Presence of hair is not important, when it comes to healthy living. However, it is of great cosmetic concern. Falling or disappearing hair can cause intense mental strain, especially to women. Hair is formed in follicles, which are minute pockets present in the skin. Hair is made of a protein known as keratin. A special group of cells present at the papilla, which is at the base of the follicles, make the hair by turning amino acids to keratin.

The activity of these groups of cell determines the rate of hair growth. On an average 1.2 cm of hair is produced at a follicle. The growth rate of hair is the maximum in the women between the ages of fifteen to thirty. Lack of nutrients causes the loss in hair. Of all the nutrients the deficiency of vitamin B6 elevates the loss in hair.

A complete baldness is a result of the deficiency of folic acid, which is the primary constituent of vitamin B6. The hair growth can be returned to normal after taking extensive dosage of this vitamin by the help of vitamin supplements. Hair loss can also be triggered by stress initiators like worry, anxiety, and sudden shock or general body weakness due to chronic illnesses like typhoid, syphilis, long standing cold, influenza, and anemia.

An unclean scalp also alleviates hair loss by blocking the follicles pores by dirt. Hair loss may also be hereditary. The most effective home remedy for hair loss is vigorous scratching of the scalp with fingers after running the hair through cold water. The scratching of the scalp should be so vigorous that it tingle the scalp with heat. This will reactivate the sebaceous glands. It also helps in increasing the blood circulation at the affected area.

Gooseberry oil is an excellent herbal remedy for enriching hair growth. Cut gooseberry in small pieces and dry them out completely in sunshine. Grind the dry gooseberry into fine powder and mix it in coconut oil. This gooseberry enriched coconut oil is extremely valuable hair tonic. It should be applied to hair in generous quantities after every hair wash. A proportionate mixture of gooseberry juice and lime juice can be used as a shampoo. This stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss.