How to Use Bhringraj for Thicker and Denser Hair
What’s it like to be stuck in a small house for months. And the only view outside is a blanket of white ice.
A group of eight scientists had been staying on an Antarctic research station for over a year. The long darkness and harsh weather conditions took a toll on them.
They came back with their brains shrunk. Apparently, the scientists were doing little mental and physical activity. And that’s why their brain lost some volume, like an unused muscle.
The shrinking is not just a problem of brain or muscles. It’s also a problem of hair follicles.
Our hair follicles shrink too if we don’t stimulate it enough or undergo too much stress or have an imbalance of hormones. When this happens – the follicles shrinking – hair chokes and get thin and eventually fall out. Now the solution will be to remove triggers in the first place. So do a head massage, stress less and lead a healthy lifestyle.
But, what to do with the already shrunk or miniaturised hair follicles?
Well, you can take the help of bhringraj – the famous ayurvedic herb for hair. Bhringraj can increase the size as well as density of hair follicles and encourage strong and healthy hair growth. Plus, if you have early greying of hair, bhringraj will tackle that too.
That’s a big promise. Do you want to know how bhringraj does what it does for hair? Then hold on a bit, let’s first get to know bhringraj.
What is Bhringraj?
Bhringraj or Eclipta alba belongs to the sunflower family. But its flowers are not at all big, they are actually quite tiny, the size of a button. Also, bhringraj is no ornamental plant. It’s a short creeper that grows in the wild.
Bhringraj likes marshy wet areas, so you will usually site it by the river, canal, rice fields and ponds. It’s native to India subcontinent where it’s also known as Bhringa, bhangra, maka and kesharaj – meaning king of hair vitalizing herbs.
I remember when I was in high school, one of my friend’s mother would go by the canal and get fresh bhringraj plants. She would then crush the plant and apply it on her two beautiful daughters’ hair. And perhaps bhringraj did work its magic, as both of them had such thick, dark, gorgeous hair.
But how do we know for sure their gorgeous hair was due to bhringraj. It could be that they were just born lucky with great hair. Or maybe it’s both. Let’s dig deeper and find out…
The Ancient and Modern take on Bhringraj for Hair Growth
Ayurveda puts bhringraj on the list of the most effective herbs for hair. It has been traditionally used in hair oil preparation to promote strong and healthy hair growth and reduce hair loss. But the claim is not just coming from the ancient texts.
There is some evidence that bhringraj is effective for hair growth.
Two animal studies have found that bhringraj not only stimulates hair growth, but it’s more effective than minoxidil, the conventional treatment (1, 2). The results suggest that application of bhringraj could stimulate the formation of hair follicles and, therefore, shift them earlier in the anagen phase, which is the active growth phase of hair.
And all this happens without the side effects of redness, scaling and itching, which minoxidil may cause. Even though the studies are done on mice, the evidence is promising.
How does Bhringraj Promote Hair Growth?
The herb contains a variety of biological components including, flavonoids, phytosterols, polypeptides, and coumestans. It’s thought that all of these components work synergistically to increase the number and size of hair follicles (2).
It’s unclear which type of hair loss bhringraj would help. But from the findings at hand, it may help several, including male or female pattern baldness where the hair follicles shrink, causing the hair to thin and fall out eventually. It may also benefit those with telogen effluvium, in which hair follicles temporarily moves in an early resting phase.
So if you have hair loss due to either of these or god-knows-what, give bhringraj a go. This king of herbs is quite beneficial for hair. It can help rejuvenate the hair follicles and promote strong and healthy hair growth.
Let’s find out how to use it….shall we?
How to Use Bhringraj for Hair GrowthÂ
If you have access to a fresh bhringraj plant, by all means, go ahead and use it. Make a paste of fresh leaves and apply it to your hair. But I suppose that would be very few people.
Now, most of us will need to get bhringraj powder made from dried leaves. You can use bhringraj powder to make herbal hair oil. Follow the recipe of amla hair oil, either, substitute bhringraj for amla or use both.
I prefer to use bhringraj in a hair mask. My hair responds better to the herb in a hair mask than the oil. Here are my three favourites Bhringraj Hair Masks recipes to boost hair growth and darken hair…
1. Volumising Bhringraj Hair Mask
1. Volumising Bhringraj Hair Mask
This one is for fine, oily hair types. Bhringraj promotes hair growth and adding yogurt increases volume and thickness of hair strands.
What you will need:
- 1 tablespoon Bhringraj Powder
- 5-6 tablespoons Yogurt (full fat)
- 1 tablespoons Shikakai Powder (optional, nourishes and strengthens hair)
- 1 teaspoon Hibiscus Powder (optional, conditions and adds shine)
Place bhringraj powder and yogurt in a bowl and mix well. You can also add shikakai powder for extra boost and hibiscus powder to condition and enhance shine. (And more yogurt to combine the herbs.)
