The importance of healthy hair goes beyond aesthetics, but some hair care products can, ironically, do more harm than good. So, how can you have healthy, beautiful hair without overloading it with unsuitable products?
Thanks to Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, it is known that hair health begins with a healthy diet and continues with proper care according to what are known as marma points. Want to know more? Then keep reading!
India, hair, and Indian hair massages
If you think of an Indian woman, you probably imagine someone with an enviably beautiful, voluminous, and shiny mane. This is no coincidence: the secret to her hair lies in the principles of Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, which is still practiced today, more than 5,000 years after it was conceived.
The main way to achieve this shiny, voluminous hair is by massaging it with oil. The most popular options are coconut oil or a blend of coconut and castor oils: just five minutes of massaging your hair with this oil is enough to improve its condition considerably. But the secret to Indian hair also lies in how this culture takes what it calls marma points seriously.
What are marma points?
Marma points are points located throughout the body where energy and physical structures intersect, forming an energy map across the entire body. According to Ayurveda, there are a total of 107 marma points that can be treated with marma therapy.
Benefits of using marma points
Using marma points provides the following benefits:
- Strengthens the body's tissues and organs.
- Eliminates toxins from the body.
- Dissolves energy blockages.
- Helps you sleep better and achieve deep sleep.
Marma therapy also boasts several benefits for hair:
- Stimulates circulation, reducing dermatitis.
- Moisturizes the hair, reducing split ends.
- Prevents hair breakage.
- Keeps hair healthy and shiny, preventing color loss.
- Maintains the color of dyed hair.
Where can you find marma points on the hair?
According to Ayurveda, there are 31 marma points on the head called simantas. At these points, arteries, veins, nerves, muscles, and cranial bones intersect in what are known as “marma pressure points.”
How to massage your hair to help it grow
A stimulating massage with oils helps strengthen hair and keep it healthy. This is because a scalp massage stimulates blood circulation and, therefore, promotes the growth of healthier, stronger hair.
According to Ayurveda, you should follow these steps to massage your hair with oil:
- Relax: relax in an environment where you can sit with your back supported and, if possible, use a pillow or cushion. Turn off any devices that might distract you or make noise, play ambient music, and dim the lights; disconnect from the outside world and connect with your inner self.
- Massage your scalp from front to back: dip your fingers in the oil that is best suited for you, then gently move your fingertips from front to back in a straight motion. Apply downward pressure, but not too much. Leave your hair loose and untied; you may want to brush your hair first to prevent tangles from interrupting the massage.
- Make circular motions: repeat the previous process, but use circular motions with consistent pressure.
- Reverse direction: now, gradually reverse direction, pour oil onto the scalp, and massage from back to front while moving your fingers across the scalp.
- Perform the same movement on the sides of your scalp: now focus on the sides of the head. Move up and down in circles toward the base of the head.
Once you have finished massaging, brush your hair with a natural bristle brush and wrap it in a towel for 20 minutes. You can also leave your hair wrapped in the towel overnight while you sleep.
What oil should you use to massage your hair?
One of the best oils for massaging your hair is argan oil, as it has the properties needed to add shine and volume to your hair. You can also use rosehip oil, which restores and moisturizes the hair.
If you want to learn more about Ayurveda and its benefits, you can book our Ayurveda introductory service to find your own balance and achieve a healthy lifestyle that benefits both your body and mind.