Ginger, or adrak, is one spice that all Indians, or rather Asians, are very well aware of. The flavour-enhancing root spice is added to a number of curries, drinks and even sweets. The warm and zingy-tasting ginger is a part of a number of our home remedies for digestive troubles, as well as for cold and cough. The active compound in ginger, gingerol has analgesic (pain-relieving), sedative (sleep-inducing), antipyretic (anti-fever) and antibacterial properties. This makes ginger a good remedy for a whole range of problems. Ginger is also good for fighting inflammation in the body, due to the presence of antioxidant zingerone in it. This is why ginger is able to boost immunity and enhance skin quality as well. But, did you know that you can even fight scalp infections and dandruff using ginger?

Ginger is indeed a great beauty ingredient as well. Ginger juice can be added to face and hair masks to fight skin and scalp infections, due to its anti-bacterial or anti-microbial abilities. Ginger juice can restore health to your scalp and may even help in dealing with itchy scalp and dandruff. Some people even use ginger juice to control hair fall, as dandruff is considered a leading cause for hair fall. However, the role of ginger is preventing hair fall has only been proven by anecdotal evidence. It can most certainly help you dealing with dandruff. Here's how to use it to regain a healthy and happy skin on your scalp.

Ginger Hair Mask For Dandruff And Itchy Scalp
How to make ginger hair mask for dandruff and itchy scalp:
1. Take a fresh ginger root and slice it into pieces using a sharp knife or grate it.

2. Add sliced or grated ginger to some water and set it boil on a low flame. Slowly the colour of the water will start to change and after a few minutes it will turn slightly muddy or translucent yellow.

3. Take the water off the flame and filter it out using a fine sieve.

4. Press the residual ginger collected over the sieve to drain out the maximum juice into the container.

5. Allow the water to cool down. You can either pour this juice into a tiny spray bottle and spray it onto your scalp directly or mix it with an oil carrier and then apply the oil to your scalp.

Allow the mask to sit on your scalp for half an hour and then rinse it off with a gentle anti-dandruff shampoo. You can treat your scalp to the ginger juice or ginger juice mixture about once a week, in order to deal with dandruff and itchy scalp. The latter is the indication of bacterial growth and you may have it checked by a dermatologist before trying to treat it yourself. Besides this hair mask, regular oiling and massage is also important to treat dandruff.

Don't you just hate it when your hair are just a bundle of thin damaged strands? Pollution, chemical based shampoos and poor quality of water are factors that are making our hair from bad to worse. Hair fall and poor hair growth are common problems faced by people of this generation. Perhaps it is time to revisit the roots. Ayurveda has many secrets that can help restore your hair growth and volume. Ayurveda Expert Dr. Ashutosh Gautam suggests few herbs and foods that can come handy for hair growth and reduce hair fall. These Ayurvedic tips for hair growth are extremely simple and effective. Most of these herbs and food for hair growth are present in your kitchen shelf at all times.

Here are list of 5 Foods and Herbs for Hair Growth

1. Bhringraj

Bhringraj, known as 'Kehraj' in Assamese and 'Karisalankanni' in Tamil, is a medicinal herb that grows in moist areas. This herb is especially used for treating various hair and skin woes. It soothes the scalp, which in turn gives nourishment to hair follicles. It also facilitates growth of new hair follicles and thus helps revive the volume of hair. While you can purchase bhringraj oil from stores, it can be made at home as well. People have been making bhringraj oil at home since centuries. Traditional process involves drying the leaves; grinding them into powdered form and then heating it with oil. A quicker way of making bhringraj oil at home is to heat powdered bhringraj leaves with coconut oil and then store. Apply it directly on the scalp, let the roots absorb it for about 30 minutes and then wash off. Bhringraj oil can be used for treating various hair and skin problems.

2. Fenugreek

Fenugreek or methi dana is one treasure spice that may not have originated in India, but has grown to be an essential part of our culinary fare and culture, as if it always belonged to us. It is no wonder then that Ayurveda recognized its potential thousand years back and continues to make most of its health and beauty benefits in its practice. Fenugreek seeds are rich in folic acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin C. Apart from this, they are also a storehouse of minerals such as potassium, calcium and iron. Fenugreek seeds also have high protein and nicotinic acid content, which are known to be beneficial against hair fall and dandruff, and in treating a variety of scalp issues like dryness of hair, baldness and hair thinning. Including fenugreek in your diet is one of the best things that you can do for a healthy hair growth.