Start with dry hair. Apply the mask to your scalp and hair. Let it sit for half an hour and wash it with homemade or sls-free natural shampoo.
2. Hair Boosting and Moisturising Bhringraj Mask
For those of you with dry, tangly hair, combine hair-boosting bhringraj with hair-softening hibiscus. You can use the base as water, but for a more luxurious feel, use coconut milk.
This mask can also help with scalp conditions such as dandruff and flakiness. That’s because of bhringraj’s has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
You will need:
- 2 tablespoons bhringraj powder
- 2 tablespoons hibiscus powder
- 5-6 tablespoon coconut milk
Place bhringraj powder and hibiscus powder in a bowl. Next, add coconut milk and stir to form a paste.
Apply, section by section, all over your scalp and hair, and let it sit for 30 minutes to do its magic. Rinse it out with water. To shampoo or not to shampoo is your choice. See how your hair feels, you may be able to get away with an apple cider vinegar or reetha-shikakai hair rinse.
3. Bhringraj Hair Colouring Mask
If your concern is both hair loss and greying, then a fantastic way to use bhringraj is by combing it with henna. Henna colours hair and bhringraj enhances the colour. Also, it’s said that using bhringraj regularly will reverse greying and turn your hair to its original colour (3).
How to do it:
When you prepare henna, add one tablespoons of bhringraj powder to it. Allow the henna and bhringraj to marinate overnight. And in the morning henna your hair.
You may also like: How to Henna to Colour your Hair (Ditch the Hair Dye)
Buying Bhringraj Powder:
Bhringraj is not at all expensive to buy. Since it can go by many names, it’s good to know the botanical name which is eclipta alba or eclipta prostrata.
You can buy bhringraj powder online or you can also get it in an Indian grocery store.
Other uses of Bhringraj
Although bhringraj is famous for its hair benefits, the herb has many other uses. The ayurvedic practitioners use bhringraj supplements to treat liver disorders, skin conditions, arthritis, poor sight, hearing and memory problems.
A word of caution, if you plan to take bhringraj orally, talk to your doctor before self-medicating, especially if you are pregnant or have a medical condition. Even though the herbs are natural, they can have side effects.
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Let me know if you have any questions and how bhringraj works for you.
Stay Happy and Healthy
I made the mask with bhringaj, hibiscus and coconut milk, but I had to add water. Five or six tablespoons of CM are not enough to make a paste
I recently have found I have bhringraj growing on my land. How would I go about using the plant itself to make a mask?
Hello Minaz
I have had an hair transplant. The doctor recommends that I use 5mg of Minoxidil daily for few years. I am thinking of replacing Minoxidil with Bhringaraj. How many grams should I have daily?
Thank you
Rob
Can bhringraj be used on blonde hair without causing it to go dark?
I have heard both sides that it doesn’t and it does. I guess the color change won’t be dramatic, may be a couple of shades darker.
I’m.vegan how can I substitute egg and yoghurt in ur masks and other preparations ?
You can use coconut milk.
Hi, my hair and I have been enjoying your blog for years! When I mix the bhringraj powder with henna, it turns the desired copper brown color to an almost black shade. Any suggestions? Thank you
I’ve just started to drink the powder with oj daily
Hello, this is something new to try ….hoping Bhringraj will help grow new hair follicles..even though bald patches are showing. Mine is oily and thin hair as you already know, so wont add olive oil to the mixture, just white and fenugreek powder. Is it Ok to ladd Onion juice and leave on for an hour instead of just 30 minuits ? How many times a week should I apply this pack ?
Hello Pratibha, You can leave it on for an hour. Use this mask once a week.
Hi, thank you so much for this hair mask. I have tried so many that didn’t work for me. After using your I can see new growth on my edges after 3 weeks and less breakage. I will definitely keep using this hair mask.. thank you once again
Glad it was helpful Cathy!
I have suffered for years from itchy/scaly scalp, thinning hair and recently LOTS of sudden hair loss. Prescribed solutions haven’t worked. Was told I’m anemic so maybe that caused the sudden hair loss. I just tried the bhringraj powder mixed with only water yesterday and already my scalp feels normal! Now I’m going to use 2-3 times a week, I’m hoping to see improvement in getting hair growing back and continued scalp health.
In your section on bringhraj, you recommend it for hair growth. In the section on making amla oil (recommended as a promoter of hair growth), you said that one can also add bringhraj to the oil to prevent graying, but you did not make any mention of hair growth. I am confused about the apparent contradiction. Can you clarify? Thank you.
Bhringraj can work both ways to promote hair growth as well as to reduce greying.
