Winter has the evil power to make Rapunzle’s magnificent hair look like a pile of husk. Irrespective of what hair type you have and how healthy, beautiful they are, winter will make them shed their beauty; from lustrous, voluminous, strong, and smooth, they turn to being frizzy, dull, dry, scanty, and damaged. Most common hair problems experienced by a majority during winters include dandruff, frizz, flaky scalp, hair fall, and split ends. One can either be an all-rounder in experiencing these problems, or be lucky enough to be a victim of just one or two of the lot.
During winters, due to dry air, the scalp loses moisture leading to dandruff and flaky scalp. Apart from this, people tend to wash their hair less when the temperatures are low, or wash it with very hot water. This leads to buildup and excess oil deposits at the scalp, around the follicles, causing scaling and dandruff. The embarrassing menace at the scalp affects the lengths too. Lack of moisture causes frizz which leads to breakage and split ends; dandruff, flaky scalp, and dryness lead to increased hair fall. Since every problem has a solution, there are various remedies to tackle each of the aforementioned hair problems.
Remedies for dandruff and scaly scalp
- Olive oil and lemon- Olive oil replaces the lost moisture, while lemon works as an anti-dandruff agent. To use, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Massage this on to your scalp and shampoo after an hour.
- Tea tree oil and coconut oil- Tea tree oil has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which help relieve dry scalp and itchiness. Coconut oil acts as a moisturizer due to the presence of fatty acids. Three to four drops of tea tree oil mixed with 2 tablespoon of coconut oil can be applied from the roots to lengths.
- Curd- Curd acts as a conditioner and its acidity eliminates dandruff. It can be used on its own as a hair mask before shower, left on for 30 minutes.
Remedies for frizz
- Egg and Olive oil- Egg repairs damage in the shaft due to its high protein content, whereas olive oil acts as a hair emollient and conditioner. Beat one egg with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, leave it on your hair for 45 minutes before shampooing.
- Banana and Honey- This is a highly hydrating hair mask. Apply one mashed ripe banana mixed with 2 tablespoons of honey. Leave it on for 45 minutes, then shampoo.
- Hot oil massages- Hot oils penetrate deeper in the scalp replacing the lost moisture, eliminating frizz. Oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, and olive oil can be used as they are highly moisturizing. Warm them up and massage into the scalp and through the lengths. Leave it on for 1 hour before shampooing.
Remedies for hair fall
Hair fall during winters is a result of dryness. Therefore, elimination of dryness will reduce hair fall. Hot oil massages, and the three hair masks mentioned above can be used as they eliminate dryness and strengthen the roots and shaft.
One remedy for all hair problems
One of the most effective remedies ideal for treating all hair concerns is the use of Amla oil (Indian gooseberry). Amla is a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, and has a high iron and carotene content. It helps get rid of dry flakes from the scalp and dissolves grease and dirt from the follicles. It strengthens the hair shafts, preventing issues such as breakage and split-ends while enhancing hair growth. Amla oil can either be made by cooking dried Amla in coconut oil, or by infusing dried Amla or Amla powder in warm coconut oil. Store bought Amla oil can also be used provided they are all natural and paraben free. One such oil is Looloo Mumtaz Amla Hair Oil. The oil along with Amla has added goodness of brahmi, lemon, neem, and henna which allows it to provide all-round hair care.
