7 Tips To Keep Your Skin and Hair Glowing In Autumn: An Ayurvedic Approach
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Autumnย is the most colorfulย season of all. Trees get filled with different shades during this lovely season. But along with its gorgeous, bright colours comes the uninvited: dull, dry skin & hair.
To fix this dryness simply applying creams and oils may not be enough. Besides, dry skin will develop fine lines and wrinkles faster.
Ayurveda, a traditional medical system of India, has a very different approach to skin and hair care. Thatโs because ayurvedic remedies treat not only the symptom of dryness but also the underlying imbalances that cause it.
Why do you have Dry Skin & Hair in autumn?
In Ayurvedic terms, autumn or fall isย vataย season. The atmosphere is dry, cool, windy and erratic. As the temperatures drop, the indoor heating goes on and up,ย but this dries out the air in the home. You have dryness everywhereโinside and outside.
This sucks moisture from the skin, causing it to go rough, dry and dehydrate. Some people also experience flaking and irritation as well as a flare-up of some skin conditions like eczema.
According to Ayurveda dryness and roughness isย vata trait.ย Almost one-third of us are born with this vata trait. And autumn weather only makes it worse.
Other signs of increased vata are: cracked skin, lips, nails and heels; cracking joints; lusterless hair, dandruff, psoriasis, constipation, cold hands and feet, and thyroid imbalance.
You canโt change the vata trait you are born with, but you can reduce its effects by taking extra care.ย (You can read more about vata dosha here)
What to do?
Luckily, there is an ayurvedic way to autumn-proof our skin and hair and it is very easy to follow.
A basic tenet of Ayurveda is that โlike increases like.โ
So, if we consider this Ayurvedic principle that opposites balance, the autumn season will be less aggravating if you fill it with warmth and deep nourishment.
Amazingly, many of us adopt seasonally appropriate habits already, without even being conscious of doing so.
For instance, in the summertime, we enjoy eating cold salads, melons and cucumber. Whereas by October and November, we often crave warm soups or stews that naturally pacify the dry, light and erratic nature of the fall.
And, itโs not just about eating healthy. Itโs important that you eat the right foods and make some minor tweaks to your routine to counter the effects of this season.
Here are seven ways to ease you through this seasonal transition and enjoy glowing skin and shiny hair all year round.
7 Tips To Keep Your Skin & Hair Glowing in Autumn
1. Autumn Diet
When there is dryness in the atmosphere, warm, moist mealsโ are the most satisfying and nourishing for us.
Soups, stews, one-pot meals, lightly cooked vegetables, khichdi and porridge are good choices.
Itโs best to eat cooked vegetables than raw salads. And if you must eat salad then warm it up slightly or eat at room temperature.
Avoid foods like popcorn, crackers, breakfast cereals, and dried fruitsโฆ these are exceptionally drying foods.
Reduce dry or light fruitsย such as apples (cooked is ok), pears, pomegranates, cranberries, and dried fruits.
2. Sip some Warm Water or Herbal Teas
Whenever I drink less water I notice that my skin becomes dry and my scalp is itchy and flaky.
Itโs essential to drink plenty of fluids. But avoid ice water and drinks, especially during autumn months. This is because cold water will make your dryness or vata worse.
If you canโt drink warm water then at least sip room-temperature water.
Also, itโs very tempting to drink tea/coffee during cold months. But try to keep the caffeine to a minimum as it will only dehydrate you further.
Instead, make yourself some herbal tea, for example drinking fresh ginger and lemon tea in the afternoon will not only wake you up but also keep your digestion healthy.
Some good herbal teas for autumn:ย chamomile,ย elderflower,ย fennel, ginger,ย licorice,ย lemongrass, and marshmallow. Hereโs are some niceย vata tea blends.
3. Eat Good Fats
Healthy fats such as nuts and seeds are great for keeping your skin/hair moisturised from within.
Eat more of oily fish,ย walnuts,ย almonds,ย brazil nuts,ย flax seeds,ย sesame seeds,ย pumpkin seeds, andย sunflower seeds.
