Hydration for Hair {Hair Care}

Rule 1 for Hair Care: Constantly hydrate your hair. 

One of the very basic principle of hair care is to keep your hydrated at all times. Dry hair is prone to damage and same goes with excessively oily hair. Oily hair is just excess in oil which is also harmful for the hair as it might cause excess buildup on the scalp and hair and of course, you need to wash your hair regularly to get rid of the grease. So, let us return to hydration of hair. If you want to keep your hair in optimal health, go for regular hydrating treatments. A hair spa is a good indulgence which will bring a lot of life to your hair too. And, whipping up various home remedies is also not such a bad option. Make it a routine to treat your hair at least once a week to a hydrating treatment whether its a hair mask from the brands or a homemade one.

READ MORE - Hydration for Hair {Hair Care}

Hair Products and Hair {Hair Care}

Hey All!!!

Since it's been a long time I have written anything about hair and the situation I am going to talk about is something I have been facing recently so I will begin with asking a question - how many hair products do you use on your hair? Well, no the today's topic is not exactly this. I am going to talk about the myth that changing hair products frequently reduces the build up and keeps the hair shiny.

Well, from my personal experience, I don't really think it is true. The chemicals might end up coating each other on the hair instead of cleaning each other. Anyways, the best way to remove residue is to use baking soda or Apple Cider Vinegar. So, moving on from residue issue, the product cycle change is also advised coz the hair may get bored of the same products being used and stops behaving nicely after sometime. So, firstly, hair is a dead body part so it doesn't have a mind of its own that it will behave and stop behaving at will. Ok, one might say that products stop affecting the hair. May be its not the fault of the products but ours. Every product affects the hair differently so a major difference is visible in the first usage, consequently with the uses, the difference reduces because the hair is behaving in accordance with the product.

But, there is a major downfall to using and jumping on various brand wagons. Hair loses its own strength if you treat it with different products every time. So, sticking to one single product is a better idea. I have lately observed that people who stick to the same product for quite a lot of years have good amount of well-behaved hair. The problem arises only when one starts to experiment for the want of better products. Well, that did happen in my case. So, my advice to all of you is to stick to the products which have worked best for your hair and stop changing them often. It is not good for hair at all. 

And, the products I am talking about includes everything starting from the hair oils to the serums and other styling products you use. Shampoos and conditioners are the most often changed products and there should be a control over that too. Don't worry if your shampoo contains SLS / SLES coz there are hardly any products in the market without them including Lush and most of them do not work well with the hair. So, stick to your own shampoo whether its Pantene, Garnier or Dove and when combined with the home remedies and their corresponding conditioners, they yield good results. If you want to try salon products, I would suggest Kerastese which are costly but work really well with the hair. 

The reason I have written this post is that lately in the last few months, I had changed my shampoos pretty often from Biotique to Meera to Sunsilk to Dove and my hair has definitely suffered the consequences so I would really like to suggest you all not to make the same mistake. 

READ MORE - Hair Products and Hair {Hair Care}

Svaztha Neelini Natural Hair Oil {Product Review}

Svaztha is a ayurvedic brand. Check out their website here. They have a whole range pf products and are widely available in Kerela. I used this hair oil when I went to my relatives house and I have used it just twice but it was just so awesome that I have to write about it. I don't know about the price.

Ingredients

Indigofera tinctoria (400mg), Aloe vera (400mg), Hebiscus rosa (100mg), Eclipta alba (650mg), Emblica officinalis (350 mg), Azadirachta indica (100 mg), Cow milk (1ml), Seasamum oil (1ml), Pongamia pinnata (3.75mg), Psoralea corylifolia (3.75mg), Terminalia belerica (5mg) - from the website

My Experience

Since I have used it only twice, I don;t know whether it promotes hair growth or not but one thing which is noticeable immediately is that it makes the hair really soft. I mean it literally. It made my hair unbelievably soft. And, it did not induce any hair fall which happens sometimes with some of the products when used for the first time. My hair is definitely a lot softer even after a week of using the hair oil and that does mean something, right?? So, if you are planning a visit to Kerela, do check out the brand and its products. Don't worry about the availability. They are present in every shop. 

My Recommendation

Do I really need to say anything???

PS: The best part of this oil is that it was able to soften my hair which had got really rough when I had colored my hair two months back. And, now my hair is soft again!!! Yay!!!!!

READ MORE - Svaztha Neelini Natural Hair Oil {Product Review}

Aloe vera Hibiscus Hair Pack {DIY}

This is a simple DIY hair pack which is extremely awesome. In many of my previous posts, I have repeatedly talked about aloe vera being so good for hair and also about hibiscus leaves and flowers. So, this hair pack has only these two ingredients.

Ingredients (enough for shoulder length hair):

• 1 whole aloe vera leaf (preferably thick and fresh)
• a handful of hibiscus leaves 
• 5-10 hibiscus flowers (optional)

Method: Extract the aloe pulp from the leaf and grind all the ingredients together. It will form a green gooey paste of a thick consistency. Do not dilute it. Partition hair into sections and apply the paste properly to the scalp first and then the body of your hair. Leave the pack on your hair for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Cover with a shower cap for better results. Wash off with water. It is good to follow with reetha-shikakai instead of using a shampoo, if possible.   

Big disadvantage with the pack is that it is really sticky and difficult to wash off so it needs patience with that. Otherwise, you will find green bits in your hair afterward while combing. They do come out then but it is better to wash them off properly. 

Results: I kept the paste on my hair for an hour or so and washed my hair with reetha. My hair was really soft. In fact it is soft even after two washes after applying the pack and the hair was noticeably shiny. 

The pack is also supposed to help with hair loss and promotes hair growth but I can't vouch for it coz I have used it only once. But, the ingredients are good for all the claims. But, the immediate results are amazing so give this one a try. A great break from the regular smelly hair packs having egg or curd. 

READ MORE - Aloe vera Hibiscus Hair Pack {DIY}

How much are you stressing your hair? {Hair Care}

Though Hair is a dead part of the body made up of proteins, it is extremely delicate and should be handled very carefully. So, whatever you do on your hair can stress it out. That is why it is said that you should handle your hair like a 'delicate lace'. The various actions include shampooing, conditioning, styling, coloring, combing, brushing and other chemical treatments on the hair. So, among all of these, shampooing, conditioning and combing are somewhat unavoidable and are done by everyone. So, there are a certain points which must be taken care of. 

