Wax and Bubbles

Hair rinses are a great way to bring the luster and shine back to your scalp. And when your scalp is health, you hair will become healthy as well. Here are five more hair rinses you can make and use at home to help bring dull hair back to life.

• To add shine and body: Rinse your hair once a month with flat beer and decaffeinated tea. Pour a can of full-bodied beer into a glass and allow to sit out over night with three full-sized decaffeinated tea bags in the beer. Apply to your hair and allow to sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Doing this process once a month will help give over dried hair more vitality.

• To help with oil buildup: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp. dried sage. Allow this mixture to cool completely then strain the dried sage out of the water. Apply to hair and work into the scalp to help reduce the oil on the scalp. Do this process after your shampoo so the mixture has greater effect.

• To help with split ends: Rubbing olive oil into the ends of your hair about 2 to 3 times per week can help guard your hair against damage that causes spilt ends. Leave the olive oil on the hair overnight for much more added benefits and wash your hair as normal in the morning hours. Style as normal.

• To help with hair loss: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tsp. dried birch leaves and pour over hair while in the shower. Be sure and allow to cool completely and strain out the dried leaves before sue. If used on blond or gray hair it may make the hair appear darker so use caution with these hair colors.

• To bring out natural highlights: Mix together 1 lemon with 1/4 cup of water in a jar and shake well. Use this mixture as a rinse after shampooing and rinse with cool water after about 5 minutes. It will help treat oily buildup on the scalp as well.

The best way to keep your hair looking healthy is to brush your hair everyday with a natural bristle bush. This helps improve circulation in the scalp and will help remove pollutants and dust from the hair has well.

The scalp of our hair supplies the hair with protein and other nutrients to keep the hair healthy. This supply comes from blood vessels and to keep the hair healthy you have to treat the scalp rather than the hair shaft itself. There are chemical rinses and natural rinses that help in the process.

Natural rinses act to stimulate circulation in the scalp rather than coating the hair and other simple techniques will help to repair and keep your hair looking great. Here are a few that can help and some can be done in less than 30 seconds.

• Linden Flower Rinse: boil 1 cup water, and 1 tsp linden flowers. Steep the linden flower and allow to cool a bit, strain out the flowers and rinse over stressed or over-dried hair. Can be used for up to 6 weeks.

• Sesame Oil Rinse: 1 tbs. of sesame oil into the hair and scalp can help guard your hair against sun damage. Apply to hair and scalp before heading out into the sun.

• Chamomile Rinse: 1 cup boiling water plus 1 tsp. chamomile flowers. Pour the water over the flowers and steep. Allow to cool slightly and filter out the flowers. Rinse hair and scalp with this water mixture and it will give your hair sheen; you can also use this to lighten blonde hair healthy.

Use these rinses incorporation with your normal shampooing routine to help keep your hair and scalp healthy in a natural way. Hair rinses date back to before women took the time to care for themselves and just using their old techniques can keep your hair looking great everyday.

The scalp benefits from aromatherapy massage and treatments just as much as the face. This rejuvenating hot-oil treatment can be given before or after a facial massage, if desired, though it is equally effective on its own and is easy to do yourself. Hot oil with added essential oils nourishes the scalp and conditions the hair., Scalp massage promotes healthy hair growth, reduces scaling, is deeply relaxing and gently releases tension and dispels headaches.

Suitable base oils for the rejuvenating hot-oil treatment includes jojoba, which regulates sebum and is beneficial for dry, itchy scalps; evening primrose oil, which makes a good conditioner for hair; and neem oil, which helps prevent dandruff and itching. Add essential oils as follow: For dark hair, use rosemary; for fair or red hair, use chamomile; for dandruff, use lavender, bergamot or sandalwood.

How to perform the hot-oil treatment:

You will need:

• A essential oil and base oil, as suggested above; use a 3 percent dilution: 3 drops of essential oil for each 1 tsp (5 ml) of base oil
• A small cup
• A larger bowl of hot water
• Plastic wrap
• Hot towels
• Shampoo and conditioner

1. Take 1-2 tsp. (5-10 ml) of base oil, depending on your hair length and thickness. Heat the oil in a small cup or bowl immersed in a larger bowl of hot water, or in a microwave. Mix in the essential oil thoroughly.

2. Apply the oil to your hair, making sure that your cover every strand. Give yourself a through scalp massage, using small, firm circular movements with your fingertips and covering all of the scalp. Make sure you are really moving you scalp and not just shaking lightly over the top.

3. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap, and then cover your head with a hot towel. Replace with another hot towels once the first one has cooled, and repeat for as long as you like. Leave the oil in for at least hours.

4. Shampoo your hair at least twice to wash off the oil, applying neat shampoo for the first wash to ensure that you remove all traces of the oil. Condition your hair as usual, but use less conditioner than normal. Your hair will feel soft and glossy, and your scalp relaxed and invigorated. (Source: Aromatherapy Journal)

• A tea and beer rinse is one of the oldest ways to bring shine to your hair. Boil used tea leaves in enough water, let it cool and then use this liquid as the last rinse.

• In the similar fashion you can use flat beer (i.e. after letting the fizz out). This is a great conditioner to be used for your hair.

• Lemon juice mixed with water can also be used as a last rinse to give your hair a shiny and bouncy look. Don’t use too much lemon juice on your hair before going out in the sun. Rinse very well before heading outside or getting into a tanning bed.

• A shiny look is also provided if you use vinegar for your final rinse.

• To bring that shine one can use honey to keep your scalp moisturized. You can make honey lotion for your hair by mixing 3 teaspoons of honey for pint of water.

• The use of henna as a natural conditioner proves to be very beneficial for your hair. It helps to bring back the bounce and flair of your hair which has been lacking for quite a while. There are also henna colors for the hair to get a great colored look. Of course the henna coloring doesn’t last quite as long as the other brands or colors on the market, but it is a natural way to acheive great color for a temporary length of time.

• You can add small amount of baking soda in the shampoo which, removes dirt and grease from your hair to give you the shiny look.

• To remove the dirt and other matter from your hair you can use one fourth cup of apple cider vinegar in one gallon of condensed water. This can be stored in the refrigerator and can be used every two weeks for clean, smooth, silky and shiny hair. The proper way to use this solution is to wet your hair with warm water, shampoo and rinse your hair. Pour two cups of this mixture and leave it in your hair for about 2-3 minutes. The last stage is to rinse your hair with cold-water.

• To get that extra shine for your hair brew one cup of strong espresso, let it cool. Pour the espresso over your dry hair and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse it to get the extra shine and glow.

• You can also make egg shampoo at home which requires 1 egg, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon castile soap, 1/2 a cup water or herbal tea and last but not the least 5 drops of essential oils of your choice. Blend all these together to make an Egg shampoo which can bring shine to your hair.

• Many of us who want to clean their hair use shampoos. Try this for a change, massage baking soda into your hair and scalp. This absorbs oil and loosens the dead skin on the scalp. Rinse it thoroughly with water. In the initial stages the hair would be dry but after several weeks you would be dandruff free with smooth and shiny hair.

Warning: Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. Do not over use these products, for they could dry out the hair. (Source: Some information pulled from Pioneer Thinking)