Sunday 27 April 2014

Healthy hair and scalp: Herbal tea rinses

Hi again,
Very often we have to deal with dull hair or dry and flaky scalp that seems to reuse to improve no matter what you use. This issues are caused by a couple of issues we encounter in our daily activities. Your scalp could be acting up due to build-up from dust and sediments (smoke, fumes etc) that are in the polluted city airs we survive by, or you may be having an allergic reaction due to medication or even hair products and styling gels. The same happens to your hair, topped up with build-up of dirt and styling products and salts from our sweats.
One remedy many people adopt is the herbal tea rinse. Simply put, you prepare herbal tea (without the sweeteners or honey), cool the tea and use it as a final rinse after shampoo or deep conditioning/treatments.
There are many herbs that are used, and each of them will have very positive impact on your scalp, and hence your hair.

  • Black Tea Rinse: Yep, strong tea (or turungi ...). Tea is known to have very powerful phyto-nutrients which help in strengthening the follicles and stop shedding. Tea is also mildly acidic and so it will give your hair a glossy finish and leave the strands stronger. Since black tea has a 'drying' effect like henna, it is best used as the rinse just before applying conditioner (treatment) and letting it sit in your hair for 15 to 20 minutes under a dryer (optional). Doing this with your routine conditioning (treatment) is bound to reduce the amount of hair you shed, and leave your hair glossier and much much stronger. A cup (or half ) will do.

  • Black coffee rinse: Regular espresso, gourmet or just plain old coffee no matter the name. The regular caffeine coffee should do the trick. Just like black tea, it leaves your hair stronger, glossier and will cut down your shedding drastically. You should use it with your conditioning treatment, especially a moisturizing conditioner. A cup (or half ) will do.
  • Apple cider vinegar: ACV rinse is usually done after rinsing off the conditioning treatment or hot-oil treatment. 
    • Besides sealing the cuticles, it also cleanses and clarifies, effectively helping removing residue that leads to dry and breaking hair. It also helps clarify the scalp, reducing product-related itching and flaking. It also helps in combating dandruff.. 
    • It is very popular and helpful with people who use hard tap water to wash their hair. Integrating this rinse weekly leads to soft, glossy hair that stays moisturized. You will mix only a table spoon of ACV with a cup of cold water. Be careful not to add too much as it can irritate your hair and scalp when too concentrated.
  • Flat beer rinse: Yes, the brown frothy waters do hold a punch of their own. Rinsing your hair once a month with flat beer (you can use fresh beer if you don't mind the foam) gives you strong, bodacious, resilient and glossy hair. It also acts as a wonderful setting lotion before blow-drying, and reduces the limp appearance after styling. Just use a cup to rinse after conditioning. Don't worry about the smell, it will go away after a few minutes.
  • Green tea rinse: Green tea is very useful in controlling hair loss or shedding. You simply make the tea by brewing some green tea bags in hot water and then, let it cool. You simply pour the tea on your hair and scalp. You can use a small basin to collect the run-off tea, then rinse your hair again as you massage your scalp (if you are enjoying the massage). The tea contains compounds that will help manage hair loss, as well as shedding. As always, drinking your green tea will also give you many anti-oxidant goodies that will help in keeping you healthy.
  • Chamomile tea: Chamomile tea is soothing to the scalp and gives your hair a brilliant sheen. Chamomile tea also lightens the hair a bit.
  • Lemon: Lemon juice (or tea if you choose to brew ... your call!!) is also very soothing for the scalp, and it also helps in controlling dandruff and oily scalp. Too much lemon will dry out your hair, and cause lightening, especially if the hair is exposed to sunlight a lot. One lemon should be enough for a cop of water or even mixed with chamomile tea.
So, here is the 'small' list on how you can benefit from different herbal rinses. You can tweak it depending on availability or time, or how you decide to condition or treat your hair and scalp. Feel free to get Herbal!!

This is Serenity!!

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