Tea concoctions for hair growth

[proo]

I love making my own tea concoctions, especially to benefit my hair. You know: nettle, rosemary, horsetail, burdock, peppermint - the works! I mostly drink it as opposed to rinsing with it. I'm hoping some of you home herbalogists (sp?) could share your favorite "hair tea" recipes.

[girlthursday]

I don't have any experience or wisdom to share, but I did want to second this request.

[Rapunzelwannabe]

I love straight nettle tea, I find it makes my new hairs grow in smoother when I drink pints of it in the winter.

[haibane]

I love catnip tea for my hair (not to drink ;) ) I soak it in and then rinse it out. It makes my hair softer and seems to help prevent splits.
There's an article here: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=118 and a long thread here: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=476 :)

[RadiantNeedle]

I use peppermint tea with fresh cut rosemary sprigs as a final rinse every time I wash. I usually add some ACV as well. My hair is getting a lovely redgold tint as well as my scalp benefiting from the ingredients.

[Purdy Bear]

I have nettle tea (for the antihistamin properties) and peppermint tea (to calm the stomach) both daily, and havent seen any improvement in my hair growth. That may not be the case for everyone, it may just be the Alopecia casting its spell.

[hayesa]

I've been using regular old Breakfast tea. :o
Drink it by the gallon as well as soak my hair in it. It makes it lovely and soft.

[proo]

Awhile back I came across a recipe for "long hair tea" somewhere in my surfing . . . it had 6 or 7 herbs in it, plus ginger. Can't find it now.

[Shrew]

I'm herbal fanatic too! ;)

I drink infusion of nettle and horsetail. And everyday I make rinse with nettle leaf, horsetail herb and burdock root.
That really works!
These herbs are well-known by women in my country for centuries. Unfortunatelly, most of them don't remember about herbs today.

[Aurantia]

Watching this thread! Great idea, proo. :flowers:

[skyblue]

Ooo! Very interested as well!

[2vette2camaro]

Me too! Hope people step up and give us some good recipes that work!

[azhie]

For those of you who use a tea rinse, do you use it in addition to other products?

[RadiantNeedle]

I use it after I've washed and conditioned, if that's what you mean. It's my final step.

[Shrew]

For those of you who use a tea rinse, do you use it in addition to other products? No :)
I rinse my hair with a strong herbal tea at the end, after washing and conditioning.
Or maybe you mean if I add something more to it? Only sometimes I add some apple cider vinegar.

[proo]

Found it: horsetail, nettle, burdock, chamomile, lemon balm, oatstraw, ginger root. It's supposed to be a natural "hair-skin-nails" brew which is just my style since I'm not into commercial stuff for such.

[KLin]

Proo, is that a mix to drink or to pour on your hair ... or both?

[clairenewcastle]

I have nettle tea (for the antihistamin properties) and peppermint tea (to calm the stomach) both daily, and havent seen any improvement in my hair growth.

I've drunk a lot of nettle tea and peppermint tea over the last few years without any increase in the rate of hair growth.

However, when I started giving cold infusions of nettle tea to my dog to drink his fur started growing back (he suffers from bald patches.)

So I do believe that nettle tea does increase hair growth, it just doesn't work for me.

[Finchen]

I have bought fresh sage leaves yesterday and will rinse my hair with sage tea tomorrow. In a german forum I have read that sage rinses can make the hair very shiney. :)

[ChloeDharma]

I have bought fresh sage leaves yesterday and will rinse my hair with sage tea tomorrow. In a german forum I have read that sage rinses can make the hair very shiney. :)

Just be aware that sage is used to darken hair....usually combined with rosemary.

A note on preparing "teas" with the leafy parts you do just add boiled water then strain to extract the properties. However if you are using tougher parts of the plants like dried roots and barks you need to decoct them. It takes a bit longer but if you don't then you miss out on potentially usefull constituents. Basically you put the root/bark in a pan, add water then bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 mins before straining and drinking.

HTH

[proo]

The long hair tea recipe is for drinking, but it's probably just fine for rinsing as well.

[hazelnut]

If it helps, I use Irish Black Tea or just plain Black Tea on my hair because the caffeine that is in black tea is supposed to help stimulate growth. I also drink it sometimes too.

[Shrew]

So I do believe that nettle tea does increase hair growth, it just doesn't work for me. How much nettle tea do you drink usually? And is it strong infusion or not really?
I'm not professional herbalist but I know quite a few about it :)
If it helps, I use Irish Black Tea or just plain Black Tea on my hair because the caffeine that is in black tea is supposed to help stimulate growth. I also drink it sometimes too. I don't think black tea has so much caffeine..
Green tea may be better caffeine source than coffee, if it's properly prepared.

