Eggs - Hair and eggs always went well together. For a conditioning effect, it was mixed with brandy or curd — a recipe for later day egg shampoos. Today, mixed with herbs or fruits, eggs still provide protein to hair even while conditioning it.

Seaweed - It has been used in the treatment of bacterial diseases since its chlorophyll content helps nourish neglected cells. Regular use also helps reduce hair loss.

Papaya - This fruit when ripe is an effective hair nourisher and is rich in Vitamin A. It is also a great hair conditioner and a good medium for mixing with various herbs. Especially good for coloured hair.

Amla (Emblic Myrobalan) - Another important ingredient used in ancient hair dyes. When used in oils, it darkens hair and promotes hair growth.

Henna - Henna, the age-old remedy for colouring, can be added to herbs and fruits so as to reduce its drying properties and enhance the rest of its wonderful properties like cleansing, conditioning, promoting growth and restoring health to damaged hair. Henna is a great hair protector and should be used with the right combination of herbs and fruits.

Here are a few remedies to improve the quality of hair to add bounce and shine.

Hair nourishment:
Begin with a hot oil massage with any of the following: Olive, coconut, almond, sesame oil.

Take a matured aloe leaf and remove the gel from within. Grind into a paste along with papaya fruit or coconut milk extract. Massage or apply the entire paste all over scalp and hair. Wash off with herbal shampoo or soap-nut decoction.

Dandruff:
Take two whole red beets and grind to extract juice. Add the juice of a half a lemon. Add one teaspoon of castor or sesame oil to the juice and rub this mixture on your scalp every third day for two weeks.

For thickening of hair:
Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight and grind into a paste. Other add-ons are egg, coconut milk and papaya fruit. A hair mask like this should be left on for half an hour and washed off later with a herbal shampoo.

Henna as a colourant:
Henna leaves washed, dried and powdered, 1 cup
Raw beetroot juice ¼ cup, 1/4 cup boiled,
Amla juice ¼ cup
Coconut milk ¼ cup
Sage leaves paste 2 tsp
Aloe juice ¼ cup
Coffee powder 2 tsp

Mix all and store in an iron container. Apply on hair strands and leave on for more than one hour. Wash off with tea and lemon rinse solution.

Conditioning treatment for damaged hair:
Papaya fruit paste 1 cup
Aloe vera pulp 1 cup
2 eggs
Olive oil ¼ cup
Milk ½ cup

Mix all the ingredients and apply on scalp and hair. Shampoo after half an hour.

Eastern Glow On Western Shores