Treat Hairfall Now + 10 DIY Homemade Hair Masks & 10 Oils to Prevent Hairfall Naturally !!!!

Smarter Way To Deal With Hairfall, Naturally!!!

Let’s talk about hairfall. Coming straight to the point, these days I don’t know why I’ve been getting more questions on how to reduce hairfall more than any other beauty related topic & I think I know why. Maybe because its monsoon in India, & we’re facing irregular downpours along with crappy frizzy hair daily which turns out to beà ‘everyday is a bad hair day’.

Now, I have real long hair & after shampooing from the 4^th day onwards, my hair turns frizzy & unbearable. You know I’m facing this because my almost knee length wavy reddish brown hair rests on my head as a bun/side bun or a braid where, there are flyaways everywhere. The next day I repeat a shampooing session & this cycle goes on & on throughout the rainy season. 90’s inspired scrunchies have become my best friend to tackle frizzy hair.

However, along with frizz & dandruff, hairfall & brittle hair are also popular hair problem that stick their nasty heads out during this season. So today, we are going to talk about some common homemade DIY hair masks to stop hairfall & fix brittle hair & also discuss various ways we can better handle it to prevent hairfall in future as well. I say ‘common’, yes because I can deliver many such suggestions on how to handle massive hairfall but not only me but no one can actually guarantee success.

Why?

Because everyone has different genetic makeup & hairfall can have various causes. Mostly, it is conventional wisdom that addressing the root cause of a problem (read hairfall) usually resolves it. So, in a blogpost dedicated in addressing a concern ‘hairfall’, it is almost impossible to customize treatment options according to individual needs & individual causes. That is why; I’m serving only ‘common treatment options’ rather than individualized ones.

First we need to understand why hairfall happens on the first place. There are various reasons & for a successful treatment, you need to address the root cause first & in doing this you yourself are the best judge because no one else can diagnose this better than you for you know your heath the best.

 Common Causes of Hairfall or Why Hairfall Occurs:

·        Medications/Chemotherapy: This is the part I feel most helpless about. There are times when we are compelled to use medications with adverse effects (we are aware of) to treat a greater concern & you have no option but to suffer through it. Chemo therapy is one of them. You can’t risk a greater harm for mere hairfall which has only aesthetic value in your life, so if it is chemotherapy that is causing you this, there’s not much you can do but to wait until the therapy is completed.

In most cases, hairfall is resolved upon cessation of chemotherapy, until then you can try natural remedies along with other good products to minimize the effects of such a thing. The same happens with certain medications meant to treat other conditions, especially those with hormonal effects. Such drugs may cause massive hairfall but depending on the condition for what you’re prescribed the drug, you can consult your doc if there’s any substitute.

But as in chemotherapy, if certain medication is causing you this, substituting it or upon completion/discontinuation of the treatment, in most cases, hair grows back. But for that, you need to talk to your doctor; for you simply can’t discontinue a medicine just because you’re facing some hairfall.

Among other reasons of hairfall, this is the one that is easily reversed.

·        Pollution: You have to agree that these days pollution is wreaking havoc on everything around us & yes, we are partly responsible for that. Just like that, our hair is nothing unique, for it is equally affected by this.

The problem is aggravated with oily scalp because oily scalp is notorious in attracting dirt & grim, & when your surroundings are regularly bombarded with pollution microparticles, it is highly possible that regular dirt build up can clog the pores on your scalp & can cause more hairfall than you’d ever expect.

The best way to not let pollution mess with your hair is to cover your hair when you’re going out in the streets. I know this doesn’t sound fashionable but it’s the only way out & there are beautiful scarves you’d find in an accessory store that can come to rescue you. Fashionably wrapping your hair with these can make a statement as well.

·        Sun: It’s the pollution’s big brother with greater weapons to destroy your hair health. Sun not only damages your hair shaft to make it brittle & dry, but also affects scalp because scalp is much like typical epidermal layer. It is skin, so it is easily affected by sun.

More of it, if you already have thinning hair, the scalp becomes more vulnerable because believe it or not, hair protects the scalp to a lot extent. I’d suggest you to apply the same sunscreen you’re using on your face & body to the scalp, especially those areas with thin hair to control hairfall due to sundamage, before going out.