[Anywhere]

I tried catnip tea as a rinse. It made my hair soft and shiny, but I'm too lazy to make tea every time I want to wash my hair so..

I once made.. Rosemary? Thyme? I think it was thyme tea. I mixed my shampoo with it a looong time ago (pre LHC) because my scalp was so flakey and dry and it helped calm it down a bit.

[clairenewcastle]

How much nettle tea do you drink usually? And is it strong infusion or not really?


I drink two mugs of nettle tea a day. I make a strong infusion from organic dried nettles. I find too much nettle tea can increase stomach acid production but the advantage of it is that it has helped to lower my blood pressure plus it also helps keep my sinuses open - a lot of people in England drink it to help with hayfever.

Last year I used infusions of nettle tea to wash my hair with but although it worked to a point it wasn't cleansing enough to fully remove the grease on my scalp so I stopped.
I just don't think it has helped with my hair growth though but the other benefits mean that I'd always drink it daily.

[Shrew]

a lot of people in England drink it to help with hayfever. The nettle has properties similar to antihistamine medicament, maybe milder. And it really works, I also use the nettle tea when I suffer hay fever :)

Using the infusion of nettle instead of shampoo isn't the best idea. I use it as rinse after I've washed and conditioned my hair.
I believe that it helps me too because my hair has grown faster than before since I've drunk herbal tea and made a rinse.

[Marjolein]

Hmm, I drink about 1.5 to 2 liters of herbal teas (all kinds of teas) a day and my hair only grows halve a centimeter (one fifth of an inch) per month. I'm quite convinced that, for me personally, herbal teas do not aid in hair growth.

[Aredhel77]

This isn't for growth - but I once rinsed my hair with rooibos/redbush tea and it left it extremely shiny and smooth, almost as if I had applied a serum (I believe it contains polysaccharides or something, which has this effect...or was it polyquats... LOL) :o

I believe there would be buildup issues if it was used at every wash, but as an occasional rinse, redbush would be fine I think :cool:

[Shrew]

(all kinds of teas) What kinds of tea?
I mind, it's black, green tea or maybe other herbs?

[Aredhel77]

I drink two mugs of nettle tea a day. I make a strong infusion from organic dried nettles. I find too much nettle tea can increase stomach acid production but the advantage of it is that it has helped to lower my blood pressure plus it also helps keep my sinuses open - a lot of people in England drink it to help with hayfever.

I have heard this. I really ought to start drinking it as I suffer from allergic rhinitis/hayfever ALL THE TIME. (literally every day :()

[Shrew]

All the time?
Even during winter?

[Marjolein]

What kinds of tea?
I mind, it's black, green tea or maybe other herbs?

I do not drink black tea. I do drink green teas, rooibos teas, white teas, and herbal teas (such as peppermint, chamomile, rosehip etc). I have a whole cabinet full of tea. I believe there are at least 30-40 different kinds. What can I say? I loooove tea :).

[Shrew]

And I do love tea, especially herbal tea.
I asked about kinds because not every herb has influence over hair growth. Herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, rose hip aren't really helpful to it :)

[Marjolein]

And I do love tea, especially herbal tea.
I asked about kinds because not every herb has influence over hair growth. Herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, rose hip aren't really helpful to it :)

I understand, but I have so many kinds of teas (often containing a whole bunch of herbs) that I can't really tell you what kind of herbs I've tried. Just about everyone you can think of though :)

[wavymane]

Does anyone have recommendations for a tea rinse for scalp therapy? My scalp gets itchy in the Winter time. I've tried ACV but would love some tea options since the smell is off putting.

Thanks!

[Shrew]

Marjolein,
Herbal therapy works only then, when you regularly drink the same herbal infusion :)

Wavymane,
Do you have any idea why your scalp gets itchy? Dandruff, anything like that?

[jenwexler]

How does drinking just plain old green tea effect hair growth?

[wavymane]

It's not really dandruff in the true sense. It's not even red, or oily like dermatitis. It's just like my hands dry out so I use lotion and they feel better. I wish I could do that with my scalp but not so simple....Oils make me nervous too hard to wash out unless it's coconut oil as an overnight DT type of thing.

[Shrew]

How does drinking just plain old green tea effect hair growth? Caffeine has influence over hair growth. This is why a lot of concerns make hair tonics with it, e.g Alpecin. But caffeine content in coffee or in tea is too low for our hairs if we only drink it. I think using strong tea or coffee as rinse is better idea for hair.