• First is to shampoo your hair in the right way. Always partition your hair while washing. That will decrease the tangles and cleans the scalp nicely.
• Now, coming on to conditioning, condition your hair ears down and apply enough of conditioner to cover the hair strands but don't apply too much or try to lather with the conditioner. A partitioned hair makes it easy for you to condition your bangs. 
• So, no stress while your hair is wet. Do not flip your head or crunch your hair in the towel to squeeze out the water. Gently press the hair to remove excess water or put a towel round your shoulder to catch the dripping water. Doing anything more than that can result in hair breakage as wet hair is really delicate. 
• Let your hair air dry whenever you can. Well, if you are in a hurry, gently press an old t-shirt and remove excess water. Use a hair dryer on warm setting till your hair becomes just damp and then finish with a cold blast and then comb it out gently. Do not use the highest setting of your hair dryer ever on your naked hair. It is also easy to style damp hair and by the time you get ready, your hair would be completely dry. 
• No brushing till your hair is completely dry. And, actually, curly hair gals should use a hair brush very sparingly. Always choose a natural bristle brush and the base of the brush should be wooden. 
• Be gentle on your hair while combing and brushing it. Maximum of the damage happens during combing and brushing only if you are not using irons and straighteners and curlers and all. 
• Hair Coloring is again a big no-no. If you really want to get it colored, go to a good salon and get a good service from an experienced hair stylist and use quality products to take care of your hair afterward. 

Now, apart from all the above-mentioned points, I wanted to focus on tying your hair. In our country, especially, in the South, you will always find girls with oiled and tightly tied braids. That is one of the worst things which can happen to the hair. Leaving your hair open doesn't mean you are exceptionally fashionable. Yes, there are people who still believe in it.

Actually keeping your hair tied all the time has a very opposite effect on the hair. It stresses the hair a lot. Hair is supposed to be tied very gently and loosely so that none of your strands are tensed. If your hair is tied so tight, it can damage the hair follicles itself. I remember once when I was very young one my sis-in-law braided my hair so tight that it hurt right from the roots. Oh my god!!! I can remember it til today though it had happened sometime in 90's. 

Actually, it is advised to leave your hair open for as long as you can. There is no point in tying your hair when you can leave it open. Especially when you are at home or sitting in the office or inside a car or in any enclosed environment where you know your hair won't get dirty or damaged. That way there will be proper air circulation to the the roots of your hair and the scalp too. Otherwise, if there is no proper air circulation, the sweat and the natural oils produced can clog the hair follicles and inhibit hair growth and this if continued on a longer period would cause hair loss and hair breakage. So, it is always advised to keep your hair open whenever you can. Ans, another very healthy exercise for your hair is to stay in mild sunlight -  the morning or the evening sunlight for sometime to let the air and sunlight circulate through your hair and the scalp. This keeps your hair and scalp healthy.

Now, I would also want to add here that even the people facing lots of hair fall can keep their hair open. There is simply nothing to be afraid of. But, I would say use your own judgement coz it would be very foolish to leave your hair open in a completely windy and dusty area. It would have negative effects. So, if you are using public transport or an open-air transport or you know that you will be in the sun, always protect your hair with a scarf. Always tie your scarf comfortably otherwise it will hinder the circulation in the head and scalp resulting in unwanted headaches and tie your hair loosely inside the scarf. 

One more point I would mention is to never sleep with your hair open. It always causes tangles in the hair. Comb and brush your hair neatly, tie it in a loose side-swept braid and sleep on a satin or silk pillow cover to reduce the friction and dehydration caused by rubbing of hair on the pillow covers and in the morning, as soon as you get up, open your braid and comb out your hair gently. You will not find any tangles. And, I don't know if there is a myth 'if you sleep with your hair open, it will grow fast'. That is entirely untrue and nothing as such happens. Only relation which hair growth has with sleep is that hair grows more during your sleep which means your beauty sleep is essential for hair growth but tied or untied hair has nothing to do with that.

Also, read Routine Hair Care post to get more tips on hair care. 

READ MORE - How much are you stressing your hair? {Hair Care}

How to apply onion juice on hair {Hair Care}

Very long back I had done a post on onion for hair growth. So, I had mentioned that I had been facing hair fall in the months of November to January and gradually my hair fall did reduce after using the Biotique Musk Root hair pack. But, my hair had thinned to quite and extent so I recalled that I could use onion juice remedy. So, I used it every time I used to oil my hair and my hair thickened visibly within 15 days.

How to use onion for hair?

An easier way to use onion juice for hair is to mix it with the hair oil. I grated onion and squeezed the grated onion to extract the juice. Yes, the whole process is a little difficult coz it stings the eyes badly and onion does stink badly too :( So, mix onion juice with hair oil. You can mix in the proportion of 50-50 or 75-25 for onion juice-hair oil. Both would not mix properly coz juice is watery and water and oil don't mix well so shake the whole mixture well while applying. Start by applying the mixture on the scalp first properly and then apply to the complete hair. It will stink a lot definitely but trust me results are definitely worth it. Using essential oils may be useful in reducing the stink of onion so you can try that. Another advice I can give is to use rosemary essential oil too (5 drops per application) coz Rosemary is amazing for hair growth.

You can also do a hot oil treatment using this mixture every time you are about to wash your hair. You can keep this mixture overnight or for at least an hour before shampooing off. Another thing I would mention is that do not worry about the onion stink remaining in the hair coz it gets washed off while shampooing and conditioning the hair. So, don't worry about that. You can also mix onion juice in the hair packs you use weekly. It also helps with controlling hair loss.

READ MORE - How to apply onion juice on hair {Hair Care}

Combs and Hair Care {Accessory Review}

Combing is one of the most essential activity of our daily routine. And, the quality of our combs determine the health of our hair. I have changed a lot of combs in my life and my preference has always been the wide-toothed comb even before I had become interested in beauty and started reading about it. Wide-toothed combs make it easy to detangle and comb through the hair whatever the mass of the hair be. So, let us see how various combs in my latest years ave affected my hair. 

My yellow Giant Comb

This one I had received as one of the goodies from Sunsilk when they had launched their revamped version sometime in 2006 as part of the promotions in malls. And, since then, I have not touched another comb.

See the nice rounded edges of the comb

As you can see, the teeth in both parts of the comb are wide and they help in combing the hair very very easily. So, since I had started using this comb, my hair had improved drastically. Also, his comb has rounded tips though the plastic is jagged at some places due to the poor finishing.

Bad Buy - Roots Comb

Then, I got interested in vanity and read everything about hair care which includes a huge section on hair accessories of which combs are a staple part. Now, somewhere, I had read that the tips of the combs should touch the scalp and distribute the oils equally. Now, my yellow comb had been over-used in the years (2006-2010). So, I decided that it wasn't doing its job well-enough and I had to get a new comb. So, I hunted low and up in some vanity store (starts from 'K' and I am not able to recall its name though I have been trying since quite a long time). Finally, I checked all the combs and decided that roots would do the job well even though I could have settled for 30 bucks cheaper on another comb which was essentially the same (don't remember the brand). Bought it and very happily tried it on my hair, a little more hair than usual on the comb. I decided that was due to the change in the comb and hair will get accustomed.

Edges are not looking pointed but are pretty sharp!!!

