Dreaming of thick, long, gorgeous hair? Though varying in texture and shades of black and brown, Indian women have always had beautiful hair. However, these shiny tresses that can be twisted into any desired hairstyle doesn't come easy. It takes a detailed hair care regime to achieve hair worthy of admiration. Try these here traditional hair care tips from across the country for beautiful tresses.
Kerala: Known to have thick, long and dark hair, Malayali girls are known to keep it that way with help from coconut oil massages and thali. Thali is a paste made from hibiscus, poppy seeds (khus khus), moong beans and bhringaraj. This acts as a nourishing hair mask. You can also add ground fenugreek seeds to the mix. Massage the mask into the scalp and through the ends of your hair. Wash it off with a gentle shampoo. Traditionally, this thick paste acts as a cleansing agent in itself. Use conditioner as usual and cotton t-shirt or a muslin cloth to gently dry your hair.
Rajasthan: Rajasthani women are known for long, straight hair. The extreme hot weather of the desert doesn't stop them from having healthy, beautiful hair. They combat the heat by grinding lauki or bottle gourd and applying it on their scalp. They also wash their hair using cooling kaolin clay that helps remove excess moisture from the scalp while retaining moisture in your hair. They also wash their hair using shikakai and reetha (soapnut) occasionally.
Uttar Pradesh: You might have noticed ornate jewel-encrusted hair combs in museums featuring Mughal artefacts. They also had an everyday version of it- the wooden comb. Women coming from Uttar Pradesh are known to be using the wooden comb for generations. The comb not only reduces frizz, but massages the scalp, gets blood pumping, and helps spread natural oils to the hair shaft. The wooden comb also de-tangles the hair without much fuss, too.
West Bengal: Whenever you see a Bengali woman, don't you wonder how do they maintain that beautiful skin and hair? Apart from consistently oiling their hair with mustard oil, Bengali women dry their hair only with muslin towels. Not only do these towels ease out the frizz, but prevents wet hair from snagging.
Tamil Nadu: Ever wondered what is the secret behind those strong, shiny braids of women from Tamil Nadu? Coconut oil infused with hibiscus, of course! This potion is said to accelerate hair growth while giving it strength. So if you want your hair to grow out for a wedding in the family or to channel your inner Rapunzel, give this magic potion a try.
Punjab: Thick glossy hair is what we usually see in Punjabi women. Their secret? Ghee. Besides eating dollops of this golden goodness, they apply it on their hair too. Ghee apparently can be used as a pre-wash or post-wash treatment to condition your hair, make it easy to de-tangle and give it some shine.
There you go, the best secrets for beautiful hair from across the country.
