OLJA IN ZELIŠČA

NEGA LAS POZIMI, MITI O LASEH

Lasje niso le estetski dodatek, temveč odsev notranjega zdravja telesa, živčnega sistema in življenjskega ravnovesja. Čeprav je las poroženel, je kemično aktiven in občutljiv na zunanje vplive. Stanje lasišča in las pogosto razkriva našo presnovo, stres in splošno vitalnost. Že dr. Alfred Vogel, pionir fitoterapije, je lase primerjal s čebulico rastline, katere rast je odvisna od zdravih »tal«, torej v našem primeru lasišča in načina življenja. Tudi Wilhelm Reich, psihoanalitik in utemeljitelj bioenergetskega pogleda, jih je razumel kot izraz pretoka življenjske energije in posameznikove vitalnosti. Ajurveda lase povezuje z energijskim ravnovesjem in duševnim stanjem. Naravna nega z zelišči, olji in rastlinskimi barvami krepi lase in lasišče, medtem ko agresivni kemični in toplotni postopki lase dolgoročno izčrpavajo. Najboljše rezultate daje celosten pristop, ki povezuje biologijo, naravno medicino, ajurvedo in naravne frizerske prakse, meni Mirjam Mihelčič Korez, univ. dipl. biologinja in lastnica eko frizerskega salona, ki deluje v sklopu njenega Živa Centra, kjer najdemo tudi make-up studio, ekološko vegansko trgovino in svetovanje pri prehrani.

Mraz in suh zrak izsušujeta lase
Mraz in suh zrak pozimi izsušujeta lase, povečujeta njihovo lomljivost ter slabšata prekrvavitev lasišča, kar vpliva na rast las. Lasje so zato bolj suhi, krhki in nagnjeni k statični elektriki, zlasti če so tanki, kodrasti ali kemično obdelani, če jih češemo s plastičnimi pripomočki ali so pogosto izpostavljeni trenju ob oblačila in pokrivala. Suh zrak in neustrezna nega porušita naravno zaščitno plast lasišča, kar vodi v srbenje, občutljivost in vnetja. Dolgotrajno suho ali razdraženo lasišče lahko oslabi lasne mešičke in prispeva k povečanemu izpadanju las.
Sodobne »zdrave« diete – možen krivec za izpadanje las
Čeprav se izpadanje las pogosto pripisuje stresu, hormonom, starosti ali letnim časom, praksa kaže, da je glavni vzrok največkrat povezan z neustrezno prehrano in življenjskim slogom. Sodobne »zdrave« diete lahko telo dolgoročno izčrpajo, kar se še posebej pokaže v obdobjih večjih obremenitev, kot so porod, menopavza ali kronični stres. Učinkovita obravnava zato zahteva celosten pristop, ki vključuje pravilno nego ter prilagoditve prehrane in življenjskega sloga. Ob dosledni negi se izboljšanje običajno opazi že v treh mesecih.
Pomanjkanje vlage ali maščobe
V hladnejših mesecih pogosto opazimo, da so naši lasje izsušeni, a bodimo pozorni na podrobnosti. Pomembno je prepoznati, ali lasem primanjkuje vlage ali maščobe. Pomanjkanje vlage se kaže v trdih, neelastičnih in statičnih laseh, medtem ko pomanjkanje maščobe povzroča krhkost, izgubo sijaja in cepljenje konic, poudarja sogovornica. Obe neravnovesji lahko učinkovito odpravimo z ustrezno nego. Če imamo težave s »slamnatimi« konicami, ki so posledica kemičnih poškodb, toplote in mehanskih obremenitev, je treba najprej odstraniti poškodovane konice, nato pa nadaljevati z nego.
Prhljaj lahko kaže na vnetje lasišča
Tudi pri prhljaju je ključno razlikovati med suhim in mastnim tipom, saj imata različne vzroke. Suhi prhljaj je posledica izsušenosti, mastni pa je pogosto povezan z vnetjem lasišča. Najboljše rezultate tudi tu dosežemo s primerno nego in podporo prebavi, medtem ko agresivni protiglivični šamponi stanje dolgoročno lahko poslabšajo, svari Mirjam Mihelčič Korez.
Idealna zimska nega
Vse težave, ki naše lasišče in lase pestijo v zimskih mesecih, lahko omilimo s primerno celostno nego.