Now, when I opened the comb, I got the shock of life coz its edges were really pointed though they didn't feel at all that way through the packing. They even look rounded. So, I was a lot disappointed coz the combs are not supposed to be rough on the edges as that snags and pulls the hair. Subsequently, my hair fall went to worse when I started usign this comb very regularly. I couldn't' guess the reason at first though the thunder bolt struck me probably a month or two after. I shifted back to my lovely yellow comb which I had so ruthlessly disposed off and voila, my hair fall was back to normal. 

Moral of the Story: Check the combs properly while buying combs. Do not settle for something which is cheaper coz your hair pays heavily afterwards. And, yes, your combs might be leading to your hair loss. Analyze them now. 

History of Combs

So, let us come to a little history of combs. Earlier in ancient times, single sticks of either wood or animal bones were used as combs to detangle hair. Since, wood would splinter so animal bones were preferred. In the Victorian era, there were ivory combs too. But, then, regard for animal life increased and such luxuries became privileges. I definitely do not support elephant slaughter for tusks. Or, any other animal for any part of theirs. So, we do not have animal bone combs any more. They were majorly made out of Sharks teeth and ribs. But, now, some companies do sell combs made of artificial keratin coz they don't get jagged. Otherwise, a simple substitute is wooden comb which is available for a cheaper rate courtesy The Body Shop. 

The Body Shop Detangling Comb

So, I was searching madly for a wooden comb since I had no access to bones comb. And, when I saw it in TBS, I felt crazy happy. I wasn't aware of TBS as a brand and didn't trust it so didn't buy the comb and 295 INR for a comb seemed really costly to me. Then, my birthday happened and this was one of my self-selected gift set. And, I obviously used it without further ado. And, voila, my hair was so soft in the first use. Though, the first time you handle this comb, you wouldn't feel comfortable. It needs a little getting used to and the wood gets little polished with regular usage. So, probably in a week or two, this was my favorite comb and this time, I didn't dump my yellow comb. But, here is the catch. When I tried combing my hair with the yellow comb after my hair got used to the wooden comb, there were more strands to be seen on the yellow comb which clearly proved that wooden comb is better. 

I have been using this comb since February and I can say there are less splits considering my previous track record with the split ends, my hair is more shinier and softer, has a better growth rate as far as I can tell, hair fall which I had been facing had reduced to a considerable extent, probably has a little more volume (can be attributed to the growth fact) and no breakage (I had little breakage earlier). Overall, my hair quality has improved with this comb. Now, I have wavy to curly hair and curly hair people should not use brishes as they lead to more hair fall so I am more of a comb girl (more coming on brushes in some other post!!). Ok, yeah, it is a little costly but I think worth spending for the results!!! 

Look at the rounded edges of the teeth

Now, here comes the biggest catch of this comb. Cleaning. It is wooden so cleaning with water is something unthinkable. So, I have no idea how to clean it. I do use water coz I have no other choice. I sprinkle baking soda on the comb and use a wet brush to clean the comb between its teeth. I nicely scrub the comb with the baking soda and when I feel its done, I wash it quickly with water to keep it for as less time as possible in water. IF you can suggest a better method to clean, please do so!!! Another problem is the packaging. The comb comes with a sticker stuck to it and the sticker is literally stuck to it. It takes weeks to scratch out the sticker (you can't use water, remember!!) and its really sticky. I don't know why TBS does that horrible packaging but that is something where it can be improved upon.

The comb itself is really small and extremely handy. It has polish on the upper frame. It is a wide-teethed comb which is said to detangle wet hair but I don't use it on wet hair. I use it on damp to dry hair. It says that it distributes the oils well. Well, seeing the results, it certainly must be doing its job. The edges of the teeth are not pointed but not even rounded. They are blunt edges and are wide enough to distribute the oils properly. Wooden combs also reduce the static in the hair so less frizzy hair. It is made up of the wood from trees which are some forest steward council approved (I don't remember what exactly it was but I think it was a rain forest preserve or something!!! It was on the sticker).

My Recommendation

Absolutely!!! You should invest in this comb for better hair. And, this is for people who have gorgeous hair too.

READ MORE - Combs and Hair Care {Accessory Review}

Egg Hair Pack for extremely silky and shiny hair {DIY}

Eggs are really great for hair as we are all aware of. Now, when I used this hair pack on my hair, I kept it for around 3-4 hours, though not intentionally. So, I believe that the results of this hair pack are more due to the time it stayed on my hair rather than the ingredients. But, the ingredients are also fabulous and just two in number!!!

Ingredients: 

• 3 eggs
• amla powder

Method 

Break the eggs into a bowl and whisk them into a smooth consistency. Add amla powder so that it becomes a smooth paste. Make sure it is not clumpy at all otherwise the whole thing tends to clump on the hair. Never make your hair packs clumpy. They do not deliver results properly as hair is not able to absorb it as well as it absorbs a smooth paste applied on it. So, after you make this paste, apply it on the scalp and along the whole length of the hair concentrating on the roots and the ends. I kept it on 3-4 hours but you can also make do with one or try to keep it for longer periods on weekends or at nights. Eggs make hair amazingly silky if left on for longer period of time, as my experience goes, though, I know it is difficult with the smell :(

Results

Extremely silky, soft and shiny hair which lasts for weeks together. I did this routine before April 10th and my hair is just the same even now and I have not applied anything extra to my hair in the meantime. And, the shine is unimaginable. It makes your hair more shinier than any leave-in or any hair product. Of course, using amla made my hair look darker too so the shine reflected better. And, I have wavy to curly hair. So, straight-haired gals, your hair is literally gonna shine like a lantern!!! Ok, bad joke :D but the results are just amazing and a lot can be attributed to the fact that we are using 3 eggs instead of just one which we customarily use. More the eggs, better coverage and better results. So, guys, try it and share your feedback!!! Don't forget to cover with a shower cap. And, for even better results, steam your hair before applying the pack to open the cuticles for better absorption.

READ MORE - Egg Hair Pack for extremely silky and shiny hair {DIY}

Lush Caca Noir {Product Review}

This was my first purchase from Lush. And, I am little disappointed, not a good start at all. Actually, no, I am kind of confused with liking or not liking coz it gave fabulous results but missed on my most important expectation. I have been wanting to color my hair since quite a long time. Only I was too afraid of chemicals and didn't wanna get my hair all damaged. Already its too thin and very prone to splits and dryness. And, I have never used henna on my hair. Mainly coz once my mom had used it and it had dried her hair completely and she ingrained in me the idea that henna is bad for hair. And, later I learned, the henna available in the market is chemically processed and is extremely bad for hair. So, I always stayed away from it. Very recently, while going through Lush website, I came across their Cacas which looked amazing to me.

Lush has four colors - Caca Brun for brown hair, Caca Maroon for chestnut hair, Caca Noir for black/blue hair and Caca Rouge for really flaming red hair. Now, I picked Caca Noir coz I really wanted blue glints in my hair. For me a combination of blue black hair looks celestial not crazy so I was very excited when I picked this up.

