Hibiscus and Hair Care

Hibiscus is used by Hawaiian ladies in an interestingly unique way. Apparently, if a lady is wearing a hibiscus on her left ear, it indicates that she is unmarried. If the hibiscus is on the right ear of a lady, it means she is married.

This exquisite flower, especially the red one, has a special place when it comes to spirituality as it represents goddess Durga (in Hindu Culture) and also offered to Lord Ganesha with deep devotion.

Hibiscus – Natural solution for split ends and hair loss

The right flower to make your wish to have strong and long hair come true is just a few hibiscuses away.

Here are some of the benefits:

• Split ends
• Loss of hair

You can bring home a hibiscus plant and grow it with utmost care and nourishment. Boil a flower or two in coconut oil and heat the flower till it loses its juice. This oil can be applied half an hour before taking bath for best results.

Take a couple of flowers, squeeze them as much as you can till you get the juice out of the flowers. The natural scalp and hair care recipe is ready. You can wash your hair thirty to forty minutes after the application.

Planting a Hibiscus plant may not be always possible or even bringing the flowers to follow these tips. Hence we recommend you to try Kerala Ayurveda Limited’s Kesini Oil that contains hibiscus as one of its major active ingredients and also the goodness of other authentic ayurvedic ingredients best suited for your hair.

So comb your hair the way you want. No need to worry about bad hairstyle due to split ends of the hair. Hibiscus is here to repair those crooked split ends and pave way for healthy bouncy hair.

FAQ's

1. Which type of hibiscus is good for hair? 

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) or Japa Pushpa is a shrub that is found in the temperate climate zones of India. The shrub bears trumpet-shaped flowers in many different colors such as red, peach, white, yellow, and combinations of colors. The color that is preferred for Ayurvedic purposes is the red flower. The leaves of the shrub are dark green and shiny in appearance. It is also called Japa or Gudahala in Ayurveda in Hindi.

2. Does hibiscus make your hair grow? 

Yes, both the leaves and the flowers of the Hibiscus plant are useful in traditional Ayurvedic formulations to strengthen the hair. Classical Ayurvedic texts describe the plant as Keshya which means that it helps improve hair quality. The flower is also used in traditional home remedies, oils, and herbal shampoos. 
A person who has a dominant Pitta Dosha type, as well as those who stay up late at night, tends to have too much body heat under their skin. This leads to hair fall due to the excess body heat. Ayurvedic texts describe Hibiscus as beneficial in helping reduce excess body heat. Hibiscus is also believed to help enhance the blood circulation in the scalp thereby supporting the increased supply of nourishment and nutrients to the hair follicles. It is traditionally used to counter hair fall both externally in herbal hair oils as well as brewed into a herbal tea.

3. How do you use hibiscus oil for hair?

Hibiscus is used in different combinations of the preparation of herbal hair oils. One method is to grind the leaves and flowers of the Hibiscus shrub and heat them with virgin coconut oil. The oil is simmered till all the water in the mixture evaporates. This is then filtered and stored. 
An alternative method uses Hibiscus flowers and fenugreek seeds that are simmered in virgin coconut oil. Hibiscus is also used in traditional Ayurvedic hair oil formulations such as Kesini Hair Oil or Chemparathyadi Keram as an antifungal and anti-dandruff herbal hair oil.

4. How can I use hibiscus for hair growth?

According to Ayurveda, hair loss is usually caused by the damage to the hair follicles in the scalp due to excessive body heat. This is classified as excessive Pitta in the skin. Since Hibiscus is used as an anti-Pitta herb, it is very useful for hair fall issues. Hibiscus is also used in herbal formulations for Alopecia. Alopecia is baldness that causes patches to appear on the scalp.
 
In addition to the herbal hair oils described above, one can also make a hair mask out of Hibiscus. In this method, a paste of the flowers and leaves of the red Hibiscus is made and applied to the head of the person. This is left for 2 to 3 and then washed off with lukewarm water. This counteracts the Pitta Dosha heat in the scalp and helps encourage more blood circulation. The added blood flow stimulates and helps nourish the hair follicles thereby supporting hair growth.

5. Does hibiscus change hair colour? 

Hibiscus is described as Ranjana in Ayurvedic texts. The reddish colour of the flowers has the effect of darkening the hair and giving it a reddish hue. By enhancing the flow of nutrients to the hair follicles, the hibiscus also helps improve the appearance and texture of hair.