Getting right to the point, we are going to take a look at Ayurveda for Hair Care and Christianity. Is it OK to practice? What does God have to say about it?
When you’re a Christian, you have to be as wise as a serpent while being as harmless as a dove (Matthew 10:16). The enemy, satan will do whatever he can to try and deceive you while also diluting your witness for Christ.
Thank God for the Holy Spirit and the discernment He provides.
I’ve written multiple topics on the subject of “Ayurvedic hair care” and using “Ayurveda” to care for your hair. This can cause some confusion.
There are those who think, “How can you follow Ayurveda when you’re supposed to be a Christian?”
“Is it possible to marry Ayurveda for hair care and Christianity?
It’s a classic Ayurveda versus Christianity argument.
The Simple answer is…
You can’t.
After prompting from the Holy Spirit, I began to do a little research.
Overview of Ayurveda
Ayurveda by simple definition is a traditional science of Ayurvedic medicine. It traces back to Hinduismwhich claims to bring the body back into balance so it can heal itself.
Ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that supposedly govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure.
Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are supposed to be responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body, including what some will attribute their “digestive fire” to.
For example, Pitta is termed as fire and Pitta dosha is supposed to be the heat energy that’s generated in the body from said fire while being manifested in your metabolism.
This is in direct conflict with what the Word of God says our Creator is responsible for. Our minds and bodies do not get their characteristics from “forces.” We were created in God’s image.
Just like yoga is much more than a form of exercise, such is the practice of Ayurveda. They can be called sister sciences of ‘self-healing and self-realization’.
According to Ayurveda, “Only when we are connected to our true Self can we be truly healthy in body, mind and soul. Its goal is holistic well-being: physically, psychologically and spiritually.”
Can you see the issue and how Self is the center?
Also, people engaging in the true practice of Ayurveda will engage in things like transcendental meditation. We won’t even get into that.
I’m sorry (not sorry) but this is giving evolution and Big Bang Theory vibes. Ayurveda for hair care and Christianity should not even be discussed within the same context.
God is the Creator of our internal systems and they are by design. Only He can give guidance and wisdom to those like medical doctors as to how to improve conditions that go awry in our body.
To seek counsel outside of what God has deemed acceptable can have a serious spiritual implication.
Herbs are God Given
It’s not that we shouldn’t be able to use natural herbs to care for our hair. God, the Creator made them.
The focus on “Self” and what “I can do to make myself better” is the problem. It’s quite subtle.
Many Christians have been deceived into thinking that “practicing” Ayurveda is OK.
Yet, to follow Ayurveda in it’s actual sense as defined as like saying, “I don’t need God to help me because I can achieve my own well being: physically, psychologically and spiritually by doing X, Y, Z on my own.”
Let’s not get it twisted though. God made the herbs that are beneficial to the body. There is mention of using herbal treatments in the Bible many times.
Here are some examples:
– Cassia to make an anointing oil as referenced in Exodus: 30:24
– John 19:39 shares how Nicodemus anointed the body of Jesus with a mixture of myrrh and aloes.
Clearly God is not against us using herbs to help care for ourselves. What He is against is us giving credit to herbs and practices rooted in self exaltation and self reliance.
Hence, the whole term “Ayurvedic herbs” is not something I like to use.
God as Source or Hindu Spiritual Practice?
For Christians, God is to be our only Source for wholeness – spirit, soul and body. We must acknowledge that whatever earthly means we use to care for ourselves are beneficial but only because God, the Creator has provided them to us.
Many will not agree but as a person of faith, you should always question, “If it could be even potentially offensive to God or draw me away from Him as my source of all things, including healing, then should I believe it, follow it or do it?”
After being enlightened to how Ayurveda is in direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches, I’ve decided that it is too precarious to reference something that is connected to Hinduism, an anti-Christ religion. It is clear that it’s Ayurveda versus Christianity.
From Ayurvedic Hair Care to Indian Herbal Hair Care
Hence, I’ll no longer be associating my use of natural herbs in my hair care with the term “Ayurvedic hair care” or using “Ayurvedic herbs.”
