The land’s rishis of a distant past, as portrayed through sculptures of centuries vintage and the faded paintings that are found in caves that have not been exposed to vagaries of climate and sunshine are hard to be seen without flowing hair on the scalp  as well as face. Maybe, sporting copious hair, tied in a compact heap was the norm for spiritual and scholarly pursuits in their times. Also, mendicants, relying chiefly or exclusively on charity of members of society for their needs of life, including food, shelter and clothing, kept company of sorts with the rishis in the matter of allowing hair growth for a different reason, mostly economic. Thus, hosting hair, either for impressive presentation or uncaring attitude towards the black strand may have not been bestowed haircare in times long past.

Hair no longer figures in the matter of urban-rural divide on a scale wider than most other angles, going by a study revealing that while urban India spends three times as much on haircare products as those in rural, one of every two rural consumers is seeking entry-level hair nourishment products, resulting in 54 percent share of the segment from rural parts. Haircare products industry never had it better.

Men are said to consider hair the most important aspect of beauty over physique by as much as 2.5 times, the only catch being physique is amenable to be managed better than hair that may not cooperate in its staying power. One is prompted to recollect the name of Hollywood star Yul Brynner (1920-1985), the Russian-American best known for his portrayal in the musical The King and I who shaved off his head that made the hairless scalp a roaring fashion for some time. The matter of women caring for their hair lock is so vast that this column is too short to dwell on the topic, except saying that for tradition-bound females of the land hair is an asset, never mind the time to be spent on its care as well as the cost to be incurred.

Both traditional practices and modern prescriptions abound with myriad opportunities for haircare to address specific conditions. Thanks to the undying desire of people at large to host thick locks of hair on their scalp, black or copper colour, the Indian haircare industry is reportedly worth more than three billion dollars (Rs.20,000 crore) and expanding, not to forget the calling of hairdressers, both male and female, who command a ceaseless customer patrons.