Last Updated on April 29, 2023 by Ellen Christian
Did you know you can make your own hair rinse? Try this chamomile hair rinse recipe to strengthen hair and calm irritation.
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Make your Own Hair Rinse
As I age, I find that my hair is a bit more brittle. I wash and style my hair each day and regularly highlight or color to cover the grey hair (sshh don’t tell).
This takes its toll on my hair and I’m sure that it contributes to the weakness and occasional irritation I experience. I have fairly sensitive skin so I want to be sure that I use something on my hair that isn’t going to irritate my scalp.
It is easier to make your own hair rinse than try to figure out what product to buy from the store.
I purchase my dried herbs from either Amazon or my local food coop. But, I try to buy organic dried herbs to be certain the quality is as high as possible.
I like knowing what’s in the products I use. So, I may not always be able to find an organic alternative but I do try.
We are planning on enlarging our herb garden this spring if the snow ever melts. When that happens, I am going to grow some of the herbs that we use regularly to help keep the costs down.
What is the best rinse for natural hair?
You can start with either dried herbs that you purchase in bulk or with dried herbs in tea bags. I couldn’t find dried nettle loose at my food coop so I purchased nettle tea which is the same thing just packaged in tea bags.
How often should you use a make your own hair rinse?
I make this hair rinse one use at a time and use it once a week. It leaves my hair feeling soft and smooth. You can adjust the amount you make to what works well for you but I would not recommend keeping it in the refrigerator for more than three days since there are no preservatives in it.
Chamomile hair rinse recipe
- Glass jar or bottle with lid
- Tea strainer if using loose herbs
- 2 Nettle Tea tea bags (or 2 tbsp dried nettle leaves)
- 1 Chamomile tea bag (or 1 tbsp dried chamomile)
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
Homemade hair rinse directions
- Boil 2 cups of water and add the three tea bags. If you are using dried herbs, put the herbs in a tea strainer and pour the hot water over them to decoct.
- Allow the herbs to steep for at least 30 minutes. The longer they steep, the more essence from the herbs will be in the water.
- Add lavender essential oil to the decoction and stir gently.
- Allow it to come to room temperature and pour over your clean, shampooed hair. Massage in gently.
- Rinse out.
Benefits of stinging nettles
Stinging nettles are rich in silica which helps strengthen both hair and nails. Yes, these are the weeds in your backyard that burn when you touch them.
If you want to pick your own, make sure you pick from an area that is not sprayed with chemicals and not near the side of the road to be exposed to car exhaust. Wear gloves to avoid being stung.
Pick, dry & decoct as above. They don’t sting when dry. They’re an important part of this hair rinse.
Is chamomile good for hair?
Chamomile does not grow in zone 4 for me so I buy this at the food co-op. Most grocery stores should carry chamomile tea so if you do not have a bulk source, you can simply use a teabag.
Choose organic when possible. Chamomile is known for its calming and healing properties. It is very soothing and is often used in herbal beauty recipes for that reason.
Chamomile hair rinse also brightens light brown or blonde hair which is an added benefit for me.
Lavender oil for make your own hair rinse
I use lavender essential oil that is organic. Please do NOT purchase lavender fragrance oil. It is not the same thing.
You can find this in many craft stores in the soap-making section. Lavender is known for its calming benefits plus the scent is amazing and one of my favorites.
It can also help to heal wounds so if you have a sensitive scalp, this makes a wonderful choice. It can also help with the treatment of dandruff.
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Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
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I’m really allergic to lavender Is their any thing else I can use in its place?
You could certainly try chamomile in it’s place. That has relaxing properties. If you’re not worried about the relaxing aspects, you could try peppermint which is more invigorating.
Neato. Will have to try this 🙂 Thanks
You’re welcome, Heidi!
I’m going to give this a try! I have an itchy scalp that always just seems dry. Maybe this will help.
I hope it works for you, Jennifer!
