With the rise in popularity of Ayurveda, ancient Indian medicine, and natural remedies in general, we’ve seen a lot more people talking about ashwagandha and its potential benefits for one’s overall health.
But we’ve also heard a lot of good things about specific ashwagandha benefits for hair. So, we're here to tell you all about it and how you can work some of its goodness into your routine.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha, also called Indian Ginseng, winter berry and ‘Queen of the herbs’, is a popular herb in Ayurveda. It is grown in parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa and it’s the leaves and roots of the shrub that are used to make extracts and powders that are used medicinally.
Ashwagandha is most well-known for its ability to reduce stress in the body when consumed, but that’s only one of the benefits it has for the body! Ashwagandha can also increase testosterone, help regulate the thyroid and help manage conditions such as diabetes, anxiety and PTSD.
But here are 5 benefits of Ashwagandha just for hair:
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Fights Hair Loss
Almost every culture in the world has a saying about stress and some type of negative effect on the hair, whether that’s premature greying or shedding, and they’re right!
Numerous studies have shown that stress can have a direct effect on hair loss. When the body is going through significant stress, it causes the hair follicles to go into the resting phase, which slows growth and worsens hair shedding.
The increased levels of cortisol, that happen as a result of stress, can also pose other issues such as increased blood sugar levels, weight gain, storing more fat in the body and a general decline in immunity, which exposes one to causes of hair loss.
Ashwagandha is very effective when it comes to reducing the cortisol levels in the body and giving an overall calming effect during periods of anxiety, depression and stress. This, in turn, can halt stress-induced hair loss.
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Strengthens Hair
Because ashwagandha is so rich in antioxidants, it can be great at strengthening the hair by protecting against cellular damage. Consequently, this can help prevent damage from UV rays and improve the overall shine and strength of the hair.
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May Repair Damage
Ashwagandha enhances the production of DHEA. DHEA reverses damage in the hair by improving both the production of collagen and sebum. Collagen can provide amino acids that are a building block for the hair follicle. Sebum is a natural oil produced by the scalp that is meant to moisturize the scalp and hair strands.
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Soothes Scalp Irritation
It also has anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anti-bacterial properties, which makes it a great remedy to soothe scalp irritation. So, it might be a good idea to incorporate ashwagandha into your routine to help with conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or dandruff.
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Detoxes the Scalp
The antioxidants in ashwagandha make it a great treatment to apply to the hair and scalp to get rid of toxins, so it’s a great little addition to a spa or self-care day. Just make sure to let it sit in your hair for a little while to allow it to work.
How To Use Ashwagandha For Your Hair
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Consume Ashwagandha Regularly
There have been quite a few studies that have shown ashwagandha’s effectiveness when consumed orally, so when you're looking to start taking ashwagandha, this is one of the ways that we’d advise to start using it.
You can opt for ashwagandha supplements or you can buy the powder and add that into teas, pastries, chia pudding, smoothies and so much more. Whichever way you choose, just be consistent with it.
Note: Be careful with the amount of ashwagandha that you take. Some people complain that ashwagandha can have a similar effect to antidepressants, in terms of blunting emotions and making you feel numb. So, start off by taking a small amount and see if you have any of these issues. If you do, either discontinue use or look into introducing a supplement that can mitigate this calming effect with your doctor.
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Add it to Your Shampoo (Our favorite option)
Numerous studies track the effects of taking ashwagandha orally, but there are few, yet promising, studies on the effect of ashwagandha on hair growth when applied topically. One of the most interesting is this study done in rats, which found that when an extract from ashwagandha was applied to the area experiencing hair loss, the hair grew back. So there seems to be some indications that even topical use may be effective.
One of the best ways to do this is to incorporate it into your shampoo. You can do this by adding ashwagandha powder to your shampoo when you wash your hair. If you do use this method, don’t mix the ashwagandha into the shampoo. Instead, mix it into the shampoo that you’ve already dispensed and then use that on your hair.
The easier option, which is our favourite if you’re a woman on the go, is to buy a product that already has ashwagandha in it. Here at Prettykind, our Intense Moisture Shampoo is actually formulated with ashwagandha so that you can easily reap all the benefits of this super herb without having to lowkey become a chemist. Plus, it’s also been used in a balanced, detergent-free and sulphate-free formula, that won’t leave your hair feeling stripped.
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Add it to Your Treatments
If you’d prefer not to have your shampoo ‘diluted’ with anything, then you can add it to your deep conditioner instead. Similarly, you’d add in the powder to just the amount of deep conditioner that you want to use that day and mix that before applying. Let that sit for as long as is recommended for your deep conditioner so that your hair can soak in all that antioxidant goodness and rinse out when done.
Well, hopefully, we've answered all of your questions about ashwagandha and how it can benefit your hair and how you can incorporate it into your regimen.
Got any questions that we haven't answered yet? Leave them in the comments, and we'll be sure to get back to you.
Till the next time,
Stay pretty. Stay kind.