In fact, all references to “Ayurveda” have been re-termed herbal hair care or Indian herbal hair care (if you find a link I’ve missed, please let me know!).
This is because many of the herbs I share about are native to India.
Indian women have made the use of herbal hair care popular and not all with any religious connections.
Yet, there are many Christian Indian women who use herbs to care for their hair. The properties of the herbs strengthen and nourish the hair strands.
Again, I do not follow Hindi spiritual practices.
So, I am not crediting them for causing my hair to flourish. God is the creator of the herbs I’m using for my hair care to begin with.
More importantly, hose herbs have nothing to do with influencing my spiritual well being.
I am thankful to the Lord for the many herbs He has provided to help our hair and bodies flourish. Yet, make no mistake. Your hair is a part of your physical body and you should care for it as such. It should not be tied to spiritual behaviors.
“Balancing “divine energies is out of our scope.” The Lord Jesus is the Only Divine Being. He is the Healer and He is Sovereign.
What About Ayurvedic Practitioners Who Seem to Help?
i live in the United States and Ayurvedic practices are wide spread even here.
You may not hear about them. Regardless to where you live, you will likely be able to find Ayurvedic practitioners all over the globe who claim to help people with everything from improving the central nervous system to improving hair health with natural remedies.
This includes different herbs and essential oils.
Again, the herbal remedies and herbal products aren’t the problem. It’s the herbal traditions) or Ayurvedic based) associated with them.
So, regardless of a person’s track record to use herbs and fruit oils and other natural “medicine” to help your natural hair or any other condition to flourish, consider the source.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, walking out your Christian faith, Ayurvedic practitioners should not be your source. God is and should be your Source and He alone.
Monthly Faith Based Hair Planner
By now, if you’re reading through this article then it’s because as a Christian you are truly concerned about if it’s really OK to use herbs in your hair.
I think I’ve shown that it’s not about the herbs but about the heart. Yet, if you still want to know how you can easily complete your hair care routines while still honoring God, check out this Monthly Faith Based Hair Planner.
Simply, this simplified monthly hair planner has a spiritual component to it that helps you include God’s Word in your hair care. You’ll be able to finally put to use all those half filled bottles of hair products while connecting with God as you honor your God given “crown”.
How to Rightly Use Herbs (Not Ayurveda) for Hair Care When Christian
It bears repeating that when you are a believer in Christ, the practices of Ayurveda to help you achieve healthy hair are not based on solid Godly living.
However, the good news is you can still add certain hair care products and topical treatments into your hair care routine that can help you with things such as:
– achieving a significant reduction in hair loss and hair fall
– increasing the rate of slow hair growth
– decreasing and even eliminating hair breakage
The way to use herbs in a manner that isn’t associated with Ayurveda is to first know where you are purchasing your herbs from.
Like I said, God is the Creator of all herbs. However, you don’t want to purchase herbs that are prayed over to Hindu gods.
The Plan
And, while it may be difficult to know the source, the first thing you can do is pray over your herbs yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you to where you should purchase.
There are many providers of hair products that sell herbs, essential oils and other items that do so with no connection to actual Ayurvedic practices.
The second thing is to purchase those herbs that have been proven to address the hair conditions you want to treat.
Then, once you know your herbs are secured from non-Ayurvedic sources OR are covered by the one true God, here are some ways you can use the herbs to help you with achieving new hair growth, reducing excess shedding and more:
1. Mix up to create a hair oil. For example, you can add fenugreek to coconut oil or olive oil to create a stimulating hair growth oil which will stimulate blood circulation in the scalp.