Price: 910 INR for a single block of 6 bars (yes, it is very expensive!!!)

Ingredients

Pure Persian henna mixed with Indian indigo for blue-black tints. It is an ancient Indian tradition to mix red henna with powder from the dried, fermented indigo root, to give dark hair deep blue glints. Indigo is not cheap, so there are some synthetic 'black hennas' around, but we want you to stay away from those! Lush Caca Noir is red henna with indigo powder, clove oil scent and Irish moss seaweed for softness. Cover it with Clingfilm and keep it damp for a redder colour, or let it air dry for a black/blue tint. Pick up any bits which fall on the floor or it'll dye the rugs, too. - Lush Website

Lush believes in as less wastage as possible and tries to minimize packaging wherever and even wherever not. So, it has made the Cacas into solid bars using cocoa butter. In case of Noir, all the above-stated ingredients are mixed with cocoa butter and solidified. So, when you apply Lush Hennas, your hair wouldn't go dry, you can be sure of that.

How to use it??

Using hennas is always messy, very very messy. So, first need is a pair of rubber gloves. They are easily available at a medical store. I bought mine - which were sterilized and powdered latex gloves size 8 which is way too big for my hands - from Apollo Pharmacy for 35 bucks. I don't what they are powdered with but the instructions to remove the powder once the gloves were worn were written on the cover so I simply washed the gloves.They look something like this after 'hennaing' my hair once. 

Now, how to use Lush Caca Noir. I took two blocks out of that bar coz my hair is thin and mid-shoulder length. For longer hair, you might need more blocks and a single bar is enough for short hair.

• Grate the block using a cheese grater. It is soft so it will grate easily. Grating it does take quite a lot of time and patience.
• After grating, add lukewarm water. Do not add hot water because heat breaks down indigo. Hot water can be added to other Cacas but not to Noir.
• Make a gooey paste as henna pastes are. 

It is ready to use. So, apply it to your hair as you apply henna. Cover with a shower cap for deeper glint or leave it to air dry for black/blue glints.

My Experience

It is definitely a messy process. Sitting with all that henna for four hours wasn't at all easy for me. After that, removing the henna takes all your energy and messes up your bathroom like never before. So, be prepared to labor on. Using a shower makes it easier but then take care of the temperature.So, when you are done with removing all the mess from the hair, it is time for a hair wash. But, with henna, it is always said that a day should be given for henna to develop the color deeper that is why we don't even wash the hands when we put the designs using henna. So, I prefer to just leave my hair like that. Following with oil is a great way to let henna settle deeper into the hair. But, mind you, cocoa butter is already pretty sticky so if you can't stand the stickiness, you should wash the hair immediately.

subtle color but more shine

So, what happens after washing the hair?? Ok, so there were no deep blue glints in my hair which I was so dying to get. So, a big disappointment there. But, then, I really checked my hair. And, voila, my hair was deep black (my hair is originally medium brown). A really beautiful black with all the shine and softness which I could never imagine. But, if you see the hair in sunlight, you can see beautiful brown highlights. I couldn't keep my hands off my hair. The results were that awesome. But, there is a very BIG but there!!! The results (softness) lasts only till the next wash. And, the color lasts only a week or two. Then, the color starts fading. While the color fades, it doesn't go really horrible or something, so you can rest on that account.

Lush says to apply henna three times consecutively day after day to make the color last longer. Well, who really has time for that. But, I did follow up on second application after two days coz I wanted to give it another shot to get the blue glints which I was originally aiming for. Alas, no results this time either. So, in case you are thinking that you can get blue color with Caca Noir, forget it. It does nothing of the sort. It dyes your hair jet black and that's all there to it. So, the second time I dyed my haur, my hair was all black. All the beautiful brown highlights were gone. Though, the deep black definitely gave a dramatic contrast to my face (I am a golden wheat color not fair, though and black is my color). Again, the same amount of softness in the hair and no need for a conditioner. But, one should apply conditioner always, no matter how deep you have conditioned your hair already. But, then again, the color was gone quickly in two weeks probably. 

second usage made my hair more shinier and deeper black

Now, one thing I wanted to share with you all. The first time I applied the Caca Noir, I added five tables spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar for a single block. And, I did not wash my hair immediately after the application. Trust me, it was damn sticky and the scalp was all full of the henna which I couldn't get out properly. So, my advise would be to wash it off. Second time I applied it, I didn't add anything to the henna paste and washed it off immediately. Now, about the third time, I added an egg, a spoonful of amla powder and probably Apple Cider Vinegar too. Now, this time, when I had washed out the henna, I decided not to shampoo my hair immediately. And, when my hair was dry, I noticed that my hair was absolutely clean of the gunk which I had had to put up with the first time. My hair wasn't at all sticky and oily but it was soft, clean, shiny and had a lift to it. So, I am assuming egg and amla powder acted as a cleanser too. In case you are wondering if my hair did get the color the third time, yes it did. I was also confused of it didn't get colored but I saw that it was darker. So, obviously, it did bind with henna and the color did get seeped into the hair. So, this was all about my experience.

Oh, btw, I completely forgot to talk about packaging. Horrible. They just hand over the block in a plastic cover. Reducing the packaging wastage is good but when you are charging so much, you should really give something to help the customer keep the product safely. And, as you begin to use it, the cocoa butter seems to melt on contact with the skin and the block gets softer at the point where you hold it. So, it gives a difficult time while trying to hold the block.  

My Recommendation

Ok, its actually difficult to say what I really think about this product coz I don't have anything to compare it with. I never used any other henna so I am completely clueless about how my hair reacts with henna. I wouldn't definitely mind trying the Caca Maroon coz I would like to see the chestnut colored hair. But, before I get that, I think I would go for Biotique Henna powder simply for the reason that its way too cheap and I had a good experience with the Biotique Musk Root hair pack.

Now, should you try it??? First thing is are you really sure of spending all that much on just 6 blocks of henna. I mean seriously 1000 bucks just on some henna mixed with cocoa butter really seems way too expensive. So, I would say its a luxury item. Go for it if you can afford but it is in no way a necessity. 

Btw, don't go for Caca Noir unless you are trying to cover up your grays coz you are not gonna enjoy bland black color. Go for maroon or brown. Again avoid rouge as it is for red heads and it wouldn't really look good with dark color skins. So, choose wisely. As a plus point, even Lush people promote Caca Maroon more than other colors. So, I am guessing, its really good. Well, as I said, yes I will try it someday. Ok, another 1000 bucks down the drain :(

READ MORE - Lush Caca Noir {Product Review}

Hair Care in Winters

Personally, Winter is my favorite season in all the year. I love the snow and snuggling inside the big thick blankets with the blowers switched on. (I do not like heaters because they dry the skin horribly !!) How I miss my childhood when I had to do nothing but sleep and read and eat :) I love being lazy but growing up is far from such luxuries. Only if I had realized that when I was young and naive. Huh, the irony!!

