Fruits are always beneficial to human health. Being rich in nutrients, they help improve the condition of the different parts of the body and keep illnesses at bay.
For the skin and hair, one of the best fruits to consume on a regular basis is the papaya. Hair experts point out there are various benefits to be gained from this fruit.
One is it helps get rid of dirt and oil buildup resulting from the use of cleansing products and other chemicals. Secondly, it has the ability to restore the hair’s natural softness and shine.
A third benefit is it nourishes the hair shaft which in turn, adds volume to hair that lacks body. Still another advantage of using papaya is it promotes hair growth thereby highly recommended for people dealing with thinning hair and baldness.
Other than the fruit, the papaya leaves are also known to have medicinal properties. It has been reported that the extract helps fight certain illnesses including dengue fever, cancer and other diseases.
Ways to Use Papaya
There are various ways to use papaya for healthy hair and skin. One is to buy products containing papaya. The second is to consume the fruit on a daily basis and the third one is to create a homemade treatment.
Those dealing with dandruff can purchase the shampoo or conditioner that’s specially made using the fruit in stores. Those who want a hair treatment, meanwhile, can buy the papaya leaf extract from certain health care stores or even from salons.
If you want to make sure, though, that what you’re using is organic and you don’t want to spend much money, making your own paste or hair care treatment is the best way to go.
The papaya extract or juice from the leaves is normally the one that’s used as a hair conditioner. But this can also be mixed with other ingredients including coconut milk and honey to make a paste.
When applied on the scalp and left for about 30 minutes, it helps make dull and lifeless hair full and shiny. It also has the potential to relax coarse and unruly hair.
To extract the juice from the leaves, first remove the stem and other fibrous parts and then crush them. Do take note, however, that this juice is not recommended for pregnant women.
Another way is to dry several medium size papaya leaves and then boil them in water. This will extract the juice which you can store in glass containers for up to four days.
Image via tipspalace
Originally posted on September 9, 2013 @ 12:30 pm