“… Gooseberry, she’s a timeless keep” – Anonymous.

Truer words were never said. Indian Gooseberry or amla is indeed a ‘timeless keep’ packed with nutrients to keep your body healthy and hair shining. This fruit, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, prevents hair fall, itching and dandruff, to name a few. It promotes hair growth and the best thing is that it is easily available and inexpensive.

The question is, how do you use amla? Do you eat it raw, cook it or use it as a hair mask? Well – you can do all of these. You can eat the fruit raw, make pickles that will last you for quite some time, remove the stone, dry the fruit and powder it to make a homemade amla powder hair mask or buy ready use amla powders.

We have here all the information you would need to know to use amla powder for hair growth or make the powder at home.

Let us start with the benefits of amla.

Benefits of Amla for Hair Health

Amla is a nutrient-dense fruit used in the prevention of hair fall, dandruff and an itchy scalp. It also prevents lice infestation. Another thing that amla is known for is improving hair quality. Here are some of the benefits of amla – benefits that are backed with research:-

According to a paper published in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Health Care (AJPRHC), the use of amla rejuvenates hair cells and stimulates hair growth.

It contains the highest quantity of vitamin C, an antioxidant, found in any fruit. Therefore, amla helps fight free radicals that cause hair loss, grey hair and premature ageing.

• The tannins in this fruit prevent photodamage.
• The calcium helps promote healthy hair.
• The fruit is nutrient-dense and reduces hair fall and thinning by strengthening the hair follicles.
• It prevents and reduces hair loss.

How To Make Amla Powder for hair At Home?

Although there are several good brands of amla powder available, you can make it at home too. All you need is this fruit. Remove the stone and chop the flesh. Leave it to dry in the sun or you could even use a food dehydrator to dry it. If you don’t have a dehydrator, then use your oven in the lowest temperature setting to dry the chopped amla fruit. Powder it in your mixer jar. Store it in an airtight container.

Let us now take a look at the different brands of amla Powder.

Brands of Amla Powder

Khadi Natural Ayurvedic Amla Powder –

This product is a scalp cleanser and a natural conditioner. It prevents hair fall and promotes hair growth. It is an organic product that contains the goodness of Indian gooseberry, which prevents premature greying of hair, and gives your strong, lustrous strands.

Method of Use – Make a thick paste of the powder with water and leave it to soak for at least 2 hours or, preferably overnight. Apply it on the hair for 15-20 minutes and wash it off with cool water.

This product can also be used for the face. Make a paste using a tablespoon of the powder with water and apply on the face. Gently scrub it off after 10 minutes. It helps clear acne and acne marks.

2. Kama Ayurveda Kesini Ayurvedic Herbal Hair Wash Powder –

This hair-wash powder contains the goodness of amla powder and is a scalp cleanser. This completely natural, non-drying and non-foaming product promotes healthy and nourished hair. It prevents hair loss and is suitable for damaged hair and sensitive scalp.

Method of Use – Make a paste of this coarse powder with water. Use 2-3 teaspoons of this powder with 30 ml of lukewarm water and apply on the hair. Wash it well in running water.

3. Amrutam Amla Churna –

This is an edible ayurvedic product that helps increase protein absorption in the body. It also eliminates toxins, burns calories and removes uric acid and salts. In addition to all these, it reduces bad cholesterol, prevents the thickening of blood vessels and clogging of the arteries, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Method of Use – Mix a teaspoon of the powder with honey and ginger to find relief from sore throat. Consume a teaspoon of this powder with a glass of milk twice a day.

Using Amla Powder as a Hair Mask?

Amla powder is nothing but the dried fruit, finely powdered after removing the stone. The powder is made into a paste with a little water and it is applied on the scalp and hair strands to nourish it. Leave the hair mask for a few minutes and then wash it off in running water or a mild shampoo.

Apart from this, here are several hair masks that you can make at home.

Amla-Neem Hair Mask

Neem and Amla, both are power pack ingredients for good hair. This mask addresses issues like boils, dandruff, hair lice, etc. While amla provides needed nutrients to you hair, neem cools the scalp and help you get rid of dandruff and boils.

Take a few neem leaves and soak them in lukewarm water for a night. Mix amla powder to this and use the mask on your scalp and here. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then rinse it off. If you don’t find neem leaves, you can mix amla and neem powder together to make a hair mask.

You may read about wonders that neem powder does to your hair here: Benefits of Neem Powder for Hair

Frequency Of Use- Use it twice a week for best results

Amla-Shikakai Hair Mask

To make this mask, you need equal quantities of amla powder and shikakai powder. Make a paste with water and apply it on your hair. Wash it off with running water. This mask is also a hair cleanser and using it promotes hair growth, strengthens hair roots and improves hair health.

Frequency Of Use – Use this mask once a week for the best results.

Egg and Amla Powder Hair Mask

Eggs are a rich source of protein and the yolks, when used in hair masks, are known to promote hair growth.

To make an amla-egg hair mask, you will need to make a paste of ½ a cup of amla powder in two eggs. Whisk the two till you get a smooth paste and apply it on your hair. Wash it off after an hour with warm water.

Frequency Of Use – Use this mask once a week for the best results.

Amla-Fenugreek Hair Mask

A research paper published in the Pakistan Journal of Zoology suggests that using fenugreek stimulates hair growth. Using fenugreek with amla powder only increases the potency of this hair mask.

Mis equal quantities of amla powder and fenugreek powder and make a paste by adding warm water. Leave the mixture covered in a bowl overnight and apply it on your hair in the morning. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Frequency Of Use – You can use this hair mask about twice a week.

Using Amla Powder in Food

• Amla is a powerhouse of nutrients. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and regulates build-up of cholesterol.
• The fruit that is rich in Vitamin C strengthens blood vessels and improves immunity.
• It keeps you hydrated and gives your skin a glow.
• The fibre content in amla is high and it is excellent for the digestive system. It cures constipation, stomach ulcers and hyperacidity.
• It has antioxidant properties that slow down ageing.

Side Effects of Amla Powder

There are very few known side effects of amla powder. There are a few cases of allergies to amla, which can result in irritation and hives. So, always do a patch test before you use it.

Amla powder is not for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women.

In Conclusion

Hair growth will take time but you can speed up the process with Indian gooseberry or amla. It is generally safe to use for general health and promotes hair growth but always do a patch test before using it to ensure that you are not allergic to the powder. To incorporate the use of amla powder in your diet, consult an ayurvedic physician.

Author’s Bio

Nidhi Khurana is a happy-go-lucky girl who loves to write. Started as a pastime, writing became her passion and now she dabbles between lifestyle and travel writing. She is a blogger at 365 Gorgeous, a blog dedicated to keeping you gorgeous, always. It is a one-stop solution for all your beauty, skincare, and hair care needs.