How I Grew My Hair Soft and Shiny? – Oshin’s Hair Story and Routine

Let me start off this post with a small story. There was a girl around 4 years old who had bob cut hair. She longed for long hair just like she saw in those movies, beautiful black long hair of those actresses fluttering in the air! if not long, at least a length which can be tied in the form of a pony. But her mother never allowed her to grow her hair because she thought that it would be difficult to manage her hair.  And long hair continued to remain a dream for her until she was 7. It was then when she watched ‘Kuchh kuchh hota hai’ and her mother capitulated to her Rahul Anjali fever and she was finally allowed to grow her hair, if not long, ear length same as Anjali.

My hair dreams started as early as that. The Rahul-Anjali subsided after some time and I grew my hair somewhere up to my shoulder. I didn’t like the length. But I knew that growing out my hair more than this would make me resemble a primate as I had a bit wavy, thick (though thick hair is considered as a boon still in my case thick hair made my locks look worse), extremely dry, rough, frizzy, unmanageable (and all the other adjectives which you can think when you imagine bad hair). My mom tried to help. She would pull me by my ears and would oil my hair every Saturday night and would wash it properly the next morning because she felt that I didn’t wash my hair properly and shampoo residues remained in the hair. But I felt like an old lady with oil in my hair and considered myself ‘big enough’ to wash my hair myself. So, my mother gave up. I didn’t do anything to my hair in this period except using different shampoos every time I washed my hair (just because I loved different kinds of fragrances lingering) which worsened its condition making it frizzier, rougher and lustre-less. Owing to my curiosity to try out new things I also used hair-dryer on my hair. (Can you imagine the damage a hair dryer can do to your hair and that too using hair dryer at such a small age!!!!!!)

It was when my high school board exams got over and then I felt the need to do something for my brittle tresses. Then started off my mission towards softer, silkier, shinier and longer hair. I went through almost all the hair care posts in the beauty magazines, so much over the internet. Even a small post in the daily newspaper regarding hair care didn’t miss my eagle-eyes. Actually I was looking for something which would be super – easy, less fussy and super effective. I wanted to try out things which didn’t require a lot of preparations. My lazy self didn’t allow me to afflict my body too much.

Don’t forget to read How Arpita Sharma Reduced 90 Percent of her hair fall in one month

I came up with the following conclusions. I am also summing up some hair care methods down below.

My hair care methods:

1. Firstly, I decided to forsake the use of multiple shampoos I used on my hair. I also completely abandoned the use of hair dryer.

2. One ace method which I followed was mixing my normal shampoo with some vinegar (1 spoon of it). I didn’t use the white vinegar instead I used the one which we get from grapes because I felt that in this way may be my hair would get the benefits of grapes as well (stupid ME). This tip would seem nothing but believe me, I got comparatively soft hair after the first wash itself. Do give this a try.

3. I started applying curd to my hair twice a week. (It started giving good results after 4-5 uses. My hair was getting a lot more better)

4. I made it a habit of eating 5-6 almonds and walnut kernels daily. Almonds are a treasury of Vitamin E which are a boon for healthy hair, nails and skin. Walnuts give you Vitamin B7 which is again a boon for your hair.

5. I also began the consumption of fish which I had completely stopped years ago (because I found the bone removing thing too cumbersome) Fishes are very good for your hair, skin and brain. I ate fish once a week.

