Search Results for: hair

March 6, 2023 By Harpreet Kaur 11 Comments

Hair and Skincare Tips For Holi!

Holi is a festival of fun and mirth with plenty of colors and zeal. The tradition is to wish a Happy Holi by smearing colors at each other. Few decades ago, the colors used in Holi were derived from dry flowers and leaves. Even sandalwood paste, saffron, turmeric, henna and fuller’s earth were used to play Holi.

However, with rapid change in times and instant solutions, came cheaper, easily available industrial colors that replaced the natural ones. These industrial colors contain a variety of harmful compounds like malachite green, auramine, methyl violet, copper sulphate, aluminium bromide, prussian blue and cobalt nitrate. They are often mixed with starch, wheat flour and micadust.

The colors are disastrous for the skin as they increase the chances of allergies and infections. The most commonly affected areas include the face, scalp, forearms, neck and hands. So, how exactly do you avoid being affected by these harmful chemicals? The answer is quite simple!

Pre-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

Use Organic Colors: You can make skin-friendly, natural colors at home. For instance, you can use roasted chic peas powder to make gulal. If you have hypersensitive skin, it is best to avoid chemical colors
Oil Your Way to Safety: Apply coconut oil, mustard oil or olive oil on your hair and scalp before playing Holi to prevent the color from blocking the pores
Apply Aloe Vera gel and oil on your body to create a layer of protection on the skin. Don’t forget to cover the ear area
Blend Castor Oil with Coconut Carrier Oil and apply it half an hour before playing Holi. This will protect your skin from chemicals. It also helps the colors come off easily during bath
Use Vaseline on Your Lips to keep them moisturized. You can even apply it on your ears
Use Sunscreen on your exposed skin to avoid skin damage. Try keeping yourself as covered as possible
Apply Transparent Nail Paint on your nails to prevent the color from getting inside the skin
Stay Hydrated all the time by drinking water and juices regularly

Post-Holi Hair and Skincare Tips

Clean your skin with baby oil. Do not scrub the skin for at least 48 hours post Holi
Use natural ingredients like curd and chic peas flour to exfoliate the skin and cleanse it
After bathing, apply moisturizer liberally all over to seal the moisture in
Avoid using make up or anything harsh on your skin for a few days. Let your skin breathe and get back its natural moisture
Wrap a couple of ice cubes in a thin cotton cloth and use it to soothe your face and neck area. This will help protect your skin from dryness and sunburn
Mix 2 tablespoons of Olive oil with 4 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this nourishing pack to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Use a light herbal shampoo and a good quality conditioner as well

By Adopting these simple measure before and after the festival, you can make it an enjoyable experience! Were these tips helpful? What do you do to protect your hair and skin during Holi? Let us know in the comments below!

For more on skincare, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalised health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Wish you all a Happy and Healthy Holi!

#BeTheForce

December 8, 2022 By Sunita Arora 7 Comments

Homemade Hair Oil For Long and Healthy Hair

Dandruff and subsequent hair fall problems are like a plague. Despite the use of a myriad of shampoos, conditioners and serums, sometimes these problems just don’t go away. While you might be burning through your pocket to find a solution that works, have you tried making your own oil? Oiling your hair regularly is a fantastic way to keep your hair healthy and strong. In fact, homemade hair oil works better! It’s ideal for men and women and is a one-stop solution to all your hair problems! Most importantly, it is easy to make and light on the pocket.

How To Make Your Own Homemade Hair Oil

We can make homemade hair oil by mixing 2 oils, one base oil which is easily available like coconut oil and the second oil is a supplement oil that can be castor oil. You will need to add some herbs like amla, fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, etc. This oil acts as a tonic for your hair and rids you from many hair problems like hair fall, dandruff, dry scalp, premature greying, dull and rough hair, etc.

Ingredients

200g extra virgin Coconut Oil
50g Castor Oil
2 tbsp Amla Pieces (Dried)
1 tbsp Fenugreek Seeds (Methi Dana)
1 tsp Nigella Seeds ( Kalonji)
10-12 Curry leaves (Dried)
8-10 Holy basil (Tulsi) leaves (Dried)
8-10 Hibiscus flowers

How to Make and Use the Oil

Take an Iron pan and add coconut oil, dried amla, fenugreek seeds and nigella seeds, all types of leaves etc.
Heat it for 10-12 minutes on medium flame.
After some time, dried amla pieces will swell, Fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds and curry leaves too will turn black in colour.
Turn the flame off and let it cool down. If possible leave it like this for a day or two.
Once done, strain it. Though, I do not strain it and prefer it as it is.
Mix castor oil in it and store in an airtight, wide-mouthed bottle because during winters the oil gets hard and might be difficult to remove.
Shake well before using and massage gently 2-3 times in a week with this oil.
It’s better to heat it a little before applying.
After massaging, give hot towel treatment to your hair for more effective results.

