A Guide to Ayurvedic Ingredients | Black Girl with Long Hair Black Girl with Long Hair | Natural Hair Styles and Natural Hair Care

30 November 2011 ~ 20 Comments

A Guide to Ayurvedic Ingredients


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By Jc of The Natural Haven

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medicinal system. The emphasis is on utilising natural plants and fruits as well as living in harmony with nature. From Breakink New Ground;

Ayurveda (which means “Science of Life”) is an intricate system of traditional medicine native to India. It is a complete approach to health care designed to promote a lifestyle rather than an occasional treatment. Ayurveda maintains the art of living in harmony with nature by restoring balance to the individual, resulting in self-healing, good health and longevity. Mind, body and spirit need to be addressed both individually and in unison to ensure overall health.


According to ayurveda, the five fundamental elements that make up the universe – space, air, fire, water and earth – also make up the human physiology. Your mind and body type is called your dosha. Each of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – are a combination of two elements. Vata dosha is made up of space and air. Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water. Kapha dosha is made up of water and earth. We each have all three of the dosha in our physiology, just in different proportions, so your dosha is unique and personal; it is like your fingerprint.


Ayurvedic approach to hair care
In Ayurveda, hair is considered to be a by-product of bone formation. The tissue responsible for building bones is also responsible for the growth of hair. There are three Ayurvedic hair types – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata hair tends to be thin, dry, frizzy and prone to split ends. Pitta hair is fine and prone to premature thinning or graying. Kapha hair is usually very thick and oily.


For specific treatment of the hair, a variety of herbs are used in cleansing, conditioning and even hair coloring. Regular scalp massages done with infused oils are promoted, as well as overnight oil conditioning.

Many women with natural hair who are seeking  natural ingredients are often drawn to Ayurveda for this reason. Here is a scientific look into some of the Ayurvedic  oils and herbs.

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20 Responses to “A Guide to Ayurvedic Ingredients”

  1. africanbeauty 30 November 2011 at 3:49 pm Permalink

    sounds interesting

  2. Lulu 30 November 2011 at 4:51 pm Permalink

    I love using Indian powders and oils. They have help me in my journey.

    • ashley 19 December 2011 at 7:03 pm Permalink

      if i may ask where do u purchase them?

      • Lulu 23 December 2011 at 5:04 pm Permalink

        I purchased my oils and powder at my local Indian grocery store.

  3. Aurélie 30 November 2011 at 5:08 pm Permalink

    I love using amla powder because I find that 99% of the time the amla oil is mixed in with mineral oil :-( I use a henna mix that is pre-mixed with amla and shikakia and do that every two weeks. I DC before and after henna-ing it is a long process so I have to do it on days that I have absolutely nothing planned. Along with a better diet and exercise regime, an ayurvedic regime has brought my hair back to life!

  4. Satijo 30 November 2011 at 5:59 pm Permalink

    I will try this because my friend and fellow natural is an avid user of henna and LOVES IT!!!!! I want to try everything on this list…shopping!!!

  5. 12tnob 30 November 2011 at 11:33 pm Permalink

    I love ayuverdic herbs.. i have graduated to using a herbal spritzer and i have been using henna and love this too.. It has done very well on my daughters hair also!!!!

  6. Jaeda Barbie 1 December 2011 at 12:38 am Permalink

    I am a frequent user of henna and I am very familar with Ayurvedics oil and powders,It has helped my hair grow and it has been beneficial

  7. Natalie 1 December 2011 at 3:19 am Permalink

    I’ve tried the amla and shikakai powders in my DC but they really dried my hair out then I used amla/shikakai as a shampoo also too drying and I have not used them since. I now DC with a paraben free conditioner and a mix of oils, my hair is happy enough. I do final rinse with black tea and sometimes I use hibiscus tea as both are said to dye gray hairs. Unfortunately my hair hates pure coconut oil so I usually add it to other oils and use it that way. Henna also dries out my hair even when I mixed it with coconut cream my hair was not having it.

    • Aurélie 1 December 2011 at 5:15 pm Permalink

      Hey Natalie, the powders are quite drying which is why I always DC after using any of those powders. If I don’t have time to DC then I won’t apply it. My hair does hate coconut oil as well. Try to DC your hair with your conditioner mixed with molasses. It makes my hair softer.

  8. Kesia 1 December 2011 at 4:26 am Permalink

    Where can you buy these products.

    • CandyceNoelle 1 December 2011 at 4:39 am Permalink

      http://www.ayurnaturalbeauty.com/ This site is great. She ships fast and since I was new to henna I was nervous about the mixing process and what to add in. She has regular henna varieties and also sells treatments that are pre-mixed with all of the good herbs you need. I have used the Cassia treatment twice. I have the henna treatment as well but haven’t gotten around to using it yet.

  9. LillianMae 1 December 2011 at 7:30 am Permalink

    I use alma oil for my oil wash, and have been doing so for over a year…I can’t say enough about it!

    I tried the powders as a paste alone, but I prefer to either infuse the powders with an oil or tea (straining off any residue from the powders with cheese cloth) and use it that way, as I have found there is less residue with this method.

  10. Sieta 1 December 2011 at 12:26 pm Permalink

    I love ayurveda. I love using ayurvedic ingredients in my regimen. I tend to do amla, brahmi, shikakai or tulsi DC’s on a bi-weekly basis. It really makes my hair strong and the colour is a nice dark black. I’ve started doing henna as well. I love henna.

  11. TheRYL1 1 December 2011 at 1:20 pm Permalink

    I use henna and hibiscus powder.

    I add the hibiscus powder to my henna mix; it makes the red a little darker. My grays aren’t orange or cherry red, but a nice wine.

    I’ve also added hibiscus powder to my conditioner when deep conditioning. I have no trouble with dryness. I believe it gives the condish a “boost”.

    I’m planning on trying a few other powders in the near future.

  12. Zyaran 1 December 2011 at 5:46 pm Permalink

    Reniecehairtv her hair is gorgeous
    Titled video Swang: Reniece’s Hair Journey & Early-2011 Length Check

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCg_VZU9g0Q

  13. Likewaterforchocolat 6 December 2011 at 8:08 am Permalink

    I use the Vatika brand coconut oil and it is my favorite go-to sealing oil. It is infused with amla, henna and lemon extracts.I also use Henna/Brahmi powder strengthening treatments interchangeably with protein treatments. I have noticed differences in my hair strength and texture.

  14. D.A. 6 December 2011 at 10:35 pm Permalink

    I love Ayurvedic preparations, and so does my skin,my hair and my teeth! They do it right.

    • curlylady 11 December 2011 at 9:35 am Permalink

      @ D.A. how do you use them to help the teeth?


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