Habits for longer, healthier hair

It's not difficult to attain long and healthy hair. Hair stylist Chen says, "To ensure that you have a good hair growth, you must incorporate some essentials like washing your hair with cold water, including proteins in your diet and massaging your scalp every day."

Here are a few tips...

Brush your hair: Brushing your hair at least 50 times a day will improve the blood circulation to your scalp. This also gives the hair follicles a force to grow. You must brush your hair for at least 10 minutes before you go to bed.

Rinse your hair with cold water: Says Chen, "Make sure that you wash your scalp with a blast of cold water after you've applied shampoo and conditioner. This will tighten the pores and improve blood circulation to your scalp."

Go for a head massage: Putting some pressure on your scalp will not only ease your stress and worries, but will also ensure that your scalp receives nutrition, leading to hair growth. You can either get a scalp massage done at home every week or visit a salon for a professional one every 15 days.

Oil your hair twice a week: Apart from getting your scalp massaged, you must also oil your hair every week. Oiling ensures that your hair gets nutrition, thus preventing hair fall.

Tie up your hair every night: Did you know that tying up your hair every night will protect your hair from friction with the pillows, thus preventing hair fall? It also ensures that you do not get split ends and your hair does not become rough.

Follow a protein-rich diet: Incorporate proteins like fish, meat and legumes in your diet to ensure that you have strong, healthy hair. Adds Chen, "Proteins are good for your scalp, as it increases the blood flow and also makes the roots stronger."

For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks

Wonders of honey

Honey has been used for its numerous benefits since four thousand years. It's believed to have been used in pre-ancient Egyptian times, to treat wounds. Here are some other benefits of this wonder food...

-Experts say that honey is helpful in preventing acid reflux.

-It has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties that act as a great moisturiser, making the skin elastic and supple. It keeps wrinkles, blemishes and dryness at bay.

-Apply it on your face overnight or use a moisturiser that has honey extracts.

-Give your immune system a boost by regularly having honey mixed in warm water. -Honey is packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are known to protect your body from bacteria.

-Want to lose weight? Drinking warm water with a dash of lemon and honey when you wake up, is an ideal way to detox. Doing this daily will help cleanse your liver, and remove toxins and fat from the body. You can also have this every night before going to bed.

-Honey also contains antiseptic properties that help treat indigestion by relieving the acidity in the stomach. It also neutralises gas.

-Honey has natural sugars that provide you with a healthy source of calories and energy. So, the next time you're feeling tired or low on energy, have a tablespoon of organic honey instead of caffeine.

-Certain studies also say that honey, when mixed with cinnamon, revitalises the arteries and veins of the heart and reduces cholesterol in the blood by up to 10%.

Natural hair rinse for great hair

What do you do when you get a rash on skin? Apply a soothing cream. And when your skin flakes?

A moisturiser, isn't it? But what would you do if the same problem happens in scalp? Use a shampoo or conditioner? Unfortunately the small contact time as well as high use of chemicals in these products does not make it so effective. "Also frequent shampooing leads to fading away if hair colour easily. Hence naturally prepared out the ones available, hair rinses are perfect answer to problems like itching, dryness flaking of scalp, retaining hair color and shine and also boosting hair growth," says dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel. These hair rinses have been known to naturally soften hair, add shine and increase luster. While some rinses need to be washed after 15 to 20 minutes, other hair rinses like the ones made from natural flowers like marigold, rose etc, can be left on for longer.

Dr Goel gives some examples...

Egg yolk rinse: This is the age old remedy for dull, damaged, dry hair. Egg yolk is mixed with olive oil and applied on wet scalp and kept for some time. When rinsed off, hair feels smooth and well moisturised.

Beer rinse: Beer is a great conditioner for the hair and acts as a setting lotion. It adds vitality to hair and makes them voluminous.

Lemon hair rinse: Lemon works great for getting rid of the oily scalp and dandruff. But one has to be careful while using it as it can make the scalp very dry when overused.