I have already talked about skin care in winters. So, let  let us continue with the topic of the day.  Hair in Winters. Winters is the most difficult time for hair. The growth slows down, winter dandruff comes up (in many people except lucky few), it always looks like we have had a 'centershock' :D and one is always struggling to keep it in place. Seriously, it is difficult. Moreover, I do not even feel like combing. It creates even more static. The woolens are so heavy on the body itself but they are even worse for hair. Splits increase in the hair, the dryness for dry hair increases by a notch, they look dull and lifeless and many people suffer from winter dandruff. Worst of all, the cold makes oiling of the hair also very difficult. Ok, so all these scenarios are for hills not plains. But, people in plains also suffer with same problems, only the intensity is a lot toned down according to the temperatures. Still, I love winter and I am glad it is back :) Can't believe a whole year has passed off so quickly. Time seems to fly away. In just a month, we will bid farewell to 2010 and welcome 2011. God, I do not know what has happened but you can get me started on this topic for hours together. So, I'll again come back on the track. So, how do we care for hair in winters. 

It is a difficult and time consuming task but not an impossible one. You need to devote time to your hair. So, let us start with oiling your hair. Regular oiling will keep the frizz away. Dryness in the hair is also controlled. Use warm oil to massage your hair nicely at night and then out a scarf on it and go to sleep. You can also do the hot oil treatment if you feel like. Do this for at least two times a week or whenever you shampoo your hair. Do not shampoo often. Shampoo hair when the need arises. Due to pollution, you might need to wash your hair twice or thrice a week. To reduce this need, use a silk scarf.

Shampooing your hair. Use a very mild shampoo. Either go for a herbal shampoo or use soap nuts. This prevent your hair from drying excessively due to the use of excess chemicals. Dry your hair gently. Keep a hand towel in the bathroom and after shampooing, squeeze all water from the hair. Wait for a few minutes and then apply conditioner on the hair. Wait for another 15-20 minutes (if you can), wash off the conditioner properly and come out. I would not advise you to go for a cold water rinse in case you might catch a chill and I do not want to be blamed for that :) Use baking soda in your shampoo once in every two weeks. Use only luke warm water. Hot water would be drying for your hair and skin both.

Drying your hair. Try to air dry your hair in little of sun which will provide shine to your hair too. Or, if you are in extreme hurry or feeling too cold, blow your hair dry just to the point that it becomes damp. Keep the setting of the drier to warm and not hot to avoid extreme temperature variations. Use a hooded drier as it controls the air circulation properly and does not direct a stream of hair to just one place. Another very useful trick while blow drying is to keep the drier moving. Do not direct it to one place or the hair would become excess dry there. To reduce the time of blow drying, squeeze the water from your hair properly before starting the drier. End with a cold air setting on the temperature. Then, use a comb or a finger and remove all the tangles. Your hair will dry sooner that way. Do not blow dry your hair excessively or it makes your hair frizzy. Use a heat protection product or something of the like before blow drying your hair.

Use a leave-in conditioner. I would advise this for people with extreme dryness and frizz in their hair. People with manageable hair can definitely give a skip. No point applying products which will give no results, right? If it satisfies you, go ahead but honestly, no point wasting money if you do not really need that product.  You can even make your leave-in conditioner at home. A tip for people who keep on buying thins which they do not need: Think about how much money you could save by not buying these products and then you might get your favorite dress or camera or watch or something which might be really useful to you. I do use this tip now a days and it is definitely working :)

Do not use excess products on your hair. A conditioner then a leave-in then a mousse then a styling product then a mist or a hair spray then something else. If you do that, the barrage of the products would not end but the things piling on your hair would definitely increase which would make the hair even more drier by blocking the hair follicles. So, stick to a single product in the winters and apply any product on the hair except a shampoo starting from your ears down. And, use only an appropriate quantity. 

Hair Accessories. This is one of the most important things. You hair bands, rubber bands, hair clips, clutchers, etc., whatever you are using on your hair might cause frizzes and splits so be very careful about what you are using on your hair. No harm in spending a little money to buy a good product. I would mention one thing here: Buy whatever you feel like but just remember to check for the ends or any edges in the accessory. Any sharp edges or protrusions in the accessory makes it unworthy for your hair. Same goes with the hair bands. They have comb structure underneath them which snag at your hair every time you remove it. Look for cloth covered accessories. They are soft on hair and do not cause static. Look for good quality hair brushes and combs. For curly and wavy hairs, do not use brushes. This is very important as they snag at your hair. Brushes are great for straight hair but curly and wavy haired people should stay away from them.

Keep your hair covered. Leaving your hair loose is a sure shot way to get hair breakage so keep your hair covered at all times in the winters. Either use scarves or go for braiding your hair. Silk scarves add a lot of charm to your dressing and braiding can be done in lot chic ways these days. Avoid wearing hats and tight caps as they stop air and blood circulation in the scalp. When your are wearing your clothes specially woolens, put your hair up, wear your woolens, cover your shoulders with the scarf, pull the hair down, tie it or braid it and then, tie the scarf around. This way you can avoid static and splits in your hair due to woolens. Do not let your hair be in contact with your woolens. Not only that, scarves also keep your hair and scalp clean in the pollution so use them regularly whenever you go out. Go for a trim the moment you spot a split in your hair.

Winter Dandruff Control. This is one of the most difficult tasks. Dry scalp and dry hair contributes to dandruff but this does not mean that oiling your hair would make dandruff disappear. For this, you certainly have to use an anti-dandruff hair cream. I would recommend Himalaya Anti-Dandruff Hair cream. Besides that, you can mix lemon juice with your hair oil before applying it on your scalp. Use a good conditioner which can prevent dandruff. Using soap nuts to wash your hair will definitely cure this problem. So, go ahead and give it a try but otherwise you would have to depend on some hair cream only.

READ MORE - Hair Care in Winters

How to wash your hair with soapnuts (reetha)?

I had bought soapnuts (they are environment friendly and natural detergents) and shikakai a year back with the resolution that I would use only these things to wash my hair. Well, as you might have guessed, it never happened!! (till now) But, yes, I was successful in making homemade shampoo with soap nuts and shikakai and other ingredients. 

A few days back one of my friends informed me that she has bought soap nuts to wash her hair regularly. And, I remembered my long forgotten lot of soap nuts and shikakai. Now, the reason I could never use soap nuts was because I never knew how to use them. I had asked a lot of people and they told me correct procedure but still I could not bring myself to use them. So, there was no harm in asking one other person, right? I asked my friend how to use soap nuts to wash hair. And, she told me. Strangely, you have some people in your life who assure you of things without really doing so. She is one of them and I decided to follow here advice to the letter.

So, what did she advice me? Quite simple: Soak soap nuts and then use the liquid to wash your hair. When the liquid gets finished, use the soap nuts to lather a batch of water again and use it again and again as many times as you want. No details, nothing. But, still, I decided to go with it. So, what did I do? 

