Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair

Experts suggest summertime in Pakistan is the best time of the year to take care of your beautiful locks.

LAHORE:

No matter what you do, if you have a good head of hair the likelihood of you looking bad on any given day is pretty slim. However, that being said, it is surprising how little people know about hair care. There are people who have never oiled their hair a day in their lives and others who choose cheaper off-the-rack products that cause more harm than good to your scalp. You will be surprised how much one can do for their hair with just the ingredients lying in their pantry. 

“It’s really important to treat your hair to some good old natural, edible stuff found right in your kitchen! Shampoos, conditioners, and hair products tend to heavily mess with scalp ph levels, which then lead to a whole bunch of issues like hairfall, brittle weak hair, scalp residue, dandruff etc,” says Asma Mumtaz of The Dresser.

“Hair care is as important as skin care and yet there is little awareness,” says Shammal Qureshi of Tony&Guy, “the general trend that I have seen in Pakistan is that when it comes to hair care, people’s attitude is more reactive rather than proactive.”

Natasha Saigol of Natasha Saigol Salon feels that summer time is the best time to take care of your hair. “Summer time is the best time to start since social commitments are at their lowest and the heat doesn’t allow for loose locks,” says Saigol, “it is important to oil your hair to lock in the moisture every week so that the scalp remains nourished and enriched. The better the health of the scalp, the better your hair will be.”

Here are some home remedies, hair masks and shampoos that can really start making a difference to your hair.

Bananas



Due to the high level of potassium found in bananas, they improve hair health and natural elasticity. Just mash up a banana and apply to hair from root to tip. Leave on for 15 minutes before washing your hair.

Strawberries



Mash six to eight strawberries and add them to a bowl of mayonnaise. Massage onto hair and cover with a warm towel. This natural mask of rich berries will leave your hair conditioned and rich in gloss.

Curry leaves and coconut oil



Boil some fresh curry leaves in coconut oil till you see a black residue forming. This process does wonders for hair growth.

Onions and honey



This sounds odd, but it’s really helpful if your hair is thinning. Extract the juice of one small onion and add a dollop of honey to it. You can either apply the mixture all over your hair or just to the spots that look thin. Leave it on overnight. If you wish, you can add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to the mixture.

Lemon juice and vinegar



Boil the peels of four lemons in water and add some vinegar to it. Once it’s cool, use it to wash your hair. This is great for getting rid of dandruff.

Brown sugar



This is a natural exfoliate with no chemical preservatives. It removes product build-up, dead skin cells and other pore-clogging impurities.

Rosemary



This powerful herb won’t only leave your hair heavenly soft, it actually stimulates hair growth as well! It nurtures and strengthens the hair and helps solve the problem of thinning. Add two teaspoons of dry, crushed rosemary leaves in quarter cup of water and then massage the mixture into your hair. It’s non-greasy, so you don’t have to rinse it out and can use it on clean hair.

Caffeine shampoo



This growth treatment requires caffeine powder. You can use the shampoo as frequently as you like. Mix four teaspoons of caffeine powder in a bottle of shampoo. You can also mix the caffeine powder in a spray bottle with water and spritz it on 10-15 minutes before showering.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2014.

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