It's not really dandruff in the true sense. It's not even red, or oily like dermatitis. It's just like my hands dry out so I use lotion and they feel better. I wish I could do that with my scalp but not so simple....Oils make me nervous too hard to wash out unless it's coconut oil as an overnight DT type of thing. I'm afraid that herbs don't work in this way.

[jenwexler]

I thought some people say too much caffeine does not help hair growth.

[wavymane]

I'm afraid that herbs doesn't work in this way.[/QUOTE]

I don't understand what you're saying? Herbs aretherapeutic, sometimes it takes several treatments so it's not immediate like putting lotion on dry hands. I think it's more unrealistic to expect herbs to help with hair growth then for their healing properties like itchy scalp.

[Shrew]

I don't understand what you're saying? Herbs aretherapeutic, sometimes it takes several treatments so it's not immediate like putting lotion on dry hands. I think it's more unrealistic to expect herbs to help with hair growth then for their healing properties like itchy scalp. Made I language mistake?
I'm still learning English, I've known that language only for 3 years.

I mean that herbs don't work like hand lotion. Oils will better for results such like this, unless your scalp gets itchy because of something specific what herbs can cure. If I only knew for what reason you have itchy scalp, I'd be able to suggest something to you.
For now I can commend to you herbs such as peppermint and garden angelica but I don't know it will work.

[wavymane]

Made I language mistake?
I'm still learning English, I've known that language only for 3 years.

I mean that herb don't work like hand lotion. Oils will bebetter for results such like this, unless your scalp gets itchy because of something specific what herbs can cure. If I only knew for what reason you have itchy scalp, I'd be able to suggest something to you.
For now I can commend to you herbs such as peppermint and garden angelica but I don't know it will work.

Oh I see what you mean now :) I believe the cause of my itch is due to weather conditions since it's Winter. I don't get this in warm weather. If I have itchy scalp in warm weather it usually is remedied by a baking soda wash followed by ACV but this hasn't been working now. This is why I was hoping some tea rinses might soothe?

[clairenewcastle]

I have heard this. I really ought to start drinking it as I suffer from allergic rhinitis/hayfever ALL THE TIME. (literally every day :()


The nettle has properties similar to antihistamine medicament, maybe milder. And it really works, I also use the nettle tea when I suffer hay fever :)


The other herbal tea which I drink regularly for hayfever is elderflower tea.
It is fantastic for keeping my sinuses open, even more so than nettle tea.

I've tried using elderflower tea on my hair but found it very drying. It wasn't very good at cleansing or as a rinse, for it coated my hair leaving it looking matte.

[Shrew]

Oh I see what you mean now :) I believe the cause of my itch is due to weather conditions since it's Winter. I don't get this in warm weather. If I have itchy scalp in warm weather it usually is remedied by a baking soda wash followed by ACV but this hasn't been working now. This is why I was hoping some tea rinses might soothe? It has chance but I can't promise. Just try, maybe it'll help you :)
The other herbal tea which I drink regularly for hayfever is elderflower tea. Elderflower is flower of elderberry..? :)
I always drink elderberry and linden tea when I catch a cold. They are great, I almost never was sick more than 3 days.
But I haven't heard yet that anybody used it for hair ;)

[clairenewcastle]

Elderflower is flower of elderberry..? :)
I always drink elderberry and linden tea when I catch a cold. They are great, I almost never was sick more than 3 days.
But I haven't heard yet that anybody used it for hair ;)

Yes, elderflowers blossom in June then if they are unpicked they turn into elderberries in August/September.
Both the flowers and berries are used for colds but I prefer the taste of the elderflowers. They grow freely beside my home so I harvested them last year and managed to dry enough to last me until Christmas.

I soaked my dry hair in elderflower tea, massaged my scalp with it and left the infusion in my hair for a few moments then rinsed it with warm water. I've very greasy hair so I was trying to see if it would act as a cleanser. It didn't. It left my hair matte though and very dry so that's probably why it's not used on hair - never again.

I drink linden tea as well but although I've read that it's good for colds I drink it every evening for it's relaxing qualities.
I use equal amounts of linden and camomile - it's my nightcap at the moment! :D

[ktani]

Catnip tea used in its own as a treatment definitely in increased my growth rate (which has always been good) and helped my hair line full in. http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=118

[joiekimochi]

I keep wondering if I am supposed to rinse out my hair with clean water after dunking my hair in tea, or am I supposed to leave the tea in my hair until my next wash?

