Have you ever heard of Ayurvedic medicine or Ayurveda? It is an ancient healing system that was developed over 3000 years ago in India. Ayurveda is now widely popular as an alternative to western practices. The main principle of Ayurveda is that your health and overall wellness are dependent on the balance you achieve between your spirit, your mind and your body.
We recently discovered that there are specific Ayurvedic medicine with great benefits for your hair. The most well known is henna, which is commonly used in Arabic communities.
Another one is turmeric, which is the one we are going to discuss in detail as it happens to have great properties for natural hair.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. Scientifically called Curcuma Longa, it belongs to the same family as ginger root. Turmeric is one of the most studied herbs and the root is widely used to make medicine. You may also know it as one of the main spices in curry.
Its recognisable by its warm and bitter taste and has a yellowish brown colour.
What benefits does turmeric have for natural hair?
It comes down to two things that basically complement each other. Turmeric can help fight hair loss and it can help in growing your natural hair out.
Let’s start with hair loss. Turmeric contains a natural substance called Curcumin. Curcumin counters the overproduction of a hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). It is a hormone known to cause hair loss by preventing new hair growing from your follicles.
Turmeric also a positive effect on natural hair growth. Your natural hair thrives, when your scalp is healthy. The scalp is the foundation of your natural hair, so keeping it healthy is essential if you want natural hair that’s long and strong. Turmeric ensures a healthy scalp through its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. The spice is both gentle and invigorating and makes for a great exfoliator cleanser. It soothes the scalp and gets rid of build-up that block your follicles.
How can you use turmeric for natural hair?
The best way for your natural hair to reap the benefits of turmeric is to directly apply it to your scalp. Mix equal parts of turmeric with organic olive oil. Stir it well until it turns into a smooth emulsion and massage it into your scalp. Leave it on your scalp for about 45 minutes, before you clean and condition your hair as normal.
You can also drink a daily cup of turmeric tea. Boil a few turmeric roots (or use ground turmeric) and let it come to boil with two teaspoons of grated ginger. Let it boil for about 15 minutes. Pour yourself a cup, add some raw honey and fresh lemon juice and drink up!