Ayurvedic Hair Types: Different Hair Care Advice for Every One

There are three types of hair in ayurveda based on Tridosha theory. All ayurvedic recommendations in hair care are based on these three types. Each type requires a different type of hair care, hair oil, and hair pack. I’m providing here a quick summary for identifying your hair type. You can also check your hair type here: Hair Type Quiz.

Vata Type Hair

Vata type of hair has the following characteristics:

1. General Characters: Thin, but cracked and split hair.
2. Hair Color: Light brownish or light black color or dull color.
3. Hair Greasiness: Dry Hair – I cannot feel any oil in my hair.
4. Hair Density: Thin Hair Density – Your scalp skin is quite visible.
5. Individual Hair Strand Thickness: Thin Hair – You barely feel your individual hair strand between your index finger and thumb.
6. Hair Elasticity: Low Hair Elasticity – Hair strand immediately breaks after stretching.
7. Hair Length: Naturally Short Hair.
8. Feeling after Hair Wash: You feel wet hair but dry hair. Hair dryness increases in the hair after wash.
9. Hair Hydration: You don’t feel your hair hydrated enough. Your hair easily becomes frizzy and dry.
10. Hair Strongness: My hairs are very weak.
11. Hair Roughness & Smoothness: Rough Hair.
12. Hair Curl Type: Naturally curly or kinky hair.

Pitta Type Hair

Pitta type of hair has the following characteristics:

1. General Characters: Soft and thin hair.
2. Hair Color: Pinkish and reddish color.
3. Hair Greasiness: Moderate Greasiness – It can slightly feel the oil in my hair, but it is not too oily.
4. Hair Density: Medium Hair Density – Your scalp skin is partially visible.
5. Individual Hair Strand Thickness: Medium Hair – You can feel your individual hair strand between your index finger and thumb.
6. Hair Elasticity: Medium Hair Elasticity – Hair strand can stretch a little before breaking.
7. Hair Length: Moderate Hair Length.
8. Feeling after Hair Wash: You feel wet hair, but it is too not dry and not too sticky.
9. Hair Hydration: You feel your hairs are moderately hydrated. Your hair never becomes frizzy nor sticky.
10. Hair Strongness: My hair is not too weak and not too strong.
11. Hair Roughness & Smoothness: Not too rough not too smooth.
12. Hair Curl Type: Naturally wavy hair.

Kapha Type Hair

Kapha type of hair has the following characteristics:

1. General Characters: Thick and smooth hair.
2. Hair Color: Dark brown or dark black or dark blue color.
3. Hair Greasiness: Oily Hair – I can distinctly feel oiliness in my hairs.
4. Hair Density: Thick Hair Density – Your scalp skin is hardly visible.
5. Individual Hair Strand Thickness: Thick Hair – You distinctly feel your individual hair strand between your index finger and thumb.
6. Hair Elasticity: High Hair Elasticity – Hair strand can stretch to some extent before breaking.
7. Hair Length: Long Hair.
8. Feeling after Hair Wash: You feel wet sticky hair.
9. Hair Hydration: You feel your hairs are excessively hydrated and due to this, your hair becomes sticky.
10. Hair Strongness: My hair strands are strong.
11. Hair Roughness & Smoothness: Smooth Hair.
12. Hair Curl Type: Naturally Straight Hair.

You can check your hair type here: Hair Type Quiz.

Hair Oil according to Hair Type

Based on hair type, you should select any of the following oil:

Suitable Oils for Vata Type Hair

• Almond oil.
• Castor Oil.
• Coconut Oil.
• Olive Oil.
• Sesame oil processed with strengthening herbs.
• Shatavari Oil.
• Walnut Oil.
• Yashtimadhu Coconut Oil.
• Yashtimadhu Sesame Oil.

Suitable Oils for Pitta Type Hair

• Amla Coconut Oil.
• Amla Yashtimadhu Coconut Oil.
• Coconut oil.

Suitable Oils for Kapha Type Hair

• Amla Mustard Oil.
• Mustard Oil.
• Sesame oil processed with hot and dry herbs like Bhringraj Oil, Mahabhringraj Oil.

Note: You should not use Pure Sesame Oil without processing it with herbs in hair care and skin care products. (Ref. As. Ch. 6, 94-96)

Hair Pack according to Hair Type

Based on hair type, you should select hair pack with the following herbs and natural ingredients:

Suitable Hair Pack Ingredients for Vata Type Hair

• Apricot
• Avocado
• Banana
• Beetroot.
• Coconut
• Fresh Yogurt (Curd).
• Lemon
• Mung Beans.
• Oats.
• Papaya.
• Pumpkin Seeds.
• Quinoa.
• Red Lentils.
• Walnuts.

Suitable Hair Pack Ingredients for Pitta Type Hair

• Apple.
• Asparagus.
• Barley.
• Chandan (sandalwood).
• Chickpea.
• Coconut.
• Cucumber.
• Mango Peel.
• Mehdi – best.
• Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) – best.
• Mung Beans.
• Papaya.
• Pomegranate Peel.
• Pumpkin Seeds.
• Rice Water.

Suitable Hair Pack Ingredients for Kapha Type Hair

• Barley.
• Gram Flour.
• Lemon.
• Mung Beans.
• Mustard Seeds.
• Neem Leaves.
• Oats Bran.
• Orange Peel.
• Sunflower Seeds.
• Wild Rice.