nettle project

[Lile]

I have a lots of nettle growing around here.Nice young ones.
And nettles are said to be great for scalp (hairgrowth,dandruff)and hair(shine,condition)
So I thought about picking some(cutting the top of th fresh nettles)and make a nice hair rinse of them.

My plan is to mist the scalp every day,or on wash days rinse the hair with the "nettle tea" for a month,and check the results:

Condition,gloss,growth,general strength of my hair.




Who wants to join in?:cheese:

[mira-chan]

I wish I had nettles growing near here. I bring mien over, dried, from Russia. I'd love to eat them often.

My scalp and hair hate misting so that's a no go too. Now a post wash rinse is good, for when I'm not being lazy. :D

[SwordMaiden]

That sounds like a great idea, I shall try that with the nettles... I have heard it is good for many uses, so I'm looking forward to see what it does with my hair. Plus, I have lots of nettles around in my area, so this should work well. Thanks for the idea!

[Paliele]

So I feel dumb asking, but these aren't stinging nettles, are they?

[RancheroTheBee]

So I feel dumb asking, but these aren't stinging nettles, are they?

The very same! Luckily, the dried leaves don't sting. :)

Lile, I'll join you in your challenge if you like. :flower:

[Lile]

Everybody is very welcome in this"challenge":p

Funny that this simple weed everybody is trying to avoid when walking in the woods can help in so many things.I'm trying to get myself to drink it:-PNot too fond of the taste...
My grandpa used nettles to make a "tasty" soup:p...well it was for him.

It's gonna be a nice spring routine for a month:-)

Post your experiences!!!

[Trinka]

I had no idea those things were actually GOOD for something!

How do you pick & dry them? Do you have to do anything special to get rid of the sting? We used to have whole PASTURES full of them. (slight exaggeration ... but only slight).

Trinka

[ChloeDharma]

Hmmmnnnnn i'm very tempted to join in, though i've been having a similar idea with a few different herbs lately.
As for eating them, you can include them in things like stews, soups etc. Usually i empty a nettle "tea bag" into my stews, it doesn't effect the taste negatively at all. You can also do things like lightly steam fresh nettles then fry them in a little olive oil, garlic etc.....very tasty :)

This is from memory, but i think it's the roots of the nettle that have the anti-DHT chemical in. I think the ariel parts are perfectly good for general hair care and gaining nutrients from. Nettle tea is considered a general tonic and strengthening for the blood.

[ShaSha]

I will join. :)

That is, as soon as I get some nettles. Nothing grows here yet, but I'll have a lot of nettles in early summer.

[Lile]

ChloeDharma,


Good to know!I'll look up some more recipes....

Trinka!

I pick them in gloves.
Then I put some in a cup,cut them with scissors(in the cup,so I don't touch them) I pour some boiling water over them in a cup,and then strain.
I love the smell!!

[Lile]

Does anyone have an idea what dilution would be the most efficient for misting?

[Natalia]

I wonder if this is what i have in my yard. They cropped up after i used some horse manure from a ranch i used to volunteer at. I will have to go take a looka t them sometime :)

[Rini]

I drink Nettle tea all the time, but I didn't know it could be used on hair!!

Hmm....may add some to the misting bottle....

[Lile]

Where I live,nettle is very well known as part of the "hair care tradition".
It's so much,that I always believed it's something too old to be true:-)
Nettles are also in your way wherever you go...too common to be useful I thought.
And as most of us here on LHC,I was also searching for new miracles...more potent than anything else I've ever heard before.
So I didn't really consider nettles...

Now I thought to give it a try.
I like misting it on my scalp now.It's the fourth day that I'm doing that,and I can tell it feels good when I mist it on.
So far nothing I have never felt before though:-)Calendula was a nice tea on my scalp as well as rosewater.
So I'll keep doing it,we'll see how is it in a month time.


And probably somebody with problematic scalp could see a bigger improvement,since my scalp is healthy.

[myotislucifugus]

Funny I should see this thread today, I just picked some nettles (and comfrey) to make an herbal vinegar rinse. I won't be able to use it for 2 weeks, but I will let you all know how it goes.

