Dry, damaged hair is not only dull and tangle-prone, it's also likely to break frequently. Salon treatments might make your hair look better for a few days, but could also further dry out and damage your hair. Herbal hair rinses and hot oil treatments provide a gentler way to strengthen and rejuvenate your hair.
Burdock
Burdock, or Arctium lappa, inhabits meadows and waste areas of Europe, North America and Asia. Its name comes from the bristly burs that form after its flowers fade. The phytosterol and essential fatty acids in burdock root oil, or bur oil, can encourage the growth of stronger hair, suggest experts from George Mason University. It may also help relieve scalp problems like dandruff and itching. Add a few drops of this oil to your shampoo or blend it with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil for a hair oil treatment.
Horsetail
Horsetail, or Equisetum arvense, is a common North American weed with hair-nourishing properties. Its high silica content lends the plant a rough texture, but it's precisely this silica that can help strengthen your hair. Silica is a component of cartilage and other connective tissues, as well as hair and nails. Add 2 to 4 tsp. dried horsetail to 1 cup hot water and steep for 10 minutes. Apply this to your hair and leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Shampoo or simply rinse out the horsetail solution with pure water and dry your hair. Horsetail capsules are also available.
Lavender
The Mediterranean flower lavender not only has a soothing fragrance, but also soothes the skin. Lavender blended with other essential oils helped those with hair loss from alopecia areata re-grow a significant amount of hair, experts from the University of Maryland Medical Center note. Blend 10 drops of lavender oil into 1/2 cup soybean or coconut oil. Apply to your hair, then wrap your hair in plastic and a hot towel. Wait 20 minutes and shampoo.
Marshmallow
The flowering herb marshmallow, or Althea officinalis, gets its name from its preference for salty, damp soils. This herb's polysaccharides, or mucilage, give hair a smoother texture, decreasing the chance of tangles and breakage. The proteins, phenolic acids and flavonoids in the herb may also help strengthen and protect your hair. To make an infusion for a hair rinse, add 2 to 5 tsp. dried leaves or root powder to 5 oz. hot water and steep for 1 hour, suggests UMMC medical experts.
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