Detox your hair

Shahnaz Husain

If you have an itchy, oily, or inflamed scalp, dry follicles, hair loss, or any scalp pain, it’s time to detox.  
Nutritional deficiencies, environmental pollution, hormones imbalances and a stressful lifestyle leads to lacklustre, thinning hair and  hair loss. The use of chemical laden hair styling products like soaps, shampoo, hair masks etc clog our pores leading to dead, dull, greasy and lifeless hair.
Too much styling and colouring at hair salons frequently lead to breakage, dull, and split ends.  
We spend so much time and energy to protect  outward  skin beauty on a daily basis but not enough on cleaning, purging, re-energising our hair to maintain their shine and  health.
Regularly washing your hair is not enough to keep it clean. Shampooing alone does not cleanse your scalp deep enough to get rid of pollutant and dirt. A thorough cleansing of the scalp with natural ingredients can  revive your pretty, shiny hair and restore back hair health and lustre.
The most common causes of hair damage are repeated use of chemical hair styling lotions, or colouring, dyeing, bleaching and direct heat applications. The chemical lotions disrupt the normal acid-alkaline balance of the scalp and leave it prone to problems. Damaged hair means that it is time to detox.
First of all, discontinue the procedures that lead to damage.
Damaged hair is in a fragile condition, so treat it gently. Avoid brushes and use a wide toothed comb with smooth edges. To heal damaged hair, have detox treatments to help nurse the hair back to good health. First of all, have the hair trimmed to remove split ends. Then start with warm oil therapy. Mix one part castor oil with two parts coconut oil . Heat and apply on the hair. Remember to apply on the ends too. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Avoid vigorous massage and rubbing when you apply oil. Keep the oil on overnight and wash hair the next day, using a mild herbal shampoo. Avoid very hot water. After shampoo, wrap a towel around the head and allow it to absorb excess water.
You can use baking soda for hair detox. Sodium bicarbonate is an extraordinary cleanser and a great exfoliate that gently removes product buildup. Mix half cup baking soda in 3 cup hot water  and massage your scalp with mixture for a few minutes and later on rinse it out. It will remove oil accumulation on the scalp and fight dandruff. You can use it once a week.
The apple cider vinegar helps wipe out product residue and oil while adding shine. As a home remedy  mix 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a mug of water cup. Shampoo and condition your hair as usual and then pour the diluted apple cider vinegar on your hair and do not rinse. It is the easiest way to detox and you can use it once in a week.
You  can also detox your hair through sea salt . Mix two parts of sea salt with one part shampoo and apply it on your hair  till it creates good lather . Rinse it off with cool water and you will get rid of dead skin. You can use this once in a month.
Tea tree oil is natural antiseptic which eliminates bacteria , flakes and dandruff from the scalp. Add a few drops of natural tea tree oil in your regular shampoo. Massage in your scalp and leave it for a few minutes  before rinsing.
You can detox your hair with herbal tea. Brew the tea with one tablespoon herb of your choice like Amla, Shikakai, Rosemary etc  and one cup of boiling water. Keep it for few minutes to cool down and then use Shikakai which is known for its deep cleansing properties. Just mix some Shikakai powder with water to form a paste. Massage this onto your scalp gently through the hair length in a circular motion for a few minutes and let it dry naturally. Rinse off with fresh water.  
Egg whites. Mixing egg whites with coconut oil works to strengthen hair, though it may not remove oils.
Garlic. Garlic may help with hair growth, but you need to dilute it with carrier oil to avoid chemical burns.
Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water in each season. Water is a powerful detox ingredient and flushes out toxins and dirt out of the body.
Intake of seasonal fruit and vegetables promotes  digestion and cleans the digestive tract facilitating proper absorption of minerals, vitamins that keeps our skin healthy and radiant. You can add Amla, Aloe vera, Cow Ghee and Beetroot in your diet  for naturally detoxifying your hair.
The best way to disentangle the hair or comb wet hair is to use a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends and working upwards. Avoid hair dryers and styling rods for some time and allow the hair to dry naturally.
After shampoo, condition the hair with  Hair Conditioner Lotion. If there is dandruff, use Anti-dandruff Herbal Hair Rinse. For oily and limp hair, apply a hair pack once a week . These packs cleanse, condition and rejuvenate the hair. They also repair hair damage and restore health to the hair.
Hair conditioners, rinses and serums help to soften the hair and add shine. They also coat the hair and help to protect it. They also remove toxins and purify the hair and scalp. Have herb and spice teas to detox. Internal good health revives the hair. Add spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and pepper to tea. Ginger boiled in water can also be had as ginger tea. Chamomile tea, which removes toxins and induces relaxation, is available as tea-bags.
Brush your hair ! Brushing your hair before bed, a shower or a workout is a great start to removing debris and start the exfoliation process.
If you have a detox programme from time to time, you can restore the health and beauty of the hair. Also, the hair is like a delicate fabric, so learn to treat it that way.
Detoxing your scalp will rejuvenate and renew the hair follicles and create a perfect environment for hair growth.
A Healthy and Clean Scalp is the key to thick, shiny, gorgeous hair.

The author is an internationally famed beauty expert and is called Herbal Queen of India