MOM'S AYURVEDIC HAIR TONIC

My mom has always been into natural remedies, and this is one of the hair tonics she swears by. Versions of herbal hair tonics like this have been used in Indian hair rituals for generations. She started making her own version, adding a few extras here and there depending on what she has around. She sprays it directly onto her scalp before washing her hair, lets it sit, and then shampoos as usual. Her reasoning is basically: if it’s good for the scalp, helps strengthen the hair and may help with hair fall, it’s going in the pot.

THE BENEFITS

Curry Leaves
A staple in traditional Indian hair care and something my mom always adds a little extra of. Curry leaves are naturally rich in antioxidants and have long been used to nourish the scalp and hair. They’re traditionally associated with stronger, healthier looking hair, shine and maintaining the hair’s natural color.

Methi Seeds (Fenugreek)
Another ingredient Indian moms have been putting in their hair forever. Methi naturally coats and conditions the hair, which can help it feel softer and more smooth while reducing some of the friction that leads to breakage. It’s also traditionally used to nourish the scalp and help with shedding. Basically, a little seed that does a lot.

Organic Dried Rosemary
Probably one of the best known herbs when it comes to hair and scalp care. Rosemary has long been used to support a healthy scalp and stronger, healthier looking hair. For this tonic, my mom specifically uses dried organic rosemary. Since dried rosemary has had most of its water removed, it’s more concentrated by weight than fresh rosemary and makes for a stronger, more consistent infusion.

Kalonji (Black Seed)
Another one of those little seeds that somehow ends up in every Indian mom’s pantry. Kalonji is naturally rich in antioxidants and has a long history of being used in traditional beauty and hair rituals. For hair, it’s mainly used to nourish the scalp and support stronger, healthier looking hair.

Rice
Rice water has been used as a hair treatment for centuries, and for good reason. The starches in rice water lightly coat the hair, which can help it feel smoother, shinier and stronger and may help protect against breakage. I think of this one less as a “hair growth” ingredient and more as something that helps take care of the hair you already have.

Cloves — Optional
You’ll see cloves added to a lot of traditional and DIY hair tonics. They’re naturally rich in antioxidants and are often used to support a healthy scalp. Cloves are pretty potent, though, and can be irritating for some scalps, so I consider this an optional add. If you want to include them, a little goes a long way.

Onion Juice — Optional
This one is completely optional because… the smell lol. Onion juice has been used as a traditional scalp treatment for years and is probably one of the more infamous home remedies for shedding and hair growth. My mom likes adding a little to hers, but if smelling a little onion-y isn’t for you, I completely understand. 😂

DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK?

With so many good for your hair ingredients in one little tonic, I say, why not give it a try? Some of these ingredients have interesting research behind them, while others have been used in Indian hair rituals for generations. Either way, there’s a reason so many of them have continued to find their way into hair and scalp rituals over the years. For me, it’s really about taking care of the scalp, conditioning and strengthening the hair you already have, and hopefully helping with some of that annoying breakage and hair fall along the way. My mom swears by it, and I’ve just started making it part of my own routine. I already love the ritual of it and can’t wait to see how my hair feels with continued use.

INGREDIENTS

My mom doesn’t really measure anything because, naturally, Indian moms don’t believe in measuring spoons when making things like this. Her rule is basically equal parts of everything with a little extra curry leaf.

1 tbsp methi seeds
1 tbsp kalonji
1 tbsp uncooked rice
1 tbsp dried organic rosemary
About 12 fresh curry leaves
1 cup water
1 tsp whole cloves, optional
Fresh onion juice, optional

*A little note before you start: Give the methi, kalonji, rice and cloves (if using) a quick, light crush with a mortar and pestle before adding them to the water. The idea is simply to break them up a little and expose more surface area while they steep, not to grind them into a powder. Grinding everything too finely will make the tonic gritty, harder to strain and more likely to clog your spray bottle.

METHOD

Add the methi, kalonji, rice, rosemary and curry leaves to a small pot with 1 cup of water. If you’re using cloves, add those now too. Bring everything to a boil, then lower the heat and let it gently simmer and steep.

As the water slowly reduces, the infusion becomes more concentrated. Give everything enough time in there to really infuse and let the water take on all that goodness from the herbs and seeds, just make sure you don’t let it boil dry.

Let the tonic cool completely. If you’re adding fresh onion juice, blend or grate it into the cooled tonic. Then strain everything really well through a fine mesh strainer so you're left with just the liquid.

I pour mine into one of those little spray bottles because it makes it so easy to use. While I’m doing all my other pre-shower things, I spray it directly onto my scalp and roots, massage it in a little and leave it on anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. Then I hop in the shower and shampoo and condition as usual.

Because this is homemade and doesn’t contain any preservatives, I make a small batch at a time and keep it refrigerated between uses. And as with anything new you’re putting directly onto your scalp, do a little patch test first, especially if you have sensitive skin.

I hope you love this little ritual as much as we do, and that your hair does too. Here’s to happier, healthier hair. xx ♡