Organic amla powder may be just what you need when you are dismayed by the gray hair that you find. Whether you are 20 or 40, the first signs of white or gray strands can be extremely unsettling. The immediate thought is that you are growing older and that is not something you want to contend with, no matter what the age.

What are your Choices to Deal with Gray Hair?

If you see a couple of stray strands of gray, you feel very tempted to pluck them out. That does not do any good as the new growth will be same. In fact, when you pluck out even a few hairs, your hair style will go for a toss and the hair growth will be uneven.

Hair colors, temporary or permanent, should not be an option at a young age. They affect the quality of the hair and can cause build-up when used for long. Once you get on the hair color bandwagon, it is difficult to get off. And using artificial dyes can actually promote greater discoloration of the hair, apart from damaging the hair.

You may be tempted to use natural coloring products like henna powder. While these can color the white strands, they will make them different shades of red or orange (depending on the quality of the powder, your original hair color and how long you leave it on). Henna may not be an option if your hair is lighter in color naturally.

Henna is also drying. You not only have to leave it for hours or even overnight, it is also messy to shampoo off and some people don’t like the smell of henna.

Use Organic Amla Powder for Premature Graying

For natural options, amla is the best. The Indian Gooseberry is extremely rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. While the fresh fruit is not available everywhere, you can get amla powder, which contains all the properties of the fresh fruit.

There are different ways to use amla. You can take it orally in drinks and beverages. And you can use it topically, where it will directly affect the hair color. This is how amla works:

• Acts as a natural conditioner
• Reduces hair fall
• Improves hair growth
• Retards premature ageing and graying of hair
• Reduces dandruff

For all these reasons, even if you don’t have gray hair, you should use amla regularly.

How do you use Amla for Hair Problems?

You can use amla powder in all kinds of beverages, mix it with water and drink it or add to your smoothies, other drinks and soups. It blends well with liquids. It will work internally thanks to the many nutrients it contains.

In order to use amla externally, use some carrier oil. The best oil for hair use is virgin coconut oil or cold pressed coconut oil. In 250 ml of the oil, mix in 5-6 tablespoons of powdered amla. Put it in a sealed glass jar and leave in the sun for a month. Shake jar from time to time.

The oil will turn dark and the nutrients in the amla will blend with the oil. After than strain and decant the oil into a glass bottle and use the oil to massage your scalp and hair. Leave for an hour or more (or overnight) before shampooing off. If you do this every time you need to shampoo your hair, you will get results. If you can’t do this every time or wash your hair very often, use it at least once or twice a week.

You can also mix the same blend of oil and amla powder and put it in a double boiler over very low heat. Let it ‘cook’ for a few hours, or till oil is dark, strain and decant and use as above. If, at any time, the coconut oil solidifies, you may need to melt it by placing the bottle in hot water.

You can use mustard oil, olive oil or sesame oil if coconut oil is unavailable or you don’t like its smell. You can also add 2-3 tbsp. fenugreek seed powder to this mix, as it is also a known remedy to improve hair health.

While amla powder can help a great deal, it is also important that you eat a healthy diet that has all the vitamins that you need. A B vitamin deficiency can cause premature graying of hair. You should also have a protein-rich and iron-rich diet to get over any nutritional deficiencies.

Do use sulfate-free shampoos or use herbal hair cleansers so that you avoid chemicals in commercial products that can harm hair health. Avoid too much hair processing, perming, coloring and hair drying via a hair dryer or hair iron without using protective serum.

Organic amla powder is a great herbal remedy for all kinds of hair problems. But you will need to use it for a few months before you see results.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult with your health care professional before buying this product.

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