2. Blend up for a hot oil treatment. For example, you can mix some Amla powder into a blend of oils, strain and use for a hot or warm oil treatment
3. Create DIY hair masks that address the conditions you are concerned with
4. Add to your deep conditioners to boost its efficacy
It’s Not Just Powdered Herbs
While herbal hair care is typically surrounding the use of powdered herbs, it’s not just herbs. Herbal hair care also includes using things like:
Aloe Vera (which is great for doing pre-poo’s)
Clays (rhassoul or ghassoul, kaolin, bentonite, and Morrocan clays are all good for creating hair masks and washes)
Essential oils like Amla oil or Neem oil (both are famously know to promote healthy hair growth. Neem oil is also good for so many other things including, killing pesky insects!)
Flaxseeds to make gel
Hair teas made from things like Indian Rose, Chamomile, Jasmine or Green Tea
Consuming a healthy diet rich in herbs and spices like Ginger and Turmeric
Sample Herbal Hair Routine
As a believer in Jesus Christ, I hope you see that the conflict between Ayurveda for hair care and christianity.
Yet, you can indeed still follow an herbal hair care routine without the spiritual implications associated with Ayurveda.
Below is a sample herbal hair routine you could try. Just remember to vet the source of your herbs, oils and other beauty products.
The most effective way to use herbal hair care products in your hair routine is to create them yourself. Of course, you can purchase many of them already made but when you do so, you risk not knowing what’s actually in the products.
Here’s the sample herbal hair care routine:
Wash Day
Pre-poo and Finger Detangle with a mixture of Aloe Vera and Olive or Coconut Oil
Rinse and deep condition with a Henna & Amla Hair Mask (this is an easy and effective DIY. Plus read about the benefits of using Henna and Amla in your hair regardless of your hair type).
Rinse and style*
You can further incorporate using herbs into your hair care routine by using a DIY flaxseed gel and/or herb infused hair butter when styling*.
Here’s a good DIY Flaxseed Gel Tutorial by UnivHair Soleil on Youtube:
Here’s an herb infused hair butter recipe shared by YaYa Creations on Youtube (you can substitute other hair butters than what she shares):
Throughout The Week Hair Care
Spritz hair with a hair tea and seal with a leave in conditioner and an oil or your DIY infused hair butter
Do a scalp massage (2-3x a week) using a mixture infused with essentials oils (peppermint essential oil and rosemary essential oil being two of the most effective essential oils for hair growth)
Monthly Hair Care
Once a month, incorporate these hair routines into your herbal hair regimen for major benefits:
Clarify your hair with a clay wash or clay mask made from one of the clays mentioned above. It’s especially helpful for removing product build up when you use a lot of oils and butters in your hair.
Once a month, you can do full strength topical treatments of henna or cassia to your hair. These will help to strengthen your hair and improve the elasticity of your curls (assuming you have naturally curly hair)*
*If you have gray hair, henna will cause it to stain your hair anywhere between an auburn color and a burgundy color. It depends on the crop of the herb and it’s lawsone content.
Also, cassia can cause grey hairs to appear a little yellowish.
So, these are important things to take into consideration. If the risk of a hair color change is of concern to you, you don’t need to do a full strength mask to reap some of the benefits of these herbs.
You can simply add 2 tablespoons of the herb (one or the other) to your deep conditioner of choice. These are called glosses.
Here are two articles where I discuss the use of a hair gloss:
One important thing to make note of is the risk of scalp irritations.
While you don’t have to worry about your herbal hair products containing harmful chemicals (when you buy them organic), that doesn’t mean they can’t cause irritation.
Using natural products for your hair (or skin) doesn’t always mean you won’t have a reaction to them.
People can be allergic to the various herbs and oils. So, it’s a best practice to do a skin patch test in an inconspicuous area to make sure you don’t have a reaction.
Hello! I’d like to ask about a hair oil I just bought. It’s Rich roots hair oil from Delicious and on the box it says it’s formulated with natural super good Ayurvedic ingredients. It was the only available rosemary oil near me and I didn’t notice the ayurvedic part prior to buying it. It’s made in the UK. I wanted to try the hair oiling because of my itchy scalp. Do you think I should return it?
Hi Monica, I checked out their website and the product. It doesn’t look to me as if there’s anything that should prompt you to return the product to the shop. You aren’t engaging in Ayurveda. You are using a product with ingredients made by OUR Creator for a specific purpose… itchy scalp.
