4 home remedies for healthy hair from modern-day Rapunzel Diipa Büller-Khosla and her mum
Because mommy always knows best
The cruel sorceresses from Rapunzel knew the value of a lustrous head of hair. She was torturing Rapunzel anyway, and to hit her where it really hurt, she cut off the shiny locks that the princess took such pride in. No matter what your hair type, or style — a fuss-free crop, strands that graze your bum like a loving partner would, or a mop of curls usually in top bun mode, the attachment we feel to these dead cells unifies us all.
It could be shorter than your last fling, but you still want it be healthy right?
The quality of our hair pretty much reflects our lives — our diet, lifestyle and stress levels are all laid bare.
While factors responsible for hair loss are endless — genes, hormones, medical conditions, the weather — and losing 50-100 strands a day is normal, most of us throw ourselves into a hair-raising frenzy of switching shampoos and adopting all-natural home remedies for healthy hair that make us smell like garam masala when we cross the 101 mark.
While losing hair is bad enough, waking up with frizzy, scraggly or unruly locks is equally disturbing. Especially when you see women walking around you with healthy-looking hair, glossier than magazine covers.
All you want to know is: ‘How do I get my hair to look like that?’
Instagram fashion and beauty influencer, and TEDx speaker Diipa Büller-Khosla is one of those women. While she clearly has a genetic advantage, the social media star credits her guru’s — Mommy dearest/desi Rapunzel.
In a new video shot with her mum, the duo share four tried and tested home remedies for healthier hair.
Home remedies for healthy hair, according to Diipa Büller-Khosla
Tip number 1: Cut off 0.5 cm of your hair on New Moon Day
“And you need to give your intention for what kind of hair you want to the universe, and you get it all,” says mommy Khosla.
Turns out hairstrology is a real thing — i.e trimming your hair according to the Lunar Calendar. Says hairstylist Jonathan Mason, “If the moon has such a magnificent effect on the ocean, and plants, which are composed of a good deal of water, there must be an effect to some degree on hair.” A little trim, and the secret mojo definitely couldn’t hurt.
Tip number 2: Massage your scalp every night, with your hair flipped upside down
“You don’t have to hear the sound of your hair,” says Khosla sr, encouraging you to focus only on the scalp and gently massage with your fingertips.
Diipa suggests you perform this ritual upside down for extra circulation. Research backs them up, as it suggests that scalp massages increases hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles. This stimulates the follicles to produce thicker hair, and a scalp massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin, encouraging hair growth.
Let’s be honest, when has a good old champi hurt anyone? Best case scenario, you’ll find your hair growing and looking healthier. Worst case, you’ll massage yourself to sleep. Win-win.
Tip number 3: Wash your hair only twice a week
“Depending on whether you have dry hair or oily hair, you need to make sure you don’t over- or under-wash your hair, says Khosla sr.
The experts agree, as over-washing strips natural oils from your scalp, which, in turn, spikes sebum production. Under-shampooing and/or cleansing can lead to scalp congestion, inflammation of the hair follicles and more issues.
The key is to listen to what your body wants, and figure a regimen that suits your hair type — Diipa recommends using dry shampoo in between washes, while Khosla Sr prefers home remedies for healthy hair.
She proposes a black tea rinse for oily hair, since the compounds in tea can naturally balance pH levels on the scalp and help to regulate the amount of oil it produces.
Tip number 4: Mommy’s secret hair oil, made using brahmi, amla, castor oil and almond oil
The duo swear by a homemade oil that Kholsa sr has been brewing since she was 17, and Diipa recalls Sunday champis with this concoction — they use a mix of Ayurvedic herbs like brahmi which is known for its scalp nourishing properties, amla (Indian gooseberry), castor oil, almond oil, some flowers (hibiscus is a popular choice) and leaves.
