Herbs and Natural Haircare Are Forever Related
It’s no secret that I love to keep herbs on-hand for lots of uses.
Hello again, tea lovers!
So many things that I’m interested in are connected - namely natural haircare and herbal wellness. If you know me, you’ve probably seen my hair. You also probably know that I have been maintaining and styling my own traditional locs for the past seven years - and man, time flies! I remember having intense loc envy when I first started them in 2015. Seeing other people’s locs that were long, healthy, shiny, and totally unique always inspired me to take charge of the health of my hair and to always prioritize styles and products that would support that.
You also probably know that natural herbs are present in lots of haircare products, especially for Black natural hair. That’s because herbs have medicinal qualities that work not only in tea when they are consumed but also topically to support the overall health and wellness of our scalps and strands. Whether you are interested in doing your own herbal hair/loc rinse, or you’d like to take a swing at making your own moisturizer, or if you just want to incorporate more herbs into your daily beauty routine, knowing which herbs to start with can be a very helpful jumping off point.
Here are a few herbs that I love to incorporate into my haircare.
Some of these organic loose herbs are available via ATC online, so if you’d like to stock up, be sure to visit the Herbal Extras tab! Also, it’s important for each tea lover to do their own research about the benefits or side effects of incorporating herbs into their hair care. When in doubt, always consult a licensed hair care professional or health practitioner :)
Chamomile.
Chamomile has a reputation for helping to soothe itchy or dry scalp, decrease dandruff, and enhance blond or brown hair color naturally.
Calendula. Calendula can help hydrate hair and scalp as well as relieve flaking.
Mint. MInt invigorates the scalp by supporting healthy blood flow, reducing scalp oiliness, and relieving itchiness.
Nettle. Nettle has properties that can support new hair growth and slow hair loss.
Lavender. This beautiful flower can help increase circulation, encourage relaxation through aroma, and reduce flakiness and itchiness.
Rosemary. Rosemary can act as an anti-fungal and has been used to help treat androgenic alopecia as well as dandruff and persistent itch.
Lemon balm. This relative of mint can help reduce scalp and hair oiliness and improve the look and feel of your hair!
A Few Helpful Links
By no means is this an exhaustive list! I encourage each of you reading this to seek out other herbs that can help your haircare. For a quick reference on making herbal rinses and other useful herbal infusions, here are a few helpful resources. As a person who learned how to interlock their own hair on the prestigious YouTube University, I’d also encourage you to visit YouTube and choose a creator that tickles your fancy.
Herbal Hair Rinses - The Upside
DIY Herbal Rinse for Dry/Oily Hair - Black Hair Info