How to Make Herbal Home Bath Remedies and Herbal Hair Rinses

A Sweet smelling herbal bath can be produced by including violet, lavender, lemon verbena and mint. Oily skin can be treated by combining chamomile flower with yarrow leaves and those with skin complaints will benefit from the healing properties of horsetail mixed with peppermint leaves.

Using muslin or cheesecloth, make small bags approximately 4" x 4". Fill the bags with your favorite herbs and hang from the hot water tap so that the hot water draws out their perfume. Alternatively, you can make an infusion of your favorite herbs, or combination of herbs, by steeping them in 1 liter of boiling water for 2-3 hours, and then adding to your bath water.

A third way to use herbs in your bath is by adding a handful of yarrow flower to your bathwater. This herb is sweet smelling and has cleansing and antiseptic properties. Lovage leaves on the other hand, work as a natural deodorant, however should you wish to avoid chemical deodorants completely, you will need to become a very regular bather!

Make your own herbal shampoo by mixing 1/4 cup of unscented, liquid castille soap with a 1/4 cup of distilled water and 30 grams of powdered chamomile flower heads. Pour the shampoo into bottles or containers and then leave over night. The shampoo is now ready for use. Dampen hair with warm water, then apply the herbal shampoo and massage into the scalp. Rinse, repeat the process, and then rinse away any remaining shampoo.

Dry shampoo can be made by sprinkling ground orris root through your hair, but not into the scalp. Leave for 7-8 minutes and then brush out.

Extract herbal oil and make your own conditioner by putting 4tbsp of your favorite herbs through a mincer or grinder. Alternatively, if you do not own a mincer or grinder, you can chop the herbs or grind them with a pestle and mortar.

Pour into a bottle and add 180ml preheated extra virgin olive oil, coconut or jojoba oil. Leave in a sunny spot for 3 days, shaking the bottle every day. Strain the mixture, discarding the old herbs and use as a hair conditioner.

Rosemary oil is believed to strengthen, tone and encourage hair growth by stimulating the roots. To make a rosemary hair tonic, take a handful of rosemary leaves and pour two cupfuls of hot water over them. Leave to steep for 2 hours, strain, and then use as a final hair rinse.

Chamomile enhances blond or fair hair and a chamomile infusion can be made by adding 500mls of boiling water to a handful of chamomile flower heads. Steep for 20 minutes and then use as a final rinse. If, like myself, you wish to darken grey hair, make a sage infusion by pouring 500mls of boiling water onto two handfuls of sage leaves. Leave to steep for 1 hour. Use as a final rinse and save some of the infusion for the next time you wash your hair. It can take two or three attempts to darken grey hairs sufficiently.

And finally, for healthy shiny hair, you can use parsley, sage, rosemary, nettle, chamomile or marjoram, to make shampoo, conditioner or hair rinse.