·        Stress: This is number one reason why many of us, despite of taking the best care, fail to achieve fuller voluminous hair & blame it on our genetics (yes, I agree genes play great roles in determining our hair quality but you never know if it’s your genes before you try all the ways to increase volume).

Believe it or not, simple work burn out can cause more than 50% of your hair to fall off & premature balding is getting more common day by day. Rest assured that we don’t like to talk about our mental health often & now is the time, its wreaking havoc on our overall health because only optimal mind & body connection can help you achieve best results.

Safest way to keep stress at bay is practicing meditation. You can’t be too busy to afford 15 minutes for your own well being, if you still can’t afford that time, you should re think about your life, job everything because hey, you ultimately it’s the goal of a wonderful job is improving your life, not the otherwise.

You can browse this post to know more about meditation: http://thebeautyblogoflove.blogspot.com/2018/07/beauty-benefits-of-meditation-you-didnt.html

Sometimes, if its mental health issue, which can be as common as seasonal depression, can be treated with proper guidance from a qualified psychiatrist. Simply addressing a problem is a step forward towards a possible solution. Depression has to be treated, it is not luxury.

·        Male pattern baldness: Not much can be done here with home remedies but you can try 5% Minoxidil on your scalp every other day but I cannot guarantee success.

Usually affecting males & being genetic/hormonal, this can only be treated with help from a professional.

·        Dandruff: This is the most common situation but these days, only keeping your scalp clean is not enough to get rid of dandruff. I remember, I’ve never had these problems but only after a train journey overnight, I’d find my hair full of tiny white specs of dandruff (thanks to the hygiene maintained in Indian Railways).

But sometimes, dandruff can be really stubborn & for that I’d suggest a ketoconazole shampoo. Use this until the problem is resolved & then restore a mild shampoo.

To get rid of dandruff, mild shampoo is a must because it’s harsher cousins contain harsh sulfate derivatives which in turn dry out your scalp, then indirectly boosting dandruff. So, even if you have to increase frequency of shampoo application to attain a cleaner hair (because harsh sulfates cleanse your hair better despite of it stripping it off of its natural moisture & thus drying the scalp, a very paradoxical situation),  you better stick to a mild version.

·        Hormonal Imbalances:  Mostly women fall into this category, hormonal imbalances are prime cause of hairfall especially with those on hormonal drugs such as those suffering from PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) & are on Oral Contraceptive Pills or those receiving treatment to ease menopausal symptoms.

Women, who identify these hormonal drugs to be the villain behind massive hairfall should consult their gynaecologist to discuss about a possible alternative or ways to neutralize such adverse effects.

·        Seasonal: Yes, hairfall can be seasonal. As I’ve mentioned early in this post about how heavy rain affects our hair. On the same note, monsoon wreaks havoc on our hair in multiple ways, sometimes by attracting more dirt in already frizzy scalp or even making hair even frizzier.

Hair is hygroscopic by nature, which means, it absorbs water. So, during the rainy season, it’s important to keep hair already hydrated enough by using hydrating serums or products with hyaluronic acid. Hydrated hair tends to be more resistant to environmental humidity & thus tends to acquire less frizz resulting in less hairfall.

Also, during this season, especially if you’re sweating a lot, it’s important to properly air dry your hair before you tie it into a bun/knot/braid whatever because otherwise the scalp becomes the party spot for numerous bacteria & fungi. So, I suggest using ketoconazole shampoo in this season, to keep infections at bay & restore a mild shampoo later.

There can be many other reasons of hairfall, if you know more, do not forget to mention it in the comments section below.

Now let’s move on to DIY hair masks/packs we can prepare at home to fight hairfall naturally.

10 Super Hero DIY Homemade Hair Mask to Beat Frizzy, Brittle & Thinning Hair with Dandruff

1.       Honey-Yogurt Hair Mask:  Mix 2 tsp honey in 1 cup yogurt & apply this mask on your hair & scalp & wait for 20 minutes (or less if you’re prone to catching cold) & wash your hair off with a mild shampoo. This Pack will instantly make your hair silky smooth & boost its health.

2.       Milk-Protein Mask: Take half cup milk & add 1 egg white & 2 tsp Amla powder (Indian Gooseberry Powder)/paste & mix well. Now apply this for 20 minutes & wash off with a mild shampoo of your choice. This is an excellent pack to fight hairfall, use this once a week for 3 months & see the difference.

