This moisturizing hair cream combines soft, creamy Shealoe Butter with Amla Oil and Mahabhringraj Oil, two Ayurvedic Oils that are especially beneficial to hair care treatments. Amla Oil can help to strengthen hair at the root, improve scalp condition, and encourage the growth of healthier hair. Mahabhringraj Oil can help to inhibit the frequency of gray hair, and help prevent hair loss. This mixture has a very soft, creamy texture, and can be used to help condition and style the hair. Intensely moisturizing, this formula would probably not be helpful to those with oily or fine hair. I should also note that this formula has a very strong, herbal aroma, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. You may want to add a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil, or Jasmine Absolute to give this hair cream a more pleasant aroma.
Ayurvedic Hair Cream
Makes about 4 ounces.
Ingredients
1 ounce Amla Oil*
1 ounces Mahabhringraj Oil*
2 ounces Shealoe Butter
Directions
Gently melt the Shealoe Butter over medium heat in a double boiler. As soon as the Shealoe Butter has softened into a liquid, remove it from the heat and add the two Ayurvedic Oils. Whip the mixture until it cools. The cream should thicken slightly as it cools down, but will not become firm. If desired, add a few drops of your favorite Absolute, Attar, or Essential Oil. Jasmine Absolute would be a great choice. Transfer the mixture to a clean jar and allow it to cool completely.
Usage and Packaging
This intensely moisturizing hair cream can be used in very small quantities to add targeted moisture, or to help a hair style hold its texture. Ayurvedic Hair Cream may be especially effective when applied to the ends of the hair, or when it is rubbed into the scalp as an overnight treatment. Please note that this formula may be too intense for some hair types. Experiment with a small amount before using a lot of product. Ayurvedic Hair Cream can be packaged in any 4 ounce jar. I particularly like using Flat White Cream Jars for this formula.
*For a limited time, FromNatureWithLove.com is offering a 30% discount off of their online selection of Ayurvedic Herbs and Oils. Check out the Sales & Specials page for details!
Fantastic recipes! Thank you! I have slight hair loss and your article was very much appreciated.
Posted by: The Skin Care Lady | January 08, 2009 at 11:06 AM
The Ayurvedic Hair Cream is a personal favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy using it.
Posted by: Emmy Gabriel | January 08, 2009 at 11:09 AM
I was wondering how long does this hair cream last. Do I have to use all of it right away?
Posted by: jackie | March 27, 2009 at 07:23 PM
While Shealoe Butter does have some preservative in it, the rest of the formula has been left without additional preservatives. Because of this, it makes determining an exact shelf life very hard. If you use the recipe as is, it should remain stable for several weeks. However, it can easily be contaminated during use. One way to keep the cream safe from contamination is to package it in a pump bottle instead of a jar. If you do want to keep it in a jar, make sure to use a clean spoon or popsicle stick to scoop out the mixture, instead of touching it directly.
It should be noted, though, that even while taking these steps, it is possible for the cream to spoil prematurely. If your batch changes in color, smell, or appearance, discontinue use and make up a fresh batch.
Posted by: Emmy Gabriel | March 31, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Is this cream supposed to emulsify? I made it exactly to specs and it is not creamy. In fact, it is trying its best to separate. What's wrong?
Posted by: Karla | August 22, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Hi Karla,
Thanks for contacting us with your question about the Ayurvedic Hair Cream Recipe. As you can tell from the ingredients, this recipe doesn't really entail emulsion. The ingredients are all oil based, with the exception of a small portion of aloe gel contained in the Shealoe. From your description of white specks and separation, it sounds like the Shealoe is separating. This can happen when Shealoe becomes too hot. Shealoe is notorious for being tricky to work with. It's unique texture makes it worth the trouble, but it can be temperamental. If the weather is warm where you are located, it may not be necessary to heat the Shealoe at all. If it is very soft at room temperature, as it often is during the summer, try whipping the oils into the Shealoe as-is.
We've received positive feedback from this recipe so far, but each batch, is of course, a unique experience that can be affected by the quality of ingredients, changes in environment, such as temperature or humidity, and technique. The final product can also be affected by the environment. This particular recipe wasn't formulated for long term storage, or for sale, but instead for personal use in small batches. Due to the nature of Shealoe, it is possible for the mixture to separate after sitting for several days. When I've made this recipe, it usually remained mixed for 1-2 weeks before separating. The texture of the cream is very thin, almost liquid. You can increase its firmness by increasing the ratio of Shealoe Butter in the recipe. That can be adjusted to your personal taste.
Posted by: Emmy | August 24, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Will adding lavender essential oil help work as a natural preservative?
Posted by: Twinkle | January 11, 2010 at 11:31 AM
While Lavender Essential Oil does have some healing properties, it
wont act as an effective preservative in most formulations. If youd
like to add a natural antibacterial agent, try including some
Grapefruit Seed Extract. You can learn more about it here:
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/product.asp?product_id=OTHGSEsearchflag=1
Posted by: Emmy Gabriel | January 11, 2010 at 05:06 PM