Hair Rinses

Herbal hair rinses help restore the correct pH balance to the hair and scalp and remove mineral deposits left on the hair by hard water. They also encourage a glossy shine.

Normal Hair

Fresh elderberries make a fantastic hair shiner. Simmer with water for 15-20 minutes before straining off the juice. Apply to the hair before washing. Leave for 15 minutes then shampoo.

Add 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar to your final rinsing water. It is a good way to restore the pH balance and leaves hair shiny.

Dry and Chemically Processed Hair

If you have hard water add 1 teaspoon of domestic borax to 6 pints of warm water. This will soften the water.

Or add 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar to restore pH balance and 6 drops of camomile essential oil to add fragrance.

Oily Hair

Make a herbal infusion using 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped mint leaves, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves, and the juice of 1 lemon. Mix these with 1/2 pint of hot water. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes, strain and use as a final hair rinse.

1/3 Cup Water

3 Tablespoons Fresh Camomile Flowers

3 Tablespoons Fresh Calendula Flowers

Juice from 3 Lemons

Broad-brimmed Straw Hat, an old or inexpensive one that you don't mind cutting.

Bring the water to a boil. Pour boiling water over the herbs. Steep for 20 minutes.

Strain, reserve the liquid and add lemon juice. Mix well.

Decant into a spray bottle.

Use this spray on a sunny day for the best results.

If your hair is short the hat will not be necessary. If you have long hair, cut out the top of the hat. Pull your hair through the top of the hat, letting it spill down over the hat's brim.

Spray lemon mix to dampen hair thoroughly. Sit in sun. The longer you stay in the sun the lighter your hair will get. Stay out at least 1/2 up to 4 hours. As your hair dries, repeat the spray. This spray tends to dry out hair, so use a conditioner after this treatment.

Makes 1-2 treatments

This rinse is more subtle. The more you use it the better it looks.

Juice of 1 Lemon

1/4 Cup Water

Makes 1 treatment

Place lemon juice and water in a glass jar and shake well.

Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour the lemon mixture into hair and let it sit for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

1 Cup Water

1 Tablespoon Alkanet Root

Yields 1 treatment

Bring water to a boil. Place alkanet root in a glass jar. Pour boiling water over the root and cover. Let steep for 10 minutes.

Strain root from the infusion.

Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour alkanet infusion onto your hair, catching the liquid in a basin. Repour the infusion through your hair at least 10 times.

Let hair sit for 5 minutes. Do a final rinse with cool water.

1 Cup Black Walnut Hulls

10 Grape Leaves

1 Cup Wine

1 Cup Water

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Yields 1 treatment

Place walnut hulls and grape leaves in Dutch oven. Pour wine and water over the herbs and simmer over low heat for 1 hour.

Strain and reserve liquid.

Shampoo and rinse hair. Pour the herbal decoction into your hair, catching the liquid in a basin. Repour the infusion through your hair at least 10 times. Let your hair sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

2 Tablespoons Powdered Cloves

2 Tablespoons Quassia Bark

1/2 Cup Brown Henna

1/3 Cup Boiling Water

Rubber Gloves

Plastic Bag (large enough to fit over hair and scalp)

Yields 1 treatment.

Powder cloves and quassia bark in a spice mill.

Sift the henna, powdered cloves, and bark together in a glass or porcelain bowl. Do not use metal bowls or spoons with henna as it will affect color. Pour boiling water over the herbs. Mix thoroughly to form thick paste.

Shampoo and rinse as normal. Use a wooden spoon and wear rubber gloves to apply henna to your hair. Henna will stain your skin, so try to avoid getting too much of the mix on the scalp and do not rub it into your scalp. It will eventually wash out with shampooing. Once your entire head is covered, message henna into hair to the ends. Wrap hair on top of your head and cover hair with a plastic bag. Secure with hair clip or clothespin.

Wash of any henna that may have dripped on your face or hands.

Let the henna mixture set on your hair for 20-40 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly with warm water until the water runs clear. Shampoo as usual, and rinse well with cool water.

Anti-dandruff Rinse

The following is from Jill Miles, a visitor to the Manor-House site.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add 4 tablespoons of rosemary, then let cool for 20 minutes. Pour over hair and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water.