• I put 3 soap nuts and 2 shikakai fruits (vary according of the length and thickness of your hair, my friend said it is very less, she has shoulder length hair - shorter than mine and she used 10 soap nuts so you can go for 15 too if you have waist length hair) in a cup and covered them with boiling water and left them overnight. I deseeded the soap nuts before soaking them. You can throw away the seeds or grow your own soap nut tree.
• In the morning, during my shower, I shook the soap nuts in the water and then put them in little water in another mug. (Do not throw away the soap nuts.) 
• Now, I took the liquid (it has very less foam in it) and applied on my scalp and started massaging. It does not lather at all in the starting. So, you have to just work your way through your hair very thoroughly. Then, I dipped my hair strands into the liquid and shampooed them as well as I could. Yes, the whole procedure is a lot more messier than using a shampoo. And, it might tangle your hair. (There is a surprise there!!) Then, I rinsed it off. 
• Now, I took the other mug in which the soap nuts were transferred and used that liquid for the second round and simultaneously, transfer the soap nuts into the first cup in some water. Shake the soap buts a bit to bring out the lather. Again follow the same routine. This time your hair might lather. Mine did not because I had oil in my hair. The time soap nuts will take to lather depends on the oiliness if your hair so it might lather for you int he first time also if your hair is not very dirty and free of oil. 
• So, this way, I followed the shampooing of my hair six times though I could have probably stopped at third or fourth. Well, that would come with experience.I would aim for less times the next time I shampoo.
• I did not condition my hair. I wanted to see the results without the effect of any conditioners and such.

The results: 

• Soap nuts are also washing agents. Though they are natural, they also clean your scalp. So, excessive washing is not recommended. If you do try this, stick to three. That is enough to clean the oil from your hair also. I overdid in my naivety.
• My hair was shinier and softer without using any conditioner.
• Now comes the surprise!! There was minimal tangling of the hair which was easily resolved in a minute which is really less as compared to ones I get while using a normal shampoo. 
• There is no frizz in the hair even though I overdid my shampooing.
• Manageable hair.
• There was less hair fall in the bathroom as compared to using shampoos.

Advantages: 

• Completely natural and non-toxic.
• Soap nuts and shikakai condition the hair very well and promote hair growth. They also help stop hair loss and treat scalp infections and dandruff.
• If you use organic soap nuts, I think the results would be even better.
• Do not throw away the soap nuts after your hair wash is over. There is a lot of lather left in them. So, use them to wash your utensils or put them in a cotton bag and throw in a cycle of laundry. You can give your detergent a miss. Clothes come out really clean and bright if you use soap nuts.

So, I have decided that I would use soap nuts whenever I do not have to rush anywhere. I will keep a bottle of shampoo for emergencies. You really need time to wash your hair with soap nuts. Be careful not to get the liquid into your eyes or it stings the eyes pretty bad. I'll give an update the next time I'll wash my hair. 

READ MORE - How to wash your hair with soapnuts (reetha)?

Sendha Namak - Indian Rock Salt Beauty Benefits

I do not know how many of you are aware that Sendha namak is the pure rock salt of India and is a little costlier than the normal salt because it is found in very less quantities in the Indian sub-continent. The commercial salt available is iodized where as the rock salt is pure from nature, is more granular, has less salty taste as you would have already noticed and is not chemically processed. It is rich in lot of minerals and if used in regular cooking as a substitute of common salt, it can control all the health problems posed by common salt like high blood pressure, puffiness in the body or the eyes, is cooling for the body, helpful in digestion, relieves gas and soothes heartburn and helps in weight loss.

Not only health but many beauty benefits can also be acquired from rock salt. 

• Rock salt can be used as a body scrub. Since high in mineral content, it is a perfect substitute for spa standard products made at home.
• Drop a table spoon of rock salt in your bath every time and enjoy a relaxing bath. It also detoxifies your body externally as well as internally. Eases stress and body pains.
• Can be used as a teeth whitener or a mouth freshener. Also clears a sour throat if used for gargling.
• Can be used as a foot soak, foot scrub or a hand scrub too. It is not drying on the skin.
• Removes the yellowness under the nails and makes your nails shine beautifully.
• Use it to cleanse your skin at night. Mix a table spoon of rock salt with your cleanser or face wash and rub it gently into the skin. Make sure to remove make up before this routine.

In Pakistan, there is a salt range of Himalayas, called the 'Himalayan Salt Range', which has the purest form of rock salt in the whole world. It is sold as 'Himalayan salt' but it actually is just a rock salt too. The only specialty of this salt is that it is pure and does not need any kind of filtering. So, those who have easy access to Himalayan salt or Pakistan rock salt, make sure you use it regularly in your food and beauty routines.

Do not forget to differentiate between Epsom salt and Rock salt. They have different mineral contents and Epsom salt is the best for skin. If you have access to Epsom salt, you can use it for

• Removing product build up from your hair. Mix a cup of Epsom salt in your shampoo.
• Volumnize your hair. Mix equal parts of your conditioner and salt and apply it to your hair. Keep it on for 20-30 minutes and wash off. 
• Removes excess oil from the hair. If you have oily hair, this is for you. Mix a cup of Epsom salt with your shampoo and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. The salt soaks up all the oil present in the hair. 

You can read about more uses of Epsom salt here.

We have always heard that salt is not good for hair but it is not so. The common salt is not suitable because it has many chemicals in it where as naturally occurring salts are as good for hair as they are for other parts of your body.

READ MORE - Sendha Namak - Indian Rock Salt Beauty Benefits

How to Deep Condition your Hair?

As I have repeatedly stressed on the point of Hair conditioning, it should come as no surprise if I embark on a really elaborated ritual of homemade deep conditioning treatment. This is a variant of the regular egg or yogurt mask only. Just that there is one more ingredient - Honey. Nothing great about this recipe itself. You are well aware of the properties of egg and honey for the hair.

Dry Hair needs protein treatment so use egg and if you have oily hair, you would do better with yogurt or milk. Apply the conditioner and keep it as long as you can (as long as you can stand the smell of egg) !! Now, before applying the mask, prepare your hair a little just like you would prepare your face for a face mask.

