Swathy and Sky

You are here: Home / Archives for Hair Care

Hair Care

Natural Shampoo-cum-Conditioner to increase hair growth {DIY}

· · 2 Comments

Some days back, I had posted about the need of co-washes. Today, I am posting a recipe for a natural conditioner which can be used during a co-wash. Actually, it can also be used as a shampoo. We all know how good is hibiscus for our hair. Yes, you guessed it right. The natural shampoo-cum-conditioner is made from hibiscus flowers and leaves.
Method: Soak some hibiscus flowers and leaves (around 5 flowers and 15-20 leaves) in 2 liters of water overnight. Make sure that the leaves are thick and use the fresh flowers. Next morning or evening, boil the water till it remains half in quantity. The liquid would be green in color and thick in texture. Strain it in a bottle and store it in the fridge. Use this liquid while co-washing your hair. You can also substitute your shampoos with this natural shampoo. It can also remove a little oil in your hair. But, mind you, it can not remove a oil from a well-oiled hair. Then, you have to switch back to your own brand of shampoo. So, I prefer this natural shampoo for a co-wash. Prepare small batches of the shampoo and use it within a week or two.
It makes hair smooth and soft. It hydrates the hair well. You do not need to follow up with a conditioner. You can instead use a few drops of oil at the ends. It also helps in hair growth and reduces the risk of hair loss. You can use this shampoo to dilute your own shampoo too. This way, the chemicals in the shampoo would be less harsh on your hair.And, moreover, it controls the oil in your hair. If your hair is oily, it tries to neutralize it.

How to do Hot Oil Treatment for faster hair growth? {Hair Care}

· · 146 Comments

Today, I would be talking about how to do Hot Oil Treatment. You can also read the hair oil recipe for growing hair faster.

Do not heat the oil. Instead take a steam after oiling your hair. Partition your hair into various sections. Pour some oil into your hand and apply it on the scalp first. Cover the entire scalp. Massage oil well into the scalp for 5 minutes at each part. Then, start applying oil to the body of your hair and concentrate on the ends. Be generous with the amount of oil on your head. Do not worry about greasing your hair. Do it at evening time when you do not have any appointments and it would be great if you have a friend who can give you a nice head massage.
After applying the oil to your hair completely, massage your scalp for 15-30 minutes. You would feel the heat generating. Immediately, either steam your hair by placing your head about 1 feet over the steam machine or cover your head with a shower cap and place a very hot towel on your head. Heat opens the pores and allows the oil to get absorbed more and quick. When the towel gets cold, replace it with other hot towel and alternate this routine for 1 hour. You can continue with the shower cap routine even after taking steam. Then, tie a scarf tightly over the shower cap and go to sleep. Leave the oil overnight to work better. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo in the morning. Apply conditioner only to the ends. You will have very soft and shiny hair. And, a weekly hot oil treatment with any oil would stimulate more hair growth.Update: Hot Oil Treatment gives best results if done one night before washing your hair. But, applying oil immediately and going to bed will not help anything except spoiling your bed linens. So, apply oil two hours before going to bed. That gives oil enough time to get soaked into your hair.

One more important thing to remember is that do not over apply your hair oil. Take little by little and apply on your hair. Stop when all your scalp and hair length is covered. Do not keep on splurging the oil like some product. That will finish your shampoo quickly, dry your hair and might even cause hair loss. So, apply only to coat your hair. Be a little generous with the ends. Extra layers of coating will not ensure your hair turns healthy sooner or any kind of such belief.

How many times do you give your hair this luxurious treatment?  Pin It

Co-wash your hair instead of using shampoo everyday {Hair Care}

· · 5 Comments

Today, I will be telling you about co-washing your hair.
What is a co-wash?
It is washing your hair with your conditioner instead of using a shampoo. It conditions your hair well and keeps it soft, shiny and manageable.
Why to co-wash?
Many people are used to washing their hair everyday or pretty frequently, even if their hair is not dirty. Using shampoo so many times in a week causes so many chemicals to be used on the hair. It makes hair dull and rough. So, instead of washing your hair everyday with shampoo, you can alternate it by co-washing. It will reduce the use of chemicals for your hair. And, give the benefits of conditioner too.
Now, you would ask me that even a conditioner is made up of chemicals. So, how come hair is exposed to less chemicals while using a co-wash?
True, commercial conditioners are made up of all sorts of chemicals. But, a shampoo is made up of all the harsh chemicals like SLS which have to clean the hair and are detergents, basically, in their property. A conditioner has the chemicals which make hair smooth and shiny. So, the summary, is that the chemicals present in the conditioner are less harmful than those in the shampoo. And, in case, you use a natural conditioner, you do not have to worry a bit about using it.
How to co-wash your hair?
You can follow many methods to co-wash your hair. You can also use the conditioner to provide intensive conditioning.
1. Apply conditioner on your hair at night and put on a shower cap. Tie a scarf and sleep. Wash your hair nicely in the morning. Need not use a conditioner again. This provides deep conditioning to your hair. You can also put a hot towel around your head for better absorption.
2. Apply conditioner 20-30 minutes before you take shower. Wash your hair well.
3. In the shower, wet your hair well. Apply conditioner. Leave on for 5 minutes. And, then wash off well.
Either of the methods make your hair smooth and shiny.
Note: You do not have to follow up again with conditioner. Do not apply conditioner to your roots. It blocks the hair follicles. Apply it only on the hair body and ends. Concentrate more on ends. You can follow your co-wash with any type of a hair rinse for a better result.