Shahnaz Husain
During the hot and humid season, oil and sweat deposits make the hair sticky, matted and rough. There may even be bad odour from the scalp. Shampoo the hair more frequently during the hot and humid season, especially if the hair is oily. Use a mild herbal shampoo. Rinse your hair well with water, to get rid of all soapy residues and loosened flakes. You can even wash the hair daily, but use less shampoo.
To remove bad odour, add the juice of a lemon and half a cup of rose water to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse after shampoo.
A few drops of eau de cologne can also be added to a mug of water and used as a last rinse. It also has a cooling effect.
Have a tea-water and lemon rinse. Take used tea leaves and boil them again in 4 to 5 cups of water. The amount of water depends on the length of the hair. Strain and cool the water. Tea contains tannin which adds shine to the hair and makes it silky. It suits all hair types. Add the juice of a lemon and use as a final rinse after shampoo.
Henna treatments also help to cleanse the scalp and remove bad odour. Add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs and enough “tea water” to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. “Tea water” can be made by boiling used tea leaves again in enough water, cooling and straining the liquid. Apply the henna on the hair and wash off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more tea water.
In cases of sticky dandruff, where the flakes adhere to the scalp, hot oil therapy is very useful. Heat sesame seed (til) oil or olive oil. Apply the oil on the scalp with cotton wool, rubbing gently to dislodge the flakes. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Repeat this three or four times. Leave the oil on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour
Add 5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil to 50 ml rose water. Shake well and keep in an airtight glass bottle. Apply this on the scalp after shampoo and leave it on.
Hair Rinses will also help to refresh the hair and scalp. Add a handful of fresh or dried marigold (gainda) flowers to two cups of hot water. Dried or fresh rose petals can also be added. Allow it to stand for one hour. Strain the water and cool it. Use it as a hair rinse after shampoo.
Hibiscus (java or gurhal) flowers can also be used to rinse the hair. Both hot and cold infusions can be made from hibiscus flowers and leaves. For hot infusions, add the flowers and leaves to boiling water and allow to stand for 10 to 12 hours. The infusion is strained and then used as a last rinse after washing the hair. For cold infusions, the flowers and leaves are allowed to stand overnight in cold water, in a ratio of one to six. The flowers are squeezed and the water is strained before use. Such infusions can be used to wash the hair and scalp, or applied on the scalp with cotton wool. The paste or juice of the flowers can also be applied on the hair.
Add a few drops of eau-de-cologne before using it as a hair rinse, to add fragrance.
Avoid hair styling products like gels during humid weather, especially if the hair is oily. They can make the hair more oily and also block the pores of the scalp, leading to dandruff.
Avoid spicy and fried foods. Include fresh fruits, raw salads, sprouts and yogurt in your daily diet. Drink plenty of water. Add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and have it first thing in the morning.
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