As the modern world is waging war against increasing instances of hair problems, ranging from hair loss to premature greying, traditional Indian medicine is making a quiet comeback. India’s 5,000-year-old lifestyle methodology called Ayurveda is providing natural, individualized solutions to a generation with chemically damaged hair, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and stress.
According to experts, while short-term fixes may work, Ayurveda aims for long-term healing by bringing balance to the body’s internal energies: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Following is a closer examination of some of the prevalent hair conditions, and what Ayurveda suggests for each.
Let’s first learn about Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Understanding the 3 Doshas of Ayurveda — Your Body’s Inner Forces
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing, believes that every person is made up of a unique combination of three natural energies or “doshas”: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas control how your body works — from digestion and emotions to skin, hair, and sleep patterns.
Think of them like your body’s personal operating system. Here’s how each one works:
🌬️ Vata – The Energy of Movement
Elements: Air + Space
Functions: Controls movement, including breathing, blinking, muscle movement, and nerve impulses.
Qualities: Dry, light, cold, rough, fast, and changeable.
Signs Vata is balanced: Creativity, enthusiasm, quick thinking.
When imbalanced: Anxiety, dryness (skin, scalp), constipation, hair fall, insomnia.
🪔 Vata-dominant people are usually slim, energetic, and talkative — but may feel anxious or get cold easily.
🔥 Pitta – The Energy of Digestion and Metabolism
Elements: Fire + Water
Functions: Manages digestion, body temperature, hunger, and intellect.
Qualities: Hot, sharp, oily, intense, light.
Signs Pitta is balanced: Sharp mind, good digestion, leadership qualities.
When imbalanced: Anger, heartburn, inflammation, premature greying, rashes.
🪔 Pitta-dominant people are often medium-built, driven, focused — but may get hot-headed or easily irritated.
🌱 Kapha – The Energy of Structure and Stability
Elements: Earth + Water
Functions: Gives structure, stability, lubrication (joints), immunity, and calmness.
Qualities: Heavy, slow, smooth, moist, steady, cool.
Signs Kapha is balanced: Calm, strong, loving, good endurance.
When imbalanced: Lethargy, weight gain, slow metabolism, oily scalp, dandruff.
🪔 Kapha-dominant people tend to be sturdy, nurturing, and steady — but may feel sluggish or find it hard to lose weight.
🧘♀️ Why It Matters
Everyone has all three doshas, but usually one or two dominate. Knowing your dosha helps you choose the right food, lifestyle, and even hair or skin care. For example:
Hair fall = usually Vata imbalance
Premature greying = Pitta imbalance
Oily scalp or dandruff = Kapha imbalance
Ayurveda’s goal is simple: Keep these doshas balanced — and you’ll feel (and look) your best
Hair Fall: A Signal of Inner Imbalance
Hair fall is no longer a problem confined to the elderly. Increasingly, young adults are also reporting significant hair loss. According to Ayurvedic principles, hair fall often results from aggravated Vata and Pitta doshas.
Suggested Remedies:
A head massage with Bhringraj or Brahmi oil can strengthen hair roots and calm the nervous system. Dietary additions like sesame seeds, cow’s ghee, and iron-rich fruits such as amla and pomegranate are also recommended.
Therapies:
Shiro Abhyanga (head massage) and Nasya (nasal oil therapy) are believed to be effective in addressing root-level imbalances.
Premature Greying: Not Just Genetics
Once considered hereditary, premature greying is increasingly being linked to diet, stress, and excessive exposure to synthetic products. Ayurveda attributes it to a Pitta imbalance, which increases internal heat and affects melanin production.
Suggested Oils:
Amla and Jatamansi oils are known to promote natural pigmentation. Ayurveda also emphasizes lifestyle moderation — avoiding spicy and salty foods — and including cooling herbs like amla, wheatgrass, and ghee.
Therapies:
Shiro Pichu and Nasya using Brahmi ghee are often prescribed to reduce internal heat and support hair darkening.
Dandruff: More Than Just a Dry Scalp
While dandruff may seem like a minor concern, persistent flaking and itching point to a deeper imbalance of Kapha and Vata.
Natural Solutions:
Neem, Karanj, and tea tree oils can be applied due to their antifungal and calming properties.
Exclusion of dairy, sugar, and oily foods will also see a decrease in flare-ups.
Therapies:
Ayurvedic practitioners suggest Takradhara : a treatment where medicated buttermilk is poured over the scalp to cool down and purify the head area.
Split Ends: A Cry for Hydration
Split ends may not sound alarming, but they indicate insufficient and overuse of styling tools which ultimately indicates irritated Vata.
Herbal Oils to Try:
Coconut oil blended with hibiscus and almond oil gives deep conditioning. Also, taking sufficient amount of water, cucumber and flaxseeds plays an important role in hydration from within.
Ayurveda’s Advice:
Hot oil treatment weekly with a herbal wrapping done using a paste made of fenugreek, banana and aloe vera can seal damaged ends of hair.
Itchy Scalp: A Burning Issue
Scalp becomes itchy more often due to dryness or fungal infections, indicates imbalanced Pitta or Kapha. It may also be an early warning for dandruff or even dermatitis.
Recommended Oils:
Neem and camphor oil provide antifungal advantage and relief to the itchy scalp. A combination of tea tree oil with coconut oil can help reducing inflammation.
Diet Tip:
Add cooling foods such as coconut, fennel, and fresh mint and avoid sugar and caffeine for more benefits.
Thinning Hair: Early Warning Sign
Nutritional deficiency or premature aging are the rationale of hair thinning, both regulated by Vata imbalance.
Oils to Strengthen Roots:
Ashwagandha and fenugreek oil are most suggested treatments for strengthening roots. Castor oil is frequently combined in these oils which is known for improving hair density.
Therapies and Food:
Taking leafy greens, protein-rich foods, and specific Ayurvedic herbs like Shatavari and Ashwagandha under professional guidance helps nourishing follicular health.
Beard Growth: A New-Age Concern with Ancient Solutions
A thick beard has become a style statement, but patchy growth frustrates many. Ayurveda links it to Vata imbalance and weak digestion or hormones.
What Helps:
Castor and Bhringraj oil massaged into the beard area can stimulate growth. Herbal supplements like Shilajit and Ashwagandha, taken under guidance, are used to support hormonal health.
Expert Therapy:
Facial massages and warm towel compresses are simple yet effective ways to boost blood circulation and nourish hair follicles.
The Ayurvedic Takeaway
Unlike cosmetic treatments that work on the surface, Ayurveda treats hair conditions as signs of deeper imbalances. The focus is on restoring harmony through natural oils, mindful eating, and detoxifying therapies.
While results may not be instant, practitioners argue they are sustainable — and safer.
“Hair health is a mirror to what’s going on inside your body,” says Dr. Anjali Mehra, a practicing Ayurvedic physician in Pune. “Once you fix the root, the strands will heal themselves.”
Say Goodbye to Hair Problems with Ayurveda
Ayurveda: Old Home Remedy for Common Hair Problems With increasing levels of hair problems such as hair fall, premature greying, and more in the modern world, a re-emergence has been quietly brewing of traditional Indian medicine. Here’s India’s 5,000-year-old health well-being system, offering, in the form of the most personalized fashion, solutions to a generation plagued by chemically induced damage to the hair, bad lifestyle choices, and stress. Unlike quick fixes, experts say, Ayurveda is a long-term healing ‘science’ by balancing the internal energies of the body – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common hair conditions and what Ayurveda recommends for each.
By
Ms. Shweta Thakur,
Assistant Professor,
Chandigarh University,
Mohali, Punjab.