BELLEZZA
Natural hair rinses & masks
Mix your own hair care magic with natural herbs and other botanicals at home – or purchase ready-made organic blends of delicious ingredients. We share our favourite hair-pampering recipes and offer hints for ideal products.
Bring back the shine
With autumn here and the winter months approaching, it’s time to give your hair some extra care and attention. Rainy weather, central heating and heat drying can dry out the scalp and the hair, causing dullness, split ends and frizz. But it’s easy to bring back the bounce and shine with your own hair rinses and masks, using natural oils and herbs you probably have in your kitchen. Here are a few of our favourites!
Rosemary and aloe vera hair rinse
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary has been used for centuries to soothe dry, irritated skin and bring back the natural shine of your hair. In this simple but effective rinse, it’s mixed with the gel that’s naturally stored inside the plump aloe vera leaf. Used in many skin care and hair products, aloe vera contains enzymes, vitamins and minerals that add lustre, help elasticity and prevent hair breakage. In combination with rosemary, this is a real power package!
Simmer 3 or 4 rosemary sprigs in 2 cups of boiling water for up to 5 minutes, then allow it to cool completely.
- Cut the sharp edges off an aloe vera leaf that you’ve previously chilled in the fridge. Cut the leaf in half and scoop out the natural gel; blend or strain it to get a thin watery liquid. Whisk this with the rosemary water until you have a gel-like consistency.
- Use as a hair rinse or leave-in conditioner after shampooing.
Rosemary and sage leaf hair rinse
Sage is antiseptic and astringent and can be used to naturally darken greying hair. Mixed with rosemary, it helps to remove product build-up and leave hair marvellously squeaky fresh and clean. Use dried sage and rosemary that you have in your kitchen cupboard – or if you’re lucky enough to have access to the fresh leaves, snip them and enjoy the natural fragrance!
- If you’re using dried herbs, boil them for 10 minutes in water as in the recipe above, with a few cups of water, and leave to cool. If you have fresh rosemary and sage leaves, simmer them in two cups of boiling water for up to five minutes, then allow the herbal water to cool completely.
- Use it as a final rinse to leave hair shiny and manageable.
If DIY isn’t your thing, try N.A.E. equilibrio purifying shampoo which contains the naturally uplifting ingredients organic sage and mint!
Ginger oil hair mask
What’s the difference between a rinse and a mask? Both soften, hydrate and add shine to the hair, helping to combat the effects of the cooler winter months; both are best used after washing and conditioning. (Warm water is best for washing, as it opens the hair cuticles and increases the hair’s ability to absorb the nourishment.) However, hair rinses and hair masks have a different consistency: while a rinse is a thin liquid that’s poured over the hair after shampooing and conditioning, a mask is a thicker substance that needs to be rinsed out after the application. Try this ginger hair mask, to help prevent and treat a dry scalp.
- Finely grate one ginger root, then put it in a muslin cloth and squeeze to extract the juice.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of the ginger juice with olive or sesame oil to create a smooth ginger oil blend.
- Massage the mixture into your hair and leave it for 30 minutes, before rinsing and shampooing your hair as usual. Use three times a week for best results.