For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Ditch Shampoo - Here Are 10 Cleansing Ayurvedic Ingredients That Work Even Better!

To cleanse the scalp, keep frizz at bay and moisture locked in, try these toxic-free natural hair cleansers!

By Kumutha

We are going anti-shampoos and taking the less-treaded au naturale hair cleanser path, and you would too, if you knew exactly what store-brought shampoos are made off!

Are you a label reader? If not, you should become one! Our regular shampoo comes with a host of toxic chemicals that pretty much spell disaster for our tresses.

homemade shampoo

For instance, almost all shampoos contain sulphate. Other than giving foamy lather to your mane, sulphate strips your hair of its natural oils, breaks down the protein and prevents new hair-follicle regeneration in the long run.

Sodium chloride which gives your shampoo that creamy consistency makes the scalp turn itchy and dry! And worse culprit off all, Parabens, which is essentially used to give the product longer shelf life, affects your scalp condition, triggering hair loss and in the longer run leads to hormonal imbalance.

Boggled already? We are just getting started. Other than the above-mentioned toxic substances, shampoo contains a host of other chemicals that damage your mane beyond repair.

To avoid all this and more, we've curated 10 deeply therapeutic Ayurvedic hair-cleansing ubtans that will make your hair twice as longer and stronger in no time minus the harshness!

Coconut Milk Wash

coconut milk

This homemade shampoo restores moisture, shine and elasticity of the hair.

  • Take 1 cup of coconut milk, 3/4th cup of castile soap, 5 drops of almond oil and 5 drops of olive oil.
  • Mix all the ingredients together and store it in an air-tight container.
  • Use a quarter-size shampoo to cleanse your hair.

Reetha

reetha

Reetha cleanses, moisturises and nourishes your hair strands, improving their elasticity.

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of reetha powder, with the required amount of hot water to get a runny consistency.
  • Apply it to your hair and scalp.
  • Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Massage your scalp gently and then rinse it clean.

Egg

egg

Egg packs a powerful punch of biotin, vitamin B12 and proteins, all of which boost hair growth and add volume and shine to your hair.

  • Take a bowl, break in two eggs and include the whites, add in 5 drops of peppermint oil and 5 drops of rosemary oil.
  • Whip until you get a frothy consistency.
  • Slightly dampen your hair and apply the herbal alternative for shampoo through your hair length and scalp.
  • Let it sit for 15 minutes, before rinsing it clean thoroughly with water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar cleanses the scalp of any buildup, without disrupting its pH balance.

  • Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with half a cup of castile soap.
  • Using a spoon, mix the ingredients until they combine well.
  • Transfer the solution in a squeeze bottle and use it as your regular shampoo.

Aloe Vera

aloe vera

Aloesin and antioxidants present in the aloe vera can provide an instant relief from the condition of itchy scalp, prevent hair loss and provide smoothness to dry hair.

  • Take half a cup of freshly extracted aloe vera gel.
  • Dampen your hair and work it into your scalp and hair.
  • Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it clean.
  • Repeat the process if hair is excessively oily.

Herbal Tea Cleanser

herbal cleanser

One of the simplest tips on how to cleanse your hair naturally is with the use of a herbal tea cleanser.

  • Brew a cup of rosemary tea, and allow it to cool down at room temperature.
  • Add 5 drops of peppermint oil and half a tablespoon of baking soda to the solution and mix well.
  • Massage the solution onto your scalp and hair, and let your mane soak it up for 15 minutes.
  • And then, rinse it clean with plain water. Follow it up with a suitable conditioner.

Baking Soda

baking soda

Baking soda, though an excellent cleanser, can strip your hair of its natural oil, if used excessively. So mix it with a deeply moisturising ingredient to balance out its effect.

  • Take 1 ripe avocado, mix in a teaspoon of baking soda; and using water, whip it into a smooth paste.
  • Massage the paste onto your scalp for 15 minutes, before rinsing it out thoroughly with plain water.

Rice Water

rice water

Rice water contains inositol which repairs damaged hair cells and promotes new hair growth.

  • Take a cup of uncooked rice water, add in the required amount of shikakai, until you get a smooth paste.
  • Work it into your hair, until the lather starts to form.
  • Do this for 10 minutes, before rinsing your scalp and hair clean.

Cucumber

cucumber

This homemade shampoo works to cleanse, hydrate and soothe an inflamed scalp.

  • Peel 1 lemon and cucumber, and dice it in medium pieces.
  • Add it to the blender and grind it until you get a running paste.
  • Work it into your scalp and scrub it well.
  • Later, rinse your hair thoroughly and follow it up with a good conditioner.

Cornstarch

cornstarch
  • Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of lukewarm water.
  • Keep adding cornstarch powder, until you get the desired consistency.
  • Then, use it as your regular shampoo to cleanse your scalp naturally.

Story first published: Monday, November 7, 2016, 12:28 [IST]