folk herbal hair rinse
I’m a firm believer that what we commonly refer to as “weeds” are actually potent medicine. These days, I cannot walk more than two blocks without stumbling upon herb friends sprouting up through sidewalk cracks, in parks, back alleys and everywhere in between.
As I previously wrote about here, Plantago major is absolutely abundant right now (and lucky for us - it is an especially soothing plant for pesky mosquito bites!). The other herb that I am seeing in abundance is Achillea millefolium (commonly known as yarrow).
YARROW
Achillea millefolium
Photo by Dr. Brittany Wolfe
The tiny white clustered blossoms of yarrow paired with the fern-like leaves make it an easy-to-spot herb. It has a rich historical use commonly used in battle to staunch bleeding. With what seems to be a never-ending list of medicinal uses, yarrow is an herb you should be well-acquainted with. Its affinity for blood and circulation make it an ally for women’s health as well.
Botanical Description
Leaves are highly dissected, vibrant green and resemble small fern-like leaves
The white or cream flowers grow in clusters and are usually quite fragrant
Harvest as soon as they flower; you can use the whole plant including the root but the flowers are most commonly used
Folk Herb-Rich Hair Rinse
Photo by Dr. Brittany Wolfe
Grab a mason jar
Fill the mason jar with yarrow, rosemary sprigs, red clover, nettle and marigold
Note: this blend is most beneficial for light-coloured blondes such as myself but there are many options for all sorts of hair colours and textures including sage, parsley, mullein, thyme, calendula…..and the list goes on and on! Feel free to play with different blends to find what you and your hair likes the best.
Cover the herbs entirely wth apple cider vinegar (ACV) and place in a dark space to infuse
If you want to speed up the process, you can place in a sunny window sill but watch it closely for mold
It is very important to make sure the herbs are covered by ACV as any exposed herbs will likely grow mold
It may be useful to use a clean lid or fermentation weight to keep the herbs below the ACV
Cover the jar with a lid or you can use parchment paper and a rubber band as well
Check it periodically to ensure that there is no mold growing
Once it has been a few weeks and the ACV smells like a delicious mix of herbs, strain into a spray bottle and give your hair a spray every time you’re in the shower then rinse out and follow with your usual haircare routine
Other Tips and tricks
ACV is most suited for oily hair but can be helpful for dry hair as well
Vinegar rinses are also helpful for itchy scalps, dandruff and re-establishing the pH of the scalp
If you are afraid you will smell like ACV, the scent is usually mild after the herbs have done their magic but you can also always add a few drops of essential oil if you please