6. I was not able to get rid off all the shampoo residues while washing my hair so what I did was I started to wash it under the running tap. All the shampoo comes off easily without too much pain (and my mother no more complained of me not able to wash my hair properly)

7. For the final rinse, I used some drops of lime juice in a mug of water and sometimes rosewater diluted with water.

8. Something which transformed my hair completely (believe me – completely!) was the regular usage of henna over my hair. I had seen my mom using it and my mom has envious hair even to this date. When I decided to apply henna to my hair, one of my friend’s mum told me that applying henna to her hair turned them grey. Now let me tell you all, Graying of hair has nothing to do with henna application. Being a biology student, I have understood that graying is TOTALLY GENETIC. I found the drying and grinding of henna leaves very difficult so I used ‘Nupur mehendi’. I applied it by simply mixing it with plain water initially. My hair appeared brittle after usage. Then my mother told me to make its paste in tea water. She also advised me to put some curd along with few drops of lemon in the mix. I did the same and used the henna pack at an interval of ten days. I felt that henna caused some degree of hair fall but I ignored that. My hair fall receded after a few uses and trust me when the school re opened and I went back everyone was literally shocked seeing and touching my hair.

Editor’s note: Oshin.. That’s great to know henna helped you! :) Now its time for me to try it too. Take a look at Dharu’s homemade henna powder recipe. It does wonders on her hair and I am sure it would be better than store bought henna powders. I am thinking to prepare and stock some at home! Thanks for the recipe Dharu ;)

The major mistakes which I committed!

1. In this entire period I didn’t see the face of hair oil. It was completely missing from my regime. I felt uncomfortable after oiling my hair. It’s now when I have retorted back to oiling. (I also felt that the use of hair oil caused pimples on my forehead. To overcome this simply tie back your hair after oiling and wash your face with a good foaming cleanser. That’s all. But never skip the use of hair oils)

2. I also suffered from acne breakouts and I visited the dermatologist every time I had one. This didn’t help in my case though. The breakout retracted after a period of time. The side effect was, I suppose, dull, lustre-less hair.

My hair care regime now:

It has been six years since my hair has bettered its texture and apart from the above mentioned method I have added/wish to add the following to my hair care routine.

1. I oil my hair at least twice a week now. I also oil my hair with a mix of castor+ almond oil once a week.

2. I started the consumption of one boiled egg daily after reading Lancy’s post on hair growth.

3. I also plan to apply egg someday on my hair and will do it whenever my urge for beautiful hair would emerge victorious over my smell receptors.(I am very afraid about the smell which would linger after the egg application)

4. I have a very oily scalp and still haven’t found the right shampoo for myself. As I need to wash my hair every two days and I have gone through the MABH posts regarding the benefits of shikakai so I am planning to use shikakai powder instead of shampoos for cleansing my hair.

5. Lately, I have started consuming Patanjali Amla Juice 20 ml in the morning as well as evening which I would be reviewing soon on MABH. Amla strengthens and beautifies hair.

 

Following is a picture of my hair:

Now if you ask about the texture of my hair. It’s a lot smoother and shinier. The waves of my hair are sleeker. It has retained its thickness. I never had major hair fall problem. Still some problems persist like my hair is still difficult to style and has a disastrous growth rate. I am content with it, though, sometimes the dream of long beautiful hair recurs. But I learnt in this period was to take care of my tresses, guard them, nourish them but never hate them. Each kind of hair is different, sometimes the quality of your hair depends on your genes which you can’t mend but still you can nurture it with adequate methods like oiling, not over doing with artificial hair care products. By this I mean that don’t ignore caring for your hair just because it is (genetically) not the way you like it. Your reluctance towards hair care would worsen the condition. Regular nourishment would your mane look their best! Also if the quality of your hair has worsened due to some poor hair care or styling products, you need to be very patient in order to regain your soft beautiful hair.

 

Why I wish to use MABH fast growth hair oil?:

To procure the unfulfilled part of my dream of stunning alluring tresses. I believe that the MABH magic wand would transform my tresses into silky ones. To grow them so long that my prince charming can easily climb my hair. (Just kidding.. what else do you expect from someone who had been so obsessed with everyone with long hair?) But, I want my hair to grow long after all long hair is each girl’s childhood fancy.

So, with the vision of seeing my long, beautiful hair fluttering in the hair someday, I bid you all good bye. Thank you for bearing with me and going through my hair journey. Hope to see you soon. Love your self and don’t forget to shower your love on your hair!