Herbal Hair Rinses For All Hair Types

Using an herbal hair rinse can have many benefits; and unlike creme rinses or conditioners, it won’t leave your hair heavy and lifeless. In addition, the oils and other ingredients in conditioners and creme rinses can attract and hold dirt, making your hair look dull and oily and requiring more frequent washing.

Herbal rinses can have either a water or vinegar base, depending on whether you’re using dried or fresh herbs to create them. Dried herbs will release their constituents into water more quickly, while vinegar is more effective at extracting the properties of fresh herbs.

Vinegar (organic apple cider vinegar is the best option) is an excellent addition to water-based herbal rinses as well, since it provides many benefits of its own; such as softening the hair, reducing tangles, removing soap residues, easing itching, and restoring the natural acid balance of the hair and scalp.

There are herbs appropriate to every hair type, and every purpose you can think of. There are herbs that will gently lighten or darken your hair, ones that will enhance the red highlights in brunette hair, herbs that will increase shine, others that will strengthen weak or brittle hair, and even some that can be used to color it. Some herbs are best for light hair, others for dark hair; some reduce oiliness, and others are best for dry hair.

For color enhancement, steep 1/2 cup of dried herb in 1 cup of boiling water for 20 minutes. Wash hair, then apply the warm tea to your hair and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water

• Blonde or light hair: Lemon peel, calendula (marigold), chamomile, mullien flowers
• Brown hair: Birch bark, cloves, elderflower or cinnamon chips
• Dark brown or black hair: Rosemary, sage, walnut leaf, black malva, or indigo
• Red hair: Red hibiscus flowers, calendula (marigold), beets, or rose petals
• Grey hair: Elderflower, lavender, or sage

To lighten hair: lemon juice (sitting in the sun will speed the process. Because of the sugars in the juice it must be washed out afterward.) Chamomile can also be used to lighten and brighten with regular use.

Oily hair: rosemary; colorless henna (the extract of flowers, stems, and roots;) and nasturtium

Dry hair: Nettle and peppermint

To color hair: Henna leaf will color hair, and can be found in a range of colors from shades of red to brunette. It can be found in kits for this purpose, and unless you are experienced in using it, it is best to purchase one of these rather than trying to formulate your own.

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