As long as there aren’t any strange markings on the box or the product, I say pray over it and use it.
Also, remember a lot of people use the term “ayurveda” and “ayurvedic” as marketing purposes.
When in doubt, always pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
I just wanted to say, thank you! I truly appreciate this post as I was searching for information on following Ayurvedic diet practices as a Christian and is this OK or not. It was a blessing to read through your article and I agree, that it is only God, Him and Him alone who is responsible for our healing. It can be so easy to think ‘hey, this recipe is for my dosha’ but in reality, I do believe we need to realise that all things grown are by God for our benefit and He is the one who heals and keeps us in alignment.
I have my answer and I’m grateful to you as a sister in Christ for listening to the Holy Spirit and spreading the truth of Jesus, the only light and the way.
I’m glad the article helped bring clarity. There’s definitely what appears to be a grey area but truly when you seek God’s will, everything is black and white.
Hello, what are your thoughts on the Natty Naturals leave-in conditioner that states the term within their description of the product? I’ve been wanting to buy this product for a very long time because I have not come across another with such amazing and natural ingredients. The only thing that has stopped me is their use of this term and the uncertainty of how the brand views it when formulating the product.
Hi, I don’t think the brand is Christian. Most of the companies that offer herbs and talk about Ayurveda are not.
The way I see it, I’m buying certain herbs that God created with certain benefits. I’m not engaging in any of the practices. However, you also have to make sure that your sources aren’t doing more than selling the herbs as well.
I loved using Natty Naturals for a long time. Great product but didn’t want to have to have it shipped.
Hi
Im late commenting on this thread as it goes back to 2018. I wanted to say thanks for this article. It helped me. I was in two minds whether to buy oils and essential oils from a place in India that makes it known that a lot of their products are Ayurveda. On prompting from the Holy Spirit I researached what I could.
we definitely need to be wise with where we buy our products. I don’t want to get anything where there’s any “rituals” or stuff going on. Just nice good herbs that the Lord made
Thank you so much for this article. I had asked the LORD for insight on natural plants etc to use on my hair. My family is from the Caribbean, so use of aloe, hibiscus was not new to me. I heard so many people rave about henna, fenugreek, amla etc and all credit given to Ayurveda and knowing your energy etc. It did not set well with me so I started to research this. Your article places it all in the right perspective. All praise to the Creator not the creation. Many blessings!
Amen! All glory belongs to God. He is the Creator and everything that’s made is His. He has no problem with us using them when kept in the right perspective
Wow, this was a great article! Awesome revelation from the Holyspirit! I really hope you do a Youtube video about this, to reach those that may not read this article.
Hello, can I get an expert opinion on this oil pulling product I bought. Short story, oil pulling is over 3000 years old, originiated in India, by I believe by the ayurveda religion or something. I purchased this product from Amazon, it was for dry mouth, it was really the only multi mix formal iv seen. After using it, and seeing the benefits. I’ve been reading there web page. And the creator, was living in America. Has some dental issues. Goes to India, his origins. Gets healed by the ayurveda practice there. And that influenced him to make the oil pulling product. I don’t know if this is something to stay away from or it has demonic influence.
Jumping here. I removed the link to the product because I don’t believe it’s relevant to the question. Regardless of the origin of oil pulling, it can be done as a means of dental hygiene. You do not have to attach a spiritual “practice” to it. In fact, oil pulling can be done with regular store bought coconut oil
Excellent WORD ❤️ 😇 thank you so much for your obedience to the Lord
thank you Jessica <3
Hello! I’d like to ask about a hair oil I just bought. It’s Rich roots hair oil from Delicious and on the box it says it’s formulated with natural super good Ayurvedic ingredients. It was the only available rosemary oil near me and I didn’t notice the ayurvedic part prior to buying it. It’s made in the UK. I wanted to try the hair oiling because of my itchy scalp. Do you think I should return it?