Amazing Benefits of the Ingredients

Coconut oil: moisturizes dry hair, adds lustre and shine to the hair and prevents hair loss and split ends.
Castor oil: works as a natural hair conditioner to keep hair and scalp healthy.
Fenugreek seeds: helps in treating scalp issues like dryness, baldness and thinning of hair.
Nigella Seeds: promote hair growth, give shine and lustre to hair texture and reduce premature greying of hair.
Tulsi and Curry leaves: help in treating dandruff and itchy scalp problems, conditions hair and stimulates hair growth. It also strengthens hair follicles.
Hibiscus flowers: boost hair growth, stimulate regrowth from bald patches and treat hair fall.

Anyone irrespective of gender and age can use this hair oil to improve hair health and cure hair problems.

Caution: Some hair shed is normal when you oil your hair. All these will be dead or weak hair. No need to worry. With regular massage using this magic homemade hair oil, a lot of new hair will grow, your hair fall will be controlled and texture your hair will also improve.

Switch to regularly oiling your hair. It is essential and along with regular massage, eat a balanced diet. We hope this article on homemade hair oil helps you beat hair issues and say goodbye to stress, harsh chemicals and hair dyes! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more topics on hair health, check out Healthy Reads or speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

February 8, 2021 By Roopa Tandur Leave a Comment

Nutritional Deficiencies That Can Cause Hair Loss

Hair is a tough protein made of keratin. The hair bulbs at the base of the hair follicle divide and grow to build the hair shaft. Blood vessels nourish the hair bulb and deliver the hormones that modify hair growth. Hair grows at different rates in different people. Hair loss also happens at different rates in different people for different reasons like heredity, hormonal changes like hypothyroidism, medical condition or side effects of medicines, ageing or even stress. We do shed around 50-200 hair every day and it is perfectly normal. Also, in some situations like post pregnancy in women, when there is more than normal hair loss due to sudden imbalance of calorie intake, which usually gets resolved by itself. Whatever the reason for hair fall, these two small words can be a nightmare for many. Let’s understand what nutritional deficiencies can lead to hair loss!

Which Nutritional Deficiencies Can Cause Hair Loss?

Vitamin D Deficiency: Vitamin D is very important for hair growth as it stimulates hair follicles and also helps in maintaining thickness of each hair strand. Low levels of vitamin D in the body may cause thinning of hair or slow hair growth. Keratinocytes in skin metabolise vitamin D to keratin – a protein found in hair, skin and nails. Low levels of vitamin D make it difficult for the keratinocytes in hair follicles to regulate hair growth and its shedding. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with higher stress levels which support hair fall. Getting 400-800 IU of vitamin D a day is very important. This can be easily achieved with 10-30 minutes of sun exposure.
Vitamin B7 or Biotin Deficiency: Though biotin deficiency is very rare in people (as biotin is found easily in foods like banana, carrot, egg yolks, legumes, nuts, etc.), it can occur by heredity or in people who consume excessive amounts of alcohol, smoke excessively, people with inflammatory bowel disease or in people who have raw egg whites which contain avidin that blocks absorption of biotin.
Iron Deficiency: When one has iron deficiency, the circulation of haemoglobin is less – which means less oxygen uptake by the body and slower growth and repair of cells, including cells that stimulate hair growth. When there is less circulating oxygen in the body, the available supply is channelized to vital organs to keep them alive rather than to hair follicles. Without oxygen, hair follicles cease to function properly and eventually fall out. Including foods like whole wheat grains, beans, chickpea, tofu, peas, nuts, raisins, spinach and chicken ensures that you have good iron stores in the body. When you notice more than usual hair in your shower drain or hair brush, it is time to get your haemoglobin levels tested.
Vitamin C: While vitamin C deficiency is rare as it is easily available in many food items, the common risk factors include poor diet, alcoholism, anorexia, smoking and chronic illness. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the absorption of iron from the intestines which leads to weakness and hair loss. Having citrus fruits like oranges, sweet lime, lemon, strawberry, guava and other foods like sweet potato, chillies, thyme, kale and broccoli on a regular basis, ensures your vitamin levels are maintained on a higher side
Vitamin E: with its antioxidant properties helps in reducing oxidative stress on the scalp and reduces free radical damage and protects hair cells. Vitamin E helps improve scalp health and hair health. It creates a protective layer on the hair follicles and locks in moisture making it shiny and easy to manage. Vitamin E supports a healthy scalp by protecting the lipid layer and reducing dryness and scaling of the scalp. Food sources of vitamin E include nuts and seeds like almonds and walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, wheat germ oil, peanuts, avocado, mango and spinach.

