With the seasons, also comes the season of change in our little ones' requirements for personalized care, especially regarding their sensitive skin and hair. Be it transition from winter to summer or the soaring heat of the warmer month, the right products can prove to be the deciding factor in keeping your child healthy and cheerful. Here are the essential haircare and wellness essentials for children during the seasonal swap, highlighting natural and Ayurvedic products that can help keep your child glowing, healthy, and comfortable throughout the year.
Nourishing Hair Care: A Seasonal Essential for Healthy Locks
According to Dr. Swathi Ramamurthy, Head of R&D at Herby Angel, “Children's hair is more reactive and sensitive to seasonal changes, particularly during the transition from winter to summer. Rising temperatures and shifting humidity levels can have an impact on scalp health, resulting in dryness or excessive oiliness. Ayurveda, with its time-tested natural components, offers the ideal solution for nourishing and protecting hair, ensuring strength and vitality throughout the seasonal transition.”
One of the best ways to maintain scalp health and hydration is by using and choosing the right hair oil. A nourishing hair oil with sesame oil as a base is an excellent choice. Opt for products enriched with natural and organic Ayurvedic ingredients like amla, hibiscus, methi, and brahmi. These herbs are highly regarded for their ability to promote hair growth, reduce hair damage, and prevent scalp dryness. They not only lock in moisture and maintain scalp health but also provide deep nourishment. If the oil contains brahmi, it can further aid in relaxation and improve sleep quality for your child. By incorporating these ingredients into your child’s hair care routine, you ensure their hair remains soft, shiny, and well-nourished while promoting hair growth through changing seasons.
Also Read: Best Ways To Use Brahmi For Instant Hair Growth And Volume
Hydration is Important: Skin Protection during Dry Weather
Dr. Swathi Ramamurthy highlights while many believe that moisturization is only crucial in winter, the truth is that skin needs hydration even during summer. The intense heat and prolonged exposure to the sun can strip the skin of its natural moisture, leading to dryness and irritation. However, summer skincare calls for a lighter approach—baby body lotions with non-greasy, fast-absorbing formulas are the perfect alternative. Opt for natural and organic lotions with Cosmos ECOCERT-approved ingredients. Ayurvedic ingredients like neem, aloe vera and ushira (commonly known as khas) not only provide a cooling effect but also have antimicrobial properties, preventing infections caused by excessive sweating in the body.
Also Read: A Dermat’s Guide: How To Prep Your Skin To Battle Changing Weather Conditions
Don't Forget the Lips: A Must Have
Dry, cracked lips are another common issue for children at times of seasonal transition. Additionally, kids often forget to drink enough water, leading to dehydration, which can worsen dryness and cause lip discoloration due to prolonged sun exposure.
To keep their lips soft and healthy, using nourishing lip butters is essential. However, adult lip balms are not suitable for children, as they may contain ingredients that aren’t safe if ingested. Instead, choose a lip butter specifically designed for kids, made with natural and edible ingredients.
“Look for formulations enriched with beeswax, ghee, shea butter, and almond oil, which deeply hydrate, repair cracked lips, and prevent moisture loss. One key point to ensure is that lip butter should not have artificial colours. Safest is to go for lip butters with beetroot and berry extracts which not only provide a natural tint but also help reduce pigmentation around lips and give mild SPF effects,” suggests Dr. Swathi Ramamurthy.
Immune Support: Ayurvedic Remedies for Better Health
While prevention is key, incorporating healthy dietary habits further strengthens the immune system. Nutrient-dense foods like sattu, a protein-rich ingredient, support growth and development. When mixed with milk or buttermilk, it acts as a natural coolant and provides refreshment and nourishment. Ragi, another powerhouse ingredient, is packed with calcium and essential nutrients that aid in boosting overall health.
Also Read: Ragi, Jowar, Or Wheat: A Dietician’s Guide To Choosing The Healthiest Roti
For milk mixes, millet-based mixes fortified with whey and pea protein are an excellent option. They not only build immunity but also help in providing the essential nutrients that are needed by growing children. Some ingredients that I strongly recommend in milk mixes are moringa, amaranth and powdered forms of flaxseeds, oats, dates, makhanas etc. These offer a powerful combination of immunity-boosting benefits. Oats provide fiber and energy, moringa leaves are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and flaxseeds contribute essential fatty acids for overall health.
Refined white sugar needs to be strictly avoided, instead Ayurvedic formulations often use khandsari, a natural alternative that not only retains beneficial minerals but also does not contain harmful chemicals such as sulphur dioxide. Similarly, milk mixes with artificial flavours and colours need to be avoided in milk mixes for kids as they may cause hyperactivity amongst kids.
A very important point that needs to be kept in mind is that fruits and milk should never be consumed together. Milk and fruits are mutually antagonistic and consuming them together can unbalance the gut flora leading to colds, coughing, phlegm, and allergies.
Though wellness is more about prevention, the addition of healthy habits such as a well-balanced diet, good sleep, and regular exercise can go a long way in strengthening your child's immune system.
The Importance of Ayurveda in Seasonal Care
Seasonal changes in a child's hair and wellness routine are essential to watching them thrive no matter what the weather. Ayurveda, with its ancient philosophy and the concept of Ritucharya, an ancient practice of aligning lifestyle and ayurvedic diet routine offers a holistic and effective way to nurture a child’s immunity, skin, and hair in top shape. With products that are made using organic herbs and oils, provide the child with wholesome treatment without sacrificing nature's intelligence.