*** One thing I must mention, while I do not completely agree to those who claim, applying protein externally like this can repair hair & feed its protein content, but I’ve seen this pack works somehow, maybe because it boosts hair health some other way.

If you think your hair is protein deficient, follow the old school way & eat some protein instead of just relying on masks like this.

3.       Lotus Mask: This is an age old technique to make dull hair silky. Paste lotus petals & add honey, milk powder & 2-4 drops of tamanu oil & mix well. Apply this paste on your hair & scalp & wash off after 15 minutes.

4.       Coconut-Manjistha Mask: Paste Coconut (the white flesh) & add manjistha powder, lemon juice & 2-3 drops of peppermint oil & make a thick paste. Apply on your hair & wash off after 20 minutes. This hair mask not only nourishes your hair but also fights dandruff & fungal infection.

5.       Methi (Fenugreek seeds)-Yogurt Hair Mask: Soak methi seeds overnight in water & the next day, make a paste & add yogurt. If you can, add hibiscus petals pasted. Then, add clove leaf oil, 2-3 drops. This is an excellent pack, suits all hair types & nourishes the scalp with an added benefit of fighting dandruff & bacterial infection.

6.       Banana-Baking Soda Hair Pack:  Another great hair mask recipe to fight stubborn dandruff & this mask is amazing for monsoon as it also rids the hair of foul smell caused by sweaty hair during this humid season. Mash one banana & add honey & 2 tsp baking soda. Now gently rub your scalp with this along with applying this on hair shaft. Keep this on for 15 minutes & wash off with a mild shampoo. You’ll see the difference right from the day 1.

7.       Strawberry Hair Mask: Paste strawberry, almonds, rose petals together & add honey. Add a few drops of myrrh essential oil & apply this on hair & scalp. This pack suits dry hair types best.

8.       Clay Mask for Hair: Soak sodium bentonite/ bentonite clay in water for half an hour. After this, the bentonite mixture will swell. Now add a tsp rose water & apply on your hair & scalp. Wash this off after 20 minutes. This mask is especially suitable for oily hair or combo hair (oily scalp/dry ends) & for those will long hair. It thoroughly cleanses hair like nothing. Follow up with a mild shampoo.

9.       Avocado Hair Mask: Paste avocado & add honey, yogurt & 1 tsp vinegar. Apply this mask on your hair & keep it on for 15 minutes. Wash it off with a mild shampoo & lukewarm water. This mask suits all hair types.

10.   Rhassoul Hair Mask: Those with long hair usually end up with split ends (count me in) most because the sebum produced on the scalp doesn’t reach upto the end, which is far away in this case.  Moroccan argan oil is considered gold standard in treating split ends & preventing it from reoccurrence in future. Add water in 2 tsp Rhassoul clay along with ½ tsp Moroccan Argan Oil. Mix well & use this as a hair mask. Concentrate on scalp (Rhassoul deeply cleanses scalp to prevent dandruff & hairfall) & split ends (Argan oil will nourish them). Keep it on for 20 minutes & wash off with a mild shampoo. This mask especially suits those with long brittle hair & all hair types.

Now as you can see, I’m ending each sentence ‘wash off with a mild shampoo’. But if you’re confused on what exactly a ‘mild shampoo’ is, I’d humbly suggest you to go through this:

Now it’s the turn for hair oil. Generally just like many docs don’t think oiling the hair is mandatory, I completely agree with them. Because oil is mostly composed with fat molecules, that are macromolecules & are thus too large to penetrate the scalp epidermis; there’s not much you can expect from hair oil unless ofcourse you have added some kind of active ingredient that can successfully do the job. So, there’s technically no hair oil that directly cures hair fall.

But I still think there are certain benefits of hair oil & we can reap the benefit indirectly. Like, especially for people with long hair, tangling is a huge problem which causes a lot of hairfall during combing. Hair oil can ease the situation well.

Also some oils are extremely beneficial to fungal infected scalp or dandruff even. So, I’ve decided to add some oils in my list that indirectly help us in preventing hairfall.