3. Amla


There is a reason why our mothers and grandmothers swear by Amla for all their skin and beauty needs. Amla or Indian gooseberry has been an essential part of hair care rituals in India since time immemorial. Massaging the scalp with amla oil helps boost blood circulation. This supplies enough nourishment to your follicles, which then increases hair growth. It also looks after the overall scalp health by removing dandruff and dissolving grease and dirt from follicles. It helps restore optimum pH levels of the scalp that boosts essential oil production. One of the biggest reasons behind hair fall is inadequate Vitamin C in the diet. Amla is packed with Vitamin C. The potent antioxidant help keeps the free-radical activity at bay, which can also severely impact the health of hair.

You can prepare some amla oil at home too. Heat some coconut oil in a pan and add two teaspoons of amla powder. Heat the oil until it turns brown. After 2-3 minutes, turn off the heat and set the oil aside to cool. Collect the oil in a bowl. Apply it on your hair, while it is still slightly warm and massage well.

4. Triphala

The active compounds in triphalachurna repairs damaged hair and increases hair volume. The active formula of its ingredients like Haritaki has antibacterial and antifungal power which acts on the scalp and keeps all kinds of infections and fungal activity at bay. Triphala powder has been known to reduce dandruff too. You can either apply Triphala powder mixed with coconut oil on your hair, or make it a part of your diet. Your diet plays a huge role in the health of your hair. One of the reasons why your hair volume is not up to the mark could be your liver condition and poor digestion. Triphala takes care of both by cleansing the digestive system. One of the three ingredients of triphala churna is Amla.

5. Brahmi

This wonder herb of Ayurveda could prove to be a charm for your hair. Brahmi is mostly popular to calm down stress and clear the mind, but the herb also packs many haircare and beauty benefits. It can prevent hair fall by treating dry and damaged scalp. Brahmi could also treat a variety of hair problems such as dandruff, itchiness and formation of split ends. Massaging the scalp with Brahmi oil has a very soothing effect too.

Try these herbs today and see the change for yourself .

Are you one of those who constantly rummage through the kitchen for ingredients that may magically transform your hair? If yes, then this article is for you. We often spend too much time and money on expensive hair products, treatments and masks, which may give you desired results but may harm your hair in long-term. What if we tell you that you could get similar results using natural ingredients without any harmful effects? One such ingredient is banana. Mashed banana on your hair might sound a little bizarre, but it can make your hair super soft and silky! You may also mix some other ingredients with banana to make interesting hair masks. So, if you are tired of spending hours in salons and spas and don't want to burn a hole in your pocket, try out the list of banana hair masks that may end all your hair woes. But, before that, here's what makes bananas so great for our hair

Benefits Of Banana For Hair
Bananas are high in vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fibre and magnesium, but free of sodium and cholesterol. They are almost fat-free, and relatively low in calories-depending on their size. Per 100 grams serving, bananas contain 0.3 gm total fat, zero cholesterol, 1 mg salt, about 360 mg potassium, 2.6 gm dietary fibre, 12 gm sugar and 1.1 gm protein. But, the benefits of bananas are not just limited to health; they are also used for excellent beauty treatments.

Bananas are great for your hair and scalp. They are known to improve manageability and shine of our hair. Moreover, they are known to prevent and control dandruff, and moisturise our scalp. Bananas are rich in potassium, natural oils, carbohydrates and vitamins, which help soften our hair and protect their natural elasticity. While there are many banana hair products available in the market, why to spend on too many store-bought products when you can make your own banana masks at home in your own kitchen.

5 DIY Banana Hair Masks For Dull And Dry Hair
Banana And Aloe Vera Hair Mask
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, which help remove the dead cells that have accumulated on your scalp and promote hair growth. Moreover, aloe vera has proteolytic enzymes, which repair dead skin cells on the scalp and condition your hair, to give you smooth and shiny tresses. This hair mask prevents hair fall and makes your hair strong, shiny, and bouncy.

Ingredients:

- 2-3 medium-sized bananas
- 2 aloe vera leaf

How To Make:

- Extract all the pulp from the aloe vera leaf.
- Now, transfer the aloe vera pulp and bananas to a grinder.
- Blend the mixture well until you have a thick paste.

