My latest hair brew

Why did I procrastinate until the last weekend of summer to do this??? I finally got around to infusing oil with herbs – I’ve been wanting to do this for months.

Anyway, the process of infusing carrier oils with herbs is very easy. I have read various methods of infusing oil. I am using the solar method. I would like to infuse the oil for about two weeks.

Although I have an herb garden, I purchased all of the dried herbs used in this experiment. It was hard to narrow them down but I decided on these five herbs:

Chamomile – Extracts from its flowering her are used in preparations for sensitive skin
because of its sedative and emollient effects. The active principle in chamomile is alpha-bisabolol, which is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and nonallergenic. Also used in hair dyes, chamomile has a brightening and shine-enhancing quality.

Coltsfoot – This herb is excellent for the hair. It is valued for its high levels of amino acids (cysteine), phytosterols, and silica. This herb is said to strengthen, condition, and make the hair more resilient – thickening hair strands and enhancing shine. It’s also a great normalize for excess oil production of skin and hair.


Horsetail – This herb is excellent for the hair. Like coltsfoot, it’s valued for its high levels of amino acids, phytosterols, and silica and is said to strengthen, condition, make the hair more resilient, and normalize oil production of skin and hair.


Nettle – Nettles contains mucilage, amino acids, mineral, vitamins, and other beneficial herbal constituents that make this a very nourishing herb. Nettle is tonic (strengthening) and antifungal; it’s also said to stimulate circulation at the scalp, which is beneficial for hair growth. If you’re gathering it in the wild or garden, be sure to harvest before it flowers, and wear gloves so you’re not stung by the glandular hairs along its stalk. Interestingly enough, the burning and irritation caused by nettle plant hairs may be alleviated by dabbing nettle tea on the skin.


Rosemary – Purifying, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, and stimulating, this aromatic member of the mint family is a tremendous conditioner for the hair. It can also be used at higher quantities in a rinse to darken the hair.


The carrier oil I used was olive oil. From the fruit of the olive tree, this cooling oil is rich in protein, mineral, and vitamins. It will impart a rich, nongreasy emollience and shine to the hair. It nourished, stimulates, and softens the skin. The vitamin E in olive oil is a powerful antioxidant, and the fatty acids make for an oil that is very stable (it resists going rancid). This oil is heavier in viscosity and has a stronger aroma than most other oils, so, depending on your personal preference, you may want to mix it with a lighter oil. Make sure to purchase the “extra-virgin” variety.


After the infusion process is complete, I may add some vitamin E and/or essential oil(s); haven’t decided yet. I will do an update post with pics when the oil is ready to be transferred.

I plan on using the herbal oil for scalp massages, pre-poo/overnight oil treatments and to add to conditioner for deep treatments.

Thanks for reading. Be blessed!

CallaLily

*Information was referenced from Naturally Healthy Hair