We’ve all been there.
You’ve got a big event tonight- something that will definitely be posted on multiple social media accounts- and your hair is just not giving you what you need. It doesn’t matter that you scheduled your wash days perfectly around this event. In fact, that probably just tempted the universe to laugh in your face- a face that is currently framed by hair that is both lusterless and lifeless.
Of course there are products you can start slathering on in desperation. That is, if you are willing to risk the damage to your hair. Using too much product- or any of the wrong product- can leave you hair in worse shape than you started with. Chrissy Woods, a licensed cosmetologist and owner of The Studio 1216 told Insider.com that “”If you are noticing that your hair is dry or brittle it could be due to the products that you are using……if your hair is stiff, won’t hold a curl, and the ends look frayed, this too could be a sign of product damage”.
So wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to get some natural shine and strength back into your hair without making a deal with the scalp-parching pomade devil?
Well lucky for us, there is.
The Original Covergirl
Before we had the likes of Maybelline and L’Oreal telling us what products would make us look just like their airbrushed spokesmodels, there was another Covergirl running things: Mother Nature. And she definitely knew what she was doing.
It would shock and amaze you to learn the applications that ancient natural herbs have to modern day beauty. For instance, you probably didn’t know that your neighbor’s backyard roses have a high vitamin C content that makes them extremely moisturizing. Or you might not have realized that the rosemary you add to your spaghetti bolognese can be used to naturally darken and hide gray hairs.
Now before you go snipping your neighbor’s roses or soaking your hair in spaghetti, clear out an hour for some “me time” and gather just a few simple items from around your house. There is a way to put some of Covergirl Nature’s best ingredients to work that will leave you- and everyone who sees your new ‘do- breathless.
Rise, Rinse and Shine
One of the kindest things you can do for your hair is to prepare it a personalized herbal rinse. Some wonderful recipes, including the ones below, can be found in The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock. While these rinses will not change your hair color, Nock says “it will strengthen and add shine and enhance any natural highlights you have”. If you want more of Nock’s herbal beauty recipes and tips on how to incorporate a little magic into them, they can be found in her book here!
Now let’s get to making your hair the envy of all your close friends and relatives!
You will need:
- 1 gallon spring water, divided
- Medium saucepan
- 1-quart glass jar
- 2 cups herbal blend (see the lists below to choose which herbal blend is right for you)
- Strainer
- Large pitcher
- Cheesecloth
- Tub or sink
Choose your herbal blend:
To Amplify Dark Hair:
- ½ cup rosemary needles
- ½ cup red raspberry leaf
- ¼ cup garden sage leaves
- ¼ cup nettle leaves
- ¼ cup calendula flowers
- ¼ cup comfrey leaf
To Amplify Fair or Light Hair
- ½ cup chamomile flowers
- ½ cup yarrow flowers and leaves
- Juice of 3 fresh lemons
- ¼ cup garden sage leaves
- ¼ cup nettle leaves
- ¼ cup calendula flowers
- ¼ cup comfrey leaves
To Amplify Auburn Hair
- 2 cups hibiscus flowers
- 1 cup red clover leaves and flowers
- ¼ cup nettles leaves
- ¼ cup calendula flowers
- ¼ cup comfrey leaves
- ¼ cup red henna powder
- Bring 4 cups of spring water to boil in the medium saucepan. Turn off the heat.
- Prepare the glass jar by turning it under hot running water for at least 1 minute in order to warm it up.
- Fill the quart jar with your chosen herbal blend
- Pour the boiled water over the herbs and close the jar. Allow to steep for at least 30 minutes.
- After steeping, place the strainer over the pitcher and line the strainer with the cheesecloth. Pour the contents of the quart jar slowly over the strainer and cloth. Gather up the herbs and squeeze any remaining liquid into the pitcher.
- Transfer the infusion in the pitcher back into the jar.
- In the pitcher, combine 1 ½ quarts spring water with 1 cup of the herbal infusion from your jar. Your herbal rinse is now ready to use.
- Position your head over the tub or sink. Pour the pitcher slowly over your hair. Put the pitcher down periodically to massage your scalp and pull the rinse through your hair.
- When you are finished, do not rinse your hair. Simply allow it to dry naturally while the herbal infusion does it’s thing!
There is a reason that our hair is so important to us. For centuries, hair has been a symbol of both strength and beauty. In Egyptian mythology, we see the story of Isis spreading her hair over Osiris before bringing him back to life. Then later on, we see the biblical tale of Sampson, whose hair gave him enough strength to defeat a lion with his bare hands. And when Medusa angered the ancient Greek deity Aphrodite by boasting of her beauty, how did Aphrodite punish her? By replacing her luscious locks with hissing vipers, of course.
Our hair can tell a story all it’s own before we even open our mouths. So next time you show up to your company picnic or best friend’s birthday party, do yourself a favor and give your hair a quick herbal rinse to make sure it’s telling a story you wouldn’t mind being passed down for centuries to come- because who knows! With hair that good, it just might be!
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