Hair is one of the integral parts of our self image. Now a days each one of us suffer from some hair problem. If you are a man or a woman, this problem has become a generic one. While women desire for long, shiny beautiful hair, men want black and healthy growth. Everyday we see so many products being launched which gives assurance to cure us of our hair related problems. So many clinics have been opened which treat only hair related problem. But the sad part of the story is that most of them rely on chemically made products which do have side effects.

        However, if we agree to spend some time in enhancing the quality of our hair, there are so many home remedies which are time tested. Not all the remedies will work for everyone, but some of them would surely do. Not all, because the hair type is different for each individual same way as our skin is. But there is one assurance that none of them would produce any side effects.

I have tried giving the most used home remedies. Here are some of them:

Tips for hair growth(Overall):

 Your diet and water: This is the key to a healthy hair. Your food habits are one of the factors that affect the hair growth and damage. Try eating healthy food including fruits, sprouts and green vegetable. Oily and fried foods should be avoided. Also drink at least 6- 7 liters of water daily.

Use heena once in a fortnight: You could also mix eggs, coffee, shikakai and amla according to your hair type. Henna conditions the hair and makes your hair bouncy. It is also used for coloring the hair naturally.

 Use Amla (Indian gooseberry): Eating raw amla is the best way. They are mainly available during the winter season. If you don’t find eating a good choice, try applying amla oil or amla juice. It has high content of Vitamin C and prevents hair loss.

Use Brahmi(Bacopa monnieri ) oil or Brahmi(Bacopa monnieri )essence: Use it according  to your hair type. Oil should be used for dry hair and essence should be used for oily hair. Brahmi has a very healing effect on the nerves. It also helps in reducing stress. It acts as a hair booster.

Try using Reetha(Sapindus Mukorossi) as a shampoo: For this, take 3 to 5 whole reetha. Remove the seed within it and boil it with water. Rinse the water well with the reetha. You will see the foams forming. This is much better than the chemically made shampoo.

Rub over the scalp: Rubbing the scalp vigorously after washing your hair with cold water prevents hair loss. It energies the sebaceous glands and activates the circulation of blood over that part.

Drink lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Spinach Juice: A mixture of lettuce and spinach, both leafy vegetables, juice is believed to enhance the growth of hair. Lettuce contains vitamin A and folic acid and is a low calorie food. Spinach has high nutritional value and has vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. It is recommended to have it half a liter on a daily basis.

Use coconut milk: Apply coconut milk over the hair and gently massage deep into the hair roots. This helps in the nourishment of the hair and prevents hair growth.

Use onion juice: Try using onion juice over the scalp. It stimulates hair growth.

Apply Aloe Vera: Extract some Aloe Vera gel from the plant and mix it with honey. Apply this on scalp and leave it for twenty minutes. This help in the hair growth.

 Use Potato water: When cooking potatoes do not throw away the water. Potato water accelerates hair growth. Rinse your hair with it when the potato water reaches the normal temperature favorable for rinsing.

Make Plaits at Night: Make two braids of hair after a night hair wash and sleep with those at night. Braiding protects the hair from entangling and thus reduces hair fall.

Trim your hair regularly: Trimming the hair helps removing the splits end and thus enhance healthy growth.

Tips for oily hair:

                              Before experimenting anything with our hair we should always keep in mind about our hair type. Oily hair has enough of oil needed for the hair, hence applying oil will do no benefit to the hair. Instead it will make your hair look stickier. You should try doing the given remedies in case your hair type is oily.

•  Make a paste of ginger juice, gram flour (beasn) and lemon juice. Add water to make a smooth paste. Apply on hair and keep it for not more than 40 minutes as gram flour dries very easily and is difficult to remove. You could apply this once in a week.
• Use essence instead of oil. Avoid using oils that makes your hair sticky. You could try the following essence:

1.Try applying Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri essence on hair. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri essence is a hair booster.

2.You could also opt for Marigold essence (genda ka phool).

3.Try applying Hibiscus (Arhul) essence. The red as well as white hibiscus is a hair tonic and very good for hair growth. It prevents hair loss or hair graying.

Note: I have mentioned the natural way to make home made essence. However, if not possible you could also purchase it from any Ayurvedic or Herbal medicated brands.

• Try applying Aloe Vera juice.

How to make Flower Essence:

 It is a tedious process and takes time.

Time Taken: at least 15 days.

How to make it: You should have at least 150-100 flowers either of Hibiscus (arhul) or Marigold (genda) .Remove each of the petals from the bud. Be careful while plucking them and check for any insects. It should also be not infected by any pesticide or herbicide. After removing the petals from the bud, wash it gently with clean water. Use a strainer to make sure all the water has been drained. Allow the petals to be dried completely.

Take a long cotton thread and one by one make a necklace of the flower petals. Also, choose a clean bottle with a cover. Now hang the petal necklace over the bottle without it touching the bottom surface. Keep the bottle where there is enough sunshine. You will see the petal juice gets collected drop by drop. It takes around 15 days to collect 100 ml of pure essence. Thus you get the purest and saturated form of flower essence.

Same method can be applied for leaves as Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri).

Precautions to be taken: Try to pluck the flowers early in the morning. They blossom the most during that time.

Best before: 6 months.

Dry hair has a deficiency of oil. So you should nourish your hair by applying the oil which suits your hair type.

Use hot oil to treat your scalp; A warm oil massage is the best way to treat dry hair. You could use the following oil:

Almond oil: Almond oil contains Vitamin A which helps with sebum production. 

It also contains Vitamin E which helps in the growth of the hair and nourishes the root hair

Castor oil: It thickens and conditions the hair. It also helps to heal split ends. Not only this, it can be applied over the eyebrows and eyelashes to thicken it.

Coconut Oil:  It is a rich source of fatty acids. It helps in the hair growth and improving its texture.

Apply Honey - Honey is known for its antibacterial and healing properties. It is used for conditioning dry and dull hair. Use it as a last rinse for washing your hair. It would make your hair shiny.

 Some more tips:

To add shine to the hair:

• Egg yolk makes your hair shiny. Use it with the henna pack to make it more bouncy and luscious.

For Dandruff:

• Try applying neem essence. It is an anti dandruff tonic.        

• You could also use lemon juice. 

For removing Hair Lice:

• The first and foremost thing is to wash your hair thrice a day. Clean hair keeps the lice away.

• Do not share your comb with anybody.

• When using oil, be it coconut oil or any other, mix camphor to it and then apply.

• Try neem juice or lemon juice .Apply it on the hair for about 40 minutes.

• Wash your hair well with Shampoo. Make sure that the chemicals in the shampoo does not remain in hair .Hence wash and rinse it with water several times. You could also apply lemon juice as your last rinse.