Nurturing conditioners and fortifiers add vitality, suppleness, and a silky luster to your crowning glory. Fortunately, nature can provide the right ingredients for every hair type.
Rinses, poultices, hair tonics, and other conditioners can make dull hair shine. Pick treatments appropriate to your hair type.
Oily hair
Make a lemon rinse by mixing ¼ liter (about 1 cup) boiling water with the peels from 2 lemons and steep, covered for 20 minutes. Strain and squeeze out the lemon peels thoroughly. Let the lemon water cool to warm before rinsing.
To make a conditioner containing essential oils, which can help regulate the activity of your oil glands, mix 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 2 drops sage, juniper, and lemon oil with 7 ounces warm water. Rinse with it, then rinse again with tap water.
To rid your hair of oil and make it smell wonderful make a vanilla rinse by mixing 3 ½ ounces (just short of 1/2 cup) each of white rum and beer, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon vanilla pulp. Massage into your hair. Rinse after 10 minutes and wash your hair thoroughly.
A tea tree oil poultice will reduce oily buildup, to make one mix ¼ cup almond oil with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 10 drops tea tree oil, comb through wet hair, leave for 30 minutes, rinse, then wash.
Normal hair
To make a henna poultice that will leave your hair with a silky luster, stir together 1 tablespoon neutral henna with 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and enough warm water to make a spreadable paste. Massage into washed hair and leave in for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
For a healthy scalp and lustrous hair mix 3 drops each of neroli, chamomile, lavender, and sage oil in the palm of your hand and spread through your freshly-washed hair, do not rinse off.
To make a natural hair fortifier, mix 2 cups warm water, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and 3 drops lemon oil. After shampooing spread through your hair and let it dry, do not rinse out.
Dry, stressed hair
Avocados are an outstanding source of moisture. To make a deep conditioner puree the flesh of 1 avocado and mix with 2 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon molasses. Knead the paste evenly into wet hair and rinse thoroughly after 30 minutes, do this once a week.
Bananas also make a nurturing conditioner. Mix one mashed banana with 1 tablespoon mashed avocado and massage the paste into your hair and scalp. Cover your hair with plastic wrap and a towel, leave on for 20 minutes then rinse hair with warm water and wash with a mild shampoo.
Thyme protects your hair from drying out. To make a thyme rinse pour ¼ liter (about 1 cup) boiling water over 3 tablespoons of thyme. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool to lukewarm, and apply with shampoo.
From: Natural Remedies for Healthy Living , The Readers Digest Association,2011
Edited 8/11/14 SCD
