Over on my YouTube channel, I’ve been sharing videos documenting my hair growth/length retention journey. Something that I’ve started to incorporate into my routine is the use of Ayurvedic herbs. I’ve noticed many of my favorite natural hair content creators using these herbs and I wanted to try them out for myself. In this post, I’ll be sharing the Ayurvedic herbs I picked up and how I use them for my natural hair wash day.
Quick Intro to Ayurveda
Ayurveda, meaning the “science of life” in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest holistic healing systems. Developed in India over 5,000 years ago, it is based on the belief that health and wellness are dependent upon the balance of mind, spirit, and body. In regards to health, Ayurveda places heavy emphasis on the prevention and maintenance of health via a balance of one’s diet, positive thinking, lifestyle, and the use of herbs.
Ayurveda as a holistic healing system is based upon a number of principles. If you’d like to go more in-depth, I encourage you to read more about them. It gives a thorough breakdown of the history and principles of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Hair Care
Ayurvedic herbs have been used for thousands of years in the preparation of hair care treatments. I’ve noticed more and more individuals with natural hair using Ayurvedic herbs in their routine. I was astonished at their growth and overall hair health, so I decided to give Ayurvedic herbs a try for my natural hair. I purchased a number of Ayurvedic herbs from a brand called Henna Sooq. This website has so many herbs to choose from and I had to stop myself from buying too many at once. I decided to go with some basic items so I would like to share with you a few Ayurvedic herbs that are perfect for beginners.
Since I have a few hair goals, I chose herbs that aligned with those goals. The herbs I purchased are:
- Moroccan Rhassoul Clay
- Amla
- Cassia
- Ziziphus
- Hibiscus
and - Shikakai
Rhassoul
Also known as ghassoul, is a mineral-rich clay that detoxifies the hair. It’s gentle so it doesn’t strip the hair of its natural oils but works to deep clean and condition the hair. I like doing a rhassoul clay mask whenever my hair needs a little pick me up or extra cleansing from over-applying products.
Amla
Amla powder is made from drying the amla fruit. It’s packed with tannins, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. For the hair, it adds texture, shine, promotes hair growth, and can help to tighten curls.
Cassia
Cassia is an herb that acts as a gloss on the hair. It’s similar to henna but it does not release color. It will leave your hair glossy and dandruff-free and will also make your hair feel thicker and stronger.
Ziziphus
Ziziphus, also spelled zizyphus, is a shrub or small tree that has many implications. For the hair, ziziphus strengthens the hair, adds shine, increases hair thickness, gently cleanses, and can be used as pre-poo or shampoo.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus may sound a little more familiar. a flower native to temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions, the powder made from the petals promotes hair growth, reduces hair loss, and can prevent premature graying.
Shikakai
Like ziziphus, shikakai is a shrub and is native to the central and south regions of India. It has many uses such as cleansing the hair, preventing dandruff, and promoting hair growth.
Choosing the Best Herbs for Your Hair
I chose these herbs because I am currently on a growth and length retention journey. All of the herbs selected have properties that should me achieve both of those things. I’ve talked a bit about my journey and have done a few treatments already such as an amla and cassia deep conditioner treatment, a rhassoul clay hair mask, and a ziziphus cleansing treatment. Each of which had amazing results. Clicking on the names will take you directly to my YouTube videos where I explain how I did the treatments.
I’m excited to continue incorporating Ayurvedic herbs into my natural hair wash day routine and to reap the benefits of these amazing herbs and ingredients.
Do you use Ayurvedic herbs in your natural hair care regimen? What are your favorites?
Be Sure to checkout more of my natural hair posts.
Resources:
– Ayurveda.com
