Love your Locks

Understanding the ingredients on even the most simple-sounding shampoo like Organics (which aren't remotely organic) or Johnson's Baby, almost requires a degree in chemistry. Not surprisingly, many people are trying to avoid using chemicals on their hair and are turning to old fashioned, tried and tested natural ingredients.

Rosemary oil is believed to be great for stengthening hair, tea tree oil encourages growth and very effective at fighting scalp problems and lemon juice, a natural bleach as well as conditioner. Neem powder boiled along with coconut oil and applied to the hair once a week is supposed to cure dandruff.

Sesame oil promotes hair growth and acts as a herbal dye. Who hasnt heard of the legendary shikakai?(Acacia concinna). Aloe vera too is put forth as one which promotes hair growth and arrests hair loss. Salons are also increasingly offering alternatives such as seaweed and vegetable dyes in place of your regular chemical hair dyes.

If you dye your hair, it really is worth looking at all the non-chemical options because research indicates that the chemicals in hair dyes can increase the risk of certain bladder conditions and cancers, and the risks are higher if hair is regularly dyed over long periods. Herbatint hair dyes do not use ammonia and claim to use "the minimum pharmaceutical chemical ingredients" along with herb and vegetable extracts. Herbatint dyes are permanent, gentle and widely available from health food shops all over the globe.

So all you people who love your locks, you might want to think.