• Comb your hair and get rid of all the tangles. 
• Brush it once or twice to make sure it is free flowing.
• Now, steam your hair. Take a bowl of water or the appliance/ saunas available for taking steam for your face. I know its kind of difficult to direct steam to your hair so you have to juggle a little with the appliance. If you are using a bowl of water, juggle with yourself or you would end up burning. Carefully, direct steam to all parts of your head. You can even divide your head in 5 parts: top, back, left, right and middle. Middle is the most difficult to get your steam to. For back and middle, bend backward on the bowl or sauna. So, place the bowl/sauna at a comfortable position. And, remember, steam is very hot and you would not be able to bear it more than a few seconds on the more sensitive portions of your skull so keep the steam time to a minimum. Once you try this, you would get used to it. Do this for at max 15 minutes. That would be enough to let the scalp absorb the mask well. Switch off the fans and AC in your room or you will end with a headache due to the temperature differences.
• After opening the hair follicles a bit, apply the mask by massaging it into your scalp. Start from one side and end with the other or part your scalp in 5 parts again. That makes easy application of the mask. After covering the scalp, part your hair along its length and dip them into the mask and spread it evenly. Keep maximum at the ends. 
• After whole of the hair is covered in mask, massage it a little for 10-15 minutes and cover with a shower cap.
• If you have a drier, set it to warm setting and direct the flow of air evenly on your scalp to provide warmth for better absorption. Or, wet a towel and heat it in microwave for 30 seconds and wrap it around the head. You can repeat the towel wraps as many times as you want reheating it after it has cooled. 
• Now, wait for as long as you can. Preferably, do this treatment in the evening because there is more to come.
• Go and rinse your hair after your tolerance is over. Do not shampoo or condition. Just rinse with lukewarm water and get all the egg out of your hair. Egg tends to stick to hair. 
• Come out of the shower. I know you are smelling nasty !! So, let your hair air dry first. 
• Now, comb your hair and untangle it. Now, take a cup of your favorite oil and warm it a little so that oil is tolerably hot to touch. 
• Apply the oil to your hair and massage well. Yes, a hot oil treatment after a homemade deep conditioning treatment. Massage your scalp gently but firmly for 30 minutes. It really helps.
• Leave the oil overnight and wash off with a mild and nice smelling shampoo the other day. You would not even need to condition it but you can apply a little to the ends if you want. 

Tips:

• Use any hair mask in place of egg+honey mask. You can even use the commercially available deep conditioning treatments.
• Use a strong smelled oil for hot oil treatment so that it will mask the smell of egg. Coconut is great for that but only unrefined. 
• You can add vitamin E or Evening Primrose Oil supplements to the mask and oil as well for extra nourishment and shine. 
• You can also use a homemade herbal shampoo which is just a variant of your favorite shampoo.
• You can end this hair pampering session with one of your favored hair rinses too. They would give extra bounce to your hair. 
• Do this once a week to counter the effects of the whole week abuse of your hair. 
• Results: Hair would be softer and shinier for days together. This treatment will take care of your hair till the next treatment :)

READ MORE - How to Deep Condition your Hair?

Herbal infusions good for Hair

In this post, I have already listed various herbs good for your hair. But, I have not stated why. So, I'll address that aspect in today's post and would list down some other herbs too which are good for hair. I have categorized the herbs on basis of their usage. So, check for your immediate requirements and start from there. Many of the herbs share different categories so you can start choosing from them.

Hair Shine and Conditioning

Flowers: Rose, Marigold, Chamomile, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lavender, Rosemary

Herbs: Basil leaves, Brahmi leaves, Bhringraj leaves, Henna leaves

Kitchen Ingredients: Curry Leaves, Indian Gooseberry (amla), Fenugreek Seeds and Leaves (methi), Lemon peels, Mint leaves

Hair Loss and Hair Growth

Flowers: Lavender, Rosemary, Hibiscus, Chamomile

Herbs: Brahmi leaves, Bhringraj leaves

Kitchen Ingredients: Curry Leaves, Indian Gooseberry (amla), Ginger cloves, Garlic cloves, Sesame Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Black Pepper, Mustard Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds and Leaves (methi)

Hair Coloring

Flowers: Hibiscus, Chamomile

Herbs: Basil leaves, Henna leaves

Kitchen Ingredients: Indian Gooseberry (amla)

Scalp Care (including Dandruff)

Flowers: Lavender

Herbs: Neem leaves

Kitchen Ingredients: Lemon peels

Tip: Every time you infuse your hair oil, use a different oil and a different herb. Otherwise, it would be like using a product which used to be good for your hair but is no longer great. Always make small batches. Read this for instructions on how to infuse herbs in the oil. 

I shall keep on adding to this list as I use various other things. In the mean time, you can also suggest some herbs which you feel would be worthwhile.

READ MORE - Herbal infusions good for Hair

Parachute Head Massager Review

This might come as a very late news for you all because Parachute has been providing head massager along with its 'Advansed Cooling oil' since quite a long time. But, I found it in a shop only a few days ago. Consequently, I was very much interested and bought it. I did not try the oil yet. So, I will be writing only about the massager. Well, I would not say I was disappointed. The quality of the massager is obviously not so good but it does the job pretty well so I have no complaints. And, it is pretty handy and can be used for travel purposes too. Well, do not be deceived by the size in the snap because it is a cropped version.

The massager has a vibrator inside it. As you might have guessed the light blue area with the protrusions is the massage area. That part is all made of rubber and is very soft on the scalp and the hair. It does not snag and pull the hair. Instead, it can be used as a comb on the scalp while massaging. This way it does not create any tangles in the hair also. I massaged my scalp for around 15 minutes. And, after that, my hair was so unbelievably soft, it actually felt surreal. And, you can feel the hum in your head long after you are done with your massage. I guess that is the blood rushing. And, it also made my hair shinier and softer immediately. The effect did not wear off by the next morning also. And, using it is more easier than massaging your scalp with your fingers. Though, I would recommend to do scalp massage with fingers once a week too as fingers are more flexible and can reach points which a massager cannot.  It has two days since I have begun using the massager. So, it is too early to say if there is any change in my hair. I should be able to report a change in a month or at least two weeks. And, I am pretty hopeful for that. So, I would wind up by recommending you to buy the massager if you do not already possess one. It is not at all expensive. The oil costs 70 Rs. I think the stocks are getting over so if you want to lay hands on it, you would better hurry up.

Now, there are many drawbacks also. The massager did not really turn out as I had anticipated. I had expected the protrusions also to vibrate thus giving a more realistic massage feeling. But, the vibration is only limited to the body of the massager. That is one thing where Parachute should concentrate and I will say that achieving that would not prove very costly. And, another major drawback is that it works on a battery. And, it uses a lot of battery so you can not expect the same intensity of vibration everyday. It keeps on decreasing everyday. I wish there was a provision to be attached to the current source too. That would have proved cheaper and would have consistently given good results everyday.

But, there is one more advantage with this massager. You can use it for face massage also. I use it daily for a 5 minute face massage too. Having two different massagers for head and face is the best way to go about it but since I have not bought another one, I am currently using the same for both purposes. I would not say I have noticed any great changes on the face but it feels nice when you massage your face with it. If there is any change, I shall report back. In the meanwhile, you can use the massager for your head at least.

Disclaimers: This article is an account of my personal experience. I am not paid to write the review and I am not endorsing the product.  

