Rosemary & Hair Growth
Everybody wants a little extra hair. Whether you're balding, thinning or trying to grow out your hair, give your strands a boost with a natural remedy like rosemary. The herb is touted for its invigorating properties; not only does it smell refreshing, it'll wake up your scalp and get your hair growing. Buy fresh rosemary during its peak blooming season (March through May) or find it dried at your health food store.
The Herb
Rosemary is a dark green herb with needle-like leaves and pale blue flowers. It's native to Mediterranean areas, and the name means "dew of the sea" in Latin. Rosemary has been used for centuries in various folk remedies for hair, skin, respiratory and memory problems.
Benefits
Rosemary is thought to prevent thinning hair and hair loss. It fights against premature graying and can gradually darken existing gray hair. The oil is beneficial for dry, flaky scalps, and as such is a great remedy for dandruff. The oil is most notably used for stimulating hair follicles and consequently improving hair growth.
Infusion
Make an easy rosemary infusion to use as a strengthening hair rinse by adding two or three handfuls of the herb (fresh or dried) to a pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. When the water has cooled, strain out the pieces of rosemary and put the infusion into a container that you can keep in the shower. After shampooing, pour some of the mixture over your hair and don't rinse out.
Oil
Make a rosemary-infused oil to use for a nightly hair massage. Using fresh rosemary is most effective, but if you can't find any, the dried herb will do. Lightly crush two handfuls of rosemary between your palms, to bring out the scent. Put the herb in a bottle and cover with olive or jojoba oil. Place the bottle in a cool, dark place, and allow the mixture to steep for two weeks. Before bed, massage a few drops of this oil into your scalp to improve circulation and growth.
Vinegar
Infuse rosemary in raw apple cider vinegar for a natural conditioner. Fill a bottle with sprigs of rosemary and cover completely with apple cider vinegar (which corrects the pH balance of hair and closes the cuticle). Just like rosemary oil, leave this mixture in a cool, dark place for two weeks to let the herb infuse into the vinegar. Use after shampooing; mix 1/4 cup of the mixture into a cup of water and pour over hair without rinsing.
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