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We all know besan, also known as gram flour, is good for our skin. But, do you know besan can do wonders to your hair too? Yeah, you heard it right. From the ancient times besan is being used to treat various skin problems and hair issues. Besan has too many healthy nutrients in it, which is proved to be beneficial for your hair. It makes your hair strong and healthy, and give your tresses a flawless look.Some of them include:

- Hair growth
- Prevents hair fall
- Works as hair cleanser
- Controls frizz
- Fights hair dryness
- Works as a natural conditioner
- Prevents dandruff
- Gives you shinny and long hair
- Prevents split ends

With these amazing hair benefits of besan, you can have long, shiny hair. All you need to do is to regularly apply besan mask on your hair. There are various types of besan mask that you can use as per your hair type and problems.

Here are various types of besan hair masks:

1. Besan with curd hair mask

Besan mixed with curd is beneficial for your hair as this mixture boosts and rejuvenates the scalp, which results in hair growth. Curd contains antioxidants and beneficial bacteria that help prevent impurities and dirt from the scalp. If you often experience scratching and itching on the scalp, then you can add turmeric as well to the mixture. Did you know that besan and curd together act as a great substitute for shampoo and conditioner?

How to use:
1. Take some besan and mix it with small amount of curd.
2. Now, add turmeric in it and make a paste.
3. Apply the paste on your hair and leave it for 30 minutes.
4. After that wash your hair with lukewarm water.

2. Besan with olive oil hair mask

Olive oil is healthy for your hair and when it is mixed with besan, it gets even healthier. The mixture of besan and olive oil makes your hair long and strong.

How to use:
1. Take some besan and add some olive oil in it to make a thick paste.
2. Apply the paste on the roots of the hair and leave it for some time.
3. Before the hair turns extremely dry wash it off with lukewarm water.

3. Besan with almond powder hair mask

Besan and almond powder when mixed together gives you healthy, black and bouncy hair. It improves the texture of your hair, helps retain their natural colour, and gives volume to your hair. You can add vitamin E oil capsules in the mixture, if you are suffering from hair damage.

How to use:
1. Take some besan and almond powder and mix them together.
2. Now, add some lemon juice and honey to the mixture and make a paste of it.
3. Apply the mask on your hair and leave it for some time.
4. Wash it off with plain water.
5. Repeat this routine twice a week to see the results.

4. Besan with egg hair mask

If you are suffering from dull and dry hair, then this hair mask is perfect for you. Besan and egg together condition your hair and make them soft and silky. The mask is known to remove the dryness of your hair and makes them soft and glossy.

How to use:
1. Take some besan and add egg in it and whisk them together.
2. Now, add lemon and honey and mix them together to make a paste.
3. Apply the mixture on the scalp and wait for some time.
4. After that wash it off with lukewarm water.

5. Besan with mayonnaise hair mask

Mayonnaise is excellent for your hair and when combined with besan, it gives your hair the perfect therapy they want. This hair mask helps moisture your hair and make it frizz-free by deep conditioning them. This hair mask is also known to help in your hair growth.

How to use:
1. Take some besan and mix it with some mayonnaise.
2. Now, add honey in the mixture and make paste of it.
3. Apply the paste on your hair and leave it for some time.
4. After that rinse it off with plain water.

Beer is a much-loved alcoholic beverage that we all perhaps associate with fun times with friends, loud parties and shiny memories on hot summer days. However, did you know that beer is much more than just a companion for hangouts and parties, and can, in fact, benefit you in a number of ways? Apart from the obvious benefit of helping in stress relief, beers may have a number of other health and beauty benefits too, which many of you may be unaware of. A 2000 study conducted by Guy’s Hospital in London, said that drinking darker beers may help improve the quality of your skin, as they are rich in antioxidants. This is due to the presence of ferulic acid present in barley, which is used in making beers. According to the study, this acid is more easily absorbed by the body from beer, making it somewhat of a beauty potion.

However, beer is not just good for the skin, but it may benefit your hair as well. Beer is used by a number of people in making shampoos, and de-carbonated beers are also used as conditioners to help repair damaged hair and reinvigorate the volume of your hair.

Beer For Hair: How To Use It As A Conditioner
Hollywood actor, Catherine Zeta Jones in 2009 had revealed that she used beer and honey to condition her beautiful black mane, which is quite an unusual 'home remedy'. Since then, thousands of beauty experts and bloggers have tried and denounced this hair washing regimen, saying that beer does, in fact, improve the quality of their hair, but not substantially enough for them to waste whole bottles of the bubbly beverage on their hair.

On the other hand, a number of brands have cashed in on the trend and launched products with beer in them, claiming to give you softer, glossier and voluminous hair. The hops used in the preparation of beer are said to contain silica, which may help in strengthening hair follicles and promoting growth too. So, if you have been intrigued by what effect beer is going to have on your hair and want to try this unusual treatment out, we can help you out by telling you exactly how to go about it.

