If you know that you don’t eat as well as you should, and you’ve been trying to commit to taking a multivitamin (but that hasn’t exactly been working out so well either”>, never fear! There is a delicious alternative to get some extra nutrients and health benefits into your system—drinking herbal tea.
Chamomile? It helps you to sleep better at night. Echinacea? It’s a surefire remedy for cold-related symptoms. Oolong tea? Many use it to aid in their weight loss regimens. But aside from all of the ways that herbal tea does your body good, you might be surprised to know that certain kinds are miracle cures for your hair too.
Take a moment and read about some of the best teas to not only drink with a little lemon and raw honey, but also to apply as herbal rinses for your tresses as well. We’ll be shocked if you don’t fall in love with them just as much as we have!
Lavender
If you get a few Lavender tea bags and look closely at them, they might look like potpourri. That’s because that’s just what lavender tea is comprised of—dried flowers. This is the kind of tea that smells awesome, because you’ll notice not only the flower’s fragrance, but also hints of rosemary and mint as well.
Health-wise, the properties in lavender tea help to reduce inflammation, boost immunity, detoxify the body and improve sleep quality. As a hair rinse, lavender has the ability to soothe your scalp, fight infections, and even aid in preventing hair loss.
Rooibos
The word “Rooibos” means “red bush” in Afrikaans, thanks to the deep crimson color that this tea has. Its native origin is South Africa, and it’s been highly-celebrated for years due to its high level of polyphenols (which are micronutrients found in plants”>.
You can drink Rooibos tea if you want to shed a few pounds, heal breakouts or even treat allergy symptoms. It’s awesome for your hair, because not only does it reduce hair shedding, but it also fights dandruff, too. As a bonus, some people have seen their hair grow as a result of drinking and using this tea as a rinse as well.
Sage
Sage is a plant that originated in the Mediterranean region. One of the main vitamins that is found in sage is vitamin K. That’s beneficial, because it’s the vitamin that strengthens weak bones, and protects the heart. Two other things in sage are copper and iron—both that are needed to fight anemia.
Sage is an awesome herbal hair rinse option, because the copper in it will help to prevent premature greying. Also, because the properties in sage act as an astringent, it can soothe eczema and dermatitis if those are scalp ailments that you are currently dealing with.
Jasmine
You can thank the continent of Asia for this tea, which is a combination of tea leaves and jasmine petals. Since jasmine tea does come from florals, when you drink it, it has a mild floral scent.
If you battle with heart disease or diabetes, the properties in jasmine will help to fight those. Its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can also provide you with an energy boost, while reducing your levels of stress.
Since most Jasmine teas are infused with green tea, the caffeine that’s in green tea will help to stimulate your hair’s growth. Jasmine also fights off scalp infections, while keeping it moisturized. And, if you want to deep-condition your hair, jasmine tea can do that. It is the kind that we definitely recommend that you don’t rinse out!
Rosemary
Rosemary is an herb that also comes from the Mediterranean. It has iron, calcium and vitamin B-6 in it, along with some powerful antioxidants as well. If you drink rosemary in tea form, it will help to protect your brain, aid in digestion and even help to improve your memory and concentration.
It’s a wonderful hair rinse because it increases blood circulation to your scalp. This is a good thing, because blood is what carries the nutrients that your hair follicles need in order to thrive. Speaking of hair follicles, rosemary also has the ability to unclog them so that your hair growth isn’t stunted. It’s also the kind of tea that gently cleanses your hair while leaving it thoroughly moisturized, too.
Ginger
The next time you’re in the produce department of your local grocery store, make sure you pick up a ginger root or two. If you cut a few slices, let them boil in water and then drink it as a tea, the hundreds of compounds in ginger alone will calm feelings of nausea, provide relief to cold and flu symptoms, and also make PMS and period-related symptoms so much easier to bear.
Using ginger as a hair rinse offers all sorts of benefits too. It will help to alleviate a flaky scalp, give your hair a natural sheen, and also make your hair stronger so that you’ll be able to retain more length over time.
Peppermint
If you like tea that has a bit of a “kick” to it, peppermint tea will provide it (ginger tea will, too, by the way”>. That’s due to the menthol that’s in it. Menthol provides a cooling, minty sensation that that’s great for treating a sore throat, or even fighting bad breath. Peppermint tea also eases digestion, relieves headaches (including migraines”> and even fights bacterial infections and fungi that may develop on the scalp (which is basically what dandruff is”>.
Why should you try it as a hair rinse? First of all, the menthol in it will make your scalp feel a-maz-ing! In fact, if you apply the rinse and massage your scalp, its menthol properties will invigorate your hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. And who doesn’t want longer hair?
How to Make an Herbal Hair Rinse:
Put three to four tea bags into a pot that has about a quart of boiling water in it. Let the tea bags steep for about 30 minutes, then let the tea cool until it becomes room temperature. After shampooing and conditioning your hair, pour the rinse over your head. You can either let it sit for 15-20 minutes or, if you want to get extra conditioning benefits, leave the rinse in and dry and style your hair like usual. Remember, it’s only tea and water, so no residue. Enjoy!
Know of any teas we haven’t mentioned that are great for your hair? Share them with us below, and also let us know if you’ve seen any results from using herbal teas for hair health as well!