How To Apply

- Apply the mixture with a help of your hair colour brush.
- Make sure the mixture gets deep into your roots. Coat your entire scalp and all your hair.
- Let it sit for 2 hours. Wash your hair with cold water and shampoo it thoroughly.

Banana And Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Coconut oil helps nourish our scalp and reduces scalp infections. With high contents of vitamin E, it is excellent for dry and damaged hair. Moreover, the vitamin K content in coconut oil helps reduce dandruff. According to beauty expert, Suparna Tirkha, "Coconut oil massage promotes healthy hair growth and due to its property of preventing moisture loss, massaging this oil into the scalp and hair is known to have amazing results." The combination of banana and coconut provides long-lasting shine.

Seborrhea or dandruff can be a very distressing as well as an embarrassing problem. Dandruff, primarily caused due to dryness, refers to the white flakes that fall off your scalp. The problem of dandruff is common for both men and women, irrespective of age. Dandruff is such a problem that cannot be cured easily but can only be controlled.

There are many remedies for controlling dandruff. Eight such remedies are mentioned below:

1. Use anti-dandruff hair care products: Using anti-dandruff shampoos and conditioners can help you to control your problem of dandruff.

2. Avoid oiling your hair on a regular basis: Dandruff, at times, tends to increase if your scalp is excessively oily. So, to avoid it, try not to oil your hair very often. Also, if you have an oily scalp, make sure to use the correct hair care products to control the problem.

3. Apply lemon juice: Lemon juice is known to be a very effective remedy for treating dandruff naturally. Apply lemon juice all over your scalp to combat the problem of dandruff.

4. Baking soda: Baking soda is an effective remedy. It helps to reduce the excess oil on your scalp, henceforth will help in reducing dandruff.

5. Use virgin olive oil: Massage warm virgin olive oil on your scalp, this can help you to reduce your problem of dandruff to some extent.

6. Include more vitamins in your diet: A healthy diet can help you to deal with your problem of dandruff more efficiently.

7. Mental stress: Reducing your mental stress can help you to control dandruff, as most hair problems occur due to this pshyshological problem.

8. Use the right comb: Try using an appropriate comb for your hair. If the comb hurts your scalp, then the skin of your scalp may turn flakier resulting in more dandruff.

Following the above mentioned tips can help you to deal with your problem of dandruff efficiently.

Holi is a festival of food, friends, colors and enjoyment. People in different parts of the nation play Holi with Chemical and Artificial colors. People put different artificial colors in the pool which mixes with the water causing a reaction to your hair. The hair and skin are bound to get spoiled with the direct contact of these chemicals. So, in order to save your hair from different chemical reactions, here are some essential tips for Pre and post holi celebration.

Hair Care Before The Holi

Oil Massage
Make sure that you apply sufficient oil. It has to be mixture of warm coconut oil & Castor Oil. This will help your scalp and hair stay nourished and save your hair from dry chemical colors.

Root Mask
Make sure that the roots of the hair are masked. As hair is most prone towards the chemical reactions, they tend to become extremely dry. So, to avoid this situation you have to apply a root mask to save them from getting dry and discolored.

Cut Off Split-ends

It is must to chop off your split hair as the split ends would damage the hair more.

Avoid Shampoo

You must avoid doing shampoo a day before going to play the Holi. By doing this you scalp would not loose the essential oils present on the hair and on the scalp. This will be a natural way to avoid hair fall.

A Nice Hair Style

You can always put up a bun by bringing all the hair tied up. Else you can always go for the tight braid as keeping the hair loose might weaken your hair.

Cover Your Hair

It is must for you to cover your hair by bandanna or cap as the direct application of colors will affect your hair. By covering the head/hair, the scalp and hair would stay unharmed.

Hair Care After The Holi

Soak funegreek seeds in four table spoon of curd and apply to the scalp for not more than 30 minutes. Wash your hair.
Use plenty of water and wash your hair with mild soap Or Make sure you firstly wash your hair with only plain water and then wash it with mild shampoo.
After the wash, make sure that you apply lemon juice to the hair and scalp. This will restore the essential acid-alkaline balance in your hair and scalp.
Apply hair oil after the hair dries. This is to ensure that the hair remains hydrated and do not loose its moisture. On the other hand applying oil would nourish the scalp.

So, enjoy your holi without being worried about your hair.