Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Ayurvedic Hair Care: 4 Wonderful Benefits of Brahmi for Hair

By Jacqueline Samaroo

We all know how difficult it can be to find the right products for textured hair types without experimenting. But, what suffers the most when that process of experimentation includes products with a variety of harsh, synthetic ingredients? Our curls!

It’s why natural remedies, especially those used in Ayurvedic hair care, have become such a popular option in natural curly haircare.

Keep reading as we take a look at one such natural remedy and haircare ingredient most commonly known as brahmi and highlight some of the many benefits of brahmi for hair growth.

Read our most recent posts on ingredients traditionally used in Ayurvedic hair care.

• 5 Excellent Benefits of Fenugreek for Hair Growth – Ayurvedic Hair Care 101
• Ayurveda Haircare: Bhringraj Oil for Hair Growth – 5 Wonderful Benefits

What is brahmi?

Brahmi is a creeping herb that grows naturally in wetland areas of all the continents (except Antarctica).  It is also known as bacopa or herb of grace and scientifically as Bacopa monnieri.

Having been used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine across continents for centuries, brahmi is a trusted, beloved herb that can work wonders for the body, digestive system, skin, and of course, hair.

What are the benefits of brahmi for hair growth?

Brahmi has long been used far and wide, throughout Asia and parts of Africa, for its many benefits. It earns the name “herb of grace” as it thought to give the body a nutritional balance and cleanse the digestive system.

It is used in traditional medicine to fight anxiety and mental fatigue, improve blood circulation, and said to give amazing results when used on the skin and hair improvement.

1. Brahmi promotes hair growth

Hair follicles, the growing part of the hair, contain proteins. These proteins are needed for healthy hair growth and reproduction of hair cells when present in abundance. However, due to pollution, exposure to free radicals, chemical treatment, and sedentary lifestyles, hair protein might be depleted or weakened with time.

But fear not, brahmi to the rescue! A major benefit of brahmi is that it contains alkaloids. These can bond with hair protein and with the follicles, thus strengthening them and giving you stronger, healthier curls.

Learn more about the roles protein plays in the growth of strong, healthy hair:

• Natural Hair Care: Protein and Hair – 7 Questions Answered
• Protein Treatments for Hair Growth – 6 Things You Should Know
• Benefits of Wheat Protein Treatment for Hair (With 5 Awesome Product Examples!)

2. Brahmi combats dullness and boosts shine

Brahmi oil is very effective in providing much-needed luster and bounce to hair. In a recent study on brahmi ghrita (an Ayurvedic mixture containing brahmi), it was observed that brahmi powder had a saponification value of 184.17, which basically means that the quality of oil produced from the extract would be excellent and rich.

Using brahmi oil on hair strands as well as roots can result in highly shiny, luxurious curls, the kind you’ve been dreaming of all this while!

3. Brahmi treats dry hair and split ends

So many of us deal with dry hair and split ends on a regular basis, caused by heating tools, hair color, or a simple lack of the nutrition that our curls need. That’s where the benefits of brahmi, and brahmi oil, in particular, can really make a difference in your hair care routine.

Brahmi has deep conditioning properties that can moisturize dry hair from root to tip, especially if massaged onto the scalp in the form of brahmi oil. Say goodbye to those pesky split ends!

Conditioners are an important part of any hair care routine. Check out these CurlyNikki posts on different types of conditioners for curly hair!

• 7 Best Deep Conditioners for Black Hair
• What’s the Best Conditioner for Curly Frizzy Hair? Meet 10 Awesome Frizz Tamers!
• 11 Fabulous Benefits of Leave-In Conditioner for Natural Hair
• Natural Hair Care: 10 Amazing Cleansing Conditioners for Curly Hair

4. Brahmi fights scalp conditions

Many of us suffer from perpetually bothersome scalps- dry, scaly, itchy, or inflamed. Some of us have to tackle more severe issues such as alopecia, which can be very distressing.

Thankfully, brahmi has excellent healing and soothing constituents, because of which it can be used to treat or at least provide relief from such scalp issues.

How Brahmi can be used for hair growth

There are, of course, many ways to use this wonderful herb. A common way to use it in Ayurvedic hair care is in the form of brahmi oil, which is made from brahmi extract.

This oil can be used by itself or with a carrier oil like coconut oil and massaged well into the scalp and hair, root to tip. It can be left on your hair either overnight or washed off with a mild shampoo within an hour of application, for soft, bouncy curls.

Interested in DIYing your own Ayurvedic hair care products? See which ingredients YouTuber and natural hair guru EfikZara uses in her Fantastic (and FAST!) Ayurveda Oil for Hair Growth by Zara.

Brahmi is also used in the form of brahmi powder in Ayurvedic hair care routines. You can prepare a paste by mixing the powder with water and applying it as a hair mask. The only precaution is to make sure the Brahmi powder you use is of good quality.

To derive maximum benefit, mix the brahmi powder with Amla (Indian gooseberry) powder and Shikakai (Acacia concinna) powder in equal ratios, and add water to make a paste. Apply this to your hair and let it rest for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

Apart from its use in Ayurvedic hair care, brahmi powder can also be consumed by mixing it with milk or water as an infusion, for internal health benefits. However, do make sure you check with your physician before starting to consume brahmi.

Well, that was quite a bit about brahmi and how awesome it is for hair! Are you excited to try it on your curls too?