Homemade Conditioning Rinses

Herbal and all-natural rinses can do wonders for your hair. If you are looking to branch out and try some of these treatments without getting into the more costly or difficult to find ingredients, these recipes for simple rinses might be just what you are looking for. These are conditioning rinses that can be used on most hair types. Just remember that when experimenting with any herb for the first time, it is best to start small. Make sure to test for allergens with a small skin or scalp exposure test 24 hours before mixing up a batch or any of these rinses and using them. While allergies to the herbs I have suggested here are not common, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Elderflower and Hibiscus Conditioning Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Heaping teaspoon of elderflower
1 Heaping teaspoon of hibiscus
1/4 to 1/2 Teaspoon of honey
2 Cups of hot tap water

Instructions:
1. Add your herbs to hot water.
2. Gently stir in the honey as the tea begins to cool.
3. When tea has cooled to room temperature, strain the herbs.
4. To use, dunk the length of your hair in the tea and then pour over your entire head.
5. Rinse with cold water until water runs clear.

Catnip Treatment for Split Ends
Ingredients:
1 Level teaspoon catnip
275ml or 1 1/8 cups of boiled water

Instructions:
1. Steep the catnip in hot water. Be sure that the pan or container you are using to steep is covered while the catnip is steeping.
2. Allow the water and catnip to cool, while still covered.
3. Gently tap the condensation from the cover into the liquid and strain.
4. To use apply the cool liquid to freshly washed hair. I suggest covering your treated hair with plastic or shower cap and let it sit for one hour.
5. Remove the plastic from your hair and rinse. The catnip in the treatment can help reduce breakage and split ends. It can also be used to sooth a scalp irritation.

Green Tea Rinse
Ingredients:
Hot Water
Green Tea of choice

Instructions:
1. Brew a cup of your favorite green tea per normal.
2. Pour the tea into an empty bottle and dilute with enough cool water so that the resulting liquid can be used to rinse your entire head of hair. For a stronger rinse, you can brew two of three cups of tea, depending on your hair length. One cup of tea results in a strong enough rinse for medium to long hair.
3. Rinse out tub after you have finished treating your hair so it does not stain. You can use these treatment with any tea, however black tea can stain light hair and some lighter teas are too precious and costly for me to do anything but drink. Peppermint or other teas made with hair-friendly ingredients can also be used. Just be sure to research the effects of the included herbs before experimenting too much.