Desi Nuskhe: 10 Interesting Benefits Of Amla (Gooseberry) For Hair & DIY Hair Packs

Blame it on environmental factors or unhealthy and stressful lifestyles, hair problems have become common in today’s time. While chemical-based hair products do fetch quick results, these may end up damaging your tresses in the long run. Now, what if we tell you there is a magic potent that can put an end to all your hair woes? That’s right, amla or the Indian Gooseberry is an age-old ayurvedic hair care remedy for dull, damaged and lifeless hair! Just ask your nani and dadi about the amla benefits for hair and you will be surprised.

Loaded with several essential nutrients, amla has been an essential part of hair care rituals for centuries. From dandruff and scalp related issues to hair fall and hair thinning, this wonderful herb is the solution to all your hair care needs. 

Here’s how you can use amla for hair to get those beautiful and healthy tresses that you’d always dreamed of! 

10 Must Know Benefits Of Amla For Hair

Amla for hair is a safe and natural solution for a number of problems including dandruff, hair fall, scalp issues, premature greying and dryness. Here is how this amazing ingredient can help improve your hair health. 

• Amla contains minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients that promote scalp circulation and stimulate hair growth. It is also rich in vitamin C, which produces collagen protein and thus, promotes hair growth. 
• One of the major reasons for dandruff is dryness. Being rich in Vitamin C, amla treats dryness and prevents dandruff accumulation. Amla’s dandruff fighting abilities can also be attributed to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. 
• Amla juice acts as an effective scalp cleanser. It also nourishes the scalp, giving you shiny and healthy hair. 
• This ingredient is rich in antioxidants and can help protect the hair from damage. 
• The vitamins, amino acids, minerals and antioxidants present in amla may be useful in making your hair thicker and bouncier. These nutrients help fight against various factors that can adversely affect your hair health to give you voluminous and damage-free tresses. 
• Regular use of amla can make your hair less frizzy and more manageable. 
• Amla juice helps to strengthen hair from the roots.
• Amla aids in enhancing the natural colour of hair and gives it a natural shine. The high vitamin C content also prevents premature hair greying.
• This ingredient acts as a natural conditioner that strengthens and nourishes the hair and helps improve its health and appearance. It is the perfect remedy for dull and lifeless hair. 
• Amla powder can be used to get rid of oily hair as it soaks in the excess oil present on the scalp. 

9 Simple Ways To Use Amla (Gooseberry) For Hair Nourishment & Shine

1. Amla Hair Oil 

Just like amla, coconut oil and olive oil also offer several hair health benefits. Coconut oil helps nourish the hair from within, reduce protein loss and protect the hair from damage. It can also help in damage repair, and reducing hair loss. Olive oil is packed with several nutrients that may play a role in reducing split ends, repairing hair damage, treating dandruff, reducing hair loss and conditioning the hair. 

Make the most of amla oil benefits by using this amla, coconut and olive oil concoction on a regular basis. 

You Will Need: 

• 2 teaspoons amla powder
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method:

1. Take the coconut oil and olive oil in a pan and heat.
2. Add the amla powder to the oils.
3. Heat until the mixture turns brown. 
4. Turn the heat off and let the mixture cool for a few minutes. 
5. Once you notice that the charred powder has settled, pour out the oil in a bowl.
6. Apply the oil to your hair and scalp while it is still slightly warm. Massage for 10-15 minutes and let it sit for about 30 minutes. 
7. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. 

Tip: Use this remedy 3 times a week for best results. 

2. Egg And Amla Hair Pack

Eggs are rich in protein and biotin and can help make your hair stronger, damage-free and more nourished. Eggs aid in conditioning and nourishing the scalp, thus reducing hair breakage. This wonderful ingredient also promotes hair growth. 

You Will Need:

• ½ cup amla powder
• 2 eggs

Method:

1. Break the eggs in a bowl and whisk until they fluff up. 
2. Add the amla powder to the eggs. Mix until you get a smooth paste. 
3. Apply this mixture to your hair and scalp and let it sit for 50-60 minutes. 
4. Wash off the hair mask using cool water. 

Tip: Use this remedy once a week for best results.

3. Amla Juice And Lemon Juice Hair Tonic

Another remedy you can use for promoting hair health and hair growth is amla and lemon hair tonic. Lemon juice comes with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is very effective in reducing dandruff and hair loss and can be used as a scalp cleanser. 

You Will Need: 

• 1 tablespoon amla juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

1. Combine the lemon juice and amla juice in a bowl and mix. 
2. Massage the mixture into your scalp for a few minutes. 
3. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. 
4. Wash it off using a mild shampoo. 

Tip: Use this remedy 1-2 times every 2 weeks. 

4. Amla And Yoghurt Hair Mask

Use amla powder for hair by mixing it with other beneficial ingredients like honey and yoghurt. This wonderful hair mask can help strengthen your hair roots and promote hair growth. Here is how you can use amla for hair growth! 

You Will Need:

• 2 teaspoons amla powder
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspoons yoghurt
• Water

Method:

1. Add some warm water to the amla powder to make a paste. 
2. Now add the honey and yoghurt and mix well. 
3. Apply the mixture to your hair. 
4. Let it sit for 30 minutes. 
5. Wash your hair using a mild shampoo. 

5. Henna And Amla Hair Mask

Amla powder for hair can effectively reduce premature greying and is commonly used in hair coloring packs. Since it contains lawsone, henna acts as a natural colouring agent. It also gives the hair a natural shine. Mix henna and amla to make a protein-rich concoction that will enhance your natural hair colour, reduce hair loss and promote healthy growth. 

