Desi Nuskhe: 5 DIYs To Use Curry Leaves For Smooth & Shiny Tresses

The most effective ingredients for healthier skin and hair don’t always need to be super expensive. Sometimes, the best solutions to our beauty woes can be found lying around our kitchen. For instance, if you desire long, lush, healthy hair, curry leaves (karee patta) are just the ingredient for you. Packed with the goodness of beta-carotene and rich proteins, curry leaves for hair growth are an underappreciated boon. So the next time you are tossing them out of your dal, think again and save some curry leaves for your hair!

5 Must Know Benefits Of Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta) For Hair

Like a lot of other kitchen ingredients, curry leaves don’t stop at providing a temporary shine to your hair. Due to their protein content, they work on making hair healthier and improving their texture, so that hair is stronger for longer. Here are some of the best curry leaves benefits for hair that you can get from regular use:

1. Prevents Hair Fall & Hair Thinning

Weak hair is more prone to breakage, has weaker cuticles and thinner strands. This leads to easier hair fall and you lose volume in your hair. Curry leaves for hair like this can work wonders by strengthening them from the roots. Stronger hair will fall less and over time, will recover its fullness. 

2. Improved Hair Growth

Curry leaves, when used in the right manner, unclog the hair follicles on your scalp. This cures flakiness and improves the health of your scalp. When the roots are healthy, the hair looks and feels great. Plus, healthier hair grows out faster. So, curry leaves for hair growth, which is faster and stronger, is a must!

3. Moisturisation For The Scalp

Dryness, flakiness, dandruff and excessive oiliness are all caused by a dehydrated scalp and this starts showing on the health and texture of your hair. These can be dealt with by using karee patta for hair. It has the unique ability to gently moisturise the scalp and relieve its dryness. 

4. Improves Scalp Health

As if all these curry leaf benefits for hair were not enough, this magic ingredient also has anti-inflammatory properties. So, it can help calm any itching, irritation or redness on the scalp. It is also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and can help deal with stubborn dandruff.

5. Promotes Shinier, More Lustrous Hair

Using curry leaves for hair not only makes them healthier but also improves their aesthetic. Due to its moisturising and strengthening properties, curry leaves leave your hair with a glossy shine. They also help control frizz and dullness, so your hair ends up looking its best self.

5 Simple Ways To Use Curry Leaves For Hair

There are several ways to include curry leaves (karee patta) into your daily hair care routine. Regular use will ensure that your hair gets the optimum results and goodness of curry leaves. Plus, making these preparations at home ensures that you only get the purest and most effective form of this amazing ingredient.

1. Yoghurt & Curry Leaves Hair Pack For Dry, Frizzy Hair

If you are dealing with frizzy, dry hair or an irritated scalp, your best bet to heal them is a curry leaves and yoghurt hair mask. While the curry leaves have a healing and protecting effect on the scalp, the yoghurt (dahi) proteins will nourish and moisturise the hair.

You Will Need:

• 15-20 fresh curry leaves (karee patta)
• 3 tablespoons of yoghurt (dahi)

Method:

1. Soak the leaves in water and then crush them. You can do this in a mortar pestle or a blender.
2. Mix the paste with yoghurt (dahi) evenly.
3. Apply this thick paste to your scalp and massage it in gently.

Leave it on for 20-25 minutes and then wash with a mild shampoo. Use this mask once a week.

2. Coconut Oil & Curry Leaves (Kari Patta) Hair Pack To Moisturize Your Scalp

Curry leaves and coconut oil is a haircare combo that all grandmothers swear by. Both these ingredients have been used traditionally to condition and moisturise hair while boosting their growth. 

You Will Need:

• Coconut oil (as needed for your length of hair)
• 15-20 curry leaves

Method:

1. Warm up the coconut oil in a double-boiler (don’t boil it as it will lose its nutrients).
2. Once it is hot, add in the curry leaves and let them infuse for 15-20 minutes. 
3. Strain out the mixture and you will have curry leaves hair oil that you can use daily or for weekly hair massages.
4. When it is lukewarm, dip in your fingertips and gently massage it all over your scalp. Also, cover the tips of your hair for moisturisation.

