1. Interested in Natural Skin Care Solutions?: Check Here
    Dismiss Notice

Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

Discussion in 'Hair Care & Hair Styles' started by sweetoo, Jul 16, 2010.

  1. aarta

    aarta Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    403
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    68
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Bundle of Thanks sweetu:kiss

    i will definitely try using amla pack.:thumbsup

    kudos for posting about commercial shampoo, i have started using herbal shampoo only after being attached to IL:thumbsup But i think it will take time to cover up damaged done by those harsh chemicals on my thinner hairs :spin
    i have pull up my socks for project to grow hair long :whistle. i love cascading long hair ,wish i could get mine till hip length.
    i have started doing regular oiling and methi pack also, i soak methi at night ,drink its water in the morning and then grind the remaining seeds in water which i apply on my scalp for 1/2 hr. hope this is fine!

    kindly drop any suggestion u feel like to help me achieve long cascading hair:cheers

    take care
    Aarta:)
     
  2. abinayaaa

    abinayaaa Senior IL'ite

    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Dear Sweeetoooooooooo,
    Your tips on coconut are really nice. Very easier to follow them. Thank you very much. Thank you very much again for your effort on posting these posts. It also enriches our knowledge on various herbs. Never stop dear. Go ahead da.
    With best wishes,
    Abinayaaa:coffee
     
  3. martinxt

    martinxt New IL'ite

    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Thank you so much for being so selfless in educating us about the use of these herbs. You have provided me with a wealth of knowledge and I am truly ever so grateful.
     
  4. sweetoo

    sweetoo Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    206
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Thanks everyone for liking the thread & for all your wonderful responses..:)
     
  5. sweetoo

    sweetoo Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    206
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Beetroot:


    Beetroots have as much as a third of its weight in starch and gum. Other constituents are saponiside, phytosterol, betaine, leucine, tyrosine, betacyanin, beta carotene, manganese, potassium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iodine, iron, copper, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.


    The juice of the red beetroot was traditionally used for its astringent and antiseptic properties. It was believed to have a cleansing effect.

    Beetroot has been used as a blood building food and to treat anemia since long ago. The beetroot's organic iron will not cause constipation or irritation.

    Beetroot is good for treating the headache and all brain disorders. It is also recommended to prevent against baldness and hair loss.

    Beetroot can make the skin and hair shiny and is used in hair care treatments.

    1)For coloring hair/shiny hair: Grind a bunch of avuri leaves (indigo leaves) soaked in beetroot juice. Apply this as hairpack and wash hair after half an hour. Grey hairs will become blue-black & shiny too.

    2) To stimulate hair growth and for cooling scalp:
    Needed: Adhimathuram powder (liquorice root powder) – 1 tablesp.
    Fenugreek powder- 1 tablespoon

    Grind the above 2 ingredients in beetroot juice. Apply on scalp and wash after half an hour. The fenugreek powder is cooling. The adhimadhuram (liquorice root) powder stimulates hair growth. Beetroot juice makes the hair shiny and soft.

    3) Against Dandruff:
    Keep 2 teaspoonful of castor oil in a small metal bowl, and place in a vessel with boiling water. Remove from fire, when it is moderately hot. Mix 2 teaspoon of beetroot juice. Add fenugreek powder to it, enough to make a paste. Apply all over scalp. Wash hair. As final rinse, use a mug with lime mixed in water. This can be done twice a week, for removing dandruff and for shiny hair.

    4) Henna + Beetroot – Hair Coloring (For black/dark hair)- (Note: Not sure how it would turn out for blond hair or other lighter hair types ):

    a) Boil 25 gm tealeaves in water. With that add 50 gm Henna powder, 5 gm Tulsi powder, 5 gm Haritaki powder and keep in a vessel. After half an hour, place this vessel in another larger vessel with boiling water, till the smaller vessel containing the henna powder mixture gets heated up.

    b) When cooled, add half cup of beetroot juice, one lemon juice.

    c) Next day, in the same way as previous day, boil the mixture in the smaller vessel, placed in a larger vessel with hot water. Now add some hibiscus powder to it. Remove from fire.

    d)Add this paste to hair and keep for maximum 3 hours and minimum ½ hour. Rinse hair. It gives a cool burgundy color to the hair. The hair feels soft too.



    5) Grate a medium sized beetroot and boil it in a cup of water with half a tsp of kattha .Strain and mix it with a cup of henna powder. Add a heaped tsp of coffee powder (pure) to it .Leave it overnight in an iron vessel .Add 1/4 -1/2 cup of curd to it in the morning. Apply it to the scalp and wash it off after 2-3 hours for an auburn tinge.