[Firefly]

I've been doing a monthly rinse with a nettle/ACV concoction for almost a year with great results. I used to have a problem with itchy/flaky scalp, but it's gone now! :)

[MotherConfessor]

would dead nettle work? I did not think so, but since its the only kind I have I thought I would ask

[MotherConfessor]

huh, just looked it up, apparently dead nettle is a definite no go, bummer

[Gothic Lolita]

No, I believe it's got to be the stinging one. You could buy nettle tea, it's petty cheap in Germany and available in any drugstore.

[kakaa]

I sometimes make strong nettle tea and use it to mix my henna. I also make nettle tincture (I use dried roots, not the leaves).

[eamane]

I have a LOT of nettles growing here and usually makes soup out of some. Maybe I should put more to good use and join in here? :) I'm not sure I'll remember to mist everyday but I'll try to do a rinse at least :)

[s_tresses]

Do you have to use the plant for the tea or can you get nettle tea bags?

[Lile]

You can get tea bags as well.It's just easier to go and pick some if you have a lot around.It's also free.

I don't know how about you guys,but if I mist my scalp every day(and not wash my hair for 3 days)it builds up...
maybe it's not buildup,it's just not that fresh...
Maybe I switch to nettle rinses after hair wash,and also keep it as one of the teas I dilute my shampoo with.
For an everyday mist it might be too much.

[hetschepetsch]

did I understand that right? you put nettle tea on your scalp every day? just the tea, not a tincutre? I think nettle vinegar mixed with some other herbs might be great. Would you think the roots to be more potent than the fresh leaves?

Ps: can anybody here tell me how to make nettle milk? please

[myotislucifugus]

Ok, not exactly nettle tea... but I experimented with this on Friday, and it...is...awesome...

I made a nettle vinegar rinse using fresh nettle leaves. I took the top few leaves from a bunch of plants and packed a jar (medium sized canning jar, for reference) a third full. Then I filled the rest of the jar with white vinegar. I let it sit in a sunny window for two weeks and shook it occasionally.

Then I strained it, and used two teaspoons of it in my usual rinse. That is, two teaspoons of nettle-vinegar, one teaspoon of honey, and one cup of water mixed. I shampooed, and rinsed out the soap, and then did a final rinse with this mixture. I didn't rinse out.

Loads of body, texture and shine... yeehah...

[ShaSha]

So I started the nettle project. There was finally some tiny nettles growing in my yard!
Photo of the baby nettles (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss103/ShashaLhc/090503nettles.jpg)!

I made a nettle tea and used that for the final rinse. I only rinsed with water before that because my hair did not need anything else yet.

My hair looks nice and shiny. I cannot tell yet what the effect of nettles is, but I plan to make this an all summer project, to do the final rinse with nettle tea once or twice a week. (I also plan on experimenting with birch leaves...)

[Fethenwen]

So I started the nettle project. There was finally some tiny nettles growing in my yard!
Photo of the baby nettles (http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss103/ShashaLhc/090503nettles.jpg)!

I made a nettle tea and used that for the final rinse. I only rinsed with water before that because my hair did not need anything else yet.

My hair looks nice and shiny. I cannot tell yet what the effect of nettles is, but I plan to make this an all summer project, to do the final rinse with nettle tea once or twice a week. (I also plan on experimenting with birch leaves...)
:cheese: Yey! Baby nettles. They are starting to grow here also. I think this nettle project sounds like a very good idea. I have done some rinses before, but not regularly.
Especially now when I'm on WO I think I should notice the effect of nettles more clearly.
Birch leaves sounds also interesting, what were the benefits of those again? :D

[Lile]

Birch:Generally cleansing,strengthening...what I know about it.


I use nettles and birch leaves as a final rinse now after wash and condition,and so far I can tell,that it will be a long term project for me as well.Probably all summer.I really like what these herbs do to my scalp.And also leave my hair more shiny.Not as much as ACV,but the smell is so much better:-)

The first idea of spritzing hair every day didin't work out great for me,because I wash my hair about 2X a week,and the strong tea left my scalp too covered.

[Lile]

myotislucifugus,


Great recipe!Thanks for sharing!

[ShaSha]

According to various results in google birch also might prevent hair loss.

