Understanding Hair Fall Through an Ayurvedic Lens
Hair fall arrives suddenly for some people. Other times it creeps in slow and quiet. Many individuals wake one morning and notice too much hair on the pillow. Ayurveda describes hair as a by-product of asthi dhatu. The strength of the bones reflects itself in the strength of the hair. This idea has appeared again and again in classical Ayurvedic writing. I used to ignore it once, then I saw how true it felt for people.
Vata tends to rise when the body feels stressed or depleted. The scalp becomes dry. Follicles loosen their grip. Shedding increases without warning. I met someone last winter who said her hair was “running away from her head”, she said it with a half smile yet worry sat in her eyes. The season was windy. The diet was cold. The pattern made sense in an Ayurvedic way, even if she didn’t fully see it.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or a healthcare specialist before starting any treatment, oil, or routine.
Why Traditional Oils Become Rituals
Households in many regions prepared hair oil in their own kitchens. The act itself had a calming rhythm. Onion chopped unevenly. Mustard oil warmed slowly until it shimmered a little on the surface. Methi seeds thrown in almost casually. The smell strong enough to fill the house. The mixture cooling on the side table. Someone always checked the color twice even when they didn’t need to.
These combinations were rarely explained scientifically. They were explained through experience. Warm oil nourished the scalp. Onion offered its pungent strength. Methi supported thickness and grounding. People felt the difference. They told their neighbors. And so the ritual continued.
Step-by-Step: Preparing the Onion–Mustard–Methi Oil
Some recipes looked complicated at first glance. This one doesn’t. Anyone can make it on a quiet evening. I learned it from someone who probably learned it from her grandmother, and she said she changed nothing for 20 years.
Ingredients
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1 medium onion
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1 cup mustard oil
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1 teaspoon fenugreek (methi) seeds
Method
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Chop the onion into pieces. They don’t have to look perfect, just small enough.
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Warm mustard oil on low flame.
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Add the onions and fry until they turn slightly brown at the edges.
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Add the methi seeds.
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Let the mixture cool fully without rushing.
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Strain through a cloth or sieve.
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Store in a clean glass bottle. The oil may look darker some days, that’s normal.
How to Use the Oil for Best Results
Massage the oil into your scalp gently. Use slow circular motions. I noticed people often forget the areas right above the ears, so include those. Leave it on for about two hours before washing. A mild herbal cleanser works better than harsh shampoos.
Some days your scalp may want more warmth. Some days it may want less. If you run Pitta-dominant in nature, keep the oil only slightly warm. If you feel cold easily, warm it a touch more. I used this pattern myself sometimes, shifting without any strict rule. That felt more aligned with Ayurveda than any rigid schedule.
Additional Ayurvedic Practices for Supporting Regrowth
Nasya
Applying a few drops of herbal oil into the nostrils supports the lubrication of the head region. Texts like the Ashtanga Hridayam mention Nasya strongly. The effects slowly build over days. Many people felt clearer in the head channel afterward.
Abhyanga
A full-body oil massage stabilizes Vata. People underestimate how much this affects hair fall. When the nervous system steadies, the scalp stops feeling brittle. The roots start behaving differently. I saw this again and again, even when people didn’t expect it.
Ayurvedic Diet Guidance
Warm meals support agni. Freshly cooked food matters more than most realize. Cold or stale meals weaken digestion. Hair suffers quietly from poor absorption. Ghee in small amounts nourishes tissue. Bitter greens help reduce internal heat. These small adjustments create slow but real change.
Daily Habits
Avoid brushing wet hair. Tie hair loosely before sleep. Use a wooden comb. Reduce long hot showers. These simple habits appear old-fashioned sometimes, yet they remain strangely effective.
What to Expect Over Time
Some people see reduced shedding first. Some notice baby hairs sprouting along the hairline. A few feel thickness improving. The timeline varies. Ayurveda does not rush the body. Consistency matters more than intensity. This oil blend becomes almost a weekly companion for many households. The process turns into something grounding.
I once wrote these instructions down and realized I switched tenses three times. The ritual didn’t mind. Hair care in Ayurveda is lived, not polished.
A Gentle Note Before You Continue
This guide carries Ayurvedic principles, small human imperfections, and practical steps you can begin today. Some sentences might feel odd or a little messy. That’s alright. Real writing sometimes meanders.
