Hibiscus For Hair

For centuries, the flowers and leaves in the hibiscus plant have been used to tackle many skin-related and hair-related problems such as acne, wrinkles and hair fall, hair thinning. Its usage leaves you with radiant skin and hair. If you are suffering from hair loss, the flower and leaves are a very effective remedy to help you out.

In Ayurveda, hibiscus for hair is one of the most popular means for promoting hair care and hair growth. It suggests the usage of hibiscus flowers and hibiscus leaves for hair to address a variety of issues. 

Does Hibiscus Regrow hair?

Is hibiscus good for hair? While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that hibiscus for hair is useful in reducing hair loss and helping hair growth, most of the research that is available on hibiscus benefits for hair is animal-based and additional studies are needed to verify these effects on humans. That being said, hibiscus is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, flavonoids, and vitamin C. These properties nourish your hair, promote hair growth, and lend your hair a soft texture and a bright look.

In Ayurveda, there is a focus on achieving the balance of the three doshas in the body, where each dosha is an innate influence exhibited by your body in the form of energy. These are known as Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, and Kapha dosha. While an excess of any dosha has an adverse effect on the characteristics of your hair, a unique ratio of the three doshas is the identification of healthy hair. Most people’s hair will exhibit the properties of at least two or all three doshas and any problem related to your hair might be arising due to a disturbed ratio of these three doshas. 

Hibiscus pacifies the Pitta dosha while it balances the Vata dosha and the Kapha dosha. Thus, it is effective in problems that are caused by an excess of Pitta dosha in the body. Also, issues resulting from an imbalance caused by the lowered amount of Vata dosha and Kapha dosha can be addressed by the usage of hibiscus.

Benefits of Hibiscus for Hair

Using hibiscus for hair has loads of benefits. It strengthens the roots and promotes hair growth. Along with this it also restores the health of the hair by regulating oil glands and conditioning the hair. Not just the flowers, but the use of hibiscus leaves for hair is also very beneficial. Listed below are the most important hibiscus flower benefits for hair - 

The basic building block of the hair is a protein known as keratin. This protein binds the hair together and protects it from risks such as breakage. Hibiscus flowers have a naturally occurring amino acid that aids in the production of keratin and provides the hair with nutrients that promote growth. Using hibiscus powder for hair is a much better and natural option when compared to salon-based expensive and chemical-based keratin treatments. The flavonoids present in hibiscus enhance the blood circulation in the scalp. This stimulates hair regrowth and also activates the dormant hair follicles. Thus, you can use hibiscus for hair growth.

Most shampoos today are chemical-based and strip the hair of its moisture and natural oils, making it necessary to use a conditioner after shampooing. The conditioners themselves are chemical-based and have compounds called silicones that adversely affect the health of the hair. The leaves and flowers of Hibiscus have a lot of mucilage, which is a gluey substance produced by plants. This acts as a natural conditioner and traps the moisture in your hair shafts. Thus, hibiscus for hair can make the hair silky and smooth. This is very helpful for people who have dry and frizzy hair.

Hibiscus for hair can be used for regrowth without any side effects that come with the chemical-based medications that are mostly used today. Studies suggest that hibiscus extract is useful in treating baldness and promoting hair regrowth due to its nutritional properties.

One of the major traditional uses of hibiscus for hair was as a natural dye. Hibiscus is rich in pigments that can give your hair a crimson tinge. This is why hibiscus powder is used for hair dying along with amla powder and henna. Hibiscus is rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help in producing melanin which is the pigment that gives the hair its colour. As per Ayurveda, an increase in Pitta dosha can be a reason for premature greying of hair, and hibiscus can pacify elevated Pitta levels.

Hibiscus has properties that prevent the growth of dandruff-causing fungus on the scalp. It also has properties that reduce the secretion of oils by the sebaceous glands, thereby aiding the preventing of dandruff. Usage of hibiscus keeps your scalp clean and restores its pH, giving your hair an overall cooling and soothing effect.

When you use hibiscus for hair, it restores the pH balance of the scalp along with fighting oiliness and dandruff. This keeps the scalp clean, healthy and the hair follicles activated.

Scattered all over the scalp are the sebaceous glands that produce an oil called sebum. The sebum lubricates your hair. Sometimes due to elevated Kapha dosha or due to other reasons, these glands secrete excess sebum, making the hair oily and greasy. Using hibiscus regulates the sebaceous glands and reduces the level of oil in your hair, maintaining natural moisturization.

How to Use Hibiscus for Hair?

Hibiscus for hair can be used in many forms. You can use herbal oils that contain hibiscus oil or go for hair products such as shampoos that have hibiscus as a primary ingredient. Another way is to use fresh hibiscus petals and leaves to make a variety of hair masks. You can use it for oiling, cleaning, and moisturizing action. Here we look at some of the ways to use hibiscus. 

