HAIR CARE

Monday, March 21, 2011

Herb leaves used to condition dry hair include comfrey, marsh mallow, stinging nettles, parsley and sage; plus burdock root and elder flowers. Herbs for greasy hair are horsetail, lemon balm, mints, rosemary, southernwood, witch-hazel and yarrow; plus calendula petals, lavender and lemon juice.

Herbs to add body and luster include goose grass, horsetail, parsley, rosemary, sage, southernwood, stinging nettle and watercress; plus calendula petals, lime flowers and nasturtium. To make a pre-shampoo lotion, start with an infused herbal oil or macerate a selected herb or herbs in a vegetable oil (see page 59), Alternatively, add a few drops of the essential oil of the chosen herb, it warmed herbal oil on to the hands and massage into the scalp drawing the oil out along the hair strands. Cover the head with foil and a shower cap and wrap in hot towel (wrung out in hot water) replacing the towel as it cools. Maintain this for 20-30 minutes for greatest penetration, and then wash off with a mild shampoo. For shampoo, add a few drops of the essential oil of a selected herb to a bottle of mild, fragrance – free shampoo. For a single shampooing, mix one application of shampoo with a tbsp of a strong decoction in a cup and apply as normal. Finally, an after – shampoo rinse is made from a strong decoction, cooled to blood heat. The herbs listed above for body and luster are especially useful for giving extra shine.