Amla or Gooseberry is a magical Indian fruit that offers innumerable health benefits for the hair, skin and body. It is loaded with antioxidants and is a rich source of Vitamin C. Amla has been used since ancient times as a natural ingredient to enhance the beauty of your hair. Regular use of amla nourishes hair, stimulates growth, strengthens hair follicles and prevents dandruff and split ends. Furthermore it is also helpful in preventing hair loss and premature greying of the hair.
Amla can benefit hair in multiple ways. You can eat amla fruit or consume fresh amla juice to get long and lustrous locks. Adding amla juice to your daily diet not only helps in stimulating and strengthening hair growth, it also boosts up your immune system. Amla powder obtained by grinding the fruit is also used in different home remedy preparations for promoting hair growth. Amla hair packs made using amla powder and other natural ingredients acts as good conditioners and also bring shine to your tresses. Above all amla hair oil is very effective in restoring growth of your hair. Amla oil is known to contain all the essential fatty acids that help in stimulating hair growth. Besides it also acts as a natural conditioner and strengthens hair follicles.
How Does It Work:
Amla oil is very effective in promoting hair growth. This happens in two ways. First, the amla oil is used to gently massage the scalp. This increases blood circulation and flow to the scalp and hair roots. This scalp massage stimulates the dormant hair follicles and thereby encourages new hair growth. In the second way, amla oil is massaged along the length of the hair. This regimen locks the moisture within the hair strands. The sealed moisture then keeps your hair supple and pliable to prevent breakage.
How To Prepare Amla Oil:
Amla oil can easily be made at home. It can be prepared by using fresh fruit or amla powder. Both of these are easily available at any grocery stores.
• Amla Oil from fruit:
Cut the amla fruit into small cubes and let it dry out completely. The dried amla fruit is then mixed with fenugreek seeds and castor or coconut oil, to form a thick and smooth paste. Now heat this mixture in a pan until it turns brown. Whilst doing, ensure that this mixture does not burn and keep on stirring continuously. After it has cooled, sieve this mixture and transfer the amla oil in air tight containers. This amla oil can be used safely for two weeks.
See More: Garlic For Hair Loss Treatment
• Amla Oil from powder:
The quicker way to prepare amla oil is using amla powder. Start with soaking the amla powder in hot water overnight. Next day, add fenugreek seeds and oil to this mixture to form a paste. You can either use coconut or olive oil according to your suitability. Your amla oil is now ready to be used.
Application And Use:
Amla oil is used on hair both ways, as treatment before shampooing and an after-wash conditioner. When using before shampoo, amla oil is massaged gently on the scalp, the night before you shampoo. The oil stays on the hair overnight and shampooed next morning. You can also apply amla oil on the hair same day and follow this with a hot towel treatment. Leave it on for about half an hour and rinse off thoroughly. When used a conditioner or sealant, very small quantity of amla oil is applied on the washed, dry or damp hair. This helps in softening your hair and also locking-in the needed moisture.
See More: Ginger For Hair Loss
The benefits of amla are manifold. It is a superb ingredient to boost hair growth and maintain overall health of the body. So when you spot amla next time, think beyond using it as a pickled preparation!