You can also use their cold-pressedย unrefined oils, to get your daily dose of essential fats. Take 1 to 2 tablespoons in a smoothie or soups.
You may also like: Why soak nuts and seeds overnight?
4. Nourish Your Skin with Amazing Ghee
Ghee (clarified butter) is another excellent fat you should consider in cold weather. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, E, D and the essential fatty acids, it works miracles for the skin.
It also makes hair wonderfully soft and lustrous. And if you have an unrelenting dandruff problem, it should get sorted too.
Not just that, ghee also improves food absorption, lubricates the connective tissue and joints, strengthens the nervous system, improves memory, and enhances immune function.
I loveย adding gheeย to soups and rice, makes it so flavourful. You can even cook with ghee.
Buying tip: always buy organic grass fed ghee, such as these.
5. Give Yourself a Nice Massage
Ayurveda advises that you oil massage your skin before bathing, especially during colder months.
Daily massage is not possible in the real world. But you can give yourself a full body massage once a week. Or even treat yourself to a spa day.
Massaging nourishes and tones your body, calms your mind and increases radiance of the skin.
Plan to spend at least 10 minutes massaging the entire body after coating it in oil, and then resting for at least 10 minutes before washing the oil off.
Oils for massage:
Body:ย sesame,ย olive, mustard, sunflower and almond.
Hair:ย sesame,ย olive,ย coconut, argan,ย sunflower, almondย and avocado.
Face:ย rosehip,ย almond,ย argan, apricot kernel and sunflower.
Tip:ย Those of you will very dry hair,ย just spray some water on your hair (or lightly damp your hair), then apply oil. This will help the oil penetrate deeper inside.
6. Moisturise Your Hair
Dry, dull and fly-away hair is a common problem in autumn and winter months.
Applyingย ginger & sesame oil mask to hair will help prevent dryness as well as reduce hair shedding. Odd yet effective, it will also diminish dandruff and flaky scalp.
You can also try this moisturising Avocado Hair Mask:
Take 1 avocado, 3 tablespoon yoghurt and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Scoop out avocado flesh, and put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until you have a smooth mixture. Apply this mixture on your scalp and hair. Put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in an old cloth/towel and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash as usual.
You may also enjoy: Top 3 Hair Masks for Dry and Damaged Hair
ย 7. Get Moving
High levels of emotional or mental stress can derange Vata.
Exercise is an effective stress-busters.ย Studies show that people who exercise regularly tend to have an increased release of happy hormones such as dopamine and serotonin.
Exercise also keeps your skin and hair glowing by boosting circulation and unblocking clogged pores.
Choose the type of exercise that makes you feel good and gives you energy without exhausting you. This is what ayurveda suggests โ when you are feeling tired just stop, take a break, then resume the activity.
Any form of exercise is better than no exercise. Be it is walking, jogging, dancing, tai chi, yoga, or Pilates โ have fun moving your body.
ย Moreย Tips to Prevent Dry Hair
- Frequent washing strips the scalp of its natural oils and results in dryness. Wash your hair once or twice a week.
- ย Harsh shampoos:ย Harsh detergents in the shampoo wipe out the moisture of the scalp. Instead, opt for natural cleansers like shikakai, soap nut, egg, coconut milk.
- Hot Showers: Taking a hot shower on cold days can be very comforting, but it will only cause more scalp dryness. Reduce the temperature and use tepid water.
- Avoid excessive heat:ย Heat drying/straightening can cause hair to become dry and stiff. Keep it natural and use heat only on rare occassions.
- Wear scarf or winter hats to protect your hair on the coldest days.
- Get a Humidifier: Continuous exposure to heating tends to reduce the moisture in the skin and leads to irritation and itching. A humidifier raises the humidity in the air and helps with dryness.
Take some extra care of your hair and body, and enjoy the beautiful spectrum of colours this autumn.
What do you do to banish autumn dryness? Share in the comment box below!
You may also enjoy:ย 11 Ways to turn Your Dry Hair into a Silky-Soft Mane
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