Herbs are such a fantastic way to address and heal a variety of hair conditions. But, if you’re new to the herbal hair game, you might have trouble figuring out how to use herbs for hair.
Within the last decade, holistic and organic hair remedies have become increasingly popular due to the many toxicities found in some well known hair brands- and yes, that even includes professional salon products!
Thankfully, there’s been an increase in brands that are taking responsibility and reformulating their products.
If you still feel a bit skeptical, there’s no better time than right now to take your hair health into your own hands.
GETTING STARTED
Honestly, the best way to start your personal healthy hair journey is to literally just get started! Procrastination is not your friend. And trust me, you don’t need as many tools as you might think…
I know that using herbs can seem overwhelming because there are just so many! But I promise, they have amazing benefits and also won’t burn a hole into your wallet.
You’ll first want to choose the herb best for your hair goal. Whether you want to focus on scalp health or hair strength and length. Check out some of the best herbs to grow and strengthen your hair!
WHERE TO GET HERBS
You can purchase herbs from local farmer’s markets, plant nurseries, grocery stores or the garden section of big box retailers such as Home Depot, WalMart, or Lowes.
Shopping locally is always better, but that’s just my personal opinion.
I suggest starting small. No need to go all out and purchase every herb you can find. It’s better to start with two or three.
Get to know them, too. Each herb has its own individual properties, characteristics, benefits and personalities.
HOW TO USE HERBS FOR HAIR
Below are a few different methods that involve using herbs for hair goals!
Herbal Hair Supplements
This is a simple way to get the vitamins and nutrients you may be missing in your daily diet. Remember, the external is a reflection of what’s on the inside.
Depending on the herbal supplement, they can offer a variety of benefits and help to boost the look and health of your hair and skin among other things.
If you can’t seem to find the time to try the other herbal methods, this one is a viable option. Just don’t forget to check with your doctor as some herbs can react with different medications for certain conditions.
Herbal Hair Rinse
Rinses, or as some people like to call them hair teas, are an awesome, and inexpensive, way to naturally condition your hair. They’re fairly easy to make and can add a little bit of luxury to your wash rituals.
Rinses are known to not only soften hair, but they add lustrous shine, volume and movement. Some herbs can act as hair color enhancers, while others stimulate growth and reduce shedding. It is recommended to do these about once a week.
Here are two different types of rinses you can try on your hair.
1. Water- Based Herbal Rinse
You can either put the rinse in a spray bottle and spritz all over, or just pour it directly on your hair after shampooing. I suggest using distilled water if you can, to help maximize your benefits, but tap water will suffice, too.
To make:
- Place 1 part dried herbs of your choice (about 3 TBSP or more) into a quart sized jar or a large bowl.
- Pour 3 parts of boiling water over the herbs and allow to steep for at least eight hours. Overnight is better.
- Strain out the herbs from the liquid.
- Pour -or spray- the mixture over your hair, massaging into the scalp and thoroughly coat each strand. (TIP: if using a bowl, place a larger bowl underneath your hair to catch excess liquid and reapply several times).
- You can either rinse the herbal mixture out or let it dry into your hair.
2. Vinegar-Based Herbal Rinse
Vinegar rinses are a great natural way to restore the hairs’ pH balance. If you suffer from oily hair, dry hair, or various scalp conditions, vinegar is going to be your secret remedy.
The plus side about vinegar based herbal rinses is that they can be stored for up to a year in a cool, dry place (unlike water based rinses which can develop bacteria if stored for too long).
To make:
- Add dried herbs to a glass jar or container.
- Fill glass with Apple Cider Vinegar (fill past the herbs by about an inch).
- Screw the lid on tightly.
- Let the herbs infuse the ACV for up to 8 weeks while shaking daily.
- Strain out the herbs and place liquid back into the jar.
- Take the desired amount and work into damp hair and scalp.
- Rinse with water.
- Store remaining solution in a cool and dry area to use for later.
Herb-Infused Hair Oil
A personal favorite of mine. I love to use these specifically as a hot oil treatment on wash days!
Hair oiling has tons of benefits like strengthening the hair, reducing frizz, stimulating hair growth, and adding moisture and shine.
To make your own herb infused hair oil is super easy. Decide which herbal properties you think your hair would benefit from. Add the herbs of your choice to a glass jar. Cover those herbs with the carrier oil of your choice (about an inch above the herbs). Tighten the lid and shake it up.
You can place the jar in a warm, sunny spot so the heat can help the infusion. Leave for up to four weeks and shake daily.
After my infused oil is ready to use, I like to heat up my desired amount (about 2 cups; Use more or less depending on thickness and texture of your hair) in a double boiler.
Massage the oil into your scalp for at least five minutes to get the blood pumping, combing through to the ends of your hair.
Let it sit for at least an hour… or possibly two if you get sidetracked with chores ;). Shampoo thoroughly and make sure all the oil gets rinsed out.
How often would you do this? No more than one to two times a week should suffice.
Using Essential Oils
Essential oils in your hair rituals are different from herb infused oils. They do not use the entirety of the plant substance, but are highly concentrated extracts. And because of this, you will need to pair your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil.
Not only are they great for hair and skin, but massages, aromatherapy, and even cleaning! Side note, they may be a little more expensive then buying the plant outright.
First, choose your carrier oil. This dilutes the essential oil mixture and reduces the chance of irritation. My favorite carrier oils for hair are castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil and even grapeseed oil.
Next, choose your essential oil(s).
You can absolutely mix and match, too! Here are my top five suggested essential oils for hair.
The general rule of thumb when it comes to adding essential oils is about 3% or less of the total essential-carrier oil solution or one drop per teaspoon of carrier oil.
Create your custom blend and massage it into your hair and scalp. You can put on a shower cap to keep it from dripping while using the heat from your scalp to open up the cuticles and help the oil penetrate through.
Leave on for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour. Shampoo thoroughly, then condition. If your hair is usually on the coarser and drier side, you can opt not to rinse the entire mixture from the ends of your hair.
See, there are a variety of ways for you to add herbs in your hair care! Are there any methods that you currently use? I’d love to hear if there is a new way you will use herbs for your hair. Happy healing 🙂