You Will Need:

• 1 tablespoon amla powder
• 3 tablespoons henna powder

Method:

1. Place the amla powder and henna powder in a plastic or glass bowl. Add some water and mix the ingredients to get a smooth mixture.
2. Leave the mixture overnight.
3. The next morning, apply the henna and amla paste to your hair and let it sit for 1 to 2 hours.
4. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. 

Tip: Use this remedy once a month for best results. 

6. Curry Leaves And Amla Hair Oil

Curry leaves boast of antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. These are packed with several nutrients including vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, nicotinic acid and iron. This ingredient can help reduce hair fall and improve the health of your scalp. It can also help enhance hair health and promote hair growth. 

You Will Need:

• ¼ cup amla (chopped)
• ½ cup curry leaves (kadipatta)
• 1 cup of coconut oil

Method:

1. Place the coconut oil in a pan and heat. 
2. Put in the curry leaves and chopped amla pieces. 
3. Turn off the heat. Let the mixture cool for some time. 
4. Pour the oil in a bottle or jar. You can discard the pieces of amla and curry leaves. 
5. Apply the oil to your hair and scalp while it is still warm. Massage for about 10-15 minutes. 
6. Leave the oil in your hair for 30 minutes. 
7. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair. 

7. Amla And Tulsi Hair Mask

Another way to use amla powder for hair is this amla and tulsi hair mask. Loaded with vitamin C, antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties, amla can help treat hair dryness and dandruff. It also offers relief from itchiness and scalp irritation by cleansing the scalp and restoring its optimum pH levels. 

Tulsi is effective in controlling fungal strains that may lead to dandruff. Other than reducing dandruff and scalp itchiness, this ingredient will also make your hair smooth and shiny. 

You Will Need:

• Amla powder
• Water
• 8-10 tulsi leaves (holy basil)

Method:

1. Take a sufficient amount of amla powder and add water to it to make a paste. 
2. Grind the tulsi leaves into this mixture. 
3. Apply this amla powder hair pack to your scalp. 
4. Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing it off using a mild shampoo. 
5. Follow up with an amla rich conditioner for best results. 

8. Amla, Reetha Shikakai Powder Hair Pack

The high iron and carotene content in amla makes it the perfect ingredient for promoting hair growth. Moreover, it also contains essential fatty acids, which can make your tresses voluminous and smooth. Reetha and shikakai are two other time-tested ingredients that nourish hair follicles and strengthen the hair. Mix these three ingredients to make a power-packed hair mask to tackle issues like hair fall, premature greying and dryness and dullness. 

You Will Need: 

• 2 teaspoons amla powder
• 2 teaspoons reetha powder
• 2 teaspoons shikakai powder

Method:

1. Take amla, reetha and shikakai powder in a bowl and add some water to make a paste. 
2. Make sure to mix the ingredients well. 
3. Apply the mixture along the strands of your hair. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. 
4. Wash your hair with lukewarm water. 

9. Amla Hair Wash

Amla for hair can be used for preventing premature greying and discolouration. This fruit also helps treat dull and lifeless hair. 

You Will Need: 

• A few pieces of amla and its juice
• Water

Method:

1. Take some water in a pan. 
2. Put in the amla pieces and juice and boil for about 30 minutes. 
3. Let the mixture cool down before straining it to remove the solid particles. 
4. Wash your hair using this amla shampoo.

Precautionary Tips While Using Amla

Perhaps one of the best things about this amla is that this ingredient does not have any major side effects. However, there have been cases of allergies. This is why it is best to conduct a patch test before including amla in your hair care regime. If you notice allergy symptoms like rashes, redness or skin irritation during the spot test, do not apply amla to your hair or scalp. 

It is also recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare practitioner before using this ingredient. Avoid using amla on infants and children. 

Regular use of amla has proven to show significant improvement in the health and appearance of your hair. This amazing ingredient comes in several forms and there are so many ways you can make it a part of your hair care routine. You can mix amla powder in your homemade hair packs to enhance their effectiveness. Since there are several amla juice benefits for hair, you can use amla juice as a hair wash or hair tonic to strengthen and condition your tresses. Amla has almost no side effects and is extensively used in hair care products and remedies. 

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What makes amla good for hair?

A. Amla is packed with the goodness of several nutrients including minerals, vitamins, poly nutrients and amino acids. This, along with its high antioxidant content, makes amla a ‘superfood’ for hair. It is known to reduce hair fall, promote hair growth, treat dandruff, nourish the hair and maintain the health of the scalp. You can enhance the effectiveness of your home-made hair packs by adding amla powder to it. 

Q. Can we apply amla juice on hair directly?

A. Yes, you can apply amla juice on hair directly. Just take fresh amla and cut it into pieces. Now squeeze out the juice. Use your fingertips to apply the juice to your hair and scalp and massage gently. Leave it on for 45-50 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo. You may add some freshly squeezed lemon juice to make a natural hair tonic. 

Q. Does oral consumption of amla help improve hair health? 

A. Regular consumption of nutrient-rich amla fruit can help promote hair growth and prevent premature greying. It also aids in maintaining scalp health. Eat fresh amla fruit if you don’t mind its pungent taste. Or you can choose ‘tastier’ options like amla candy or amla pickle. Alternatively, you can enjoy amla juice benefits for hair and health by including it in your daily diet.