Herbal Shampoo
For this I generally use castile soap. This is a very pure and mild liquid soap made from olive and coconut oils and is very good for the hair and skin.
Unfortunately any shampoo made by this method will be very runny; I haven't
yet worked out a way to thicken the shampoo satisfactorily. I keep mine in a plastic bottle; when I have to use it I squeeze some shampoo into the lid and
pour it onto the top of my head.
Basic Castile Shampoo
Mix I part liquid castile soap to 2 parts herbal infusion. Add 1 tsp glycerin per 200 ml shampoo, if desired; it facilitates mixing.
Shampoo for Blondes: use chamomile or calendula marigold infusion
Shampoo for Brunettes: use rosemary or sage infusion
For Oily Hair: use yarrow, lemon balm, thyme or lemongrass infusion.
For Dry Hair: use chamomile, red clover, comfrey or chamomile infusion.
For all hair types: parsley, linden (lime flower), rosemary or nettle.
Essential oils can also be added to shampoos, both for scent and for their herbal properties. Some to try are: rosemary, basil, marjoram, lemongrass, lemon and lavender.
CONDITIONERS
Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner
The best conditioner you can use after a gentle herbal shampoo is a weak Vinegar rinse. Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a liter of water and use this as the final rinse. It works even better if you can catch the run-off in a bowl and use the vinegar water several times. It restores the PH balance of the hair and leaves all hair types soft and shining. Use the following herbal vinegar recipe to add the properties of herbs to your rinse.
Herbal Vinegar for Hair
Fill a jar or bottle about half full with a combination of some or all of the Following herbs: rosemary, sage, chamomile, catnip, yarrow, lemon peel, orange peel, basil, lavender. Fill the bottle or jar to the top with vinegar - use a good quality apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar. Seal and shake every day for a few weeks. Strain and use a tablespoonful in your final rinsing water.
Essential Oil Conditioner
After towel drying the hair, put a few drops of rosemary oil in the palm of Your hand. Coat your brush or comb with the oil by rubbing it in your palm, and comb the hair with it. Rosemary oil is very good for the hair, and the strong green scent fades as the hair dries. As it is a volatile oil, it does not leave the hair oily. You can mix the rosemary oil with either lavender or basil oil.
Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair
This is to be used before shampooing, once a week. Simply warm a little olive or coconut oil and apply to the scalp; work well through the hair to the tips.
Wrap head in a warm damp towel (dip it in hot water and wring out) and then in a large shower cap to prevent loss of heat. If the towel cools down, reheat it.
Leave on for 20 minutes and then shampoo well.
Yogurt Conditioner for Dry and Flyaway Hair
Whisk together 4 tablespoons of natural, unflavored yogurt and 1 egg. Apply After shampoo and massage thoroughly into the hair, leaving on at least 5 minutes. Rinse out thoroughly with plenty of lukewarn water (not too hot, or you'll end up with cooked egg in your hair!)
HERBAL RINSES
Hair can be kept soft and shiny with herbal rinses. Pour the infusion over the hair after washing it and rinsing thoroughly. It's even better to use a bowl to catch the infusion in as it runs off the hair, and to pour it over the hair several times. Regular use of some of these infusions will add tints and highlights to the hair.
For Brunette Hair: Use an infusion of rosemary, sage, parsley or catnip. Rinsing with a pot of black tea will darken the hair if used over a period of time, and a tablespoonful of lemon juice in the final rinse will eventually add highlights.
For Blonde Hair: Use an infusion of chamomile or marigold. A tablespoonful of lemon juice in the final rinse will help lighten the hair over time, but also tends to be drying.
For all hair colors and types: Yarrow, catnip, nettle and parsley make
excellent rinses to improve shine and condition.