Apple cider vinegar rinse: It works by balancing the scalp and hair pH, removing product build up and treating dry hair and dandruff. It also seals the hair cuticle, helping hair to retain moisture.

Herbal hair rinses: There are several herbal products which work wonders for the hair. Rosemary, tea tree help in clearing dandruff, peppermint, basil promote hair growth, Sage, marshmallow are used for dry hair and rosemary for oily hair.

Marijuana may stop HIV spread

A new study has shown that chronic intake of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, can protect critical immune tissue in the gut from the damaging effects of HIV infection. 

Patricia Molina and coauthors from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, report that chronic THC administration was associated with greater survival of T cell populations and reduced overall cell death in the gut in monkeys, which is known to be a key target for simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and infection-related inflammation.

"To better treat HIV infection, we need a better understanding of how it causes the disease we call AIDS. We also need alternative approaches to treatment, This study is important because it begins to explain how THC can influence disease progression in SIV-infected macaques.

It also reveals a new way to slow disease progression," Thomas Hope, Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, said. The study was published in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses.

Dandruff: Why you should not apply hair oil

Hair oil may soothe an itchy scalp and reduce dandruff flakes, but Dr. Johan explains, "Hair oil has been used in our country as a continuance of our age-old traditional way of moisturising our hair. However, the truth is that the hair oil forms a layer on the scalp that prevents moisture from entering the skin naturally. This leads to the formation of flakes and dandruff because of the choked pores. So, I do not recommend applying hair oil."

Applying hair oil on a scalp, which is already infected with dandruff intensifies the process of hair fall. When hair oil remains on the hair for a long time, is loses it shine and turns dull. So, it is important to avoid applying hair oil on your scalp if you are struggling with dandruff.

Try these home remedies to reduce itchy-flaky dandruff:

1. Lemon Juice solution:

Massage lemon juice on your scalp before taking a shower. Wash your hair thoroughly after 15-20 minutes. This treatment helps to remove stickiness, prevents dandruff and makes your hair look radiant.

2. Aloe Vera rub:

20 minutes before you take a shower rub aloe vera gel on your scalp. Leave it on for a full 20 minutes, and then wash your hair with a shampoo.

3. Curd/yoghurt remedy:

Apply some curd on your hair and scalp and keep it on for at least one hour. Wash it off with a mild shampoo thoroughly. Do this at least twice a week.

30 Ways to get rid of dandruff

Dandruff, also known as seborrhea, is a common non-contagious condition of skin areas rich in oil glands (the face, scalp, and upper trunk) they are marked by flaking and sometimes redness and itching of the scalp, varying in severity from mild flaking of the scalp to scaly, red patches.

While there are an array of hair products that promise dandruff treatment Dr Manjiri Patankar Puranik, founder of Instasculpt advices us to rely more on home remedies while treating dandruff. She lists the 30 best methods to get rid of the flaky white stuff.

Heat a small amount of olive oil and rub into the scalp, leave for an hour and wash off with warm water. Later wash your hair with shampoo. Stop use of any hairstyling products.

Neem treatment: Soak some neem leaves in water and boil it. Use it neem water to wash your hair. Neem leaf has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it effective in treating dandruff.

Amla power: Take amla powder and grind it with tulsi leaves and apply it to the scalp for an hour. And then thoroughly wash it off.

Oil your skin with vitamin E (found in avocados) and zinc (found in seafood, nuts and seeds).

It's best to use the lemon juice in squeeze bottles since it's easier to control. Stand over either your kitchen or bathroom sink and squirt the lemon juice all over your head and massage. Leave on for about fifteen minutes, then wash your hair. It usually takes no more than two treatments for the dandruff itch to disappear.

Olive oil and almond oil-- Mix the two together and apply to scalp and leave on for five minutes. Once it starts to tingle rinse and shampoo. Olive oil is an excellent natural conditioner that seeps into the scalp. Apply olive oil into scalp and leave it overnight covered with a cotton cloth

Take multi-vitamins full of Vitamin B, B6, B12 and E. These vitamins help to produce scalp oil and protect from dandruff.

