By Nirmala Shetty

Mother Nature still holds most of the beauty secrets that go a long way to making hair look and feel good .

Indian herbs and fruits can condition hair and combat the side effects of modern-day hair treatments like colouring and perming. So look at your kitchen shelf for inspiration.
The most effective means of treating hair loss is treating it with natural ingredients. Herbs have medicinal properties that can control infection besides stimulating hair growth. Basically, herbs, fruits and vegetables have antiseptic properties and are wonderful cleansers.

Aloe Vera - Aloe vera has been rediscovered for its important vitamins and minerals, in addition to beta carotene, enzymes and amino acids. It has great moisturising and healing properties and hence when applied on a dry and itchy scalp can help soothe and clear dandruff too. Aloe makes hair thick, and its fibres strong and resistant. It adds body and shine to the hair.

Beetroot - Rich in iron, it nourishes hair and it is especially helpful in getting rid of dandruff.

Lemon - Nature’s greatest cleanser and conditioner. Not to be applied directly, but should be mixed with eggs or as a last rinse with water.

Fenugreek - The leaves of the fenugreek can be ground and applied or the seeds soaked in water and ground into a paste and applied for controlling hair loss and premature greying.

Sage - Its healing powers include strengthening and hair darkening, and hence it is used widely in hair oils and shampoos.

Oils - India has a wide range of herbal oils prepared from coconut, almond and sesame. Herbs are added to the oils to nourish and promote hair growth and texture.

Today, aromatic oils too play a dominant role in hair care, but are to be carefully blended with other base oils. Common among these are lavender, tea-tree, rosemary and ylang-ylang.

Lavender is known for its gentle and natural aroma, tea-tree oil for its disinfectant properties, rosemary for its antiseptic and cleansing properties, and ylang-ylang as a rejuvenator for hair.

Eggs