5 Hair Oils and Home Remedies to Grow Long and Thick Hair Fast

Sheetal Rawal, Founder, Apsara Skin Care

Long, shiny and thick hair: what a desirable thing to have on your head. A woman’s beauty and personal appeal have always been linked to her hair. But external beauty aside, a thick head of hair is a testament to good health.

It also indicates good personal care habits, which, in turn, is indicative of an attitude of gratitude. Hmmm, so what do I mean by that exactly?

I see it this way; our body and life itself is a gift we are given and to take care of it becomes our karmic responsibility. When we do this, we send a strong message of gratefulness out to the universe, which is always attuned to our actions and desires.

So while taking care of our hair, why must we resort to harsh chemicals? This rhetorical question is extremely important. Harsh chemicals in our hair care products can and do wreak havoc on our mane. They do this primarily by dehydrating our scalp and follicles. Challenged follicles are in no place to grow a long head of hair or, for that matter, hold on to hair that we have in the first place. So issues like hair fall and dry scalp are a result of harsh chemicals.

I get messages from so many of you saying that your hair does not grow beyond a certain point. I say using high-quality herbal oils is the secret to nourishing your follicles so they can support hair growth. Speaking of oils, if you do not have a hair oil massage as part of your hair care routine, you are missing out hugely.

So what herbal oils must you use to grow that highly desired long and healthy head of hair? Here is my list.

1. Amla

This herbal oil (Indian gooseberry) is a mainstay in Ayurvedic hair care and is beyond comparison when it comes to stellar hair health. It is an awesome source of Vitamin C and that means glossy hair and antioxidant repair of free radical damage. It also provides your scalp with essential fatty acids and proteins to support hair growth. Amla oil is also revered for preventing greying of hair and making the appearance of existing greys less apparent. Indeed, it is known in Ayurveda that amla oil can encourage the production of hair pigment thus reversing grey hair. How amla does it precisely may not be known at a scientific level, but that might be because its mechanism of action has not been studied extensively.

Here is how you can make your own amla oil at home:

Ingredients

½ cup of amla powder

1 cup of olive oil

Instructions

Heat this mix on your stovetop on low flame for 3 hours. Be sure to not go beyond low flame because you don’t want to fry the amla powder. Allow it to cool off overnight. Strain. Now you are ready to use this oil to massage your scalp and hair thoroughly. Wash off in a few hours or overnight. After all this work, you wouldn’t want to undo the goodness of amla oil by using a harsh shampoo and conditioner. So it is obvious that your shampoo and conditioner must be gentle, natural and absolutely free of harsh chemicals like SLS, parabens, phthalates, fake fragrance, and the rest.

2. Almond Oil

No hair oil blend can be complete without almond oil. It has been highly recommended and used in Ayurveda for both its hair and skin care magic. It is a great source of naturally occurring Vitamin E - which reverses and prevents damage - and Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids - which deeply nourish the follicles, encouraging them to grow long and strong hair. It is also a lightweight oil that is absorbed by your scalp and hair quickly.

Almond oil can be used alone or with an equal amount of coconut oil. Massage into your scalp 1-2 times a week. Don’t forget to comb through your hair as well. It is best to leave it in for a few hours or overnight before washing with a gentle shampoo.

"I was having lots of issues with my hair. Lots of itchiness, lots of dandruff…I heard about Apasra…I ordered oil and a shampoo. I feel the difference now. [All of my] itchiness is gone. Hair fall is almost gone…I still do have some dandruff, but I feel it is improving a lot. I definitely recommend all the hair products."

3. Bhringraj Oil

Meaning the king of herbs, bhringraj is a superstar at handling all hair and scalp issues while promoting hair growth. Regular application increases blood flow and pacifies your scalp. In Ayurveda, bhringraj oil is called a tonic. Indeed, it supercharges your follicles with superior nutrition that results in long hair and a problem-free scalp. It also aids in the prevention of hair loss, which means thick hair that shines with health and vitality.

It can be challenging to obtain pure bhringraj powder to make your own oil at home. So I suggest using a high-quality hair oil with bhringraj as one of its main constituents. Check out our Rosemary and Amla hair oil. While formulating this oil, I was bent on including bhringraj oil in it for obvious reasons.

If you are able to purchase bhringraj powder, this is how you can make your own bhringraj oil:

Ingredients

½ cup of bhringraj powder

1 cup of sesame oil

Instructions

Mix well and heat on low flame for 2-3 hours. Gentle heat is what you need; any hotter and you will risk frying the powder. Cool off overnight, strain, and you are ready to massage it into your scalp and hair. Wash after a few hours or overnight.

4. Sunflower and Coconut Oil

This mix is awesome to nourish your follicles and allow them to function optimally. Sunflower oil has a very impressive fatty acid profile. Fatty acids are like superfood for

Coconut oil hair oil
your follicles. Meanwhile, coconut oil needs no introduction. It contains saturated fatty acids and medium chain fatty acids that penetrate into your follicles and keep them happy and healthy rather than challenged. Coconut oil is also known for its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which result in a healthy scalp and long, lustrous hair.

 

Ingredients

5 tablespoons of sunflower oil

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

Instructions

Mix well and massage very gently into your scalp and length of your hair. Then wrap a warm towel around your hair. This can help open up your follicles for this blend to penetrate deeply. Wash in 3-4 hours with a gentle SLS-free shampoo. Don’t forget to condition your hair. Conditioner to hair is like lotion to the skin: very nourishing for sure.

Watch this video for information on common hair & scalp issues and effective tips to promote beautiful hair & a healthy scalp.

5. Olive and Castor Oil

This mix is heavenly to encourage hair growth. Castor oil is strongly recommended in Ayurveda to promote long and thick hair. Regular application also promotes great scalp health. Castor oil is rich in fats and has detoxification and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps deep clean your follicles while replacing the toxic buildup with nourishing fats instead.

Since it is very thick, I don’t recommend using it alone. As a diluent, olive oil is simply the perfect partner. It is lightweight, nourishing and a very good source of antioxidants. When used regularly, this pair is made in heaven to encourage hair growth and vitality.

Ingredients

5 tablespoons of olive oil

1 teaspoon of castor oil

Instructions

Mix well and massage into your scalp thoroughly. Be sure to comb through the length of your hair as well. It is best to leave in overnight (this is true for all hair oils) or a minimum of 3 hours. You can cover your pillow with a towel to avoid staining it. Wash with your SLS & harsh chemical-free shampoo and follow with your conditioner.

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Go natural. It is good karma!

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