    For dark brown shade, mix half a teaspoon cloves powder (or powder 3-4 cloves) in the morning to the henna mixture.

    For rich copper color, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the henna mixture in the morning.

    For silky hair, beat an egg and add to the henna paste in the morning


    Note: Do not go for chemical hair dyes as they might cause allergies. Mix sikkakai with juice of 1 beetroot and wash your hair with this mixture. Do this regularly once in a week.
    Henna gives a deeper color if it is left on the hair for more time.

     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 4, 2010
  6. abinayaaa

    abinayaaa Senior IL'ite

    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Dear Sweetooo,:cheers
    Thank you very much. I was thinking about hair colouring with henna and mixing someother herbal things. But I dont know enough about hair colouring. Thank you very much for giving the best gift.
    Abinayaaa:coffee
     
  7. Pavithra55

    Pavithra55 Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    3,656
    Likes Received:
    80
    Trophy Points:
    130
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    wow wonderful job your doing dear. thanx alot for taking so much of effort and helping us.:):)
     
  8. sweetoo

    sweetoo Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    206
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    thanks abi & pavithraa for liking my efforts...:)
     
  9. sweetoo

    sweetoo Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    206
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Henna (Lawsonia Inermis):


    Henna leaves have been used to dye hair for thousands of years . They have red-orange dye molecule, lawsone, which penetrates skin and hair and bonds to the keratin. Henna dye blocks UV so your hair doesn’t become sun damaged, strengthens your hair so it won’t get split ends, makes your hair glossy and shiny, eliminates dandruff and ringworm, and kills head lice and nits. Allergic reaction to henna is extremely rare.
    Indigo has also been used as a hair dye for thousands of years ,it has a dye molecule which turns blue in contact with the air. Henna and indigo used in combination dye hair from warm brown to blue-black safely, without any chemicals .
    Benefits of using henna on hair :

    Henna has some undeniable benefits for hair, which is why so many people use it and love it. Some of the benefits include:
    • Stronger Hair - The lawsone (dye) molecule goes into the hair it penetrates the hair shaft some, binding with the keratin in the hair. This makes hair stronger, but also is one of the qualities that makes henna removal near impossible. Henna also coats the hair and fills in rough spots on a frayed cuticle. This adds a second layer of strength, but it does not lock out moisture.
    • Smoother, Shinier Hair - Henna, as stated above, does coat the hair, but it is a permeable coating that does not lock moisture out. The henna helps fill in rough spots on the cuticle. With the cuticle rough edges smoothed over the hair feels smoother and the cuticle takes a lot less damage during combing and manipulation. It takes several days for Henna to stabilize. It becomes more flexible and durable as it oxidizes and cures--it is in fact a plant resin that is flexible and solvent enough to penetrate the hair at the cuticle, carrying pigment with it.
    • Non-Fading Red- Anyone that has used red chemicals dyes knows how badly they fade. Henna may fade a little after the first application, but after the second application fades very little.
    • The Absence of Chemicals - Chemical dyes are not only very damaging to hair, they can also cause cancer so be careful.
    How do you mix henna and indigo for your hair? First, mix your henna.
    • Mix henna with enough lemon juice to make a paste as thick as mashed potatoes. If your skin is sensitive to lemon and is itchy after using henna, use orange juice, grapefruit juice, or some liquid less acidic than lemon juice.
    • Cover your henna with plastic wrap and let it sit overnight at room temperature, 70 F or 21 C. As your henna rests, it will release dye. The dye must be released from the plant leaf so it can migrate into your hair. This slow, acidic release will get you the best results. If you’re in a hurry, put it in a warm place, but not a hot place! Your henna will be ready in two hours at 95F or 35C.
    • When you’re ready to dye your hair, mix the indigo, put your indigo powder into a bowl. Stir enough water into the indigo to make a paste as thick as mashed potatoes.
    • Mix the henna paste and indigo paste together. Add some water or fragrant tea or other herbs to make it as thick as stirred-up yoghurt. Indigo has to be used immediately. Do not wait for dye release. Mix your indigo with water just before you’re ready to use it. Do not add lemon juice to indigo. Just use water.
    • Comb clean, dry hair and section it. You can use squeeze bags or squeeze bottles to apply the henna/indigo mix, but you can also smear it in by hand.
    • Wrap your hair in plastic and clean off your ears and hairline. Keep the mix on your hair a few hours.
    To make a medium brunette color mix equal amounts of henna and indigo. You can make a warm brunette color by mixing 2/3 henna and 1/3 indigo. You can make a dark brunette color, by mixing 1/3 henna and 2/3 indigo.