Rosemary or Chamomile Hair Rinse
Keeps the hair sofi and in good condition. It also stimulates the scalp,
removes dandruff and promotes hair growth. For dark hair, place 2 heaped
tablespoons of chopped fresh rosemary and 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile
flowers in a bowl. If your hair is blonde, swap the quantities of rosemary
and chamomle. Mix with 2 heaped tablespoons of dried lime flowers and cover
with 3½ cups of boiling water. Leave to infuse until tepid. Strain the
solution and apply it afier all shamppo has been rinsed from the hair.
Hair Conditioner -- Mix 1/2 cup honey and 1/4 cup olive oil. (Use 2
tablespoons oil for normal hair.) Work a small amount at a time through
hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes.
Remove shower cap; shampoo well and rinse. Dry as normal.
Hair Shine-- Stir 1 teaspoon honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water.
Blondes may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing, pour
mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.
Rosemary Honey Hair Conditioner
The extremes of heat and cold we endure throughout winter can make even
the greatest of hair look and feel like straw. This nourishing
conditioner blends honey for shine; olive oil for moisture and essential
oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup warmed olive oil (2 tablespoons for normal to oily hair)
4 drops essential oil of rosemary
1 teaspoon of xanthan gum (available in health food stores)
Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into
a clean plastic bottle with a tight fitting stopper of lid.
Apply a small amount at a time to slightly dampened hair. Massage scalp
and work mixture through hair until completely coated. Cover hair with a
warm towel (towel can be heated in a microwave or dryer) or shower cap;
leave on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove towel or shower
cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy
shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way.
Deep Conditioning Almond Hair Mask
1/4 cup of honey
1 Tbsp. of almond extract
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. of olive oil
2 Tbsp. fresh fennel
In a blender place honey, finely chopped fennel and olive oil. Blend for
five minutes or until well incorporated. Next add mayonnaise and almond
extract. Blend for another five minutes. Keep refrigerated until ready
to use.
Herbal Lice Treatment
2 oz. Olive Oil
20 drops Tea Tree Oil
10 drops each Rosemary, Lavender, Lemon EO's
Combine, apply to dry hair, and cover with a plastic shower cap (small
trash bags & a paper clip work well too). Wrap head in a towel, leave on
for two hours. Work shampoo into dry hair to cut oil, rinse, shampoo
until all residue is gone.
Pomegranate & Cranberry Shampoo
1/4 cup liquid castille soap (like Dr. Bronner's)
2 tsp. pure, unsweetened pomegranate juice
4 tsp. cranberry juice
1 tsp. liquid glycerin
Mix together; pour into clean bottles, shake well before each use.
Should be refrigerated.
Apple and Rose-Hip Conditioning Rinse
1 large apple, peeled and cored
1 cup chamomile tea (strong)
1 Tbsp. rose-hip powder
1/2 cup apple-cider vinegar
Mix together; pour into clean bottles, shake well before each use.
Should be refrigerated.
After shampooing, pour the rinse onto your hair while it is still damp
and massage into the scalp and through the ends of the hair a section at
a time. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse well with tepid water.
The apple cider in this recipe seems to control excess oil, while the
chamomile adds luster to the hair. Other hair-conditioning herbs you can
use instead include southernwood, nettles, and horsetail.
Hair Conditioner
Softens dry hair and helps prevent split ends.
one-thirds cup olive oil
one-thirds cup vegetable oil
one-thirds cup honey
Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan and set over low heat
until just boiling. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer to a 1-pint plastic spray bottle. Spray on hair and rub in
thoroughly. Wet a towel with warm water and wrap around head for 1 hour.
Shampoo to remove, then wash and style hair as usual. Store in a cool,
dry place.
Oily Hair Care Recipe
Ingredients:
a.. 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel (squeeze gel out of Aloe Vera plant)
b.. 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions:
Blend ingredients together with 1/4 cup of your regular hair shampoo. Wash
hair then rinse well.