Here Is A Step-By-Step Guide To Do The Beer Rinse At Home:
1. Take a can or a bottle of beer and pour it out into a bowl or a jug. Leave this poured beer out into the open and let it sit for some time. When the beer has been de-carbonated or has turned 'flat', transfer it into a spare container and keep it in the bathroom to use it while you wash your hair. It's very important that only flat beer has been used in rinsing, as the carbon dioxide in the beer can combine with water and turn it to hard water, which will hamper the cleansing action of the shampoo, making it hard for you to clean your hair.

2. Use your regular shampoo to clean your hair and instead of using your favoured conditioner, reach for that container of flat beer. Pour the beer directly onto your hair and slowly massage it into the roots of your hair for about one minute. The minerals in beer are said to be beneficial for the skin on your scalp as well. This is, particularly, helpful if you have an oily scalp. Leave the beer on for a few minutes.

3. Rinse the beer off with cold water. Don't worry if some of the beer is left behind on the scalp, as it is considered to be beneficial for the hair. Use it only once or twice a week, as too much use of beer on your hair may lead to dryness of scalp and dandruff.

Tip: If you want to enhance the abilities of your beer conditioner, you can add a number of other hair-friendly ingredients to it before using it for rinsing. Some people add natural ingredients like honey, apple cider vinegar, or egg, as well as natural oils like chamomile oil, jojoba oil, etc, to the flat beer to enhance its conditioning abilities.

So, now you know! If you suffer from excessive hair breakage, hair fall, dandruff or other chronic hair problems, it's better to keep away from this beer treatment, as in these cases medicated conditioners may be the best. It's advisable to consult a noted dermatologist before modifying your hair care routine.

Olive oil is creating a storm in kitchens across the world. Not only is it being used in wide number of culinary preparations across various cuisines, but its healthful properties are being talked about by various health enthusiasts. The fat that is obtained after crushing olives is what is termed as olive oil. It complements a lot with delights like salads and pastas and is quite enjoyed for its pungent flavour. The numerous benefits that it comes with is not only when it is consumed in dishes etc., but it is also when applied topically on skin and hair. In a lot of homemade massage treatments, olive oil is used as a common base, and it is then combined with various essential oils.

Here's how olive oil massage for hair can benefit you:

Improves Hair Quality

If you happen to be one of those who is always in quest for remedies for dandruff and itchy scalp, then this wonder oil is definitely for you. A good hair massage with olive oil may help keep dry and flaky scalp at bay. Dry and flaky scalp can turn out to be quite annoying and embarrassing as dry scalp often results in dandruff. Olive oil massage works by moisturising and conditioning the dry scalp and hair. A good massage can retain the moisture that our hair needs to grow and sustain. You can use this easy home remedy in the comforts of your home by just using few basic ingredients. Use olive oil as a base component and combine it with essential oil of your choice. Mix both the ingredients well and using your fingertips; massage the oil into your scalp, but in circular motion. The hair massage will not only benefit your hair, but will also give you a soothing and relaxed feeling. Allow this mixture to stay for around 15 minutes and wash it off using a mild shampoo. This olive oil massage may help retain the lost sheen of your tresses.

May Relieve Pain And Swelling

As per Ayurveda, olive oil is quite often used in India for medicinal purposes. Olive oil massage is used as therapy and is known to provide relief from inflammation, swelling, aches and muscle spasms. A lot of people suffer from the problem of frequent muscle sprains and cramps. Though medication can come to great help, but a massage therapy could possibly provide quick relief from the painful condition. Various pain killers may provide you with temporary relief; however, the proper nourishing would only be possible with the help of a good massage. If you have a problem with the strong and pungent aroma of olive oil, then you can mix it with some aromatic essential oil of your choice. In order to get efficient results, one must pair the olive oil massage with yoga exercises for joints.

Keeps Dry Skin At Bay

Winter is here and along with it comes the problem of dry and flaky skin. The harsh weather can take a toll on your skin health to a great extent. So, in order to cope with it, it is essential to follow a skin care regime that can provide you with effective results. One such natural home remedy that may do wonders for your skin health is olive oil massage. The benefits of olive oil massage on skin are aplenty. Not only does it help in keeping dry skin at bay, but also nourishes the skin from within, giving you a soft and supple skin. If you wish to make the most of this home remedy, you can also mix olive oil with vitamin E oil, which is again a perfect ingredient for skin care. While massaging, an addition of vitamin E capsule in olive oil could provide with great results.

So, what are you waiting for? Bring olive oil to your rescue and make it a part of you winter skin care rituals. If you know of more such ways of including olive oil in beauty care regime, do let us know in the comments section below.