10 Oils to Treat & Prevent Hair Fall

1.       Moroccan Argan Oil: When it comes to hair oil for hairfall, the number one thing pops in my mind is Moroccan Argan Oil. This oil is the supreme multitasker, does it all like nourishing from root to end, supplies antioxidants because its rich in Vitamin E, heals a damaged scalp.

1.       Primrose Oil: Hugely popular in modern hair serums, also used in hair styling as a shine-spray, Evening Primrose Oil is very nourishing for scalp.

2.       Basil Oil: Basically used along with a carrier oil, basil/tulsi oil cures & prevents dandruff.

3.       Clove leaf oil: Add a few drops of clove leaf oil in evening primrose carrier oil & it’ll cure dandruff in a jiffy if used regularly.

4.       Peppermint oil: Suitable for frizzy hair, especially good for application during the monsoon to prevent humidity from affecting your hair & cause hair fall. Also prevents dandruff.

5.       Helichrysum Oil: Also known as ‘immortelle oil’ & is the oil extracted from flowers called ‘helichrysum angustifolium’ is a super hero in encouraging cell cycle to move forward thus can help immensely in hair growth. Add a few drops in your regular hair oil.

6.       Camphor Oil: Helps with stubborn dandruff & also smells heavenly. Add a few drops in Moroccan argan oil & massage this gently on your scalp. it also helps uplifting your hair health after washing a sweaty scalp off. Also suitable for use during the monsoon.

7.       Myrrh Oil: Myrrh, extracted from commiphora genus’ plants, is a multi tasker for problem hair. It relieves the scalp from fungal & bacterial infections when massaged after mixing with a suitable carrier oil.

8.       Cedarwood Oil: Another multitasker with the power of conquering all kinds of scalp infections, best suitable when used with a carrier oil like calendula, argan, tamanu oil.

9.       Tamanu Oil: Tamanu oil nourishes & moisturizes hair & thus prevents frizz in humid weather. also, excellent as a carrier oil.

10.   My mum’s homemade concoction: This is the hero oil for hairfall, & let me describe how to make it. We need certain ingredients such as: 

§  Jatamansi

§  Curry Leaves

§  Coconut oil

§  Fenugreek or Methi Seeds

§  Hibiscus petals

Ø  First wash jatamansi in running water & dry roast in it. Wash curry leaves, fenugreek seeds & hibiscus petals in water & allow them to dry. Now, Bring coconut oil to boil. Add all the other ingredients & let that boil until the colour of the coconut oil changes. Turn the heat off & let it cool down. Now strain the oil & use it after every wash.

The above concoction immensely helped my mum in dealing with massive hairfall. So I guess it’ll help you too.

Now before closing, I’d like to mention an ancient Indian homemade shampoo recipe with you. If you’ve been looking for a mild shampoo & couldn’t find any, try this. I’m sure it’ll not only cleanse your hair but also lessen hairfall & dandruff.

Haircare Pro Tip:  As I’ve already said, fat macromolecules are too large to penetrate the epidermal layer of scalp & this is what renders them incapable of acting actively to do a certain job (like providing nutrients deep etc), so you can manually make oils more powerful & help them penetrate the epidermis better.

How?

Use steam. To do this, dip a towel in hot (tolerable) water & wrap your hair with it. Keep it on for 10 minutes & you can apply the product you want to penetrate your scalp before of immediately after unwrapping your head. The steam opens up the pores. This works better after washing your hair with a shampoo because then, the dirt particles that were inhibiting products are now removed.

So, to actually make your oil extra effective, use it before or after the above ritual but always after a wash.

DIY Homemade Shampoo Recipe

To make this, you need;  Reetha (soapnuts) & Amla (Indian Gooseberry). First break soapnuts into pieces & cut thin slices of amla. Soak them in water overnight.

Next morning, boil them together in water. At this time, you can also add some tea leaves to make this a conditioning shampoo.

Now turn the heat off & strain the water. Use this as a shampoo substitute.

This shampoo doesn’t contain harsh sulfates, so it also prevents hairfall due to that.

Now this is all you can do on your own at home to deal with hairfall naturally. Let me know how it went.

Love me or hate me, let me know in the comments section below & it’d be amazing if it’s the former & don’t forget to follow me on social media (buttons on the left collapsible sidebar ß)

Thank you for reading.

Cheers!!!

Koyel M.