Hi Monica, I checked out their website and the product. It doesn’t look to me as if there’s anything that should prompt you to return the product to the shop. You aren’t engaging in Ayurveda. You are using a product with ingredients made by OUR Creator for a specific purpose… itchy scalp.
As long as there aren’t any strange markings on the box or the product, I say pray over it and use it.
Also, remember a lot of people use the term “ayurveda” and “ayurvedic” as marketing purposes.
When in doubt, always pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
Hello Michelle,
I just wanted to say, thank you! I truly appreciate this post as I was searching for information on following Ayurvedic diet practices as a Christian and is this OK or not. It was a blessing to read through your article and I agree, that it is only God, Him and Him alone who is responsible for our healing. It can be so easy to think ‘hey, this recipe is for my dosha’ but in reality, I do believe we need to realise that all things grown are by God for our benefit and He is the one who heals and keeps us in alignment.
I have my answer and I’m grateful to you as a sister in Christ for listening to the Holy Spirit and spreading the truth of Jesus, the only light and the way.
May God shine His face upon you 🙂
Hi Raya,
I’m glad the article helped bring clarity. There’s definitely what appears to be a grey area but truly when you seek God’s will, everything is black and white.
Thanks for this article, i was really Blessed by it.
you’re welcome. thanks for reading
Hello, what are your thoughts on the Natty Naturals leave-in conditioner that states the term within their description of the product? I’ve been wanting to buy this product for a very long time because I have not come across another with such amazing and natural ingredients. The only thing that has stopped me is their use of this term and the uncertainty of how the brand views it when formulating the product.
Hi, I don’t think the brand is Christian. Most of the companies that offer herbs and talk about Ayurveda are not.
The way I see it, I’m buying certain herbs that God created with certain benefits. I’m not engaging in any of the practices. However, you also have to make sure that your sources aren’t doing more than selling the herbs as well.
I loved using Natty Naturals for a long time. Great product but didn’t want to have to have it shipped.
Hi
Im late commenting on this thread as it goes back to 2018. I wanted to say thanks for this article. It helped me. I was in two minds whether to buy oils and essential oils from a place in India that makes it known that a lot of their products are Ayurveda. On prompting from the Holy Spirit I researached what I could.
Cindy
Hi cindy,
we definitely need to be wise with where we buy our products. I don’t want to get anything where there’s any “rituals” or stuff going on. Just nice good herbs that the Lord made
Thank you so much for this article. I had asked the LORD for insight on natural plants etc to use on my hair. My family is from the Caribbean, so use of aloe, hibiscus was not new to me. I heard so many people rave about henna, fenugreek, amla etc and all credit given to Ayurveda and knowing your energy etc. It did not set well with me so I started to research this. Your article places it all in the right perspective. All praise to the Creator not the creation. Many blessings!
Amen! All glory belongs to God. He is the Creator and everything that’s made is His. He has no problem with us using them when kept in the right perspective
Thanks for this article.
Amen!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for this, all praise should be given to the most High
Amen!
Awesome and very timely article. Thanks for posting!
Wow, this was a great article! Awesome revelation from the Holyspirit! I really hope you do a Youtube video about this, to reach those that may not read this article.
I was thinking about it. This just may be confirmation
Hello, can I get an expert opinion on this oil pulling product I bought. Short story, oil pulling is over 3000 years old, originiated in India, by I believe by the ayurveda religion or something. I purchased this product from Amazon, it was for dry mouth, it was really the only multi mix formal iv seen. After using it, and seeing the benefits. I’ve been reading there web page. And the creator, was living in America. Has some dental issues. Goes to India, his origins. Gets healed by the ayurveda practice there. And that influenced him to make the oil pulling product. I don’t know if this is something to stay away from or it has demonic influence.
Hello James,
Jumping here. I removed the link to the product because I don’t believe it’s relevant to the question. Regardless of the origin of oil pulling, it can be done as a means of dental hygiene. You do not have to attach a spiritual “practice” to it. In fact, oil pulling can be done with regular store bought coconut oil
Amen!