»Za nego priporočam umivanje z ekološkimi šamponi, ki so po potrebi lahko tudi terapevtski z zelišči, ter uporabo ekoloških balzamov. Če lase barvamo, svetujem redno rastlinsko barvanje, ki je ena najboljših terapij za lase in lasišče. Rastlinske barve vsebujejo le zmlete rastline, večinoma ajurvedska zdravilna zelišča: kano, amlo, indigo, shikakai, bhringaraj, seno, hibiskus, orehove lupine, lupine granatnega jabolka, alapeški hrast in podobno. Ta zelišča hranijo lasne korenine, spodbujajo rast, lase ovijejo, jim dajejo zaščito pred cepljenjem in lomljenjem ter jim vračajo elastičnost in izjemen sijaj. Danes rastlinske barve že popolnoma prekrivajo sive lase. Lase krtačimo z lesenimi glavniki ali krtačami. Uporabljamo naravna rastlinska olja: sezamovo, kokosovo, sončnično. Enkrat do dvakrat na teden lase in lasišče naoljimo. Posamezna bazična olja lahko uporabljamo samostojno. Sezamovo olje (pozimi, v zrelejših letih) obilno hrani, greje in neguje, kokosovo olje pa vlaži in hladi. Kompleksna terapevtska olja so še učinkovitejša, saj gre za tradicionalne ajurvedske kombinacije bazičnih rastlinskih olj in zelišč, ki ciljno delujejo na presuho lasišče in lase, izpadanje in tanjšanje las, vnetna stanja ali poškodovano strukturo las. Enako velja za ajurvedske maske. Uporabljamo terapevtska zelišča, kot so amla, shikakai in neem. V zimskih mesecih priporočam tudi uporabo pokrival iz naravnih materialov, kot so volna, kašmir, bombaž ali svila.«
Recept za domačo masko
»Zelišča, kot so amla, shikakai in neem, lahko uporabimo kot masko v obliki paste (zmešamo jih z vročo vodo) ali pripravimo čaj. Pasto ali čaj nanesemo na umito lasišče in lase, zavijemo v brisačo, pustimo delovati od 10 do 30 minut, nato speremo in uporabimo ekološki balzam. V praksi priporočam tudi profesionalno pripravljene ajurvedske zeliščne maske, saj omogočajo natančno terapijo glede na stanje lasišča. Shikakai v prahu je odličen tudi kot suhi šampon.«
Modra izbira pripomočkov za nego
Leseni glavniki in krtače so primernejši od plastičnih, ker ne povzročajo statične elektrike, manj poškodujejo lase in omogočajo enakomerno porazdelitev naravnih olj. Poleg tega imajo naravne antibakterijske lastnosti, zato so bolj higienični in posebej primerni za občutljivo lasišče, prhljaj, vnetja in izpadanje las. Za terapevtsko oljenje las se priporočajo krtače z naravnimi ali sisalovimi ščetinami, saj spodbujajo prekrvavitev lasišča in delovanje lasnih mešičkov ter delujejo sproščujoče. Mehke gumice brez kovinskih delov in rahlo spenjanje las ponoči zmanjšujejo mehanske poškodbe. Sušenje s sušilnikom je sprejemljivo, če uporabljamo zmerno temperaturo in ustrezno razdaljo, saj previsoka toplota lase izsušuje in poškoduje.
Najpogostejše napake
»Najpogostejše napake v zimskih mesecih so sintetično barvanje, uporaba agresivnih konvencionalnih šamponov in izdelkov za oblikovanje, redno likanje ali kodranje las, sintetična pokrivala, premalo oljenja, zanemarjanje terapevtske nege ter uporaba plastičnih glavnikov in krtač. Med sestavinami, ki se pogosto uporabljajo napačno, je predvsem prekomerna uporaba aloe vere, saj lahko dolgoročno izsušuje. Problematična so tudi eterična olja brez nosilnih olj; pri dolgotrajni uporabi so lahko obremenjujoča tudi v nosilnih oljih, zlasti pri tankih ali kemično poškodovanih laseh. Silikoni kot dolgoročna rešitev le navidezno izboljšajo videz, ne izboljšajo pa strukture las. Poleg tega so lahko okolju in zdravju škodljivi. Tudi prepogosti pilingi niso priporočljivi.«
Kemikalije poškodujejo lase in obremenijo telo
»Kemikalije trajno poškodujejo lase in obremenijo telo s toksini. Koža je eden večjih organskih sistemov in je selektivno prepustna. Vse, kar nanesemo na lasišče, lahko prehaja v krvni obtok. Tako kot večina ljudi ne uporablja pesticidov na svojem vrtu, je tudi uporaba sintetičnih izdelkov dolgoročno kontraproduktivna. Alternativa so ekološki izdelki za nego las in lasišča.«
Ovržimo mite
Kot biologinja in praktikantka alternativne medicine z več kot 30-letnimi izkušnjami, ki jih je pridobivala tudi v modni industriji, je Mirjam Mihelčič Korez skozi leta dela ovrgla več mitov o laseh.
Mit št. 1: Lasje so mrtvi in ne potrebujejo terapevtske nege.
Lasje so organ in odraz našega psihofizičnega stanja.
Mit št. 2: Lasje izpadajo zaradi stresa.
