I wanted to share one of our famous hair oils, known as “Marudhani Ennai” in Tamil. This henna hair oil is specially crafted so that even people with sinus infections can use it. When made properly, it can last well for almost a year. Let me guide you through the process of making this wonderful hair oil.
Ingredients and Preparation
Ingredients:
- Two big handfuls of fresh henna leaves
- 1 cup of unrefined coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of carom seeds
Steps:
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Collect and Wash Henna Leaves:
- Collect two big handfuls of fresh henna leaves.
- Wash the leaves thoroughly to remove any dirt or impurities.
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Grind the Leaves:
- Take the washed henna leaves and grind them coarsely using a mortar and pestle or a mixer. The mixture should be coarse, not fine.
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Heat the Oil:
- Take a cup of unrefined coconut oil in a kadai (a type of cooking pot).
- Add the coarsely ground henna leaves to the oil.
- Cook on medium flame. The mixture will start bubbling and spluttering.
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Add Carom Seeds:
- Always use a large kadai and ensure the oil is not more than half of the kadai to prevent spluttering outside.
- Once the spluttering starts reducing, add a teaspoon of carom seeds. Carom seeds prevent sinus infections, treat scalp infections, and help reduce scalp inflammation.
- Wait for the spluttering to reduce completely, which indicates that there is no moisture left. If there is even a tiny bit of moisture, the oil will turn rancid very quickly.
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Strain the Oil:
- Once the spluttering is reduced, remove the kadai from the fire and let it cool down.
- Strain the oil through a clean white cotton cloth. Using a pure white cotton cloth ensures that the oil is clear and free from any dye that might mix into it.
- Pounding henna leaves coarsely helps strain out the leaves easily.
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Store the Oil:
- Once strained, store the oil in a glass bottle. This oil will last well for almost a year at room temperature if stored away from moisture.
Usage and Benefits
Usage:
- This oil can be used both as a daily application hair oil and as a pre-shampoo treatment.
- During winter months, make sure to warm the oil lightly before massaging it into the scalp.
Benefits:
- Promotes Hair Growth: Henna helps promote hair growth.
- Prevents Premature Graying: Massaging with this hair oil will greatly help prevent premature graying of the hair.
- Strengthens Hair Roots: It strengthens the hair roots and arrests even the worst hair fall.
- No Hair Dye: This oil will not dye the hair red and is one of the most popular remedies for treating premature graying of the hair.
Alternative Ingredients
If you don’t have access to fresh henna leaves, you can use henna powder. When buying henna powder, make sure to buy only pure organic henna powder without any add-ons. Use around 2 tablespoons of powder per cup of oil, but heat it only using the double boiler method.