Healthy Hair

Health looking hair is a beauty secret both men and women would love to share in.  The shampoo, dye and styling industry is a huge business.  Personally, I like a little more natural, home based remedies to help with split ends and shine.  I’m also going to include information on hair growing encouragement and colouring.  Please keep in mind that the healthier you are, the better of your hair will be.  Habits like smoking or drinking alcohol will have an effect on the natural state of your hair.  Taking vitamins, regular exercise and drinking water will all help keep your body working naturally and looking good.

Herbal shampoos can be complicated, so I’ve included a version of a simple recipe that makes the entire process much easier with similar results.  If you decide you want to use soapwort or castile soap, I’ve included two basic recipes that have good results for normal hair types.  Basic rules of thumb:

If you have lighter coloured hair, use chamomile, darker hair users should use sage.

Peppermint fights against dandruff and itchy scalp.

Rosemary encourages hair growth.

Calendula adds shine and body.

My best suggestion is to try different combinations until you find what best works for you.  Keeping a journal or notes on each different recipe is a good way of judging what you liked best.  If scalp irritation, redness or swelling ever occur, discontinue use immediately.  I wouldn’t say these shampoos or conditioners can go ‘bad’ but I like to make fresh batches monthly, it’s a good Full Moon following.

Castile Soap Shampoo

2 tablespoons of Castile Soap Flakes, Powder or Liquid
3 cups of Water
½ cup of Chamomile or Sage, fresh or dried, crushed for stimulation
¼ cup of finely chopped fresh Rosemary
¼ cup of Calendula
¼ cup of finely chopped fresh Peppermint
3 teaspoons of Vitamin E Oil

Optional:  3 drops of your preference of Essential Oil for scent

Bring to boil 3 cups of water and all herbs in a pot.  Leave herbs to steep for 10 minutes, and then strain.
Mix Castile Soap into the still hot water, making sure all lumps are dissolved.
Add oils, mixing in completely.
Store shampoo for three days on the top of your fridge or another warm, dry place.  Use as needed.

Soapwort Shampoo

1 cup of Soapwort
3 cups of Water
¼ cup of Calendula
¼ cup of Rosemary
¼ cup of Peppermint
½ cup of Chamomile or Sage, fresh or dried, crushed for stimulation

Optional:  3 drops of your preference of Essential Oil for scent

Bring water and herbs to a boil and let steep for a least half an hour.

Soapwort can create scum along the top of the pot, mix it in or strain it off, it’s not harmful but it can create lumps within your shampoo.

Strain mix when cool, add oil if you wish.

Soapwort does not create high lather, which does not inhibit it’s cleansing abilities in the slightest.  This shampoo can be used right away.

Herbal Shampoo Made Simple

 1 Bottle of Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo
½ cup of finely chopped fresh Rosemary
⅓ cup of finely chopped Yarrow
¼ cup of Calendula
½ cup Lavender flowers, crushed for stimulation
2 teaspoons of Vitamin E oil

 Optional:  3 teaspoons of Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil or Sunflower Oil

 Purchase some Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo, the yellow basic brand will do just fine.  Empty shampoo into a microwave safe container or double boiler.

Add half a cup of finely cut fresh rosemary, a third of a cup of yarrow, and lavender that has been pressed or squeezed to stimulate the scent.

Add two teaspoons of Vitamin E oil once the concoction has started to heat up.  If you’d like, add some extra oil for conditioning and softening.

Turn off heat once the shampoo is almost at a boil, strain out herbs and if you’d like, put it back in the bottle it came from.  Don’t use shampoo until it’s cooled.

 Shake shampoo before use.

Use shampoo within three months of creation.  I’ve never had it go bad, but if it smells wrong or the colour drastically changes, don’t use it.

Cuileann always recommends that every once and a while, you leave conditioner in your hair over night, then wash it in the morning.  I have to admit, there is nothing like softly conditioned hair that smells good.  These recipes should be mixed and can be heated in a double boiler, although I’m sure microwaves work just as well.  Remove any lumps before applying, and once you’ve waited as long as you want, make sure to rinse your hair extremely well.  For deep conditioning treatments I do recommend over night, wrapped in plastic to contain the heat.  For daily or more frequent use, leaving the treatment in for 10 minutes will work well enough.

Create the base mix, then add the ingredients according to your hair type.  Warm mixture upon each repeat use, if you’re in the shower simply hold the bottle under warm spray before using it on your hair.  You can multiply the basic formula to make as much or as little as you’ll need, but I suggest not making more than you’ll use in a month.

If you decide you do not wish to use essential oils, due to cost or availability, you can use fresh or dried herbs.  Simply boil and steep the herbs, ½ cup of herbs to 1 cup of water, and then strain out the herbs.  Your conditioner will be more watery, but there will be natural essence infused into the water, which you can then use freely.  I actually prefer this method, it works within my budget and I can use my own herbs.

Base Mixture
1 cup Cocoa Butter
1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
3 teaspoons Jojoba Oil
3 teaspoons Almond Oil

 For Split Ends
1 cup Honey
3 teaspoons Almond Oil
3 teaspoons Olive Oil
9 drops of Chamomile Essential Oil

For Oily Hair
1 cup Aloe Vera Gel

*** Only put one teaspoon each of Jojoba and Almond oil in the base mix.

For Scalp Stimulation and Hair Growth
3 teaspoons Sunflower Oil
3 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil
3 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops of Yarrow Essential Oil
3 drops of Chamomile Essential Oil
 

Parsnip Hair Gloss

1 Parsnip, chopped
½ teaspoon of Parsnip Seeds
¼ cup of Olive Oil
2 teaspoons Vitamin E Oil
Optional: 3 drops of your preference of Essential Oil for scent

Boil all contents except for Vitamin E Oil in a pot for 8 minutes, then strain.  Add Vitamin E Oil while mixture is still hot.  Add oil for scent if you wish, stir in well.

Mix gloss into hair after shampoo, and then rise out within 10 minutes.

Keep in a small pot to use as a finishing gloss if you wish.

Parsnip will add shine, encourage hair growth and health and finesse split ends.

Egg Hair Mask

To make a hair mask, a simple one time usage potion, consider this egg treatment:

⅓ cup Olive Oil
2 Eggs
½ cup fresh chopped Rosemary
⅓ cup of Mint
1 cup of Water 

Mix eggs and oil into a cup, once a white froth has formed, add herbs and water.  Mix well into hair, then rinse.  Use conditioner as per normal.  I have used this recipe after I’ve cleansed my hair with the vinegar/lemon juice recipe.  It’s invigorating because of the mint, and works wonders with dry hair because of the rosemary and egg.

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Note that Eira Alarches and SnowStones.com can take no responsibility for outcomes or events based upon the use of the above listed information.
Please use Common Sense, Reason and above all, Love.
Copyright Eira Alarches© 2008