How to Use Essential Oils and Herbs for Beautiful Hair
Essential oils and herbs for beautiful hair care. You all know that your hair, be it natural or not, is is your crown and glory. The key to a healthy crown is how well you care for it. The hair industry hasn’t always been your friend when it comes to black hair care products. Between the chemicals and dyes, it’s a wonder we’ve still got hair on our heads.
Essential Oils and Herbs for Black Hair Care
Whether it’s the herb or the essential oils you can use certain ones for different hair challenges. Here are a few to take into consideration:
Herbs to Fight Dandruff
Whether its a hair rinse, scalp oils or balm, these herbs and oils can help you find relief from a dandruff prone scalp. The list is familiar if you’ve studied essential oils or herbal science. If not, it’s a great place for you to begin:
Chamomile blossoms, greater burdock roots (Artium Lappa), lavender blossoms, wormwood goops (artemisia absinthium), nettle haulms or leaves, , blossoming thyme tops (Thymus vulgaris), peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officials) sage leaves and green tea.
Herbs to Prevent Hair Loss
If there’s one thing we’re always wanting to prevent, it’s hair loss. There’s a myth that black folks can’t grow long hair. That’s certainly not true, I’m living proof of that. When I switched from relaxed hair to locs, my hair has grown to my buttocks.
However, hair loss is a different challenge. The biggest culprit for hair loss according to black stylist and scientist is stress. So, the first thing you have to get under control is your stress level. Then there’s dehydration and improper nourishment to the body. They play an important role in the condition of your skin and hair.
As a preventive method, the following herbs or essential oils, can be used to ward off hair loss.
Nettle leaves, basil leaves (Ocimum basilcum) peppermint leaves, parsley leaves (Petroselium crisp), greater burdock roots.
Herbs to Miminize an Itchy Scalp
There’s nothing like having your scalp itching all the time. So much so for some of you, until you create sores scratching too hard trying to find relief.
Herbs or oils to offer relief are peppermint leaves, salvia leaves, greater burdock roots, lavender blooms.
Recipes for Your Library:
Hair Growth Nettle Tincture
2 tablespoons dried nettle leaves
2 tablespoons dried nettle roots
5 fluid ounces/150 ml sterile 60% alcohol
10 fluid ounces/300 ml distilled water
Directions:
Pour the sterile alcohol over the dried leaves and roots and let it infuse for two weeks in a lighted place. After two weeks, decant the tincture through a linen cloth or sieve and add the distilled water. Use the tincture to massage your scalp.
Dry Hair Herbal Water
10 fluid ounces/300 ml boiling water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon of almond oil
1 small tablespoon of chamomile blooms
1 tablespoon of sage leaves
1 small tablespoon of nettle leaves
Infuse the herbs in hot water for ten minutes. Place in a container afterward and allow to cool down. Add the other ingredients. You can apply the infusion directly to your hair and scalp. You can wash it out or leave it in your hair, allowing it to adjust naturally.
Damaged Hair
Remember damaged hair requires moisture. In order for your hair to gain moisture, a hot oil wrap can be used topically. Cold pressed oils are considered the best for hair and scalp treatments. These oils can also be used as carrier oils when working with essential oils.
Consider olive, jojoba, grapeseed, apricot, coconut, castor or almond oils to work with. Apply to your scalp and cover with a shower cap. Either sit under a dryer or wrap your head with a hot towel.
That’s it for this week. As always …
Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel,
Esthetician/Author/Publisher,
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