Hibiscus for hair is often used in the form of many herbal hair oils. These oils have herbal extracts along with carrier oil such as almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil. You can also add a few drops of hibiscus oil to any carrier oil and use it directly. 

You can prepare hibiscus oil for hair at home by using the hibiscus petals and leaves or hibiscus powder. Grind a bunch of leaves and petals into a paste. Heat coconut oil in a pan and to this, add this paste or the hibiscus powder. Keep boiling the mixture, till you see the powdery particles sink to the bottom. At this stage, turn the heat off and let it cool. You can store this oil and use it thrice a week for the best results.

Massage the herbal oil on your scalp for ten to fifteen minutes. Leave the oil applied for another half an hour and then wash using a mild shampoo.

When you use hibiscus for hair, it pacifies the scalp, preventing and removing the build-up of pollutants and microbes. This makes it a very suitable alternative for achieving the objectives of shampooing. 

Take hibiscus petals and twice the amount of leaves and boil these in water. Once the water boils and cools down, add a few tablespoons of gram flour to this solution. You can use this instead of the regular shampoo and wash your hair as you do normally.

One of the easiest ways to benefit from the cleansing action of hibiscus for hair is by making a simple home cleanser. To half a cup of boiling water, add a few hibiscus petals and leaves. Keep these soaked for about fifteen minutes. Now, blend this mixture and spread the paste on your scalp, massaging for about five minutes and rinsing with water later.

You can prepare many hair masks at home using hibiscus flowers, leaves, or hibiscus powder, by combing with other ingredients that benefit the hair. These are a very easy remedy to use hibiscus for hair and we will look at some of these in the next section.

How to Apply Hibiscus on Hair?

Hair masks are an effective way to use hibiscus for hair. You can make many DIY hair masks using hibiscus leaves and petals. Alternatively, you can also use hibiscus powder for hair if you do not have access to fresh leaves and flowers. Here we look at some of the easiest and most effective hair masks.

Benefits – thickens and volumizes the hair, makes it stronger.

• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves into a paste.
• Add two tablespoons of amla powder to this paste
• Mix thoroughly and add water to achieve consistency.
• Apply this paste to your hair and leave it for 40 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat one to three times a week.

Benefits – conditions and repairs the hair, provides a smooth texture to your hair.

• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves into a paste.
• Add aloe vera gel to this paste.
• Mix thoroughly to achieve consistency.
• Apply the paste on your hair and scalp evenly, leave it for 40 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat before every hair wash.

Benefits – cures dandruff and itching in the scalp, strengthens the roots.

• Soak two tablespoons of fenugreek or methi seeds overnight.
• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves along with the soaked seeds into a paste.
• Add aloe vera gel to this paste, you can also use curd or coconut milk.
• Apply the paste on your scalp evenly, massage while applying, leave for an hour.
• Rinse with cold water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat once a week.

Benefits – delays hair greying and provides pigmentation, hiding greys, enhancing shine.

• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves into a paste.
• To this add henna powder and mix.
• Squeeze a whole lemon in this paste and mix thoroughly.
• Add water to achieve consistency.
• Apply this paste on your hair from the roots to the tips and leave it for an hour.
• Rinse with cold water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat one to three times a month.

Benefits – gives the hair volume and thickness, stimulates hair growth.

• Grind onion to a pulp and extract the juice from this pulp using a cotton cloth.
• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves and extract their juice similarly.
• Mix the juices and apply this to your scalp and hair.
• Keep this applied for about fifteen minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat thrice a week.

Benefits – gives the hair strength and nourishes it along with moisturization.

• Grind a bunch of hibiscus petals and leaves into a paste.
• To this add four tablespoons of yogurt.
• Mix thoroughly and add water to achieve consistency.
• Apply this paste on your hair and scalp, leave it for about half an hour.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, and wash using herbal shampoo.
• Repeat one to two times a week.

Which Colour Hibiscus Is Good for Hair?

Hibiscus flowers are found in nature in many colours. From bright red to pink or orange, you can see the flowers blossoming in many beautiful shades. However, for the purpose of hibiscus for hair, the flowers which have the brightest red colour are the best. These flowers have rich pigments that can be used to provide a natural crimson tinge to your hair. 

Side Effects of Hibiscus on Hair

Hibiscus in the form of hibiscus tea is a widely consumed beverage. It is useful in healing the immune system and lowering hypertension. If you have low blood pressure, you can avoid the consumption of hibiscus. However, there are no recorded side effects of using hibiscus for hair by application in the form of hair oil, hair masks, and hair packs. Hibiscus for hair is free of side effects and can be viewed as an alternative for the chemical-based products and treatments that you go for to restore the health and wellness of your hair.

Be it in the form of an ingredient in shampoos or as homemade hair treatments and masks, you should make hibiscus a part of your hair care routine. Both the flower and its leaves are a great boon for strengthening your hair follicles and preventing itching and dandruff. It is also very easy to create home remedies using hibiscus along with other beneficial ingredients from your kitchen and garden.

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