Herbal Conditioning Hair Spray Recipe

Here's a basic and easy recipe for a conditioning hair spray/spritz.  It can be used to refresh the hair or as a detangler.

1 c Water, distilled
1 Tbsp Lavender flowers
1 Tbsp Nettle
1/2 Tbsp Chamomile
1 tsp Sage, dried or fresh
1 tsp Peppermint
1/2 c Vegetable Glycerin
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil/Grapefruit Seed Extract/Tea Tree Oil (preservative)
8-10 drops Essential Oil of your choice (optional)

Infuse the water with the herbs by boiling them over a low heat for about 10-15 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes then strain infused water into a bowl.  Add in vegetable glycerin, vitamin E/grapefruit seed extract/tea tree oil and essential oil. Mix thoroughly then pour into spray bottle.

Moisture 101

Moisture is very important for natural hair and is one of the key factors for obtaining and maintaining healthy hair.  When hair is dry it feels brittle and hard and it's prone to damage and breakage.  When hair is moisturized it feels soft, silky and is more manageable. Natural hair requires a lot of moisture so after each shampoo or co-wash you want to seal in that moisture with an oil of your choice.

Keep in mind that if you're transitioning from relaxed to natural you're dealing with two different textures and that natural hair is dry.  Natural hair thrives on moisture and you may notice that at different phases of your transitioning your hair will immediately absorb the moisture you apply to it and you'll have to apply it again.  Be sure to moisturize the hair from root to end.

Two basic ways of moisturizing the hair is with water or oil.  Water based moisture is usually straight water or a combination of water, vegetable glycerin and essential oils. Oil based moisture consists of shea butter, olive oil, castor oil, sweet almond oil, etc.  When moisturizing with oil you may want to take in consideration the type of oil you use during the time of year.  For example it's common to use lighter oils such as jojoba, sweet almond, and coconut during the summer and heavier oils such as shea butter and castor during the winter.  Bottom line, find out what works for you.

Basic Hair Moisturizer/Spritz
1 cup distilled water
1/2 c vegetable glycerin or aloe vera juice or gel
8-10 drops lavender essential oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil

Pour and store in a spray bottle.  Shake well before each use.

Shea Butter Moisturizer
4 oz shea butter
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops of rosemary essential oil (optional)

Thoroughly whip together with a hand mixer making sure that no lumps of shea butter remain. You can also put the shea butter in the microwave for 30 seconds (no longer than that or you compromise its beneficial properties) to soften it up a bit.  Store in airtight container once thoroughly mixed.

Hair Care Regimen

Finding a weekly or monthly routine that allows you to maintain the overall health and length retention of your hair can be done in three easy steps.

1. Start out by removing processes and products that don't agree with your hair and add those that do
2. Find a regimen that is most suited for your lifestyle.  As your hair and lifestyle changes your regimen should as well
3. Stick with it. Black hair is fragile, which means it tends to be dry and prone to breakage. So it's important to nourish the hair so it retains it's overall health.

Here's an example of a basic hair care regimen.

• Co-wash once a week or two weeks. If you feel the need to shampoo then be sure to use a sulfate free shampoo (rotate shampoos and conditioners so that the hair doesn't totally acclimate and stop responding)
• Deep condition after each wash for 30-40 minutes
• Rinse hair with cool or warm water (rinsing hair with hot water can dry it out)
• Hot oil treatments provide added moisture
• Seal in moisture with a butter (during the winter) or a light oil (during the summer)
• Protein treatment once every six weeks (this is especially recommended for damaged hair)
• Wear protective styles such as twists, braids, wigs, etc.

Healthy Hair Benefits of Honey

 

Not only is honey rich in vitamins and minerals it's also an excellent humectant (attracts and holds on to water molecules) and emollient. Therefore it serves as a wonderful, all natural moisturizer and conditioner making it a great treatment for dry and/or damaged hair.  Honey lends the hair extra softness and sheen just by applying it to damp hair and letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.  After shampooing or co-washing your hair should feel softer and more manageable.

Honey Deep Conditioner
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Olive Oil, Sweet Almond (or the oil of your choice)
1-1 1/2 cup Conditioner (depends on the length and volume of your hair)

Mix together and apply to hair from root to end. Put on plastic cap/bag and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse out thoroughly with warm water.  You can adjust the amount of the ingredients depending on the length and volume of your hair. Remember to use equal parts honey and oil.


NOTE: Over time honey can lighten the hair.  If you're looking to darken your hair then use molasses in place of honey.

Murumuru Butter

The Murumuru tree grows in the clay rich soils of the Amazon rainforest and can also be found on the fertile firm terrain.

Murumuru Butter is a rich butter that is a light amber color and carries a natural earthy aroma.  Its rich oleic acid content promotes nutrition and moisture for skin, hair and scalp.  It's an excellent choice for shampoos, conditioners and highly moisturizing skin care products.

Grey Hair

Grey hair can appear at any age. It's not always a sign of aging, it's caused by a reduction of pigment (grey hair) or a complete loss of pigment (white hair), and the reason for it is not fully understood. Grey hair can appear yellow or greenish on many people. As we get older our hair begins to produce less melanin, the same melanin that gives our skin its color.

To counteract the yellow color and leave your hair looking good and shiny, use a grey shampoo and conditioner that has a violet base color instead of a everyday shampoo. They are made specifically for grey hair.