Hair25 min
Homemade bhringraj oil and scalp massage for hair fall
Bhringraj — ‘king of hair’ in Sanskrit — is the herb Ayurveda turns to first for thinning hair. A simple home infusion in coconut or sesame oil, massaged in twice a week, is a nourishing ritual while you look at the deeper causes of hair fall.
The Ayurvedic view
Losing 50–100 hairs a day is normal. More than that often follows stress, illness or fever, crash diets, childbirth, thyroid imbalance, iron or protein deficiency, or tight hairstyles. Ayurveda links excessive hair fall (khalitya) to aggravated pitta at the roots and recommends cooling, nourishing oils. Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) grows wild in damp places across India and is the base of many classical hair oils; amla and curry leaves are frequent companions.
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil (or sesame oil in winter)
- 2 tablespoons bhringraj powder, or a handful of fresh bhringraj leaves, washed and dried
- 1 tablespoon amla powder (optional)
- 8–10 curry leaves (optional)
How to prepare
- Warm the oil on the lowest flame. Add the herbs and let them infuse for 10–15 minutes without smoking.
- Switch off, cover and leave overnight. Strain through a fine cloth into a dry bottle.
How to use
- Warm 1–2 tablespoons and massage into the scalp with fingertips — gentle circles, no rubbing of hair — for 5–10 minutes.
- Leave for an hour or two (or overnight if it suits you) and wash with a mild shampoo.
- Use twice a week for at least three months; hair growth cycles are slow.
Helpful habits
- Eat enough protein (dal, paneer, curd, sprouts, eggs if you eat them), iron-rich greens and a handful of nuts and seeds.
- Avoid tight ponytails, frequent heat styling and harsh chemical treatments.
- Sleep well and manage stress; both affect the hair cycle.
Precautions
- Patch-test first and stop if the scalp itches or develops bumps.
- Oil can worsen oily dandruff or scalp acne — keep contact time short if so.
- See a doctor for sudden or patchy hair loss, bald spots, hair fall with weight changes, fatigue or irregular periods, or thinning that continues for more than three months — thyroid, anaemia and hormonal causes need testing.
