Herbal Hair Rinse Formulas

Overview:

An herbal Hair Rinse is a liquid botanical infusion or decoction used as a final conditioning and treatment step after a soap nut shampoo cleansing. Unlike shampoo, which is a is designed to remove dirt and oil, a rinse is a nutrient-rich tonic meant to deposit beneficial compounds onto the hair shaft and scalp.

Hair Rinses are made by steeping or boiling specific herbs in water to extract their vitamins, minerals, and mucilage. Its primary role is to flatten the hair cuticles after a wash to reduce friction and tangling, balance the scalp's pH with acidity to counteract the alkaline saponins from the shampoo, remove the waxy residue that can form from the interaction of saponins with hard mineral water to reduce grease and stick, and impart shine without stripping natural oils. In the context of Male Pattern Baldness, greying, diffuse thinning, or otherwise weak hair follicles, they condition the hair and scalp with beneficial compounds and energetic factors that darken hair, cool scalp heat, remove toxins, and add structural support.

Hair Rinses are poured over clean, wet hair after shampooing, massaged into the scalp, combed through, and left in to allow absorption. It well complements a cleansing because, while shampoo cleans by removing substances, an herbal rinse nourishes by adding beneficial substances back in.

Ingredients:

Many different combinations of herbs are possible and potentially beneficial for Hair Loss, and the conditions that are manifesting as such. Here are a few combinations that are highly synergistic:

Cooling & Grounding:

Eclipta - Clears heat (Pitta) and nourishes dryness (Vata).

Brahmi - Soothes nervous system (grounds Vata).

Amla Berry - Cools Pitta-Fire, and clears toxins (ama).

Fenugreek Seed - Moisturizes, gently oils (grounding), and cools scalp.

Circulation & Density:

Horsetail - High in silica. Rebuilds damaged shafts.

Gingko Biloba - Stimulates micro-circulation in the scalp, without creating Heat.

Ce Bai Ye - Cools the Blood, and combats Hair Loss due to Heat.

Deep Moisture & Shine:

Hibiscus - Detangles Hair and cools scalp.

Licorice Root - Soothes inflammation (Pitta-Fire), and adds moisture.

He Shou Wu Nourishes roots (grounds Vata) and restores pigment.

Scalp Soother & Strengthener:

Nettle Leaf - Rich in Silica. Strengthens shaft and cools scalp.

Chrysanthemum Flower - Cooling herb that clears Wind-Heat (Pitta) from the head.

Burdock Root Nourishes scalp micro-biome. and provides grounding oils for dry roots (Vata).

TCM Blood & Essence:

Rehmannia - Hydrates (Yin) and supports nutrient flow (Blood).

He Shou Wu - Restores natural color and stimulates hair growth.

Angelica - Improves micro-circulation and adds shine.

Ce Bai Ye - Cools the Blood, and combats Hair Loss due to Heat.

Mulberry Fruit - Darkens greys and moistens dryness.

Fresh Ginger - Stimulates circulation and cuts greasiness of root herbs.

How to Make:

1. Gather 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs that you wish to include in your Hair Rinse, along with 2 cups of Spring Water. For example:

• Eclipta: 1 Tbs

• Brahmi: 1 Tbs

• Amla Berry: 1 Tbs

• Fenugreek: 1 Tbs

• Spring Water: 2 cups

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Note: if you do not use Spring Water, then use structured-filtered (*) water, as water must be "coherent" to properly absorb the essence of the herbs.

2. Boil any root or seed herbs (e.g. fenugreek), alone, in a stainless steel or ceramic pot with the Spring Water for 15-20 minutes

3. Pour boiling water with root and/or seed herbs onto leaf herbs in a glass container.

4. Steep, covered, for 30 minutes.

5. Strain, squeezing out all liquid from the herbs.

• Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Application Instructions:

1. Wet hair.

2. Saturate hair with soap nut shampoo.

3. Gently massage the shampoo in clock-wise circles for 3-5 minutes.

4. Rinse hair with water

5. Saturate hair with a Hair Rinse.

6. Gently massage the shampoo in clock-wise circles for 3-5 minutes.

7. Gently comb through Hair once damp, but no longer sopping wet.

Additional Instructions:

• Leave in for at least 30 minutes, or until next wash.

• Do not apply when hot, as it will strip oil (cold okay).

• For best results, only Shampoo and Rinse on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to align with Vedic Astrology auspices.