Did you know that several fruits promote healthy hair growth? Your skin and hair needs a variety of vitamins, minerals, and proteins to protect their health and restore natural shine.
Including fruits in your hair care regimen alongside your diet is one of the best ways to promote thicker, longer, and lustrous hair locks. In this article, let’s explore some of the best fruits that can benefit your hair in multiple ways.
Can Fruits Be Beneficial In Hair Growth?
Being rich sources of vitamins – A, B, C, E, K, potassium, protein, fiber, and many other phytonutrients, fruits can help prevent hair fall by providing your hair with deep nourishment. Thus, they also simulate healthier and stronger hair growth by strengthening your hair roots.
“As per Ayurveda, including suitable fruits in your diet and hair care can help in balancing the elevated doshas in your body, which are the root cause for different scalp and hair problems,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.
What Are The Best Fruits For Hair Growth?
1. Banana
Bananas are rich in natural oils, multiple vitamins and potassium which help treat hair breakage and split ends, besides stimulating strong hair growth. Also, it helps in increasing the elasticity of your hair naturally. Banana helps in preventing dandruff infection by unclogging your scalp pores. It helps in imparting luster to your manes and makes it more manageable.
How To Take/Use Banana
You can have a whole banana or add its slices to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 bananas.
Mash a banana and add 2-3 spoons of honey to it. Blend the ingredients to form a smooth paste. Apply this hair mask from your hair roots to tips. Leave it for half an hour and then wash it off with cold water.
2. Avocado
Enriched with protein, iron, phosphorus, niacin, potassium, lecithin, calcium, linoleic acid and vitamins – A, B, C, and E, Avocado works as a potent fruit best to treat alopecia, especially the one caused due to hormonal imbalances such as DHT hair loss. It provides deep conditioning to your hair too when applied topically.
How To Take/Use Avocado
You can eat an avocado by simply scooping it with a spoon and adding the pieces to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is ½ -1 avocado.
Mash an avocado and add 2-3 spoons of coconut oil to it. Mix the ingredients well to form a smooth and lump-free paste. Apply the paste thoroughly on your scalp and hair. After half an hour, wash your hair with an Ayurvedic shampoo.
3. Gooseberry
Indian gooseberry or Amla can prolong the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, thus preventing premature hair fall. It has vitamin C which helps in strengthening your hair follicles. Amla can also modulate the melanin production in your hair follicles and help to prevent premature greying of your locks.
How To Take/Use Gooseberry
You can have concentrated amla juice as a tiny shot in the morning or you can add amla slices to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 amla.
Mix amla powder and shikakai powder in equal amounts. Add sufficient water to the mixture to form a smooth paste. Apply the paste to your scalp and hair. Leave it for half an hour and then wash it off thoroughly using lukewarm water.
Studies revealed that Indian gooseberry or amla is a potent inhibitor of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme [1], which controls hair loss caused by DHT hormones in men (androgenic alopecia).
4. Papaya
Papaya contains vitamins A, C, E and antioxidants that are essential for stimulating hair growth activity in your follicles. It helps in treating and preventing dandruff with its natural anti-fungal properties and provides deep conditioning to your hair.
How To Take/Use Papaya
You can add slices of papaya to your salad or scoop its soft flesh directly. The daily recommended quantity is 150-200 gms of papaya.
Add 2 spoons of aloe vera gel to half a cup of papaya pulp. Mix well and apply it directly on your scalp and hair. Leave it for half an hour before rinsing it off with cold water.
5. Apricot
A rich source of linoleic acid and linolenic acid known for controlling DHT hair loss, apricots help in treating androgenic alopecia. Apricot oil also has been traditionally used for moisturizing hair. Besides, it imparts softness to your hair naturally [2].
How To Take/Use Apricot
You can eat apricots directly or add chopped pieces to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 3-4 apricots.
Take cut pieces of 1 apricot and add 1 spoon of honey and 1 spoon of olive oil to it. Blend the ingredients to form a fine paste. Apply the paste on your wet hair and leave it for 30 minutes. Later, rinse your hair using cool water.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
6. Pineapple
Pineapple is rich in vitamin C and calcium [3], which helps in promoting healthy hair growth. Pineapples can boost the production of collagen in your follicles and prevent protein loss in your hair. It helps in controlling the free radical damage and photodamage.
How To Take/Use Pineapple
Add pineapple slices to your salad or drink a glass of fresh pineapple juice. The daily recommended quantity is 1 small cup or 3-4 slices of pineapple.
Blend half a cup of pineapple pieces, 1 spoon of olive oil and 2 spoons of yogurt to form a fine paste. Apply it properly on your scalp and hair and focus on the hair roots. Wash your hair using an Ayurvedic shampoo after half an hour.
7. Apple
Apples are great to control the free radical damage in your scalp, thus promoting healthy hair growth. It stimulates hair growth in epithelial cells as it contains procyanidin B-2 [4]. It also increases the protein content in your hair, thus, helping in increasing your hair density.
How To Take/Use Apple
You can eat a whole apple or add the slices to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 apples.