This infused curry leaves hair oil is also beneficial to control hair fall as it strengthens and heals the roots. Keep it on for 1 hour before shampooing.

3. Methi & Curry Leaves Hair Pack To Boost Hair Growth

Both, methi (fenugreek) and karee patta (curry leaves) are noted for their benefits in promoting hair growth. You can get the goodness of both in one hair mask with this recipe.

You Will Need:

• 15-20 fresh curry leaves
• 15-20 methi leaves (if you cannot find fresh leaves, 1 tablespoon of methi powder will do)

Method:

1. Put both the ingredients in a blender with a little bit of water.
2. Blend till you get a fine paste. The consistency should be thick, and not runny or watery.
3. Apply this all over your hair, focusing on the roots. 

Keep this mask on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing. 

4. Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta) Hair Pack To Prevent Premature Greying

This combination of onion juice and curry leaves for hair is a power-packed duo that helps prevent premature greying and excessive hair fall while strengthening the hair follicles. 

You Will Need:

• 15-20 fresh curry leaves
• 2 tablespoons onion juice

Method:

1. Put the leaves in a blender to make a smooth paste.
2. Scoop this out and add in the onion juice.
3. Evenly apply this paste on your hair and scalp.

Leave the pack on for an hour before washing. Rinse it out properly with water before shampooing to make sure there is no residual smell from the onion. 

5. Hibiscus & Curry Leaves Hair Pack To Strengthen Your Roots

Both these ingredients are often used in hair care DIYs separately, as hero ingredients. But combining the conditioning properties of gudhal with the protection provided by karee patta will yield you the ideal hair care recipe for regular use.  

You Will Need:

• 15-20 fresh curry leaves
• 15 hibiscus (gudhal) petals 
• 3 cups of plain water

Method:

1. Put the water to boil in a deep pan.
2. When it starts to bubble, add in the curry leaves and hibiscus petals.
3. Let the liquid boil until it is half of its original quantity.
4. Strain out the liquid and let it cool.

This recipe will yield a powerful hair wash that you can pour on your after shampoo. It will leave your hair softer and shinier. On long-term use, it will also help to strengthen hair.

Key Tips & Takeaways

• Patience Is Key: As with any natural ingredient, curry leaves also take time to show results on the health of your hair. Be patient and involved with your hair care and follow a regular routine. Consistent deep massaging with curry leaves-infused hair oil and curry leaves hair pack weekly will manifest results in at least 4 weeks
• Don’t Be Afraid To Experiment: You can boost the goodness of curry leaves by adding other ingredients from your kitchen or garden that are beneficial for hair health. Depending on your specific hair concern you can add:

1. Olive oil (moisturising)
2. Amla (conditioning; promotes hair growth)
3. Neem leaves (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial; helps heal scalp irritation)

• Importance Of Good Diet: To see results from your hair care routine, it is important to take care of your diet. A nutritious diet ensures that your body is healthy, and a healthy body can uptake nutrients from natural ingredients more easily. So, for your DIYs to work from the outside, you must take care of what goes inside

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do if I can’t find fresh curry leaves?

A: Collect fresh curry leaves when they are in season and store them properly to prolong their life. You can do so by:

• Storing Them In An Airtight Container: Line the bottom of it with a paper towel as it will absorb the moisture that may otherwise spoil the leaves. Refrigerate the container and your leaves will be fresh as new for up to 10 days
• Dry Them Up:  To make the goodness of curry leaves last longer, spread them out on a cloth and let them dry under direct sun. When they are dried and crumbly, grind them in a blender to make a fine powder. You can use it for all your DIY hair care oils and packs

Q: Should I take any precautions while making a homemade mask with curry leaves?

A: While homemade hair care preparations are largely safe, you should keep the following in  mind:

• If you have never used a curry leaf hair pack or infused oil before, it is advisable to do a patch test. Try a little bit of the product on your inner arm and leave it on for 24 hours. If no allergies, irritation or bumps appear, then it is safe for you to use
• If you are not using home-grown curry leaves, then always wash them properly before using. Presence of pesticides or any other harmful chemical can have adverse effects when used in a skin or hair care product