[Aredhel77]

All the time?
Even during winter?

Yes, I have allergic rhinitis all the time :(, I am very allergic to dust and some spores so I experience allergic symptoms indoors through the winter in spite of my best efforts to clean, and then in the spring/summer I have hayfever-like symptoms.

It's like having a permanent cold. I can't breathe through my nose!:rolleyes: I take antihistamines most days.

[Shrew]

I keep wondering if I am supposed to rinse out my hair with clean water after dunking my hair in tea, or am I supposed to leave the tea in my hair until my next wash? Yes, you should leave it in your hair. It isn't so horrible, I do it everyday and.. surprise, surprise, I live! :D

Yes, I have allergic rhinitis all the time :(, I am very allergic to dust and some spores so I experience allergic symptoms indoors through the winter in spite of my best efforts to clean, and then in the spring/summer I have hayfever-like symptoms.

It's like having a permanent cold. I can't breathe through my nose!:rolleyes: I take antihistamines most days.
O.. you have reasons for disliking nature.
I feel sorry for you, unfortunately I know something on it too.
I have allergy to.. meat. I always feel awful after eating meat, but my parents have never understood it. They still think that is only my whim because allergy to meat doesn't exist :rolleyes:

Ktani, what is your monthly hair growth? :)

[ktani]

Yes, you should leave it in your hair. It isn't so horrible, I do it everyday and.. surprise, surprise, I live! :D

O.. you have reasons for disliking nature.
I feel sorry for you, unfortunately I know something on it too.
I have allergy to.. meat. I always feel awful after eating meat, but my parents have never understood it. They still think that is only my whim because allergy to meat doesn't exist :rolleyes:

Ktani, what is your monthly hair growth? :)

Over .75 inch a month (which was my usual growth rate).

[Shrew]

I was just interested if your hair grow faster than my.. then I'd start drink a catnip tea too ;)

[ktani]

I was just interested if your hair grow faster than my.. then I'd start drink a catnip tea too ;)

I do not drink it, lol. Just wear it. (I always rinse it out of ny hair) and off my skin.

[Shrew]

I thought that you drank infusion of it :D

Anyway, for now I am satisfied with my current growth, I don't need more than 1,4"-1,8".

[ktani]

I thought that you drank infusion of it :D

Anyway, for now I am satisfied with my current growth, I don't need more than 1,4"-1,8".

No, lol, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=118.

The catnip I use though is organic and pesticide free. I could drink it. I do not however.

[proo]

I drank catnip tea once and it totally conked me out - talk about a sleeping potion!

[ktani]

I drank catnip tea once and it totally conked me out - talk about a sleeping potion!

Yes, lol, it is a stimulant to cats, and has sedative properties on humans.

[svehex]

This is a very interesting thread for a herb worker like me :)

[littlenvy]

Catnip tea is drinkable, but the effects have nothing to do with hair growth. If you drink catnip tea it will make you very very mellow ;);) It use to be given to people who were given to lots of drama to calm them down. If you are having sleep problems, it is very good before going to bed.


I have started experimenting with dieter's tea rinse. (topically)
The biggest thing in dieter's tea is Senna which is related to Cassia. I like it for now, but will have to see how it acts in a long run.

[Shrew]

Herb worker?
I mean professional herb worker like herbalist? :)

[knux]

Just a quick question about the catnip rinse. I read the article and it memtioned that it can stain the hair. I have dark hair, will it still affect my colour? And if so is there an alternative?
Thanks!

[haibane]

Just a quick question about the catnip rinse. I read the article and it memtioned that it can stain the hair. I have dark hair, will it still affect my colour? And if so is there an alternative?
Thanks!
It shouldn't. Catnip can stain very light blonde hair, but only if it's left on for like an hour or something. And the stain is temporary and can easily be washed out with shampoo anyway.

[wavymane]

Catnip tea is drinkable, but the effects have nothing to do with hair growth. If you drink catnip tea it will make you very very mellow ;);) It use to be given to people who were given to lots of drama to calm them down. If you are having sleep problems, it is very good before going to bed.


I have started experimenting with dieter's tea rinse. (topically)
The biggest thing in dieter's tea is Senna which is related to Cassia. I like it for now, but will have to see how it acts in a long run.
Darn it, I wish it had this effect on me. I've heard it's good for digestion as well but for some reason it tends to make me bloat :rolleyes: I haven't tried it for hair but I will do that soon.