    Henna & indigo mix ratios:

    Mix henna and indigo to dye hair reddish brown:
    Do the same as above, but use two parts henna to one part indigo.
    Mix henna and indigo to dye hair dark brown:
    Do the same as above but use one part henna to two parts indigo.
    Mix henna and indigo to dye hair very dark brown:
    Do the same as above but use one part henna to four parts indigo.
    Mix henna and indigo to make henna look less coppery red:
    Do the same as above but use four parts henna to one part indigo.

    mix henna amla and indigo for a cooler brown hair dye:
    when your henna is ready to mix with the indigo, Mix 1 part amla into 3 parts henna, then stir in enough water into the mix to make it as thick as yoghurt.


    Mix Components: Powders/Herbs:
    • Cassia- has neutral coloring.
    • Indigo- Blue coloring, often needed for browns and blacks
    • Amla- though Amla does not have a dye of it’s own, it has properties that help with the uptake of dye. It also tends to tone down the red in henna and make it more brown. Amla is also acidic, so you can refrain from adding an additional liquid acid if you use amla. Amla may also combat the curl reducing properties of henna. Amla in large amounts has been found in inhibit the uptake of henna into the hair, so if used it should be restricted to a smaller amount.
    • Other herbs-There are lots of other things you can add to your henna mix to help alter the color. Be warned, it takes a LOT to push the color of henna one way or other.
    • Acids( like lemons, oranges or grapes )- They may speed dye release, too much acid in a mix may lead to dry hair. Use only a little. Newer research has shown that lemon actually inhibits the lawsone molecule, so while lemon juice does help keep the henna color lighter, the same results could be achieved by simple dilution with conditioner or cassia. More information has also shown that indigo does best with a PH around PH 8, while henna likes something a bit closer to neutral (PH of 7). Acids also can dry out the hair and scalp, potentially leading to dandruff irritation or other scalp sensitivity.
    • Teas - Many teas can be used. True tea (white, green or black) does have some acid in it, as well as tannins. To much acid or tannins can contribute to dryness in hair. Herbal teas (chamomile, rooibos, etc) may be used in the mix, but tend not to be as drying as true tea.
    • Scents - Some people dislike the scent of henna mixes. If you choose to add something to alter the scent, please use an Essential Oil.
    Waiting for Dye Release:

    Henna takes time to release its dye after it is mixed. The warmer the liquid you add, and the warmer the place you put your henna to sit, the faster you will get dye release. Note that using boiling water may be enough to kill the dye outright, or at least cause the dye to demise quickly in some hennas. If your henna is in a bowl, look for the henna to be darker on the surface. Once scraped away there should be a lighter green underneath. Another method to determine dye release is to put the mix into a plastic bag and place a white paper towel underneath. If the paper towel shows yellow or orange, the henna is ready. Spot checking on skin is also effective. Place a small dot of henna on your skin and allow it to sit for 30 seconds or so. Rinse. If there is a pale orange spot, the henna is ready to go.

    Post Henna Hair:

    • Texture
    Right after you henna your hair may feel dry, thick, and just…strange. Do not panic, that’s perfectly normal. Your hair has been smoothed and coated with henna. Henna has bound to the keratin, and it will take the oxidation process for it to completely settle down. During the rinsing process, you have also taken off any remaining oils on your hair. Take a small amount of oil or a leave in conditioner, apply to the ends, and damp bun your hair. It should adjust within a few days.

    • Oxidation
    Expect your color to change, specifically, to get a little darker and less orange. The oxidation process takes about 3 days and then you will know your final color. So if your hair is a little shocking, calm down and give the color time to settle.


    Remember:
    • Everybody’s allergic to something …. And no matter what it is, somebody’s allergic to it. Test first!
    • Lemon juice is your best bet for henna, but it might be too harsh for your scalp and hair. If your hair seems dry or your head itches, switch to orange juice.
    • Don’t add boiling water to your mix. That will make your henna will fade fast.
    • Don’t use vinegar or wine to mix your henna unless you can cope with a really stinky mix.
    • Freeze your extra henna powder and extra henna paste. Frozen henna is food for many months.
    • Do not freeze your indigo powder. That will kill it. Keep your indigo powder in a dark drawer. You cannot save leftover indigo mix. It will demise within one hour.
    • Do not use terps in your mix. It doesn’t help the stain in hair (only on skin) and it will give you a headache.





     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 6, 2010
  10. abinayaaa

    abinayaaa Senior IL'ite

    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Gender:
    Female
    re: Herbs & their uses for healthy Hair

    Dear Sweetoooooo,
    Another surprise!:hiya Thank you very much. And please can you suggest any other ideas on henna, by not adding indigo. Is there any idea to turn the gray hair:bonk to return dark in homemade recipes?:drowning Please suggest me dear.:coffee
     

Share This Page