Aloe Vera is one of the best herbs to cure all kinds of hair problem. To add natural moisturizer into your scalp use Aloe Vera gel.

Increase intake of fresh fruits as much possible. Add zinc, omega3 fatty acids, and vitamin B complex food into your diet. Cut down intake of sugar base food. Minimize caffeine containing drinks and foods.

Baby oil works well for dandruff. Baby oil can be massaged on the scalp. A towel can be wound around the head after the application of oil. It should then be left overnight. The next day, the oil could be washed using a herbal shampoo.

Warm oil is massaged on the scalp, then a warm moist towel is wrapped around the head. After a few minutes, the hair can be washed.

Yoghurt treatment: In bowl add a tsp of lime juice, one tsp mustard oil to one cup yoghurt. Apply this mixture to the scalp and let it rest for one hour. Then thoroughly wash the head and hair.

Fenugreek treatment: Soak 2 tbsp. of fenugreek seeds (meethi) in water overnight and crush them into a fine paste next morning.Apply this paste to your hair and scalp for at least 30 minutes.Wash your hair thoroughly after 30 minutes. Follow this treatment for continuous four weeks, for best results.

If you brush your hair, do it with a natural bristle brush that's medium-stiff. 

When you shampoo, massage the scalp vigorously so that you can loosen the flakes and wash them off.

Vinegar treatment: Prepare a mixture of equal amounts of vinegar and water. Apply this on your scalp and leave it on overnight. Wash your hair the next morning with a mild baby shampoo.

Eggs for your hair: Beat 2 eggs and apply the paste on your scalp and rinse it off after one hour. This treatment will assist in preventing dandruff and hair fall.

A solution of beetroot juice, vinegar and some ginger juice, when applied on the scalp helps to get rid of dandruff.

Apply hot olive or sesame oil on the scalp before bedtime. Next morning, rub little lime juice on your scalp one hour prior to bathing. Wash and rinse your hair well.

Comb your hair daily as this promotes blood circulation inside the scalp. Also, regularly massage your scalp with herbal oil.

Apply 2 tbsp. of apple juice mix in water directly to the scalp. Apples have enzymes that eliminate dead skin cells that further causes scalp flakes.

Make a paste of ginger root & beetroot. Massage the hair with this paste every night. Rinse in the morning. It helps to control dandruff effectively in about 4 to 5 nights.

Baking soda is potential to clear excess flakes and clarifies the scalp from dandruff. Add 1 tsp. of baking soda to a handful of shampoo and you will find that it can remove dandruff flakes even hiding in hair strands.

Apply paste made of neem leaves on your scalp to fight dandruff as neem has an antiseptic property. Neem leaves is successful in treating lice, treating dandruff and many other eruptions on the scalp.

Soak two tablespoons of fenugreek (methi) seeds overnight. Grind it into a fine paste in the morning, apply on the scalp & leave for half an hour; wash it off. Follow this regimen twice a week for the first two weeks & once a week for other two weeks.

Vitamin B is effective in controlling dandruff. Take a lot of green vegetables and pulses. Eat eggs and proteins in large quantities as they strengthen the hair and also prevent dandruff from recurring.

The abrasiveness of ordinary table salt works great for scrubbing out dandruff before you shampoo. Grab a saltshaker and shake some salt onto your dry scalp. Then work it through your hair, giving your scalp a massage. You'll find you've worked out the dry, flaky skin and are ready for a shampoo.

Numerous shampoos are available in the market that professes to remove dandruff. Pick a good branded medicated shampoo containing zinc pyrithione, tea-tree oil, green tea, and ketoconazole. These ingredients are known to prevent dandruff.

A lack of proper hair hygiene also accounts for dandruff. Never use others' comb as this is an easy way of catching the infection.