INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

The recipes that follow are flexible; they are meant to be  guidelines.
One of the greatest advantages to making herbal hair  preparations at
home is the opportunity to experiment and fine out  what works best for
your own hair.  The accompanying chart suggests  some herbs to try.
Always make and store herbal hair preparations in nonreactive
containers; otherwise, you might find your hair turning an unexpected
hue. I steep my herbs in an enamel bowl and store leftovers in the
refrigerator in a plastic shampoo bottle.  Before trying any new herb
concoction on your scalp, dab a bit of the preparation on the inside
of your elbow and cover it with a plastic bandage.  Wait for 24 hours
and then check for redness or itching.  If you don't see or feel any
allergic reaction, the preparation is probably safe to use on your
head.  ** SHAMPOO: Herbs containing saponins that can be used for
shampooing  hair include soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) and yucca
(Yucca  filmentosa, Y. glauca).  Soap-bark chips, which come from the
Chilean  evergreen tree 'Quillaja saponaria' and are available from
some  suppliers of herb products, are a good choice for oily hair.  All
have a gentle cleansing action.  Finely chop 2 tablespoons fresh or 1
tablespoon dried soapwort root or  leaves and stems, or substitute a
similar amount of yucca roots or  soap-bark.  Add 1 cup warm water and
agitate until suds form.  If  desired, use half the amount of water and
add the sudsy solution to  an infusion made by steeping, then
straining, a handful of other  herbs suited to your hair type (see
chart below).  Massage the preparation into your scalp, about 1/2 cup
for average  length hair; rinse with water and repeat soaping if
necessary.  The  solution, odorless when fresh, may begin to ferment
and smell  unpleasant in a few days, so make only enough to use up in a
short  time.  Follow this shampoo with an herbal conditioning rinse
(see below).  ** CASTILE SHAMPOO: Make an herbal infusion by pouring 4
cups boiling  water over 5 tablespoons of the dried herb or herbs of
your choice  (see chart), or use a couple of big handfuls of fresh
herbs.  Chamomile flowers are often used for light hair, rosemary or
sage for  brunettes. Cover and steep for 30 minutes.  Strain out
solids, add 4  ounces of flaked or liquid castile soap, and stir.  This
will make about 1 quart of shampoo, which will keep for a couple  of
weeks in the refrigerator.  Follow it with the herbal conditioning
rinse below.  ** CONDITIONING RINSE: Used after first rinsing out your
shampoo with  plain water, this vinegar solution will neutralize the
alkalinity of  castile or commercial shampoos, remove any hard water
residue, and  leave hair feeling soft.  It's made up fresh for each
shampoo.  Choose herbs for the conditioning effects appropriate to your
hair  type (see chart below).  Infuse 2 tablespoons dried herbs, or a
couple of handfuls of fresh ones, in 4 cups boiling water.  Cover and
steep for 30 minutes, then strain well.  Add 1 tablespoon cider
vinegar. Other vinegars can be used for the same acidifying effect,
but cider vinegar has a pleasant scent.  Pour this solution through
hair over a basin or bowl to catch the  flow, then repeat the motion
about 20 times.  ** SETTING GEL: The familiar house plant 'Aloe vera'
has a role in the  herbal hair salon. The gel from the freshly cut leaf
serves as a  setting gel; it leaves hair shiny, dries quickly, and
tames curly  hair. Use the gel as you would any other setting gel, or
try it as a  mousse, letting the aloe dry on the hair and then brushing
as you  blow-dry.  ** DRY SHAMPOO: In between shampoos, or when you are
traveling or ill  or in a hurry, try this dry substitute.  Part off
sections of your  hair in rows and sprinkle arrowroot powder on your
hair and scalp.  Work it in with your fingers. Leave it on for a few
minutes to absorb  hair oils, then brush hair thoroughly until it
shines.  HERBS AND YOUR HAIR: WHICH DO WHAT?
=================================== The herbs listed below have been
traditionally recommended for use on the hair and scalp.  Before  using
one for the first time, take the time to do a patch test  (described
above). Use the leaves and stems unless otherwise noted.  To condition
dry hair: geranium, burdock root, comfrey, elderflowers,  marsh mallow,
sage, parsley, stinging nettle  To condition oily hair: witch hazel,
calendula, horsetail, lemon balm,  clary sage, yarrow, mints, rosemary,
lavender, southernwood  To give hair body & luster: sage, calendula,
rosemary, horsetail,  watercress, stinging nettle, goosegrass
southernwood, linden flowers,  parsley, basil  To treat dandruff:
eucalyptus, lavender, clary sage, thyme,  peppermint, rosemary, sage,
tea tree, burdock root stinging nettle,  southernwood  To relieve scalp
irritation: chamomile, catmint leaves and flowers,  comfrey  Published
in: The Herb Companion - October/November 1993 * Typed for  you by
Karen Mintzias  From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at
www.synapse.com/~gemini

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