Grate 1-2 apples and mash them to form a thick pulp. Add 2 spoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 spoon of lemon juice to the pulp. Mix the ingredients well and apply them directly on your hair. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash it off using normal water.
8. Strawberry
With rich vitamin C content, strawberries enhance your hair health. It contains silica that helps in boosting hair growth and slowing down your hair loss. Strawberry prevents dandruff and makes your hair lustrous and soft.
How To Take/Use Strawberry
Add chopped strawberries to your salad or eat them directly. The daily recommended quantity is 5-8 strawberries.
Take 3-5 mashed strawberries and add one egg yolk to it. Mix well and apply the paste on your scalp and hair properly. After half an hour, wash your hair with an Ayurvedic shampoo.
9. Guava
Guava is efficient in controlling different types of scalp infections, including severe dandruff. It helps to promote hair growth besides keeping your hair nourished and moisturized.
How To Take/Use Guava
You can eat a whole guava or add the chopped slices to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 guavas.
Take a cup of guava pieces. Add 1 spoon each of coconut oil, honey and lemon juice to it. Blend the ingredients well to form a smooth paste. Apply it on your scalp and hair. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing your hair with an Ayurvedic shampoo.
10. Kiwi
Kiwi is an excellent source of vitamins C, K, E, potassium and folate. It helps in fighting premature greying of your hair and also promotes hair growth by improving the blood circulation to your hair roots. It also helps in controlling dandruff on your scalp.
How To Take/Use Kiwi
Add kiwi slices to your salad or eat the fruit by scooping its flesh using a spoon. The daily recommended quantity is 1-3 kiwis.
Add 1 spoon of coconut oil to the pulp of a kiwi. Mix well and apply the paste on your scalp and hair. After 1 hour, wash your hair with an Ayurvedic shampoo.
11. Grape
Grapes contain procyanidins [5] that have antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help keep your scalp in good condition. While the antifungal agents protect the scalp from fungal infections, antioxidants fight the free-radical damage in your scalp cells and control hair fall. It also helps to reduce inflammation in your hair follicles, thus promoting healthy hair growth.
How To Take/Use Grape
You can eat grapes directly or drink fresh juice. The daily recommended quantity is 1.5-2 cups of grapes.
Mash 5-6 grapes. Add 1 spoon each of coconut oil, jojoba oil, honey and almond powder to the grape pulp. Mix the ingredients well and apply them on your scalp and hair. After half an hour, wash your hair using an Ayurvedic shampoo.
12. Lemon
Lemon is one of the most effective treatments for baldness and hair loss. With the richness of vitamin C, lemon helps in providing nourishment. It also helps in controlling different scalp problems such as scalp acne, dandruff, lice, etc.
How To Take/Use Lemon
Squeeze 1 lemon into a cup of warm water and have it as your morning drink. The daily recommended quantity is 4-6 tsp of lemon juice.
Add 2 spoons of honey to 3-4 spoons of lemon juice. Apply this mixture on your hair and wash it off with an Ayurvedic shampoo after half an hour.
13. Mango
Mango helps to keep your scalp and hair well-moisturized. It works great in conditioning and nourishing severely dry hair. While it is a good source of vitamin-A & C, mango can also enhance the natural shine and texture of your hair.
How To Take/Use Mango
You can add slices of mango to your salad or eat it by scooping the flesh. The daily recommended quantity is not more than 300 gms or 1-2 cups of mango pieces.
Add 1 egg yolk and 1-2 spoons of yogurt to a cup of mango pulp. Mix the ingredients well and apply them on your scalp and hair. After 45 minutes, wash your scalp and hair properly using an Ayurvedic shampoo.
14. Coconut
Coconut contains lauric acid that helps in stimulating hair growth [6]. It also has abundant fat content that helps in nourishing your scalp and hair well. It keeps your hair well hydrated besides giving it a smooth and soft texture.
How To Take/Use Coconut
You can drink coconut water and eat the meat by scooping it. You can also blend the coconut meat with water and drink it as a smoothie. The daily recommended quantity is ½ -1 cup of coconut meat.
You can apply warm coconut oil to your hair half an hour before your hair wash. You can also pour and apply coconut milk onto your scalp and hair. Leave it for half an hour and wash your hair with cool water.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
15. Orange
Oranges have vitamin C in abundance. With rich antifungal and antibacterial properties, oranges can prevent a variety of scalp infections [7]. It can also help in controlling hair fall caused due to free radical damage by virtue of its rich antioxidant content.
How To Take/Use Orange
You can eat oranges directly or dritheirits juice. The daily recommended quantity is 2-3 oranges.
Mix orange juice and olive oil in equal quantities. Pour this solution on your scalp and hair. Massage your scalp and hair for 5 minutes. Leave it for an hour and then wash it off properly with an Ayurvedic shampoo.
16. Pomegranate
Packed with antioxidants, pomegranate is widely used in Ayurvedic remedies. It contains punic acid that keeps your scalp healthy and promotes rich hair growth by strengthening your hair roots. It also enhances the blood circulation in your scalp.
