Natural Treatments To Keep Hair Healthy and Soft - Part II

What would we do without our hair spray, gel or mousse? These products make our hair do what we want it to do. Although necessary, these products are often the culprits of residue build-up which leaves dull looking hair. This week, we’ll discuss how an apple cider vinegar rinse can help to remove residue buildup, help relax the cuticle and give you beautiful light-reflective hair.

By incorporating an apple cider vinegar rinse into your weekly beauty routine, you will help stimulate your scalp, promote a better ph balance, remove build-up which clogs the hair follicle, and at the same time, you will be helping rid your scalp of various bacteria, including the bacteria that cause scalp dryness which leads to dandruff.

This treatment requires you to use your measuring cups. You will need apple cider vinegar, a spray bottle (you could recycle an empty shampoo bottle), and filtered water (if you don’t have filtered water try filtering your own water by using a coffee filter).

Mix 1/3 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water. Place the mixture into the spray bottle and take to the shower with you. Once a week, after you’ve shampooed but before you condition your hair, saturate your hair with the vinegar mixture. Leave on your hair for approximately 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly and condition your hair.

You can take this rinse one step further and infuse it with different herbs for a more refreshing experience, which can also enhance color by bringing out the natural highlights in your hair. Some of the more commonly recommended herbs to use with an apple cider vinegar rinse:

• For dark hair: Parsley, Rosemary

• For light hair: Chamomile, Marigold

• For red hair: Henna

• For oily hair: Lavender, Thyme

• For dry hair: Marigold

• For dandruff: Thyme

To make your own natural herb hair rinse place 2 tablespoons of the dried herb or herb mixture into a muslin bag if you don’t have one, you can use a coffee filter, just be sure the filter is tightly secured at the top. Place in a bowl and pour 2 cups of boiling water over the herbs and infuse for at least 2 hours. Allow the liquid to cool, add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and mix well. Now you’re ready to pour your mixture into a spray bottle and head for the shower. You can use the rinse after you shampoo but before you condition, or as a leave in conditioner after you’ve thoroughly shampooed and conditioned your hair.

Pretty Girls' Pantry always loves to hear your feedback about how you benefited from our pantry makeovers. E-mail us at prettygirlspantry@gmail.com and let us know. In the meantime, don’t forget to check back with us next week for another installment of natural beauty fixes straight from your pantry.