The nettle rinse I did yesterday evening will definately be part of my summer routine. My hair is very shiny and soft! With ACV my hair often gets very slick, difficult to keep in a bun. But with this nettle rinse it's very manageable.

I should probably gather nettles for winter too. I wonder which would be better, to dry them or deep freeze?

[Lile]

ShaSha,


I've never heard of deep freezing herbs. I dry them. Not sure why is it better.Maybe just less complicated;)

[ShaSha]

An update on this... I've rinsed with nettle tea a few times now. And I'm in love with this weed. :cloud9:

So far I've noticed no ill effects. My hair is very shiny, soft and manageable after every rinse.

I used to hate nettles. I always get burnt by them, they are difficult (impossible) to remove from my yard. Now I find myself checking the growth of the young nettles as much as I check my roses and other garden plants. :D

[Lile]

An update on this... I've rinsed with nettle tea a few times now. And I'm in love with this weed. :cloud9:

So far I've noticed no ill effects. My hair is very shiny, soft and manageable after every rinse.

I used to hate nettles. I always get burnt by them, they are difficult (impossible) to remove from my yard. Now I find myself checking the growth of the young nettles as much as I check my roses and other garden plants. :D

Funny;)that's about unconditional love for nature...

I'm happy it's working for you!Same here.I really like it!

[Fethenwen]

ShaSha,


I've never heard of deep freezing herbs. I dry them. Not sure why is it better.Maybe just less complicated;)
Yep, and nettle works exceptionally well for freezing, it's a bit like spinach. I guess freezing them keeps the vitamins and such in them better than drying.

[Firefly]

Not to hijack here, but I just had a quick question-- after the herbs are dried, do you crush them before putting them in their storage containers? With nettle (and other herbs, like comfrey) I usually store whole leaves in ziplock type bags, and crush as needed. I didn't know if that makes a difference in terms of potency, whether they are crushed "too soon" or not. :confused:

End hijack. :D

[Lile]

I keep mine in the same paper bag I put them straight after picking.
Paper bags let the moisture out,and not to much light in,so I find them quite efficient for drying.As for cutting them or not...IMO it's better not cutting,only right before using.Maybe it doesn't make a difference.But not sure.When I cut them with scissors in the mug I usually prepare the tea in,they start to smell stronger,and I like it.
To me the smell also means that in the untouched dried plant there is more goodness preserved.
I just didn't bother with cutting...

[LadyEliza]

"Grasp the nettle firmly..."

;)

[HotRag]

How long do you leave the rinse in hair? And do you rinse it away with water or let it dry?

[ShaSha]

How long do you leave the rinse in hair? And do you rinse it away with water or let it dry?

I've been using it as a final rinse. So I leave it in hair.

[Firefly]

I keep mine in the same paper bag I put them straight after picking.
Paper bags let the moisture out,and not to much light in,so I find them quite efficient for drying.As for cutting them or not...IMO it's better not cutting,only right before using.Maybe it doesn't make a difference.But not sure.When I cut them with scissors in the mug I usually prepare the tea in,they start to smell stronger,and I like it.
To me the smell also means that in the untouched dried plant there is more goodness preserved.
I just didn't bother with cutting...

Thanks, Lile! It never occurred to me to keep them in the paper bag. It saves me an extra step!

[Kristine]

My grandpa used nettles to make a "tasty" soup:p...well it was for him.
I love nettle soup! I've not had it for years though, maybe it's time to go out to get some nettles? Nettles in vinegar sounds very nice, I'd like to try that.

[HotRag]

Today I dug up a place in my garden, and I got plenty of nettle roots automatically ^_^ So I don't need to dig extra for those.

Will collect leaves though (and birch leaves from a birch tree that has been sawed down).

[HotRag]

I've been using it as a final rinse. So I leave it in hair.
Thank you.

[enfys]

I haven't the foggiest what a nettle looks like, and I'm not touching roadside plants to find out!

So I bought a box of teabags in my local hippy food shop. They were about £1.25 for 20. Is that decent? I was in the shop anyway, there's no loyalty if Tesco has them cheaper.

