DIY Herbal Hair Care For Locs and Natural Hair

A healthy hair regimen does not have to be a tedious process — it can actually be quite simple! With this blog, learn DIY recipes to make your own personal herbal products!

In our previous self care blog on natural hair care, we mentioned naturopaths that included the best herbs and oils for any healthy hair regimen. The following herbs, oils and other naturopaths can be used in our recipes.

Recommended Herbs

• Chamomile

• Nettle

• Calendula

• Comfrey

• Basil

• Rosemary

• Peppermint

• Burdock Root

• Lavender

Recommended Essential Oils

• Lavender

• Peppermint

• Tea Tree

• Lemongrass

• Rosemary

• Recommended Oil:

• Castor Oil

• Jojoba Oil

• Rosemary Oil

• Hemp Oil

• Moringa Oil

• Burdock Root oil

• Almond Oil

• Garlic Oil

Other Recommended Products

• Clays (Bentonite, Fuller’s Earth, Kaolin, Rassoul, and French Green)

• Salts (Dead Sea Salt)

• Butters (Shea)

• Berries

DIY Herbal Shampoo

Herbal shampoos are extremely easy to make and the best part about it is that you can create it according to what your hair needs. There are a wide variety of dry herbs and essential oils to choose from (see above) to treat dry scalp, promote hair growth and even cleanse the hair. Below is a easy DIY process to make your own personal herbal shampoo just in time for wash day!

Ingredients

• 8 oz distilled water

• 1 ounce of the selected herbs of above

• 3 oz of Castile Soap

• 1/4 Jojoba Oil

• 25 drops of pure essential oil

Process

• Boil water and add selected herbs, and cover and allow herbs to simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and cool the herbs

• As the mixture simmers, slow add the castile sap to tea mixture and then add in the essential and jojoba oils. Shake before use !

DIY Herbal Rinse

Hair rinsing can be dated back to the early African civilizations. These rinses were the quickest way to revive the scalp and provide it with nutrients that it needed. The oldest rinses were created from fresh bontanicals and clean water from naturally occurring springs. Even though these recipes are well dated, they are still very simple and effective !

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of the selected herbs above

• 1 quart of water

• 1 -2 drops of essential oils

Process

• Simmer the herbs in the water for 15-20 minutes. Once finished, strain well. Add drop or two of essential oils

• After shampooing and rinsing, pour the mixture through the hair and massage it into the hair without rinsing.

Hot Oil Conditioning Treatment

Hot oil treatments have also been used for centuries in the African civilization to encourage strengthening of the hair strands and prevention of brittle and split ends. Recreate this hot oil strengthening treatment in order to keep those locs moisturized and thoroughly cared for!

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil or Coconut Oil

• 1 ounce of the selected herbs above

• 10-20 drops of Tea Tree or Lemongrass Essential Oil

Process

• Warm the oil to 100 degrees and add herbs and essential oils. Warm for 3-5 minutes.

• Dampen hair before the treatment. Once damp enough, began by massaging the oil into the scalp and then work your way throughout the strand.

• Place a plastic bag or a shower cap on the hair and cover with a towel. Leave for 30 minutes- 1 hour, then shampoo and rinse.

Take Away

Embracing naturopathy is a necessity being that we are natural naturopaths. We resemble nature in such a way that makes us identical to what we see everyday. Utilizing things of the Earth, places us more in tune with nature. We are derivatives of Earth and the naturopaths that we use (such as herbs, vegetation, and fruit) are also derivatives of Earth. This is why we are able to respond in a more appropriate way to natural derivatives over synthetic or non familiar items (drugs, synthetic hormones, etc).

In order to potentiate holistic healing, it is important to understand how these derivative of Earth relate to us and affect our mind, body, and soul. Something as simple as hair care and the products you choose can affect you in a way that changes your entire state of health. Embrace naturopathy and become one with yourself and nature to potentiate a higher sense of self and healing !