This natural hair journey is ever changing as we learn more about what aids in happy, healthy hair. Despite being a natural for over seven years, I am still learning about the plentiful ways of treating and loving our tresses.
Tea rinses are new to me. I’ve never really heard of them until recently and since I’m not completely clueless I figured I wasn’t alone. I felt I needed to dig a little deeper into what they are and how many are using them.
Hair Tea Rinse
- Turn gray hairs darker – Rosemary and Sage
- Brightening the hair – chamomile for blondes; rooibos for redheads; or black tea for dark hair
- Reduces shedding hair – Green tea, black tea
- Stimulate hair growth – Green tea
- Strengthens and thickens the hair – Black tea
- Helps with dandruff and psorasis – Green tea, Nettle
- Promote hair growth – Hibiscus (This was found through a scientific study on rats – (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, pp 235-239, 2003″>.
Many of these teas increase blood flow, have antioxidants, cleansing properties, antibacterial properties and amino acids. I’ve not even mentioned all the other teas that can be created with herbs like Marshmallow root, burdock, catnip, fenugreek, or horsetail but how much and what they all can do is unknown to me personally.
Caffeine can grow hair and Black tea seems to have the most caffeine but depending who you ask will determine if you choose to use it. Some feel the extra caffeine is great while others steer clear of it for their hair. Really, everyone must determine what they want to use and asking your doctor may be necessary if one is really concerned.
Some even use tea rinses in spray bottles (just as I have”> but most seem to just use them as a final rinse after washing the hair. Some rinse the tea out after massaging and letting it sit from 5 to 30 minutes while others leave it in and continue with a deep conditioner. Either way a good deep conditioner is necessary as many find the hair to feel rough after the tea rinse has been applied.
I’m only on week 3 of using a tea for my final rinse on wash day so I cannot say with all certainty if it is reducing my hair shedding or promoting healthy growth. I’m using a tea that has Nettles, Lavender and Hibiscus petals. I have to say the tea in my spray bottle has been the best refresher on 2nd or 3rd day hair that I’ve ever used, and will continue to use it this way.
With so many teas that can be used to help with shedding or hair growth, finding one that gets the job done should not be hard. I am curious about the black tea and may try that later on down the line if I feel this isn’t working. I don’t shed tons but more than I’m happy with, so I’m really on the hunt and will share my hair tea journey with all of you.
So now I would love to hear back from you…
I would love to also know if I missed some uses or types of teas since I’m sure I didn’t list them all.
Editor’s Note: CurlyNikki added her favorite herbal rinses:
Here are some herbal rinses that you can add to your rotation. Pick an herb for your particular hair struggle!
- Catnip: Promotes healthy hair growth–many women on longhaircommunity swear by this stuff for long, strong hair. It supposedly reduces the occurrence of split ends and breakage.
- Chamomile: Softens hair, soothes the scalp, lighten and conditions (people use it with honey to bring out natural highlights”>. Chamomile is also known to stimulate growth.
- Horsetail: Helps brittle hair due to its high silica content.
- Lavender: Stimulates hair growth
- Nettle: conditions, improves texture, helps with dandruff, irritated scalp, and dry scalp
- Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
- Plantain: great for dry, irritated scalp, dandruff, and seborrhea
- Peppermint: stimulates the scalp
- Rosemary: Acts as a tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, stimulates growth, helps with dandruff, and brings out dark highlights in the hair.
- Sage: Very effective in restoring color to graying hair, excellent for weak brittle hair
- Saw Palmetto: good for thinning hair and hair loss
- Thyme: good for oily hair and dandruff
- Witch Hazel: cleanses hair
How to do a Tea Rinse
- Place the herb(s”> in a pitcher (glass is ideal”>.
- Pour boiling water over the herb(s”>, cover, and steep for 10-20 minutes.
- Strain the mixture and allow the liquid to cool.
- Pour over your head after your regular shampoo, condition, and detangling session. Do not rinse.