I'm about to do my first tea rinse, with a few drops of Rosemary EO in it, and I'm hoping it will replace my ACV since we didn't seem to get on with eachother after a few weeks.

Maybe I'll graduate to using the plant.

ETA: Isn't it typical that I'd see this after brewing and whatnot. Not beforehand. It's just tea, but a spot of direction would have been handy haha.

[Lile]

I haven't the foggiest what a nettle looks like, and I'm not touching roadside plants to find out!

So I bought a box of teabags in my local hippy food shop. They were about £1.25 for 20. Is that decent? I was in the shop anyway, there's no loyalty if Tesco has them cheaper.

I'm about to do my first tea rinse, with a few drops of Rosemary EO in it, and I'm hoping it will replace my ACV since we didn't seem to get on with eachother after a few weeks.

Maybe I'll graduate to using the plant.

ETA: Isn't it typical that I'd see this after brewing and whatnot. Not beforehand. It's just tea, but a spot of direction would have been handy haha.

Nettle:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Urtica-dioica(Blueten).jpg

super easy to find.Anything is more expensive than free.
BUT.I bought teabags for 1.50€.(in winter)It's reasonably priced though.In case you can't find any.

(I don't understand your last sentece...sorry...can't help.)

[Deborah]

Chagrin Valley makes nettle hair bar soap. I thought it worked nicely, but any in the eyes stings like crazy!

[Lile]

I used to have nettle conditioner....that was awesome!!!!!!I think everything with nettle is working great!At least for me!
Has anybody tried the logona brand?I heard they also have nettle shampoo and conditioner.

Shampoo bar with nettle?Sounds great.I doubt it stings from the nettle though:D

[HotRag]

I found info that says nettle has rather lot of tannin in it. So I won't try it as infusion that reaches all of my hair. Maybe on skin, but not so it can touch hair strands. Maybe would be nice in oil for scalp though.

[walterSCAN]

So, I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering a few things about the nettle rinse:

Are most people using just the leaves? The root? The whole plant? Do you think it makes a difference?

How long do you brew the 'tea'? I know that this makes a difference with some herbs...

Would an older plant be more beneficial/ have more potency than an young one?

Thanks to anyone who has answers to my questions!!

[melikai]

From what I know, you use the leaves. If you are picking them yourself though, you'll need to wear gloves, or you'll get stung!
(Funnily enough, a cure for the Stinging Nettle sting is the liquid inside the stems and root of the same plant!)

Young plants are better to eat, but I don't think it makes a difference for making tea. The older plants get seedy at a certain point though. It's best to use them dry.

I find a little goes a long way, for making a tea. I use it with other herbs, so it may be different on its own, but two tablespoons is enough for a full "pot". You'll need more if you're using fresh, but I'd recommend drying them first. I bring to a soft boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. This makes a strong tea, so you could adjust it if you find it too strong.

I dislike the smell of Nettle tea, so I prefer to take it internally.

[walterSCAN]

From what I know, you use the leaves. If you are picking them yourself though, you'll need to wear gloves, or you'll get stung!
(Funnily enough, a cure for the Stinging Nettle sting is the liquid inside the stems and root of the same plant!)

Young plants are better to eat, but I don't think it makes a difference for making tea. The older plants get seedy at a certain point though. It's best to use them dry.

I find a little goes a long way, for making a tea. I use it with other herbs, so it may be different on its own, but two tablespoons is enough for a full "pot". You'll need more if you're using fresh, but I'd recommend drying them first. I bring to a soft boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. This makes a strong tea, so you could adjust it if you find it too strong.

I dislike the smell of Nettle tea, so I prefer to take it internally.

Thanks for the great information! :D

Do you mean 2 T crushed? or shredded/cut up? Since you use dried, I'm assuming crushed.

Heh, I know about the stings... I used to work on an herb farm-- she never did anything with the nettles though, just had me dig them out... if only I had known at the time... :shrug:

What does the tea smell like? I tend to like really green smells... and like the scent of henna! Just wondering-- I'm gathering information ATM because I'd much rather do this the free way (picking and drying myself) and there are clearly no nettle plants out right now... I can't wait to try this this summer!

[melikai]

Thanks for the great information! :D

Do you mean 2 T crushed? or shredded/cut up? Since you use dried, I'm assuming crushed.

