In Ayurveda, your skin, hair and nails are far more than surface-level features. They are important indicators, offering quiet clues about your inner balance, digestion and overall wellbeing.
Rather than chasing symptoms with temporary solutions, Ayurveda invites us to listen, gently and intuitively, to what our bodies are trying to say. Because radiant skin, strong nails and lustrous hair don't begin in a bottle, they begin with balance.
The Ayurvedic Approach to Skin, Hair + Nail Health
According to Ayurvedic wisdom, skin, hair and nails are considered upadhatus (or secondary tissues) formed from the same nourishment that builds the bones and deeper tissues. This means their condition is closely tied to digestion, hormonal health, and the quality of your daily rituals.
When your dosha (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) are imbalanced, this shows up first in the skin, hair and nails.
What Your Skin Might Be Telling You
Dryness, sensitivity, breakouts or premature ageing may be tell-tale signs of something deeper. But there are plenty of small changes and simple rituals you can introduce to restore balance and harmony.
Dryness, Flakiness or Fine Lines (Vata Imbalance)
What it means: Excess Vata can deplete natural oils and moisture, leading to dry, rough and prematurely ageing skin.
Ways to support:
- Use warm, oil-based products rich in grounding herbs
- Incorporate daily abhyanga (self-massage) with Supreme Skin Face Serum
- Eat warm, spiced meals with ghee and root vegetables
- Avoid overstimulation and prioritise deep, restorative sleep
Redness, Irritation or Breakouts (Pitta Imbalance)
What it means: When Pitta is elevated, skin becomes hot, inflamed and reactive.
Ways to support:
- Calm the skin with cooling botanicals like neem, rose and sandalwood
- Avoid spicy, acidic foods and alcohol
- Integrate calming rituals like meditation and Pitta-balancing teas
- Use gentle, non-stripping skincare like the Supreme Skin Cleansing Oil
Dullness or Congestion (Toxin Build-Up / Low Agni)
What it means: Poor digestion or sluggish lymph can cause skin to appear tired, grey or congested.
Ways to support:
- Support digestion with daily Triphala or detoxifying teas
- Practice dry brushing or try lymphatic massage with the Skealer
- Move daily - through breath-led yoga or walking in nature
- Cleanse the skin with gentle exfoliation and balancing oils
What Your Hair Might Be Telling You
Ayurveda teaches us that the health of our hair is deeply connected to bone tissue (asthi dhatu) and the nervous system. Thinning, shedding or dullness are often signs of deeper imbalance, rather than superficial issues.
Thinning, Shedding or Brittle Strands (Vata Imbalance)
What it means: Vata-related stress, anxiety or depletion can disrupt hair growth and nourishment.
Ways to support:
- Practice scalp massage (shiro abhyanga) with Grow Strong Hair Oil to calm Vata and stimulate follicles
- Nourish from within with grounding herbs like Ashwagandha and Brahmi
- Focus on deep rest, warm meals and oil-rich foods
- Avoid over-washing and heat styling where possible
Inflamed Scalp, Irritation or Premature Greying (Pitta Imbalance)
What it means: Excess Pitta heats the blood, affecting the scalp's natural balance and melanin production.
Ways to support:
- Cool the scalp with herbal oils containing amla, bhringraj and neem
- Avoid spicy, oily foods and manage emotional heat through meditation
- Wash hair with lukewarm (never hot) water
- Use the Grow Strong Shampoo to gently cleanse without stripping
Flat, Lifeless or Congested Scalp (Kapha Imbalance or Ama Build-Up)
What it means: Kapha and toxins can create sluggishness in the scalp and block follicles.
Ways to support:
- Exfoliate the scalp weekly
- Move your body daily to stimulate lymph and blood flow
- Sip warming teas with ginger or trikatu to enliven digestion
- Clarify the scalp with Grow Strong Hair Oil
What Your Nails Might Be Telling You
Nails, like hair, are seen in Ayurveda as a by-product of bone tissue. They offer subtle clues about your internal vitality, digestive strength and ability to absorb nourishment.
Brittle, Thin or Peeling Nails (Vata Imbalance)
What it means: A depletion of core nutrients and hydration, often due to a fast-paced or irregular lifestyle.
Ways to support:
- Increase dietary oils, sesame seeds, and warm, spiced milks
- Massage nails and cuticles with warming oils such as almond or sesame
- Sip Vata-balancing teas and commit to regular meal and sleep times
- Use adaptogenic support like Ashwagandha to calm the nervous system
Redness, Inflamed Cuticles or Spots on Nails (Pitta Imbalance)
What it means: Internal inflammation or heat affecting the blood and skin around the nails.
Ways to support:
- Cool the system with rose, aloe vera and turmeric-based teas
- Avoid inflammatory foods and excessive screen time
- Keep hands cool and hydrated with gentle, herbal hand oils and cream
- Focus on calming rituals such as evening foot soaks or journaling
Thickened Nails, Discolouration or Sluggish Growth (Kapha Imbalance or Ama)
What it means: Build-up of toxins or stagnation in the system.
Ways to support:
- Stimulate circulation with daily dry brushing and movement
- Use digestive herbs such as Triphala or cumin, fennel and coriander tea
- Avoid heavy, damp foods - choose light, warming meals instead
- Keep hands and nails dry, especially in cooler months
The main thing to remember - your body is always in conversation with you. By paying attention to the small signs (i.e. dullness in the skin, thinning hair, brittle nails etc.) you begin to understand what's really needed: not more products, but deeper care and more time for you.
And with every ritual, you return to balance.
