MARINA STORM
Our hair and scalp is naturally acid. (This prevents fungal and bacterial activity.) Soaps and shampoos are generally alkaline substances that disrupt that natural acidity, contributing to issues like dandruff and dry, itchy scalp. Hair can also become dull and lose its shine due to residue buildup from conventional products.
Applying a vinegar rinse restores a healthy acid pH to the scalp and hair. As a natural cleaning agent, it also rinses out buildup, improving hair’s shine factor. Rebalancing the pH helps to eliminate dandruff or to treat an overly oily scalp. And the vinegar is a natural conditioner.
Infusing the vinegar with medicinal plants makes the rinse that much more beneficial. You can even tailor it to meet your specific needs based on the herbs you choose. Either way, the vinegar rinse will leave your hair silky soft.
Here’s one to try:
Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar or White Vinegar
Distilled water
Several sprigs of fresh rosemary
(*Great for hair and skin, this promotes circulation on the scalp and stimulates hair growth. It’s anti-dandruff and anti-bacterial.)
1/2 cup dried calendula blossoms
(*This is nutritive and adds a bit of moisture to balance the recipe.)
10 drops of rosemary essential oil
(*Great for hair and skin, this promotes circulation on the scalp and stimulates hair growth. It’s anti-dandruff and anti-bacterial.)
10 drops of lavender essential oil.
(*It’s anti-bacterial for the skin and scalp, promotes healing to the scalp’s surface and is anti-itch.)
Method:
1. Chop up the rosemary and calendula.
2. Put the herbs in a pint jar and fill it to the top with vinegar (completely covering the herbs).
3. I like to let this sit for a few weeks in order for the herbs to infuse the vinegar.
4. When you feel that your vinegar has been fully infused (2-4 weeks), strain the herbs out and you have your herbal vinegar hair rinse!
To Use:
1. Before showering, mix one cup of distilled water with 1/4 cup of herbal vinegar.
2. Use larger quantities if you have more hair. (Try this recipe and then feel free to adjust the quantity and ratio to your liking.)
3. After shampooing, pour the vinegar rinse over your hair.
4. Massage it into the hair and scalp.
5. Rinse.
Editor's Note: other natural beauty remedies you might want to try include Lavender Whipped Oil and Cucumber Aloe Face Mask.