Heh, I know about the stings... I used to work on an herb farm-- she never did anything with the nettles though, just had me dig them out... if only I had known at the time... :shrug:

What does the tea smell like? I tend to like really green smells... and like the scent of henna! Just wondering-- I'm gathering information ATM because I'd much rather do this the free way (picking and drying myself) and there are clearly no nettle plants out right now... I can't wait to try this this summer!

You're welcome! :)
If it's dried, then it's sort of crushed or crumbly. If fresh, then chopped up should be fine.

They have a ton of uses! I haven't tried eating them steamed yet, but apparently the fresh spring ones make tasty greens.

To me, the tea smells swampy! :p I don't mind the smell of most herbs, but for some reason this one is among my least favourite.

We had a nettle jungle in our backyard "garden" (read: nettle jungle) last year. I did a lot of nettle rinses!

[walterSCAN]

You're welcome! :)
If it's dried, then it's sort of crushed or crumbly. If fresh, then chopped up should be fine.

They have a ton of uses! I haven't tried eating them steamed yet, but apparently the fresh spring ones make tasty greens.

To me, the tea smells swampy! :p I don't mind the smell of most herbs, but for some reason this one is among my least favourite.

We had a nettle jungle in our backyard "garden" (read: nettle jungle) last year. I did a lot of nettle rinses!


Hmm... I wonder if I'll like swampy... :p

I'm so excited... I'm glowering at the 10" of snow outside now-- I want nettles! :wink:

Thanks again!

[mira-chan]

The root is used too, it's considered more potent than the leaves. It's chopped up and made into a strong tea then rubbed into the scalp and rinsed through the hair.

As for the stems of adult plants, you can actually make thread and fabric from those. :D

Nettle soup with the young plants is great too. :yumm:

The only reason adult plants aren't used for food is that they are tougher and start to get more tannins so it gets a bit more bitterness. For external use it doesn't make a difference.

[melikai]

The root is used too, it's considered more potent than the leaves. It's chopped up and made into a strong tea then rubbed into the scalp and rinsed through the hair.

As for the stems of adult plants, you can actually make thread and fabric from those. :D

Nettle soup with the young plants is great too. :yumm:

The only reason adult plants aren't used for food is that they are tougher and start to get more tannins so it gets a bit more bitterness. For external use it doesn't make a difference.

Thanks mira-chan! That's good to know about the roots. They've big root-systems too, so it's nice to know you can use either. What an awesome and useful (albeit annoyingly aggressive) plant.

[mira-chan]

Thanks mira-chan! That's good to know about the roots. They've big root-systems too, so it's nice to know you can use either. What an awesome and useful (albeit annoyingly aggressive) plant.
Oh yea it's definitely aggressive. We have these things growing as tall as me in the raspberry bushes. It certainly protects the berries from the neighborhood kids.

I used to grab one of those monsters with my sleeve and chase neighboring kids annoying me with it. :twisted: In Russia the stings are considered good for you (the liquid injected contains minerals). So I was helping the kids be healthier :wannabe: (and keeping them away from our berries.)

[melikai]

Oh yea it's definitely aggressive. We have these things growing as tall as me in the raspberry bushes. It certainly protects the berries from the neighborhood kids.

I used to grab one of those monsters with my sleeve and chase neighboring kids annoying me with it. :twisted: In Russia the stings are considered good for you (the liquid injected contains minerals). So I was helping the kids be healthier :wannabe: (and keeping them away from our berries.)

Hahaha! I'm sure they were thankful for your "healthcare". :p

I got so many stings last summer, I became convinced I was immune to them. They didn't effect me as much after a while. Maybe that's why my hair was growing so quickly then? :rolleyes:

[Neoma]

I love nettle tea. I find that my hair is soft and almost tangle-free when I use it. Mira-Chan gave me some nettles at a couple of LHC meets and turned me on to them. Love them!

I didn't find them to be very helpful when seeped in vinegar.