I’m thinking it would also leave a nice fragrance. I’m wondering if it would leave any color in a person’s hair if it was a lighter color. Great idea, but I don’t have these ingredients!
It does leave a nice fragrance, Rosie. Chamomile will help lighten your hair eventually but it does take time.
I love this recipe. My hair is also more brittle and dry than it used to be and I can’t wait to try this out. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to share, Holly! Hope it works for you.
I don’t have a hard time with my hair, my scalp on the other hand is another story. I have terrible dry scalp.
The chamomile should definitely help soothe that!
Oh I bet this is amazing for your hair! I have long hair so this would be nice!
I’m sure it would work wonderfully, Kristin!
This sounds amazing. My hair could use all the help it can get.
I know the feeling!
I’m going to try this! Would honey help it soak in more?
I think honey would make your hair sticky and make it hard to rinse out.
This is incredible! I wish I could come up with things like this. I could definitely use a hair strengthening product.
Thanks, Melissa! I’ve been studying how different herbs work for us. I hope to share more.
Looking at the ingredients and I think that I would like to try this – chamomille, lavender, my 2 favorite herbs!
I love those two as well! They are so relaxing!
What a great idea, I love home remedies!
So do I, Rose. There really are a lot of them I want to try.
I have very coarse, frizzy hair that I straighten with a flat iron (set to 450 degrees!) every day. It definitely takes a toll on my hair, and leaves it feeling dry and damaged. I could really use a treatment like this to bring it back to life. Thanks for sharing!
Heat really can be very damaging. This should help though!
Wow, now this is really neato! My hair is so dry from all the dying too.. I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine! Thanks for this awesome remedy to try!
Your secret is safe with me, Dawn!
Natural things like this always intrigues me. I may have to pull out some loose tea and try this.
I’m really finding so many different natural remedies. There are some great projects I’ll be sharing.
Wow who would have thought? Amazing that it works for so many different things!
Herbs have tons of different uses! I am just starting to explore some of them.
I definitely want to try this, you always have the best things on here. 🙂 So interesting.
Thanks, Nancy! So glad you enjoy them!
This looks easy to make. I’ll have to find the right teas and give it a try. My hair needs TLC all the time or it will break.
I have that problem too, Nicole! Hopefully you will be able to find them in the grocery store.
This looks great! Someday when my kids are older and the mountains of laundry aren’t piling up I will treat myself to this!
Oh don’t even get me started about the laundry! My teens are crazy!
Very cool! I bet this smells wonderful. I am gonna have to try and get my hands on some of those herbs and make my own.
It really does smell wonderfully!
I love it uses Lavender Oil – I bet it smells fantastic!
It really does, Lisa!
My daughter has been making her own hair rinses and treatments lately. I will have to show her this one!
Thanks for sharing, Pam!
I usually throw in the towel about finding a shampoo that works well as long as I can find a leave-in conditioner that keeps my hair in control. Let me know when you have a DIY for that and I may actually try to make it. LOL
LOL I will add that to my list, Nicole!
I have never tried an herbal hair rinse but it sounds very easy to make!
It really was and left my hair so soft!
I need to try this. I have the itchiest scalp and nothing ha helped yet:(
I hope it works for you, Brett!
I love all-natural remedies. A friend of mine is having a terrible time with her hair. I’m going to share this with her!
Thanks, Candace! Hope it works for her!
I can’t wait to try this. My hair needs a special treat!
Let me know how you like it, Daisy!
I’ve never tried a treatment like this on my hair before! I wonder if it would help sooth my scalp after I’ve gotten a sunburn!
Chamomile is very soothing for sunburns in your bath water so I don’t see why it wouldn’t.
This is interesting Ellen – I’m like really allergic to the nettle plant, though, is there a difference with this product, do you know? Love the ideas!!
I’m really allergic if I touch it when it’s growing in the yard but have never had an issue with the tea or with this hair rinse. You could always try a tiny bit and see?