Ljudje v težkih življenjskih obdobjih pogosto slabše jedo in živijo manj zdravo.
Mit št. 3: Ciklično izpadanje las je del človeškega cirkadianega ritma.
Še noben človek pozimi ni postal bolj kosmat. Do morebitnega spomladanskega ali jesenskega izpadanja prihaja zaradi neravnovesja v telesu.
Mit št. 4: Normalno je, da imamo z leti vedno manj las.
Generacije naših starih staršev so dočakale visoko starost z bujnimi lasmi; stare mame celo z dolgimi lasmi, spetimi v kite in fige.
Mit št. 5: Za izpadanje las je odgovorno hormonsko neravnovesje (mena, ščitnica).
Hormonsko neravnovesje je pogosto odraz neuravnovešene prehrane, slabih navad ter nerazrešenih odnosov doma in v službi. Je simptom in ne nujno vzrok.
»Skozi leta sem spoznala, da naraven pristop dolgoročno podpira zdravje las, jim daje volumen in sijaj, spodbuja rast ter uravnoveša lasišče. Stranke obravnavam holistično in ponujam dolgoročne rešitve pri negi las. Tu lepota, estetika in zdravje hodijo z roko v roki. Klasična nega pogosto zgolj estetsko prikriva poškodbe in ne upošteva, da so lasje funkcionalni del telesa, ne le pričeska. V ospredju je trend, ki ga narekuje modna industrija, zdravje las in strank pa žal ni vedno na prvem mestu.«
Tekst: Sara Lipovšek


Hair Is Not Just an Aesthetic Accessory
Hair is not merely an aesthetic accessory, but a reflection of the body’s internal health, the nervous system, and overall life balance. Although hair is keratinized, it is chemically active and sensitive to external influences. The condition of the scalp and hair often reveals our metabolism, stress levels, and general vitality. Dr. Alfred Vogel, a pioneer of phytotherapy, compared hair to a plant bulb whose growth depends on healthy “soil” — in our case, the scalp and lifestyle. Wilhelm Reich, psychoanalyst and founder of the bioenergetic perspective, understood hair as an expression of the flow of life energy and individual vitality. Ayurveda associates hair with energetic balance and mental state. Natural care with herbs, oils, and plant-based dyes strengthens both hair and scalp, while aggressive chemical and heat treatments exhaust the hair in the long term. The best results, says Mirjam Mihelčič Korez, a university graduate biologist and owner of an eco hair salon operating within her Živa Center — which also includes a make-up studio, an organic vegan shop, and nutritional counseling — come from a holistic approach that combines biology, natural medicine, Ayurveda, and natural hairdressing practices.
Cold and Dry Air Dehydrate Hair
Cold weather and dry winter air dehydrate hair, increase breakage, and reduce scalp circulation, which affects hair growth. As a result, hair becomes drier, more brittle, and prone to static electricity — especially if it is fine, curly, chemically treated, brushed with plastic tools, or frequently exposed to friction from clothing and headwear. Dry air and improper care disrupt the scalp’s natural protective barrier, leading to itching, sensitivity, and inflammation. Long-term dryness or irritation of the scalp can weaken hair follicles and contribute to increased hair loss.
Modern “Healthy” Diets — A Possible Cause of Hair Loss
Although hair loss is often attributed to stress, hormones, age, or seasonal changes, practice shows that the primary cause is most often linked to inadequate nutrition and lifestyle. Modern “healthy” diets can deplete the body over time, which becomes particularly evident during periods of greater strain such as childbirth, menopause, or chronic stress. Effective treatment therefore requires a holistic approach that includes proper hair care along with adjustments in diet and lifestyle. With consistent care, improvement is usually noticeable within three months.
Lack of Moisture or Lack of Oil
During colder months, we often notice that our hair feels dry, but it is important to pay attention to the details. We need to determine whether the hair lacks moisture or oil. A lack of moisture manifests as stiff, inelastic, and static-prone hair, while a lack of oil causes brittleness, loss of shine, and split ends, the expert explains. Both imbalances can be effectively addressed with proper care. If we struggle with “straw-like” ends caused by chemical damage, heat, or mechanical stress, the damaged ends should first be trimmed, followed by continued treatment.
Dandruff May Indicate Scalp Inflammation
When it comes to dandruff, it is essential to distinguish between dry and oily types, as they have different causes. Dry dandruff results from dryness, while oily dandruff is often linked to scalp inflammation. The best results are achieved through appropriate care and digestive support, whereas aggressive antifungal shampoos may worsen the condition in the long term, warns Mirjam Mihelčič Korez.
Ideal Winter Hair Care
All the issues that affect our scalp and hair during winter can be alleviated with proper holistic care.
