4 Homemade hair treatments using ginger

Ginger (or ginger root) is the underground rhizome of the ginger plant and is consumed as a spice, delicacy, medicine or even as sweets. Aromatic, pungent and spicy, fresh ginger root is available all year around in the fresh produce of your local supermarket, as well as powdered ginger. Depending on the variety of the ginger plant, the flesh can be yellow, white or red.

Being used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to prevent illness and for healing the body in general, ginger has a warming, stimulating effect, which increases blood flow. For that reason, when used in the scalp, it can stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss. It also has moisturizing properties which work on eliminating dandruff, protecting and conditioning of the hair.

Ginger hair treatments use ginger juice alone or combined with different types of oils. In India, the most common of these oils is sesame oil, but olive or jojoba oil also work very well on hair treatments.

Strengthen your hair

The ginger oil mix is said to be one of the best homemade oil treatments for dry and dull hair, and also effective in treating dandruff. Since sesame oil has highly nourishing and healing properties, when you combine it to ginger, the benefits for treating the hair are immense. It strengthens the hair follicles thus preventing further damage, and increases hair growth by improved blood circulation, which also contributes for healthy and beautiful looking hair.

Get rid of dandruff

Ginger Root has natural anti-inflammatory properties which makes it useful in the treatment of dandruff. Simply grate ginger root and add 1 tsp. of the grated ginger to 1/4 cup of sesame seed oil. Massage ginger oil gently on the scalp at night and wash it next morning with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to lock in the moisture.

Increase hair growth

Ginger Juice is also used on the scalp to speed up hair growth and treat hair loss. To make the juice, you can either squeeze a piece of ginger (about an inch size) in a garlic press. Or you can also blend 3 oz. of ginger with 3 tbsp. water until it becomes a fine pulp, place it into a cheesecloth-lined bowl, and twist the edges of the cloth until you can squeeze all the juice out of it. The juice should be applied on the scalp and left for only 10 minutes. It should not be left to dry on the scalp.

Powder ginger can also be used for thinning hair issues when 1 tsp. is mixed into your favourite deep conditioning masque. It even acts as a fertilizer, giving hair a growth spurt.

Homemade hair masques using ginger powder:

You can also mix ginger powder to coconut oil for an explosion of shine. Gently rub on the hair and leave overnight, wrapped on plastic film. Wash with shampoo and lukewarm water on the next day.

For a nutritious masque, add ginger powder to 1 tbsp. of honey and 1 egg yolk. Wrap the hair in plastic film, leave it for 30 minutes and shampoo with lukewarm water.