Dry Skin and Hair – Here Are the Real Causes and Solutions

Do you constantly have dry skin and hair? Or maybe the problem occurs to you from time to time? The truth is that it affects most of us and causes at least discomfort.

The good news is that there are simple and natural ways to deal with the problem of chapped lips, dry hands or dull facial skin. And the even better news is that this phenomenon can be effectively prevented.

According to Ayurveda, health and beauty are closely linked.

According to Ayurveda, health and beauty are the same!

You certainly know people who radiate an exceptional glow, spreading an aura around them that arouses admiration and attracts attention. Such an effect is the result of harmony at the level of mind, body and spirit, and not the result of external care treatments only.

However, Ayurveda has a whole range of beauty activities and procedures that can be implemented into everyday beauty care.

Dryness is not just an imbalance at the skin or hair level, but also indicates imbalances at deeper levels (digestion, breathing, thought processes, elimination of toxins). Nothing more than VATA dosha getting out of control. However, we notice dryness much more easily "on the surface", i.e. dry skin and hair, because we can see and feel it. However, dryness inside the body is equally disturbing, in order to take care of beauty we should take care of our diet, proper physical activity (and even a walk - just every day). It helps digest food, moisturize joints and the flexibility of our muscles. We must also remember that we always need moisture (even when our skin is quite oily on the surface).

When your natural GLOW fades, it means that your digestion and detoxification processes are not working. optimally.

Proper diet for skin hydration:

- rich in fruits

- vegetable broths and soups

- healthy fats and oils (in moderation)

- avoid dry, cold and raw foods and snacks

- drink water at room temperature or slightly warmer. Avoid cold and carbonated drinks

- Coffee and tea containing caffeine additionally cause moisture loss. If you drink them - remember that they do not moisturize effectively, so you need to supplement your diet with additional water.

Moisturizing from the outside - how to choose care

When it comes to cosmetic products used, make sure they have the most natural ingredients possible. And do not contain ingredients that are not necessary.

The general rule of Ayurveda is that oils are more important for the skin than any creams and balms. They contain many nutrients (yes! Care is nutrition) and at the same time penetrate deeper tissues more easily.

Moisturizing your face and body

The first step in the morning is to cleanse your skin of excess sebum, impurities, and bacteria that have made a breeding ground for it. You can use powdered herbs combined with rose water for this purpose. (e.g. Tulsi, amla, neem ) or use a gentle face gel. Body soap used on the face is not the best choice here - it is usually too strong.

Although initially body oiling, or abhyanga (whole body, face, hair) can be quite a demanding habit – it is worth introducing this practice. You should choose the right oil and use the right amount of oil, and also massage it in properly – with gentle circular movements (on the face, circular movements in an outward direction). The most popular for massage are coconut oil (cooling properties) and sesame (warming), mustard or olive oil – as base oils. For the best effects, it is worth using Ayurvedic compositions – with appropriately selected proportions of oils and other plant ingredients.

Oiling is done in the morning – a 10-15 minute full body massage is enough (for better results, the oil can be slightly warmed in your hands or in a water bath). After oiling the body and face, you can take a shower. This morning ritual improves circulation, awakens the body and tones the muscles and skin.

After bathing, your skin will be soft and moisturized – then you can skip applying lotions and creams.

It is worth repeating this ritual 3-4 times a week, or more often if you feel the need and see that it serves you well.

Hair moisturizing

When it comes to hair, in addition to daily care (shampoo, conditioner and lotion are a must!) the most effective treatment is oiling 1-2 times a week.

Warmed oil in your hands (a small amount) is massaged into the scalp with gentle circular movements of the fingers and distributed along the lengths. If you can afford it, leave the oil on the hair for 3-4 hours. If it is too much – even 30 minutes to an hour makes sense.

Ayurvedic oils for hair contain herbal extracts that condition hair. The most effective herbs used for hair in Ayurveda (which are available to us today) are bhringraj, shikakai, hibiscus, amla.

Oil Pulling - A Non-Obvious But Effective Ritual

This is a practice that is not very common and not obvious to us, but it brings many benefits not only to the oral cavity, but also to the skin. It is best to choose pure cold-pressed oil for this purpose - for example coconut, due to its lauric acid content, which helps to remove toxins. You can also use olive oil or sesame oil.

While still fasting, take 1 tablespoon of oil and hold it in your mouth for about 15 minutes, moving the contents to different parts of your mouth and rinsing it. Then spit the oil out - do not swallow it under any circumstances. Then brush your teeth. This way you remove toxins and bacteria that have accumulated during the night. This practice also has the benefit of improving the quality of your skin, soothing or eliminating blemishes and imperfections.