“For hair care, I recommend washing with organic shampoos, which can also be herbal and therapeutic if needed, and using organic conditioners. If we color our hair, I advise regular plant-based coloring, which is one of the best therapies for hair and scalp. Plant dyes contain only ground plants, mostly Ayurvedic medicinal herbs: henna, amla, indigo, shikakai, bhringaraj, senna, hibiscus, walnut shells, pomegranate peels, Aleppo oak, and similar ingredients. These herbs nourish the roots, stimulate growth, coat the hair, protect it from splitting and breakage, and restore elasticity and exceptional shine. Today, plant-based dyes can fully cover gray hair. Hair should be brushed with wooden combs or brushes. We use natural plant oils: sesame, coconut, and sunflower oil. Once or twice a week, we oil both hair and scalp. Individual base oils can be used on their own. Sesame oil (in winter and in more mature years) deeply nourishes, warms, and conditions, while coconut oil moisturizes and cools. Complex therapeutic oils are even more effective, as they are traditional Ayurvedic combinations of base plant oils and herbs that target very dry scalp and hair, hair loss and thinning, inflammatory conditions, or damaged hair structure. The same applies to Ayurvedic masks. Therapeutic herbs such as amla, shikakai, and neem are used. During winter, I also recommend wearing head coverings made of natural materials such as wool, cashmere, cotton, or silk.”
Recipe for a Homemade Mask
“Herbs such as amla, shikakai, and neem can be used as a paste (mixed with hot water) or prepared as a tea. Apply the paste or tea to freshly washed scalp and hair, wrap in a towel, leave on for 10 to 30 minutes, then rinse and apply an organic conditioner. In practice, I also recommend professionally prepared Ayurvedic herbal masks, as they allow for precise treatment according to the condition of the scalp. Shikakai powder is also excellent as a dry shampoo.”
A Smart Choice of Hair Care Tools
Wooden combs and brushes are preferable to plastic ones because they do not create static electricity, cause less damage, and allow for even distribution of natural oils. In addition, they have natural antibacterial properties, making them more hygienic and especially suitable for sensitive scalps, dandruff, inflammation, and hair loss. For therapeutic oiling, brushes with natural or sisal bristles are recommended, as they stimulate scalp circulation, support hair follicle function, and have a relaxing effect. Soft hair ties without metal parts and loosely tying hair at night reduce mechanical damage. Blow-drying is acceptable if moderate heat and proper distance are maintained, as excessive heat dries out and damages the hair.
Common mistakes
“The most common winter mistakes include synthetic hair coloring, the use of aggressive conventional shampoos and styling products, frequent straightening or curling, synthetic headwear, insufficient oiling, neglect of therapeutic care, and the use of plastic combs and brushes. Among the ingredients often misused is excessive aloe vera, which can be drying in the long term. Essential oils used without carrier oils are also problematic; with prolonged use, they may be burdensome even when diluted in carrier oils, especially for fine or chemically damaged hair. Silicones, used as a long-term solution, only create the appearance of improvement without enhancing the hair’s structure. Moreover, they can be harmful to both the environment and health. Excessive exfoliation is also not recommended.”
Chemicals Damage Hair and Burden the Body
“Chemicals permanently damage hair and burden the body with toxins. The skin is one of the body’s largest organ systems and is ively permeable. Everything applied to the scalp can pass into the bloodstream. Just as most people would not use pesticides in their garden, the long-term use of synthetic products is counterproductive. The alternative is organic hair and scalp care products.”
Let’s Debunk the Myths
As a biologist and practitioner of alternative medicine with more than 30 years of experience — including work in the fashion industry — Mirjam Mihelčič Korez has debunked several myths about hair.
Myth No. 1: Hair is dead and does not need therapeutic care.
Hair is an organ and a reflection of our psychophysical state.
Myth No. 2: Hair falls out because of stress.
People going through difficult periods often eat poorly and adopt unhealthy lifestyles.
Myth No. 3: Cyclical hair shedding is part of the human circadian rhythm.
No one has ever become hairier in winter. Any spring or autumn shedding is due to imbalance in the body.
Myth No. 4: It is normal to have less hair as we age.
Generations of our grandparents reached old age with full heads of hair; grandmothers even wore long braids and buns.
Myth No. 5: Hormonal imbalance (menopause, thyroid issues) is responsible for hair loss.
Hormonal imbalance is often a reflection of poor nutrition, unhealthy habits, and unresolved relationships at home or work. It is a symptom, not necessarily the cause.
“Over the years, I have learned that a natural approach supports long-term hair health, adds volume and shine, stimulates growth, and balances the scalp. I treat clients holistically and offer long-term solutions in hair care. Here, beauty, aesthetics, and health go hand in hand. Conventional care often merely disguises damage aesthetically and fails to recognize that hair is a functional part of the body, not just a hairstyle. Trends dictated by the fashion industry are often prioritized, while the health of hair and clients is unfortunately not always the primary concern.”

Text: Sara Lipovšek