Winter season is on its last legs but the impact of the same is here to stay for a while. Extreme change in temperature not only impacts one's overall health, but also tends to make the skin and hair go dry and dull. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated, especially in the cold winter months. If you have been suffering from dry hair and find it difficult to manage those tresses, then all you need to do is to bring some kitchen ingredients to help. Yes, you read that right! The ingredients you make use of on a daily basis in cooking can come to great help in improving the quality of your dead locks. One such kitchen ingredient is mustard oil or sarson ka tel. Mustard oil is an intrinsic part of any Indian household kitchen.

Indians make use of this ingredient to a vast extent. The pungent oil is known for its health-benefiting properties like boosting immunity, treating cold and is also known to provide nourishment to the skin and hair. If your tresses are unmanageable and rough, then mustard oil can come to great help. It may also even help encourage hair growth! Its high amount of omega-3 fatty acid content is an essential nutrient to stimulate hair growth. So, if you're someone who has always dreamt of having beautiful and lustrous long hair, here is a magic ingredient for you.

Mustard oil acts as an excellent conditioner for your hair too and makes them look lively. Quite often a dry scalp gives rise to itchiness. If you suffer from frequent bouts of scalp itchiness, then massaging your hair with mustard oil regularly would help increase the blood circulation in your scalp.

Here is a hair mask prepared using mustard oil that could do wonders for your dry hair:

Things You Need:

Mustard Oil
Yogurt

Procedure:

To begin with, take a bowl and add mustard oil and yogurt to it. Mix well both the ingredients and apply the mixture onto your scalp. Then take a fresh towel and soak it into some hot water. Once it has been completely soaked, wring it and wrap it around your hair. Allow it to stay for about 30 to 40 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo.

So, make use of this hair mask and say bye-bye to dry and frizzy hair.

Not a lot of people are very familiar with black seeds, or kalonji. The unique-looking seeds have a distinctive flavour, which adds a delicious aroma to any food that they are added to. Black seeds are used in a number of Indian preparations, including curries, dals and even savoury snacks like samosas, kachoris etc. They are also added to some Indian flat-breads like kulchas and parathas to add flavour and taste to these breads. Black seeds are incredibly healthful as well and it is used and consumed for medicinal purposes as well. These flavourful black seeds are packed with antioxidants, and hence, have a number of beauty benefits as well.

Black seed oil (or nigella sativa oil) can be applied topically on your facial skin and hair and can also be consumed to fight a number of ailments. The oil is known to have cholesterol-fighting abilities and it may also help in regulating blood sugar and inducing weight loss. But it is very popular among Indians for combating a number of beauty problems as well. Here are some beauty benefits of using black seed oil that you must know about.

Kalonji Oil (Nigella Sativa Oil) For Gorgeous Skin And Hair
Here are some ways that kalonji oil is beneficial for your skin and hair:

1. Anti-Bacterial In Nature
The oil is anti-bacterial in nature and when applied on the skin may prevent acne by fighting off skin infections. A diluted solution of nigella sativa oil may be applied on the skin to reduce acne growth.

2. Packed With Antioxidants
The oil is said to neutralise free radicals in the body, which may improve the quality of your skin and hair. Kalonji oil is, therefore, effective in fighting inflammation, leaving the skin feeling young and healthy.

3. Fights Hair Fall
Kalonji oil is used to fight hair fall and even to induce hair re-growth, due to the presence of Nigellone and Thymoquinone in it. The latter is known to be an inflammation-fighting compound. It also nourishes the hair follicles and prevents the hair from falling off. The application of this oil is said to be a safe and natural way to re-grow hair, without medication.

4. Improve Hair And Scalp Health
Regular application of sativa oil may significantly improve scalp health by combating dandruff and scalp irritation. It is also known to prevent and even reverse graying of hair by preserving pigmentation in hair follicles.

5. Fights Skin Infections
Common skin infections, particularly psoriasis and eczema, can be resolved by applying the oil on your skin. This is because the oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and may also soothe irritation on the skin, leaving it soft and moisturised.

You can mix kalonji oil with a number of other natural beauty ingredients like coconut oil, honey, olive oil etc. and apply it on your skin and hair, in order to fight common beauty problems. Include kalonji oil in your beauty regime to reap its benefits today!

Dr. Vivek  Sahu
Dr. Vivek Sahu
MD - Homeopathy, 17 yrs, Pune
Dr. Manish Rawool
Dr. Manish Rawool
MS/MD - Ayurveda, Ayurveda Family Physician, 4 yrs, Pune
Dr. S K  Toke
Dr. S K Toke
DNB, Pulmonologist General Physician, 11 yrs, Pune
Dr. Rupesh Khandelwal
Dr. Rupesh Khandelwal
BDS, Dentist, 14 yrs, Pune
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