Ancient Indian Beauty Secrets: Ayurvedic Skincare and Healthy Hair Recipes from My Great Aunt’s Kitchen

Vacationing on the beach with Jaya Ajji

My great aunt, whom I call Jaya Ajji, visited recently and shared her most loved Ayurvedic beauty recipes for you all to use.

Ayurveda is the world’s most ancient form of medicine, originating in India thousands of years ago. It was a highly complex science for its time- Ayurvedic physicians even performed eye surgeries!

The below recipes are for an Ayurvedic hair pack and face mask.

This hair pack is excellent for encouraging hair growth and preventing hair loss. It is also effective for maintaining color in the hair: since she began using it, Jaya Ajji says she went from coloring her hair every 3 weeks to coloring it only once every 2 months or so! She says she has also stopped losing hair, when before it shed copiously when brushed or washed.

Ayurvedic Hair Pack

• 1 teaspoon henna powder*
• 1 teaspoon amla powder*
• 1 tsp aritha powder*
• 1 tsp shikakai powder*
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh aloe vera gel

Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and apply to dry hair for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Wash off in the shower and shampoo as usual. Do this regularly- once or twice a week- to experience amazing hair protective results!

Jaya Ajji’s Ayurvedic face mask is brilliant for moisturizing and for developing an even skintone. The fresh turmeric and sesame seeds will give you a healthy glow, while the banana and ghee will provide a generous dose of moisture to parched skin.

Ayurvedic Face Mask

• 1/2 of a banana
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground turmeric*
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon fresh aloe vera gel
• 1/2 teaspoon ghee (clarified butter)*

Blend the ingredients together into a fine paste. Apply the face mask for 10 to 20 minutes to clean skin, then wash off. Enjoy your radiant skin!

* = These ingredients can be found at your local Indian grocery store.

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