For Limp Hair Recipe (helps to remove buildup)
BY PIONEER THINKING
Ingredients:
a.. 1/4 cup vinegar
b.. 1 cup water
Directions:
After conditioning the hair use this as a final rinse. Leaves your hair soft
and shiny.
For Dry Hair Recipe
Ingredients:
a.. 1 1/2 teaspoons Corn Oil
Directions:
Add the corn oil to your regular conditioner, rinse out as you normally
would.
TIP: To avoid having dry brittle hair, avoid using hot curling irons or blow
dryers, bleaching and perming, and hair dyes....use safe alternatives
instead such as natural dyes like hennas. Sometimes lacking nutrients can
also cause dry brittle hair. Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement on a
daily basis.
Frizzy Zapper Hair Recipe
Ingredients:
a.. 1/2 cup conditioner
b.. 1/4 cup honey
c.. 1 tablespoon almond oil
Directions:
Mix ingredients, blend well. Pour mixture over damp hair, work it in. leave on for about 20 minutes for a good deep conditioning. Rinse out. This works for all hair types.
Rosemary Shampoo
This gentle shampoo has the added benefit of Rosemary, long known for its hair conditioning and strengthening properties. Also stimulates hair growth!
1 bunch fresh rosemary
1/2 pint distilled water
4 1/2 fl.oz. unscented baby shampoo
4 drops rosemary essential oil
Boil the fresh rosemary in the distilled water for 1/2 hr, reducing the amount of liquid by half.
Allow to cool.
Strain the rosemary and water into a large screw-top jar and add the unscented shampoo and essential oil.
Shake well to mix.
Decant into decorative bottles.
Rosemary & Lavendar Hair Massage Oil
4 1/2 fl. oz. almond oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil
4 drops lavendar essential oil
Mix the almond oil with the essential oils.
Store in decorative container.
TO USE: Warm the oil slightly, then massage it into the hair vigorously with your fingers.
Comb through and leave on hair 1/2 hour.
Wash off with rosemary shampoo.
Dandelion shampoo
from "Chin Deep in Bubbles" by Melissa Placzek
4 TB baby shampoo
2 c purified water.
1/2c fresh dandelions
1/2tb cherry bark
1/2tb spearmint leaves
2 tsp olive oil
5 drops grapefruit eo
Put dandelion heads in a 20 oz canning jar. Boil water and pour over flower heads. Cover jar with lid and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Add cherry bark and spearmint to jar. Cover and allow to steep for an additional 10 min. Strain. Reserve liquid. Using funnel, pour shampoo & dandelion liquid into a pretty container. Add olive oil and eo. Shake gently to combine for each use.
Shampooing tips:
-only a small amount of shapoo is needed
-use fingertips to create a lather and massage your scalp
-rinse hair thoroughly and completely between washings
-to remove any residue, try a vinegar rinse
-wash with warm water and rinse with cool water for shiny hair
-apply favorite conditioner, wrap head in towel, and let sit 10 min
before rinsing
-pat hair dry, don't scrub
-comb hair starting at ends to prevent breakage
HONEY HAIR CONDITIONING TREATMENT
Mix 1/2 Pure Honey with 1/4 cup olive oil.
Use 2 tablespoons for normal to oily hair.
Using a small amount at a time, work mixture through hair until coated.
Cover hair with a shower cap and leave on 30 minutes.
Shampoo well and rinse; dry as usual
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Recommended Herbs For Use In Shampoos And Rinses
Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff
Catmint: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair
Flannel Mullein: lightens hair
Goosegrass: tonic and cleansing, helps prevent dandruff
Henna: red hair dye and conditioner
Horsetail: non-fertile stems and branches strengthens the hair
Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and
degreases
Lime: flowers clean and softens
Marigold: lightens hair color
Nasturtium: for hair growth
Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives
luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair
Rhubarb: the root makes a yellow hair dye
Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair
Southernwood: encourages hair growth and helps prevent dandruff
Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
Witch Hazel: leaves and bark are astringent and cleanses oily hair