How To Take/Use Pomegranate
You can eat the pomegranate seeds directly or add them to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 cups of pomegranate seeds.
Grind a cup of pomegranate seeds into a thick paste. Add a spoon of lemon juice to it and mix well. Apply the paste to your hair and wash it off after half an hour.
17. Dragonfruit
With the richness of vitamin C, dragon fruit helps in preventing photoaging. It nourishes your scalp with essential fatty acids and also helps in preventing dandruff. Dragon fruit can be used on color-treated hair too.
How To Take/Use Dragonfruit
You can eat the fruit directly by scooping it or add the chopped slices to your salad. The daily recommended quantity is 20-25gms of dragon fruit.
Prepare a smooth pulp by blending a cup of dragon fruit pieces. Apply it on your hair thoroughly and wash it off with lukewarm water after half an hour.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
18. Peach
Peach helps in promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss by prolonging the anagen phase. It is very helpful in controlling scalp inflammation. It also has natural antimicrobial properties which help in treating dandruff and other scalp conditions.
How To Take/Use Peach
Add the peach slices to your salad or eat it directly. The daily recommended quantity is 1-3 peaches.
Mash 2 ripe peaches and add a cup of yogurt to the pulp. Mix well and apply the mixture on your scalp and hair. Leave it for half an hour and then wash it off using lukewarm water.
19. Cherry
Cherry helps in promoting the health of your scalp and hair. Thanks to its rich antioxidant properties. Besides reducing the oxidative stress on your scalp, it can also prevent a variety of scalp diseases with its natural antifungal properties. It reduces scalp itching too.
How To Take/Use Cherry
You can eat cherries directly or drink their juice. The daily recommended quantity is 7-14 cherries.
Blend 5-8 cherries into a smooth pulp. Add 2 spoons of yogurt to it and mix well. Apply the mixture on your hair properly and leave it for half an hour. Later, rinse your hair well using cool water.
20. Plum
With high phenolic content, plums have great antioxidant properties that can save your hair from free-radical damage. It also helps in preventing scalp infections and gives your scalp a soothing effect with its anti-inflammatory properties.
How To Take/Use Plum
Cut the plum into small pieces and add it to your fruit salad. The daily recommended quantity is 1-2 plums.
Add 1 spoon of lemon juice and 1 spoon of yogurt to the pulp made from 1-2 plums. Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste from your hair roots to the tips. After an hour, wash your scalp and hair well using an Ayurvedic shampoo.
Suitable Fruits For Every Ayurvedic Constitution
Among the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas, one or two doshas play a dominant role in our body, based on which the Ayurvedic constitution of an individual is determined. Every fruit has a specific influence on your bodily doshas and Ayurveda stresses upon consuming foods that are aligned with the balance of dosha constitution in an individual body.
Below are some of the fruits you need to eat or avoid based on your Ayurvedic dosha constitution:
1. Vata Dominant Constitution
A. Favorable Fruits For Vata Dominant Constitution
Most of the dry fruits, raw apples, dry dates, pears, pomegranates, dry prunes, watermelon, dry raisins, dry figs, cranberries, etc.
2. Pitta Dominant Constitution
A. Favorable Fruits For Pitta Dominant Constitution
Sweet apples, sweet apricots, sweet berries, coconut, figs, limes (in moderation), melons, papaya (in moderation), sweet pineapple, pomegranates, raisins, watermelon, strawberries (in moderation), prunes, sweet plums, pears, sweet oranges, ripen mangoes, red or purple grapes, dates, sweet cherries, avocado, etc.
B. Fruits To Avoid For Pitta Dominant Constitution
Mostly sour fruits, sour apples, bananas, sour cherries, grapefruit, kiwi, green mangoes, peaches, sour pineapple, sour plums, sour oranges, lemons, green grapes, cranberries, sour berries, sour apricots, etc.
3. Kapha Dominant Constitution
A. Favorable Fruits For Kapha Dominant Constitution
Apples, apricots, cherries, dry figs (in moderation), lemons (in moderation), peaches (in moderation), prunes, strawberries (in moderation), raisins, pomegranates, pears, limes (in moderation), grapes (in moderation), cranberries, berries, etc.
B. Fruits To Avoid For Kapha Dominant Constitution
As per Ayurveda, the ideal time for eating fruits is morning. “You can have most of the fruits on an empty stomach. However, consume citrus fruits at least half an hour after your breakfast and half an hour before your lunch,” says Dr. Zeel.
Does Eating Too Much Of Fruits Cause Hair Loss?
Every food item should be consumed at balanced levels. If you eat fruits in excessive quantities, then it may cause an insulin spike alongside severe imbalance in the production of different other hormones in your body. This may eventually result in hair loss.
The Last Word
Besides a suitable herbal hair care regimen, healthy lifestyle practices, a well-balanced diet that includes different fruits is very essential for your healthy hair growth. Besides supplying the necessary nutrients for hair growth to your body, many of these fruits help in detoxing your scalp tissue from free radicals.
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