5 Amazing Hair & Skin Benefits, Uses Of Curd | Dahi

If there is one ingredient that is very nutritious, tasty, cheap and is very soothing on the stomach, it is curd | dahi | yogurt. Even many people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate curd well and I absolutely love curd. Till today, I haven’t had my lunch without freshly made curd. If I am traveling and eating out a lot, I usually long for my comforting curd rice. We make fresh curd every single day in my house and once you get to know the correct temperature for setting the curd, it is a breeze to make it.

Many get confused between yogurt and curd, but both are same. I was surprised when I read many articles claiming that both are different and that curd is made by coagulating the milk! Nowadays we get tasty store bought curds that are thick, creamy and tastes very good. But I feel it is nice to have it once in a while as a treat, especially the flavored ones but on a day to day basis I prefer my homemade curd. Though it is a bit runny, I feel it is much more healthy than yogurt that has been in the cartons for days.

Our ancestors had a solution even for runny curd, they used to set the curd in clay pots and the pot will absorb all the water from the curds. The curds set in clay pots will be thick and cool and it will be heavenly to have it in the hot afternoons. Curd is full of calcium, protein and is filled with gut friendly bacteria and regular consumption will keep our hair, skin and body healthy. Anyone who is suffering from stomach burn or acidity will find curd very soothing, but try to have curd that has not turned sour.

How To Make Curd At Home:

Making the curd is simple enough, heat milk to lukewarm temperature and add about 1/2 tsp of curd for every cup of milk. Make sure to test the temperature of the milk before adding the curd, if it is too hot or cold, it will not set. Along with it’s amazing health benefits, I am sure all of you will agree that curd has wonderful beauty benefits.

In this blog, you will find lot of beauty treatments with curd because it is such a wonderful and versatile ingredient that can be used for all beauty treatments. Curd is an amazing hair and skin conditioner and at the same it heals scars and blemishes. It is especially great for treating dry skin and hair and since it is very handy, I love to use it a lot……

Amazing benefits Of Curd For Skin:

1 Cinnamon and Curd Mask For Under Eye Bags:

Many of us suffer from under eye bags. Under eye bags can make an other wise beautiful face, look tired and lifeless. Many things can cause under eye bags- sinus infection, too much salt in the diet, water retention, etc. If the under eye bags are caused by heredity little can be done to change it. Many of us find that under eye puffiness is temporary when we are younger.

But as we grow old, it becomes permanent as the muscles around the eyes start sagging. This home remedy for under eye bags is very effective in treating sagging skin thus preventing eye bags. To make this remedy, soak organic thin variety of cinnamon in hot water over night. The next day, grind to a fine paste in a mortar and pestle.

Add fresh thick yogurt and grind till you get a thick, smooth mixture. Apply the paste under the eyes and wait for it to dry. This cinnamon treatment is very effective in treating sagging skin, if used regularly. To effectively eliminate bags under eyes, try using this treatment weekly thrice.

2. Curd & Lemon Body Scrubber:

This homemade lemon body scrub recipe does a wonderful job of removing dead cells from the body and lightening the skin tone. This scrub can be used weekly once by people who do not have sensitive skin, as lemon juice might irritate very sensitive skin. When I saw this recipe in one of my old books, I wanted to try it and I was not disappointed.

When I tried it for the first time, I used a thicker cloth and I couldn’t feel the almond meal on my skin at all. If you use a thin wet cheese cloth, it will be perfect. To make the lemon body scrub, cut half a fresh lemon and remove the juice and press the pith inside nicely to make a hole. Soak the almonds and remove the skin and grind it in mixer to make almond meal.

Mix the almond meal, yogurt and scooped out pulp of the lemon and stuff it in the prepared cut lemon. Wrap it in the wet cheese cloth and rub the scrubber all over your body. I am partial to almonds, but if you like you can substitute it with ground cashews too. I found that my skin was considerably softer and smoother after using this scrub. Make sure to apply your moisturizer after using this scrub.

3. Curd & Walnut Face Scrub For Dry Skin: 

This homemade walnut scrub is a quick answer to people who want to look their best in the shortest amount of time. I like this scrub because it is made with just two ingredients, can be used for all skin types, is very gentle on the skin and most importantly it is very quick and easy to make. This scrub is made with walnuts and fresh yogurt. Last week, when my son was home from hostel for his holidays, we took a trip to Kodaikanal.

I got these organic walnuts from the health shop there, as I bake a lot. Ground walnuts nourishes the skin and it helps to exfoliate the dead cells without irritating the skin. When you make your own homemade products, you know what goes into it and it is a lot cheaper than what we buy in the shops. Applying yogurt on the face lightens dark spots, heal sun tanned skin and reduces freckles. I always prefer to make my own yogurt but if you prefer to buy it from the shop, buy one that does not have any colorings or flavorings. To make this walnut scrub, tie the fresh yogurt in a muslin cloth/ cheese cloth to drain all the water.

I used my jaggery strainer to strain the yogurt, as it is made up of two layers of cloth. Pound the walnuts in a mortar and pestle till you get a coarse powder. Add the drained yogurt to the crushed walnuts and mix well together. Make sure the yogurt is drained of all water else the scrub will be very watery. The amount of walnuts should be more than the yogurt or you will not feel effect of the scrub on your face. To use, massage it gently in a circular motion all over your face and wash off with lukewarm water.

Amazing Benefits Of Curd For Hair:

4. Curd Pack For Hair Fall :

This simple homemade hair pack made with curry leaves and fresh yogurt is very good for promoting hair growth and arresting hair fall. To make the hair mask, collect pesticide free, tender curry leaves. If the leaves are not tender, you will not be able to grind it finely at all. Take yogurt and tie it in a muslin cloth to get rid of excess water.

If the yogurt is runny, the mask will be dripping all over you. Grind the tender curry leaves and the hung yogurt to a smooth paste to a smooth paste in a blender without adding any water. The mixture should be smooth and thick. To use, apply this hair pack and wait for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off. Try to use this hair pack regularly to see results. This hair pack also prevents dandruff.

5. Curd & Hibiscus Hair Mask For Hair Growth :

Hibiscus and curd hair mask is one of the easiest and most effective hair masks, we can make at home. Hibiscus hair mask conditions the hair so well and is excellent for both dry and oily hair. Another thing that I like about hibiscus hair mask is it serves multiple uses: It treats dandruff, conditions the hair, arrests hair fall and it is a very safe pack to use on the hair. Try to use freshly plucked, pesticide free, red hibiscus flowers for the mask.

This mask can be made according to the type of hair that you have. If you have dry hair, use the hibiscus along with fresh yogurt. If you have oily hair use it with an organic egg white. Since we are using only the egg white, there will not be any eggy smell on the hair at all. To use, take the mixture, part the hair using a comb and apply it all over the scalp and let it dry for at least 20 to 30 minutes and then wash the hair with a mild shampoo. This hair pack can be used as often as you like.

If you can’t get freshly plucked hibiscus flowers, try to collect them whenever possible, store it in a cover in the refrigerator and you can use it whenever you like. This pack is excellent for using it on young girls, as it will greatly help in hair growth and it will keep their hair soft and manageable. This pack has to be thick enough to be able to apply on the hair, if it is too runny, it will be dripping all over. Especially with yogurt, try using thick yogurt or hang it in a muslin cloth for some time and use it.