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Hair Care
In the fourth century, Greek men discovered this
bleaching method for their hair. They would soak their
hair with a mixture of pollen, yellow flower petals, and
potassium salt. After applying this mixture, they sat in
the sun for several hours until their hair turned blond.
To use henna as a hair dye for dark hair (medium brown
to black), boil the leaves, fruit, and flower petals in
water. (To deepen the color, use coffee instead of
water. For a redder shade, add red wine to the water.)
Allow the mixture to cool and then pour it over your
head. Once the color has had time to work, it should be
set by rinsing with a mildly acidic solution, (like
vinegar, lemon juice, or beer).
In Spain and Italy, men who wanted that virile look,
or who wanted to look older than their actual years,
sported beards. To stimulate beard growth, they daily
rubbed fresh southernwood leaves (which were lemon
scented) on their faces.
Canadian researchers have discovered thar apple cider
vinegar is an effective topical remedy for dandruff.
The vinegar is poured on the hair, massaged into the
scalp, and left to dry for a few minutes. Then the hair
is washed. This process is repeated daily until the
dandruff is gone. An infusion of rosemary and borax
is also good for a dandruff rinse.
The Chickasaws used corn oil as a remedy for dandruff.
They masged the corn grains and rubbed the oil directly
on the scalp.
The Chinese are known worldwide for the deep raven color
of their hair. As they grow older, however, it's not
uncommon for a few white strands to show up. When this
happens they dye their hair from the inside out by
eating large amounts of fried, ground barley seeds (a
good source of B vitamins and minerals) and sweet
potatoes (which contain lots of beta carotene).
Here's a Latin method of dying your hair.
Shampoo your hair. Then pour strong, cooled coffee
over your head, and wait 20 minutes. Rinse out the
coffee with beer, vinegar, or lemon juice to seal in
the color. And, finally, rinse your hair with water.
The ancient Egyptians rubbed castor oil into the scalp
to make hair grow faster and to give it extra shine.
Chamomile is abundant throughout Europe. A particularly
valued variety of this plant is German chamomile,
recognized by a fragrant aroma that's reminiscent of
ripe apples. (The name "chamomile" (sometimes spelled
camomile) comes from the Greek word for ground apple.)
German chamomile is used in perfumes, tobaccos, teas,
and flavored liquers. But one of its most effective uses
is in shampoos and rinses because chamomile cleans and
conditions. To make a chamomile rinse, boil the petals
in water and allow to cool. Then pour the cooled rinse
over your hair. This works especially well to renew the
brilliant color of blond hair.
Hair loss is one of the earliest manifestations of
hypothyroidism, which is caused by too little iodine
in the body.
The yucca plant (also called the desert amole) is used
to produce a sudsy shampoo that eliminates dandruff.
A popular hair dye in ancient Rome was
made from boiled walnut shells and leeks.
Kelp is said to help make your hair richer and more full
bodied Minerals are important for hair growth, and it
is full of minerals, particularly iodine.
In Germany, a hair tonic rub is made from a few
handfuls of nasturtium, nettle leaves, and a small
handful of boxwood leaves. Nettle rinses (usually
brewed like a tea in water) are known to eliminate
dandruff and eczema. This tea is rich in vitamin C and
iron and can also be sipped to treat anemia and
arthritis, and to ease nosebleeds and excessive
menstrual flow. To make the mixture, crush the leaves
and place them in a screw top jar with a quarter of a
pint of vodka. Allow to soak for 2 weeks, and then
strain off the alcohol. The lotion can be scented by
adding a tsp of crushed rosemary leaves (containing
sulfur and natural antibiotics) and an equal quantity
of fresh lavender flower heads during the second week.
A small amount of the liquid massaged into the scalp promotes brisk circulation.
Some French people say that burdock root prevents hair
loss, especially when the oil from the plant is rubbed
into the scalp. The antibiotic action of burdock may
have contributed to the healthy scalps of the French.
They rubbed equal quantities of burdock root, fresh
burdock leaves, ans wine vinegar into their scalps.
There are many intriguing folk remedies for baldness
that make use of the onion. One treatment is to rub a
little onion juice on your head and lie out in the
sun. Onion bulbs, too, offer some potential as a
baldness treatment. They are a good source of minerals
needed for hair growth.
