Ayurveda and Hair Growth

I was four months postpartum with my son. I felt like I was getting out of some of the newborn haze of bringing a baby home from the hospital, finding our footing as new parents, and finally getting out of PP underwear/diaper (iykyk).

Then my hair started falling out…

I naively thought I had skipped this PP side effect, but alas I was losing hair in huge clumps every time I would wash or brush it. I was shedding worse than our cats. And it showed. I was on the search for the best way to prevent hair loss and promote growth in an ethical way. I was put onto vitamins, shampoos, and other haircare routines. When you’re a new mom, you just want to find the easiest thing to fix the problem as fast as possible. However, nothing felt like it was helping.

But then I came back to Ayurveda.

I know as an Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultant how much Ayurvedic practices can help with various health issues including alopecia, dry skin, digestion, and more. So why wouldn’t I use it for my postpartum health?

Assess Your Dosha

Obviously the first step is to assess your dosha. When you find out your dosha, you can also discover how other doshas may be showing up in your body in excess and out of balance. I found that in my postpartum state, everything felt like it was in excess. My hair loss was just one of many issues I was dealing with due to this excess. When you go through a consult with me, this will be our first step to helping you find balance in your life.

Oiling (Abhyanga)

This was the best thing I did for my hair loss. Growing up, I was terrified to let oil touch my scalp because my hair would get that oily look so fast from over washing. However, once I found my routine, it was easy for me to implement. On the days I would wash my hair (usually ever 3-4 days) I would put the oil on my scalp and even on the ends of my hair depending on how dry it was. I would wrap my hair up in a bun and leave it in for a minimum of three hours before washing it out.

I didn’t use oil everyday, but I would go through the scalp massage each day to stimulate follicles and would then avoid touching my hair otherwise. Some quality oils you can use for hair growth include:

• Coconut
• Almond
• Bhringaraj
• Sesame

Eat for Your Hair

The best thing we can do for our hair growth and health is eat well. We all know that when we eat better for our bodies we feel better. When it comes to your dosha, or pacifying a dosha that’s in excess, our food can be a wonderful component. Some powerful Ayurvedic foods for hair growth include:

• Moong beans: The proteins, nutrients, and vitamins in mung beans are great for your hair. You can include these in sandwiches, soups, or salads.
• Cucumber: The hydration of cucumbers is not only great for your drying hair, but also your skin. While Ayurveda doesn’t usually promote eating raw, you can drink cucumber juice, or you can blend it and combine with honey for a hair mask.
• Almonds: The omega-3 fatty acids are great for your hair. These are also as easy snack to grab on the go. I often eat a mix of almonds and nuts for an afternoon pick-me-up in regards to energy.

There are a number of other foods you can eat to help your hair growth depending on your dosha. Learn more about creating a wellness plan for yourself through Ayurveda, and set up a consultation today.