hair seek attention

by madhu
(India)

I am a 50 year old woman. I have been struggling all my life to control my unmanageable hair.As a child and as a teenager I hated my hair since both my sisters and mother has waist length thick and silky hair. I was the odd one out. I had thick heavy unmanageable crop of curls on my head. So many times I was ticked off in the school assembly for not combing my hair. I often blamed my parents for giving me this kind of hair.

My mother would oil my hair every day and make two tight plaits. All this oil would disappear as water disappears in sand. My mother applied 'amla'(Indian gooseberry)or coconut oil in my hair. Gradually with all this oil and effort on my mother's part straightened my hair to some extent. Now I had hair touching the small of my back. I no longer looked wild. Only when I left them open after taking head bath.

I washed my hair with amla,shikakai and reetha(soap nut). I would soak all three herbs in water overnight in an iron pot. Boil and drain it in the morning and wash my hair with this water. It not only cleaned my hair, but kept them healthy and strong.My hair started growing in length. As long as I was using this home made herbal shampoo, my hair remained dandruff free and there was hardly any breakage.

But after marriage I started using shampoos available in market.I was always short of time, to take care of my hair. Though I oiled them regularly once a week.I would use whatever shampoo was available. My neglect reflected in my thinning hair. They looked lusterless and dull.
once again I reverted back to my old regimen.But already the damage was done. I needed professional help,but i could not afford it. Then I came in contact with a Tibetan doctor.She gave me 'apricot' oil to apply in my hair. Oil helped in bringing luster back to my hair.

For falling hair She gave me mixture of herbs in powdered form.I was to apply it on my hair along with henna paste. Combination of oil and this herbal mixture helped a lot. Later I came to know that the mixture included amla, shikakai,tulsi,and fenugreek seeds.So it was more or less the same treatment that I was using.

That was the time I realized that hair wants attention and care. No matter what.Now I color my hair.I use L'Oreal products for my hair.But I regularly oil my hair with apricot oil that is once a week.Once a month I apply herbal paste in my hair. I comb my hair till they shine and crackle. Another thing I am very particular about is taking my vitamins regularly. Because hair are the first casualty,if you fall sick.

I do have curls even now,but they look great. I am no longer jealous of people with straight long hair. I smile when somebody asks if my curls are natural. Thanks mom.