[Lile]

As far as I know catnip belongs to the nettle family as well...not sure though.
I guess this is why they both are so potent as conditioner(shiny hair)

[mira-chan]

As far as I know catnip belongs to the nettle family as well...not sure though.
I guess this is why they both are so potent as conditioner(shiny hair)
Catnip is in the Mint family (Lamiaceae), along with basil, sage, rosemary and oregano. Nettle is it's own family the Urticaceae.

[walterSCAN]

I just thought of another question!

I'm thinking of using the nettle tea as a non-wash day rinse by itself... How do most of you use it? As a rinse after a wash (shampoo, CO, etc)? By itself? What kinds of effects do you get, if any, other than softness, less tangles, and scalp stimulation? (Really, those 3 effects are enough for me, just curious!)

[paisley]

I did some nettle extract in oil from dried nettles and mixed in my shea butter. Hard to know if it has any effect but it made the hairoil green anyway ^^

[Arrow Juniper]

Ya'll should try nettle & horsetail tea with a little molasses in it -- all three have hair-helping properties, plus it does the perking job of coffee, in my opinion.

[mira-chan]

I just thought of another question!

I'm thinking of using the nettle tea as a non-wash day rinse by itself... How do most of you use it? As a rinse after a wash (shampoo, CO, etc)? By itself? What kinds of effects do you get, if any, other than softness, less tangles, and scalp stimulation? (Really, those 3 effects are enough for me, just curious!)
I did use it by itself to stretch washes in Russia. I also used it with birch leaves as a gentle hair wash. It was a bit drying for me but I have naturally dry hair so without a definite moisturizing herb (flower or root, not leaf) then my hair ends up feeling a bit dry. I can't speak for tangles as I have non-tangly hair, but it didn't give any extra tangles. My scalp did feel nice after it.

[LadyJennifer]

I have nettle tincture (in glycerin) that I took while pregnant to increase my iron before delivery, I detest the nasty taste, so I haven't finished it off. Maybe I'll add some to my hair concoction:)

[bumblebums]

I've tried it as a rinse twice now. Instructions:

Simmer 2 cups water+1.5 tbsp crushed dried nettle leaves for 20 minutes on medium heat. Strain through cheesecloth/metal sieve. Cool off.

I used half of this the first time, and then the rest the second time. I poured it on my scalp and length, let sink in for 3 minutes, then rinsed out briefly with cool water so as not to stain my towel.

I am pleased enough with the result--the rinse took care of scalp itchiness without drying out the hair. It isn't particularly cleansing, though, in my opinion.

Those of you who have used nettle in your routine regularly, what do you find to be its most pronounced effect? I know what it's supposed to do, but do you think it actually works as advertised?

[Lile]

Those of you who have used nettle in your routine regularly, what do you find to be its most pronounced effect? I know what it's supposed to do, but do you think it actually works as advertised?


I'd say it makes hair shiney for sure

[ChloeDharma]

Bumping this up to see how people have got on with nettle. Specifically i'm wondering if anybody has noticed faster growth, less shedding or thickening of the hair.
I got some powdered root so am thinking of adding it to an oil mix.
Actually, now i think of it....has anybody tried the powdered root in a hair wash? If so was it more cleansing, conditioning or neither?

[Ingrid]

I'm drinking nettle tea and also doing occasional nettle hair rinses. I've noticed my shedding has decreased significantly so I'm continuing with this in my routine for a while. Also, nettle makes my hair super shiny!

I haven't been able to obtain the root (either powder or extract) so I've just been using the leaves/stems.

[White]

I've been using nettle tea (amongst other herbal teas) as my final rinse, does help with the shedding. On the other hand, that mixture I make has other herbs that can also help with the shedding so I don't know is it just nettle or others as well....

[Ingrid]

I've been using nettle tea (amongst other herbal teas) as my final rinse, does help with the shedding. On the other hand, that mixture I make has other herbs that can also help with the shedding so I don't know is it just nettle or others as well....
Which other herbs do you use? I'm interested to know since I quite like herbal rinses.

[proo]

Burdock is also plentiful and great for hair -
I make nettle/burdock/horsetail tea,
very strengthening.

Love this thread, thanks.

[mira-chan]

I'd love to have some nettle tea now but it doesn't grow here and I'm out of my dried stash. I'd also like to get some stems to try to make yarn from it. :D