Tips To Reduce Hair Fall

Eat well balanced meals containing protein, complex carbs and healthy fats
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day to aid the digestion and absorption of nutrients from your diet
Include healthy snacks in between meals to maintain energy levels
Include foods like whole grain cereals, eggs, nuts, leafy vegetables, tofu, legumes, quinoa, beans, avocado, dairy, orange and lime to get all the essential nutrients to support healthy tresses
Get good exposure to sunlight so that you maintain your vitamin D levels, if not do supplement it regularly
Maintain scalp and hair hygiene by using a mild shampoo at least 2 times a week
Keep stress levels within normal limits
Get good quality sleep and exercise at least 4-5 days a week

We hope this article on nutritional deficiencies that can cause hair loss helps you! For more on hair loss and hair care, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce

February 26, 2019 By Satish Kurapaty 9 Comments

Hair Loss & Foods To Prevent It

After a long and tiring day when I reached home late at night, I had this good idea to get a head massage to be able to sleep well. I started massaging my head gently with oil. After a while I was shocked to see a mop of hair in my hand. I was losing a lot of hair…

More often than not, we are unaware of hair loss. We are so busy with our daily routine and hectic work schedules that we do not pay attention to these matters. However, let me tell you that it is very important to be aware of everything that is happening within us. We need to understand the reason for hair loss. Anybody can experience hair loss. It is not peculiar to men alone. Women and children can also go through hair loss.

Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hair every day. But, if you see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. There are many causes of hair loss. Women may notice hair loss after giving birth. People under lot of stress can see noticeable hair loss. Some diseases and medical treatments can cause hair loss. Even how you style and care for your hair can cause hair loss.

It may be temporary or permanent, and the most common cause of hair loss is a medical condition called hereditary hair loss. Hair loss can happen in many different ways, depending on the problem that’s causing it. It can come suddenly or gradually and affect your scalp.

Let us take a detailed look at the some of the reasons that cause hair loss:

Hormonal Changes: The most common hair loss is a hereditary condition called male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. Genetically susceptible people and certain sex hormones trigger a particular pattern of permanent hair loss. Most common in men, this type of hair thinning can begin as early as puberty. Hormonal changes and imbalance can also cause temporary hair loss. This could be found in women due to child birth or the onset of menopause.
Medical Conditions that can lead to hair loss are thyroid problems, skin infections or other skin disorders. Hair loss can also be caused by Alopecia Areata, which is a condition that starts suddenly and causes patchy hair loss in children and young adults. This condition may result in complete baldness (Alopecia Totalis) but in about 90% of people with the condition, the hair returns within a few years.
Medications can also cause hair loss. Drugs used to treat cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems and blood pressure are some of them.
Physical or Mental Shock: Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock.
Hair Pulling Disorder: Mental illness causes people to have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair whether it’s from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. Hair pulling from scalp often leaves patchy bald spots on the head.
Certain Hair Styles: Traction hair loss can occur if the hair is pulled too tightly into hairstyles such as pigtails and cornrows.

For some types of hair loss, hair may grow without any treatment while for other types of hair loss treatment may help the hair grow back.

It is very important to understand the causes of hair loss. You should make a note of all the possible changes that happen in your day to day life. Understand the cause and work towards it. Few tips such as eating healthy, nutritional and balanced food may help. Avoid tight hairstyles and avoid compulsive twisting, rubbing or pulling of your hair.

Here are a few tips that I have chalked out that will help you maintain healthy hair. Certain foods in our diet will keep your scalp healthy. Foods that contain proteins, iron, silica and zinc help preventing hair loss.

Protein: Hair is primarily made of protein and therefore, it makes sense to eat a protein rich diet. Stick to leaner proteins such as fish, chicken, calf’s liver, low fat cheese, eggs, almonds, beans and yogurt. Soy milk and tofu are also smart options to add to your diet as they are high in protein and low in bad fats.
Iron: Iron plays a key role in manufacturing hemoglobin, the part of blood that carries oxygen to your body‘s organs and tissues. Adding more iron to your diet doesn’t mean you have to feast on liver, day in and day out, but when you are craving for something sweet, remember that dried fruits and cherry juice are packed with iron. Try eggs, dates, raisins, dark green leafy vegetables such as Kale and whole grain cereals. Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, so fruits such as orange, strawberries and lemons should be in your grocery list of foods that prevent hair loss.
Silica: Add silica to your daily menu and see the difference because body uses silica to help it absorb vitamins and minerals. If you are not consuming silica, eating vitamins might not help much. Silica can be found in bean, sprouts and skin of cucumber. You will also find it in red and green peppers and potatoes.
Zinc: Many men who suffer from hair loss are found to have zinc deficiencies. Zinc plays a key role in many of the body’s functions, from cell reproduction to hormonal balance, which in turn affects hair growth. Zinc manages the glands that attach to your hair follicles. Eat Zinc-heavy foods such as red meats, poultry, mussels, shrimp, nuts, and oysters.

Just as your overall health will improve from eating a balanced diet, so should the health of your hair. Do not eat things that speed up hair loss. You may be experiencing a thinning on top already, but you can counteract this problem (or at least slow it down) by eating from every food group daily — concentrating on foods that are rich in protein, iron, silica, and zinc.