Update: Buying batteries everyday or every week can become costly so I tried using my digicam's rechargeable batteries and they worked. My batteries were of the same specification as required by the batteries of the massager. And, the result was even better than using the normal batteries. The rechargeable batteries provide more power so the massaging action is even better.
I used the oil too but just once till now. I wanted to mask the egg smell on my hair during the deep conditioning treatment I was doing and I did not have any oil better than this one (Parachute). It works best because it has a very strong smell of camphor and easily masks the odor of egg. The oil has an aqua shade to it and is a little thick but if applied in appropriate amount to the hair, hair remains non-sticky. You can buy the oil at least for the massager.

READ MORE - Parachute Head Massager Review

Test for Damaged Hair

A very simple trick can tell you whether your hair is damaged or not. Many of you might already be aware of this. But, for those who are not, you can take a test.

Comb your hair and pick one strand of your hair from the comb. Drop it in a glass full of water. If the hair sinks, your hair is damaged. And, if it stays afloat, your hair is healthy. Caution: Do not pluck hair from their roots just to do this experiment. Plucking the hair damages its follicle and can impede future hair growth.

So, if your hair is damaged, start taking care of it from today. Egg Hair Mask or Egg Shampoo is the first step to beautiful hair.

READ MORE - Test for Damaged Hair

A simple recipe for Hair Growth

Well, if you will recall, I had posted a rather elaborate hair oil recipe for faster hair growth. Not that the ingredients would not be available easily or it does not work but it might seem cumbersome to make in short batches and you might be tempted to make a very large batch. And, apart from all these things, with my experience since I have posted the recipe, I have realized that instead of adding a whole lot of different things in a mix of oils, it would be better to focus on a combination of one oil and one herb. Otherwise, the concoction can become too heavy for the hair and the herbs might counteract their effects. So, I have just reduced the elaborate recipe into something very simple and basic.

Hair Oil Recipe

- Any one base oil of your choice (Coconut oil, Mustard oil, Olive oil, Sesame oil, Almond oil or any other)

- Any herb of your choice (Huge Range of Herbs depending on your hair need)

Infuse the herb in the oil according to these instructions. And, voila, your hair oil is ready. 

I have talked about too many herbs in the earlier hair oil recipe itself including various flowers, leaves and other herbs. You can choose any one of them at a time and make the infusion. I have few pointers which you should read before embarking on infusions:

• Never use oils like Vitamin E oil, Evening Primrose oil, Fish Oils for making any infusions. Just stick to the basic oils. 
• Do not even use Castor oil as it is very thick and sticky like goo and is very difficult to wash off if used individually. Though Castor oil has myriad benefits for hair, you need to mix this oil with any other light oil like coconut, almond, olive, jojoba, mustard and such. Either use 50-50 or 75-25 concentrations of base oil and Castor oil respectively.
• Avoid mixing other oils as they might get heavy too. 
• Each time you are making infusions, choose a different oil and different herb. This way you will be giving the much needed benefit of various herbs and oils to your hair and will also come to know how your hair reacts to each one of them so that you can choose only the best for the next time.

READ MORE - A simple recipe for Hair Growth

Cold Water for Shiny Hair?

Are you aware of the theory that cold water can bring shine to your hair. Yes, I have read countless of the places that cold water is good for sealing the cuticles after washing and conditioning of the hair and thus, helps in bringing shine. I tried it and as usual with every new product you try, the results were fabulous up to a certain time. But, later on, it too became monotonous and not so amazing. That made me think what is the truth behind such a myth. And, recently, I read somewhere that this theory is actually a myth. Cold water does not help in sealing the cuticle or for that matter, even bringing shine to the hair or preventing frizzes. Cold water helps our hair temporarily until the hair dries be it air-dried or blow-dry. So, in case you are a fan of final cold water rinse, try replacing that with room-temperature hair rinses which will do a whole lot of good for your hair.And, if you are one who can not tolerate cold water on head, do not torture yourself just for the sake of beautiful hair as it would be of no use.

Now, let me make you aware of the reason why the starting results of using cold water rinse were fabulous for me. I was used to using medium to hot water on my hair to wash it and changing that to cold, obviously, gave my hair a boost. But, then, I got used to reduced water temperatures and started using almost lukewarm water and the results stopped showing. The motive in telling you this all was that do not burn your hair using really hot water to wash hair. Use lukewarm water or water at room temperature to wash your hair. Bot excess hot and excess cold are bad for your hair and cause dryness so instead of preventing frizzes, that practice would increase them.

A note to my readers: Due to other commitments, I am unable to post regularly and you must have noticed the irregularity in my posts. Thus, I have decided to write posts once a week instead of everyday. Hope you all will keep with me and enjoy reading my posts. Thanks a lot to you all.

READ MORE - Cold Water for Shiny Hair?

Coriander for Skin and Hair

Yes, this might sound a little weird but its true. Dhaniya (coriander) which is extremely useful in garnishing and which we, literally, sprinkle without really thinking helps in combating hair loss. And, there are scores of ways to ingest this veggie. So, whether you include it as part of your spinach-lettuce drink or banana-honey biotin drink, it will bring no change in taste and add more health.

You would be surprised at the amount of health benefits this supposedly insignificant veggie can provide. To name some, it reduces fever, improves stomach capabilities, lowers blood cholesterol, treats diarrhea and improves menstrual flow. It is rich in proteins, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, iron, water and many more. Including it regularly in the diet provides a complete palate of nutrients into our bodies. 

To help with hair loss, you can also infuse your oil with dried coriander seeds. You can also make coriander hair rinse by boiling a bunch of coriander leaves in enough water and cooling it. And, who knew that coriander would be good for pimples, blackheads and dry skin too. At least, I did not. Take a little of coriander juice or fresh coriander leaves and grind it with a pinch of turmeric. Apply it on your pimples or complete face and wash off after it dries. So, now, coriander does not just remain some insignificant bunch of leaves lying around.

READ MORE - Coriander for Skin and Hair

Beauty Uses of Beetroot

Beetroot is one vegetable which you might hate or love to eat but it sure is good or rather great for your whole body. Since the vegetable is rich in iron, a daily glass of juice relieves you of anemia and helps building a strong immune system. 

This vegetable is also a natural dye so mix the regular henna powder in beetroot juice for an auburn tinge in your hair. And, it is completely chemical free so your hair remains as healthy and beautiful as always. 

Finally, using beetroot juice as a mask gives your complexion a pinkish tinge. So, next time you are whipping a clay mask or any fruit mask, be sure to include a little of beetroot juice or grated beetroot. The results would be visible clearly on a fair skin.Not only that, a regular usage of beetroot helps your skin become flawless as it feeds your skin iron and other vitamins through the pores. All the dark spots and blemishes are gone in a month if you use the mask 5-7 times a week.

You can even include a glass of beetroot juice in your daily diet. It surely will improve your skin and hair from inside as it carries all the vitamins and minerals necessary for beautiful skin and hair.

READ MORE - Beauty Uses of Beetroot