Here's a Chinese remedy for baldness. Finely grate a
chunk of ginger. Warm it slightly, soread it on the
bald area, cover it with a shower cap for 30 minutes,
and then wash it off. Warning: Don't try this if there
is any broken skin on the scalp.
Here's another Chinese baldness remedy. Dip a cotton
ball in a solution of 1 part ginger juice to 10 parts
alcohol, and massage the bald area. Rinse after 30
minutes. Warning: Don't try this if there is any
broken skin on the scalp.
Absinthe (Artemisia absinthium) also called wormwood,
was a Greek hair loss remedy. They made a lotion by
adding 30 grams of leaves and flowers to 1 liter of
boiling water. They rubbed the cooled lotion into the
scalp at night and in the morning. Also used long ago
by herbalists in Mediterranean countries, this plant
is a good source of beta carotene and vitamin C.
Russian barbers sometimes recommended this hair
nourishing recipe to their balding customers. They
tell them to mix 1 tbsp of honey, 1 shot of vodka, and
the juice of one onion. The combination is rubbed into
the scalp every night, covered, and then rinsed off in
the morning.
In Spain a good hair tonic is made with the inner peel
of quince fruit, known to have healing properties. To
make the tonic, boil the peel of 3 quinces in half a
liter of water for 10 minutes, and then cool.
A dandruff remedy which has been found most effective is: Sixty grains of sulphur mixed with one ounce of vaseline and applied every other night to the scalp, with massage. Where there is dandruff it is well to wash the hair twice a week at first, gradually lengthening the time to every ten days or two weeks.
Aloe vera makes the hair thick, its fibers strong and resistant. It adds body and shine without harmful chemicals. Aloe and jojoba let the pores breathe. Mix a few drops each of jojoba and aloe gel, and lightly massage them into your scalp and hair daily.
A nourishing conditioner for dry or damaged hair which can be used for all hair types: Separate the white of an egg from the yolk, whip it to a peak. Add 1 Tablespoon of water to the yolk and blend until the mixture is creamy. Then mix the white and yolk together. Wet your hair with warm water, remove the excess moisture, and apply the mixture to your scalp with your fingertips. Massage gently until the froth is worked into your scalp, then rinse the hair with cool water. Keep applying the mixture until it is used up and then rinsed until all of the egg is washed away.
The vinegar is poured into the hair, massaged into the scalp, and left to dry for a few minutes. Then the hair is washed. The process is repeated daily until the dandruff disappears, usually within a few days.
For hair loss/greying, take methi seed and grind these, consume 5 gm of this powder everyday. Methi leaves when crushed to a paste and applied on hair and washed later will give soft & silky hair. Try for 1 to 1 1/2 month for good results.
Protein Hair Conditioner
Beat 1 egg white until foamy. Add to 5 Tbsps plain natural yogurt. Apply to hair in small sections at a time. Leave in for
15 minutes. Rinse.
Soothing Herbal Hair Rinse
Combine equal parts of dried rosemary, comfrey, witch hazel leaves and nettles to make about 1/2 cup. Add to 2 cups of water in a covered pot. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep overnight. Strain. Shampoo and rinse hair then use herb tea for a final rinse to relieve itchy, flaky scalp.
Scented Hair Brush
Essential oils are nice to have on hand in your favorite scent. They are used so sparingly that one bottle goes a very long way. Add two drops of rosemary or lavender essential oil to your hairbrush, and immediately brush through your hair. Your hair will smell and feel wonderful!
Warning: Humor may be hazardous to your illness.
~Ellie Katz
Horsetail is rich in "beauty" nutrients that nourish the nails, skin, hair, bones and the body's connective tissue. It is also benefits the glands and urinary tract. Horsetail helps heal fractured bones because of its rich supply of nutrients.
Try diffusing Basil before going out in the evening. This is especially good when you've been working all day and need to get up enough energy to go out. Basil's energizing effects will
give you the boost you need.
Dandruff: An excellent after shampoo rinse for
dandruff can be made by taking one cup each violet
leaves, peppermint, nettle, red clover, witch hazel,
and rosemary. Mix them together. Before shampooing,
warm a quarter cup of the dried herbs in two cups of
water for your rinse.
