, not just restricted to cooking delicacies.

Methi seeds are considered to be one of the most effective remedies to treat hair fall issues.

• A study states, fenugreek seeds extract contains food supplement and micronutrients like hair active B-vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements.⁶
• The extract of fenugreek leaves, if applied regularly to the scalp before shower, is also shown to enhance hair growth, preserve the hair’s natural color, soften the hair, and helps relieve from dandruff.[7]
• In the hair growth process, the estrogen hormone has a significant role.The fenugreek seed contain saprogenic steroid; diosgenin, glitogenin, and tipogenin, which have estrogenic/sex hormone precursor effects.[8]
• Phytoestrogen from fenugreek plant is thought to diminish hair loss and increase hair growth rate.
• Fenugreek seeds also have high protein which is beneficial against hair fall and dandruff.
• Helpful in variety of scalp issues like dryness of hair, baldness and hair thinning.
• The lecithin contain in it keeps the hair hydrated and strengthens the roots or hair follicles.⁹
• It also helps in moisturizing and bringing back the luster and bounce in the hair.

Neem (Azadirachta indica)

According to Ayurveda, the medicinal properties exhibited by neem are used for all hair ailments and show drastic effects upon regular use.

• stimulate the growth of hair follicle and function,and support healthy cell division due to its regenerative properties.
• Neem contains linoleic, oleic, stearic acids which are a form of fatty acids – leaves the scalp and hair nourished and conditioned.
• It’s revitalizing and restores dry, undernourished or rough hair to a smooth, silky texture due to its moisturizing effects
• It has anti-fungal properties, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects that help with itching, dandruff, redness, and scalp irritation.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) :

In Ayurveda text Bhavaprakash Nighantu, it is described as keshya (promotes hair growth): helpful in Kapha pitta disorder, indralupta ( alopecia areata), colors hair which prevents greying and due to its sthambana property it controls hair fall.[11]

In a study, Hibiscus has shown a significant hair growth-promoting activity through its petroleum ether extract of leaves which contains phytosterols and triterpenoids, which are beneficial for hair growth and treatment of alopecia.[12]

• If you want to flaunt your thick and rich textured hair , then hibiscus is one of the best choices. It also adds volume and bounce.
• prevents dryness by repairing your brittle hair, treats frizz and conditioning the hair from within.
• Hibiscus leaves enhance collagen synthesis and deposition, ensuring healthy hair growth.¹³
• Strengthen the roots of your hair because it is rich in amino acids ¹³
• by penetrating the quintessential nutrients in the hair follicles,it helps in keeping your tresses strong, lustrous and nourish them thoroughly.

Aloe Vera

• All three Vitamins viz, A, C, and E contribute to cell turnover, promoting healthy cell growth and shiny hair which present in aloe vera. Vitamin B12 and folic acid components can keep your hair from falling out.[14]
• Aloe vera has unique healing properties, as well an incredible ability to increase blood circulation that’s why it promotes hair growth.¹⁵
• Aloe vera Deep cleans oily hair efficiently, stripping off extra oil and residue from other hair products. Unlike other chemicals products, aloe vera doesn’t hurt your hair strands, it is gentle and preserves the integrity of your hair.
• For healthier, shinier, and softer hair,  aloe vera is one of the best herbs.

Why Prefer Ayurvedic Herbal Shampoos?

• Herbs used in natural shampoo, play an important role in the removal of surface grease and dirt from the hair shaft and scalp.
• Herbal shampoos are rich in herbs that fight scalp infections, strengthen the roots, condition and revitalize the hair
• Induce hair growth with significantly no side effects observed when compared with synthetic shampoo.
• Herbal shampoo helps remove the unwanted build-up in the hair without stripping out so much sebum as to make hair unmanageable.
• Above mentioned herbs are among the common & most frequently used plants in herbal shampoo.

Please consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before trying the herbal shampoos mentioned in this article.

References

1. Bhava Mishra’s , Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Guduchyadi Varga, pg-298
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233980589_Preparation_and_Evaluation_Antioxidant_Activity_of_Mixed_Herbal_Hair_Oil_Formulation
3. Bhava Mishra’s ,Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Vatadi Varga, pg-518
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29221478
5. http://globalresearchonline.net/journalcontents/v24-2/25.pdf
6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251923543_Fenugreekmicronutrients_Efficacy_of_a_food_supplement_against_hair_loss
7. A Study of Phytochemical Constituent and Pharmacological Actions of Trigonella Foenum-graecum: A review. International Journal Of Pharmacy & Technology, 3:1022-102.
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16877675
9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237775863_Consumption_Pattern_of_Fenugreek_Seeds_in_Rajasthani_Families
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3695574/
11. Bhava Mishra’s , Bhavaprakash Nighantu ,ch-4, pg-493
12. http://www.chronotherapyjournal.net/website_up/issues/JChrDD_7(1)_2016_Jan_Apr/JChrDD_7(1)_2016_005.pdf
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3523494/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768575/