Harsh shampoos, styling tools, chemicals from permanents--it seems there's no shortage of factors that can stress your hair. It's no surprise that even the most well-behaved hair acts up sometimes, displaying split ends, a lack of bounce and shine, even a few dandruff flakes. Fortunately, you can use ordinary household ingredients to make natural hair treatments to condition your tresses. Apply a small amount to your wrist before use the mixture to make sure you're not allergic to the ingredients, and get the OK from your doctor before using essential oils.
Thyme Hair Rinse for Shine and Dandruff Control
Step 1
Boil 4 tbsp. dried thyme in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes to use the hair rinse recipe suggested by Pioneer Thinking. By gently cleaning your hair, thyme can help to control dandruff, while its circulation-enhancing capabilities promote healthy hair growth. In addition, its refreshing scent has mood-lifting qualities. Herbalists and natural beauty experts have long extolled the beneficial effects of thyme, and there is some scientific research supporting the belief. In a study titled "Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action of Three Monoterpenes," conducted at University of Rome in Rome, Italy and published in the June 2005 issue of "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy," researchers found that thymol, a constituent of thyme, had inhibitory actions against both the S. aureus and the E. coli pathogens.
Step 2
Pour the mixture through a strainer into a glass jar, and allow it to cool.
Step 3
Shampoo your hair, and leave it damp. Massage the thyme mixture through your hair from the scalp and roots to the tips.
Step 4
Allow the thyme mixture to stay on your hair for an hour, then rinse out with warm water. Dry and style as usual, or give your hair a break from heat styling and let it air dry, finger fluffing it for volume.
Rosemary Honey Hair Conditioner
Step 1
Stir 1/2 cup of honey into 1/4 cup of warmed olive oil, blending well. According to Skin Care Resource Center, honey is a humectant--meaning it helps to attract and retain moisture--as well as an antioxidant. Olive oil is a natural emollient, rich in beneficial oleic acid.
Step 2
Add 4 drops of essential oil of rosemary to the honey and oil mixture, then stir in 1 tsp. of xanthum gum, which you can buy in health food stores.
Step 3
Pour the mixture into a clean container, and apply it to your scalp with your fingers or a wooden spoon, massaging it evenly through the entire length of your hair, and making sure it contacts dry, damaged areas and split ends. The mixture may be drippy; work over a sink, or wear an old smock or shirt to protect clothes.
Step 4
Cover your hair tightly with a very warm towel you have heated in the microwave; depending on the power of your microwave, this should take 3 or 4 minutes. Heat the towel in 30-second increments to avoid making it too hot. You want it to be warm enough to help the oil penetrate the hair, but not so hot that it is uncomfortable.
Step 5
Allow the towel and conditioner to stay in place for at least 30 minutes, then remove the towel and use a mild commercial shampoo to remove the honey and oil conditioner from your hair.
Tips and Warnings
- When rinsing the treatment from your hair, make the water as chilly as you can tolerate. Cold water helps to seal the outer cuticle layer, making hair look glossier and more reflective.
- When rinsing the honey and olive oil from your hair, make sure you rinse it all down the drain and that it doesn't coat your feet, the bottom of the tub, or the shower floor. The slipperiness that makes olive oil a good emollient can make footing treacherous--use caution.
Things You'll Need
- 4 tbsp. dried thyme
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup warmed olive oil
- 4 drops essential oil of rosemary
- 1 tsp. xanthum gum
- Plastic container
- Wooden spoon (optional)
- Old shirt or smock (optional)
- Towel
- Mild commercial shampoo
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