By Kadambari Srivastava
Nature has been the source of many nutrients since ages. From gorgeous face masks that perk up the complexion to hair washes that make tresses strong and beautiful, nature has been truly bountiful in what it has given us.
In fact, we may have created groundbreaking beauty and hair products by adding preservatives, but we cannot deny that they do affect the potency of the ingredients therein and also harm us in the long run.
So, the cue is to go back to the basics. It’s high time we started using or reusing herbs for hair growth.
You should only know the concern you wish to address and the concoction you can brew to help your mane grow stronger and more beautiful.
The plants include:
1. Rosemary
2. Aloe Vera
3. Ginkgo Biloba
4. Peppermint
5. Lavender
6. Horsetail
7. Burdock
8. Stinging Nettle
9. Saw Palmetto
10. Ginseng
11. Chinese hibiscus
12. Coat buttons
13. Brahmi
14. Jatamansi
15. Gooseberry (Amla)
16. Holy basil
1. Rosemary
Now, this is one of the most common and popular herbs for hair growth. Rosemary oil is mostly an essential oil that can be used with any other carrier oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil. It has many benefits and also helps in preventing grey hair. If you suffer from a flaky scalp or have conditions such as dandruff, rosemary oil helps soothe the scalp and treats the condition. It then makes way for healthy growth.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel is a boon when it comes to hair care or skin care. To encourage healthy hair growth, you need a good and balanced pH. That’s where aloe vera gel comes into the picture. It also works as a natural conditioner and prevents hair loss. Simply apply it to your scalp and hair and let the gel work towards complete nourishment.
3. Ginkgo Biloba
If you have not heard of this magical herb yet, you need to pay attention now. This one is beneficial not only for hair but also for the skin. It is known to effectively stimulate blood circulation and flow throughout the body. This helps hair grow better and faster, leading to luscious locks. This also helps in getting clearer skin. Numerous studies have proved that Ginkgo Biloba supplements are great for those who are suffering hair follicle-affecting deficiencies.
4. Peppermint
Another easily accessible herb that is a boon for your hair, peppermint helps tremendously with hair growth. Further, it soothes and calms down an irritated scalp, at the same time stimulating hair follicles, leading to better hair growth. This is more a scalp herb than a hair one, but a healthy scalp always makes way for healthy hair. It is also great at treating fungal infections and conditions like dandruff. You can either use peppermint essential oil along with any carrier oil of your choice, or you can pick shampoos and conditioners from any reputed brand’s peppermint range. Your hair will thank you for it, trust us.
5. Lavender
These gorgeous velvet-pink flowers are breathtakingly beautiful, aren’t they? But they are not just good to look at. Lavender is also great at soothing the scalp and it gets rid of any fungal or bacterial infection therein. Lavender essential oils are easily available and can be used with a carrier oil of your choice; coconut, olive or any other. Another way in which lavender can help you out is by way of tea ingestion. Lavender tea consumption is great for hair and health in general.
6. Horsetail
As funny as the name may sound, this is one herb that can be magical for your hair. Further, it is also one herb that is used in almost all hair products. It strengthens hair, prevents hair fall and breakage and is also good in making the bones stronger, due to the presence of silica. You can either take it as a supplement (which is widely available) or find a product that uses horsetail as the main ingredient. However, there is one word of caution that we would like to extend. Horsetail is a diuretic herb. This means that horsetail can dehydrate you. Drink lots and lots of water to keep yourself up, running and hydrated so that you can reap the benefits of the herb without having to worry about yourself.
7. Burdock
This particular herb is rich in fatty acids and even phytosterol compounds. This means that it not only prevents hair loss but is also efficient in cooling down a particularly irritated and burning scalp. In fact, it is also proven to be efficient in restoring hair growth or taking care of conditions such as psoriasis.
8. Stinging Nettle
Another one with a particularly funny name! Stinging nettle helps in blocking DHT production, thus preventing hair loss. It is not known to promote new hair growth. But preventing hair loss surely helps you in getting a thicker mane. Stinging nettle also has antifungal and antibacterial properties, which makes it efficient in tackling conditions like dandruff.
9. Saw Palmetto
This one is quite similar to the one we discussed just now; the stinging nettle. The best way to use the two is by combining them together. The combination of stinging nettle and saw palmetto together is instrumental in getting rid of hair loss and even improving hair growth. It also works towards controlling the overproduction of DHT. It works towards improving fresh hair growth, thus leading to thicker and better hair.
10. Ginseng
Good hair growth needs good blood circulation. Ginseng is known to do that efficiently. It also helps in strengthening the hair and retains the growth. It also helps in recovering hair follicles. All of this, when combined, works well towards improving hair growth.
11. Chinese hibiscus
It is also known as Hibiscus rosa sinensis and is edible in nature. Chinese hibiscus tea is actually quite good for hair and is also good at stimulating hair follicles for better growth. It even increases the follicle size.
12. Coat buttons
These herbs do have funny names, don’t they? But the good thing is that they work amazingly well too. Coat buttons may sound English but is actually an Ayurvedic herb that is extremely beneficial for the hair. It is rich in antioxidants and when used in sync with other complementary hair herbs, helps promote hair growth.
13. Brahmi
This one is quite a popular herb for hair growth. Brahmi is also known as bacopa monnieri and is used in various hair supplements and medicines. Again, just like coat buttons, Brahmi too is beneficial when used in sync with other hair growth herbs. It is the source of alkaloids that are known to be the active proteins that help promote hair growth.
14. Jatamansi
Now, rhizomes speed up hair growth and Jatamansi is a rich source of these. It speeds up hair growth. In fact, it is also known to be instrumental in helping hair grow after chemotherapy sessions.
15. Gooseberry (Amla)
This is again a herb that is rich in antioxidants that promote hair growth and strengthens hair enough to get rid of breakage and fall. This one is an Ayurvedic herb.
16. Holy basil
Last but not last, holy basil, also known as Ocimum sanctum, is a fragrant herb with many healing properties. It helps treat the itching and hair loss which may be a result of hormonal changes or dandruff.