As the weather cools down and the nights become crisp, many of us will start reaching for a soothing, warming mug of herbal tea to chase away the chill and sneak in heath-boosting nutrients. As delicious and relaxing as this can be, there may be an ever better use for herbal tea in your beauty routine!

An herbal tea hair rinse makes a great addition to your hair care routine, and they are a breeze to make. If you can make a mug of tea, you can do this!

Types of Herbal Tea Hair Rinses

You can go about this a few different ways: make a pure herbal tea rinse (just water and herbs), or one that uses vinegar or oil.

Pure Herbal Tea Rinse

As simple as making a mug of tea, this rinse is quick to make.

♦ Boil 2 cups of water and pour over at least 3 Tablespoons of herbs or herbal tea.

♦ Cover and let steep for at least 30 minutes.

♦ Strain out the herbs (or use muslin or cheesecloth to make a tea bag).

♦ Let it cool (Very important! You don’t want to burn yourself).

♦ Set a large bowl in a sink or shower to catch the herbal tea rinse (you can reapply it several times) and slowly pour the rinse over your wet hair.  

♦ Massage into hair and scalp and reapply as much as desired.

♦ Leave in for at least a few minutes.

♦ Rinse with cool water or leave it in and towel dry.

Vinegar Herbal Tea Rinse

Many hair products are alkaline, and studies have shown that this can lead to tangles, breakage, and frizz. Vinegar is acidic and can help your hair get back to its normal, healthy pH.

♦ Place anywhere between ½ cup and ¾ cup of herbs into a glass container with a lid.

♦ Cover with 2 cups of apple cider vinegar (organic and raw is best).

♦ Make sure that the lid is on securely and steep in the refrigerator for two weeks, shaking once a day.

♦ After the two weeks is up, strain out the herbs.

♦ Add up to 1 Tablespoon of the vinegar rinse to 1 cup of water.

♦ Apply to hair and scalp after shampooing and massage in.

♦ Rinse with cool water or leave in and towel dry hair. Don’t worry! The vinegary smell will disappear as your hair dries.

It’s best to mix your herbal vinegar with water before applying it, as undiluted vinegar can irritate or even burn your skin.

Herbal Hair Oil Treatment

You know those hot oil treatments that you get at the drugstore? Why not make your own with natural, good-for-you ingredients instead of a long list of chemicals?

♦ Place 5 Tablespoons of herbs into a glass jar with a lid and add 1 cup of oil (plain old olive oil works great, organic is best).

♦ Cover tightly and let steep for 2 weeks, shaking the jar once a day.

♦ After the two weeks, strain out the herbs.

If desired, warm the oil before application (just be sure it’s still comfortable on your skin).

♦ Starting with small amount of oil, massage into your scalp, working through the ends and repeating until your hair is evenly coated.

♦ Leave on for at least 30 minutes, then shampoo.

Which Herbs to Use?

The great thing about making your own herbal tea rinses and oil is that you can customize the herbal blend to be just right for you! Here’s some information to get you started:

♦ Lavender - Apart from the indulgent woodsy, floral aroma, studies have found lavender can promote faster, thicker hair growth and has antimicrobial properties for a healthy scalp!

♦ Horsetail - This herb, which kind of looks like a horsetail, will help nourish your hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

♦ Cloves - They can warm up your brown hair and give reddish highlights a boost. The fall-like smell is an added bonus.

♦ Rosemary - Another great herb for hair growth, and it also helps resolve scalp problems like too much grease and dandruff.

♦ Chamomile - Not just for calming tea, chamomile can help soothe an irritated scalp, thereby helping your hair to grow stronger and healthier.

♦ Basil - Basil stimulates hair follicles, is a great anti-inflammatory, and adds shine.

♦ Dandelion - These yellow-flowered plants can help nourish your dry hair and have been known to add light highlights.

And this is barely scratching the surface! Do your research and see which other herbs would be great for whatever hair issue you’re tackling, and get to steeping!

Herbal Tea: A Natural Beauty Wonder

You may already be familiar with the soothing health benefits from drinking herbal tea, and now you can start seeing the benefits for your hair as well!

Always be sure that your rinse or oil isn’t too hot for your scalp, and if your skin or hair gets irritated, give it some time to rest and then change up the herbs in your formula.

And don’t forget: Some of the herbs you can use for both tea and your hair, so you’ll be achieving some serious multi-tasking!