Hi ,
I have been an ardent follower of this website.. i have been using the amla-shikakai-reeta Home made shampoo for a few months .. can i add bhringaraj to this concotion and use it as shampoo ?
Yes you could try. Don’t know how it will work together with the other herbs. Let us know how it goes for you.
My hair is very nordic, thin, gets electric, breaks, an ashy light brown, midback length and dry bleached in the ends. I find even coconut milk dries it out. I am goimg to try Bhringraj powder to see if I can regain some thickness that I had before my teens, was always very “middle-Asian” thick actually until that, and I’m left with only ca 30% of that volume. Half wavy half straight. Oil is real tricky do get out and my ends hardens everytime, like I left food to dry in it….. Question is: how should I use the powder in your opinion? 😄 And do my ends still have a chance?
Hi Sam, you may benefit from using one of the conditioning hair rinses. See here and let me know how it works for you.
HI minaz I was about to try one of your bringraj hair growth remedy then read carefully there is no instruction on how long you should put the mask on your hair and how frequent. Overnight or few hours?
Hi Diana, you can leave it on for 30 to 40 minutes. Once a week is good.
Is it okay to use vegan coconut yogurt instead of dairy yogurt?
Yes.
Hi, my question is about the possibile use of bhringraj and fenugreek seed powder treatment combined as a face mask to help alleviate hyperpigmented skin, especially for mature ladies.
Hi Sunni, I would use multani mitti for hyperpigmentation. You can also do tomato face mask.
can we add kalonji to the hair mask
Yes, you can try adding it. See how it works for you.
Hi! What advice do you have on eating/drinking bhringraj powder for hair loss instead of applying it as a mask?
You can give it a try and see if suits you. Check the instructions at the end of article on taking bhringraj.
What is the shelf life for these? can I make a larger batch to last a couple of weeks or should you make it fresh each time you use it?
Make fresh.
Hi,
My hair is falling a lot. I have used minoxidil and it is very helpful but I’d like to try this powder although I have a concern; would bhringraj alter/ damage my colour, I have highlights on my hair, I don’t want to end up with green hair LOL.
Hi, as far as I know, it won’t. Although a patch test on a strand of hair will help.
Hello Ma’am
I am 26 year old, When I was in 12th I had very thick hair. One day someone told me that your hair has receded a bit which wasn’t. So I took him Seriously and was very tensed Inspite of having dense hairs on my head. I didn’t shampoo properly, didn’t clean my scalp properly fearing it would cause hair loss. So I got intense dandruff problem because of this and crust on my scalp were formed. I got this treated and advised an AD shampoo which on applying caused enormous hair fall which got recovered with time. From then for last 9-10 years my hairline has receded a bit and scalp hairs have become less. Is it possible to recover? I don’t do head massage and it has been years to that when I had thick hairs and my mom did massage at that time. I am scared of doing massage because I think it will cause hair loss. Is there any remedy?
You don’t have to head massage if you are not comfortable. You can use a wide-tooth wood comb and comb multiple times, and that will stimulate the scalp. Also after washing hair, you can take some coconut oil and apply all over your head.
Hi Minaz, I’m a nursing mom (4 month old baby) so can I use bhringraj and rosemary oil for hair regrowth n greying? I’m 31 yrs old and have started developing receeding hairline with grey hair on the frontal section of the head. Kindly reply soon.
Hi Nuzat, pregnancy and lactation protects the hair because of the hormones surge. I wonder why you are having hair loss. Have you spoken to your doctor about it. Do you think you can have deficiencies like vitamin D?
I m almost in my stage 2 of hair loss… Will this help to cure that.. My complete volume has gone down.. And i can see my scalp through.. I m just 22
Bhringraj is very effective for hair growth. Having said that not every remedy works for every one. So I would suggest you try few more such as: aloe vera fenugreek mask and garlic oil.
I was wondering how often should the mask be used
You can use it once or twice a week.
I have short , thin hair….regular falling of hair….making scalp bald….Please suggest for hair growth and long hair
Hi, pretty lady!I have a question, my hair since last April was falling out bad as I have told you before, went to Dr. and he said everything was OK! I have used alot of your methods and they have really worked, it has stopped alot but I really need your opinion, could you give me a name of a good sulfate free shampoo that will also help, my hair is very dry and gets tangled real easy, I would really appreciate your advice because I don’t ever want to go thru this again, THANK YOU WITH MUCH LOVE!! Gerre Shipe
That’s wonderful to hear Gerre. You can check out my amazon shop here:https://www.amazon.com/shop/hairbuddha
There’re my favourite shampoos, oils and other stuff.
Thanks for sharing benefits of bhringraj, I did not know about this herb at all cant wait to try it.
What I like is all I have to do is add some to my heena gloss mask you shared before (which by the way gives my hair a lovely tinge)