iVR
Well-Known Member
So I've been playing with herbs/essential oils for the last 6-7 months. Soothing herbs/essential oil to be more specific. I am and always have been super tender-headed. It was the main reason my mom permed my hair in middle school. Perm appeared to be the only thing (after excruciating application and burns) that slightly relieved my tender scalp, and my mom had to fly through the application/wash-out in 15 min or less. It still hurt like nobody's business, but at least I no longer cried the entire time someone was in my head (unless they started tugging/pulling like they'd lost their mind). So when I decided to transition I needed something to soothe my tender scalp. So I'm going to list the solutions I've found that help, my recipe for the solutions, a rating of their effectiveness out of 10, and a description of what it feels like on the scalp.
Solution #1:
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Henna/Cassia Mix:
3:2 ratio of Cassia to Henna (in 1/4 cup increments)
1/2 cup of EVOO
1/2 cup of blend of oil (grape seed, jojoba, lavender, and rosemary)
1/4 cup (approximately) of ginger root
1 can of coconut milk
1 cup of honey
2 eggs
Mix the honey, oil, and eggs first. Then add the c-milk followed by the cassia henna ratio. Let cool off then apply to hair, and leave in for at least 4hrs with baggy covered head.
*This must be warmed on the stove/stovetop in the above order for the best consistency.
Effectiveness of this solution: 5
Scalp reaction: Well the mix is nice and thick. It doesn't drip even when your scalp warms it up. It does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp. If you're worried about the henna coloring the hair, don't. The cassia to henna ratio keeps it from coloring the hair. If you're still worried do a 3:1 cassia to henna ratio. Afterwards, the scalp doesn't feel as sore, but if you choose this method you have to do it every week in conjunction with solution 2.
*After first application, mix needs to be stored in the refrigerator.
Solution #2:
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ACV Rinse Mix:
1 cup of freshly brewed calendula
1 cup of freshly brewed rose/rose petals
1 cup of freshly brewed chamomile
4 sticks of cinnamon
1 cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
2 tbsp of peppermint oil
2 tbsp of lemon oil
2 tbsp of lavender oil
2 tbsp of rosemary oil
1/4 cup of coconut oil
1/4 cup of another non-essential oil of choice
Let it sit for four days at least in the refrigerator. Then pour into a spray bottle minus the cinnamon sticks. Spray into hair. Cover head with baggy. Leave in hair anywhere from at least 1 hour to overnight. Warning: This does drip and it's sticky, so it's suggested you wrap the baggy covered head with a towel to catch dripping.
Effectiveness of this solution: 6.5
Scalp reaction: Let's just say depending how much peppermint oil you put in (be CAUTIOUS when exceeding suggested ratios) the head will feel like a frosty wonderland for the first 1-3 hours. When used once a week in conjunction with solution #1, the tenderness of the scalp begins to drastically lessen as long as you stick with it. It takes 2 weeks for you to begin reaping the results.
Solution #3:
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Coconut Milk Mix:
1 can coconut milk
6 tbsp of ginger root powder
1 egg (optional)
Mix in blender or by hand. Freeze or refrigerate the mixture for any hour. Then apply to scalp. Cover with plastic cap, and wrap towel around head. Be aware as your scalp heats up the mixture it WILL drip. Leave in for at least 1 hour.
Effectiveness of this solution: 8
Scalp reaction: It was nice and soothing. It needs to be applied 3 times a week though. It also does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job, again. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp.
Solution #4:
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Ginger Root Tea Rinse:
1/2 pound of ginger root (that's like 1 root at Walmart)
2 tea bags of chamomile tea
Chop the ginger root in chunky pieces or slices. Boil the ginger root for 15 minutes, and simmer for 15 minutes. Take the ginger root out (it can be frozen and used one more time after it cools off). Put the tea bags in the ginger water for 5 minutes. Takes them out. Once the mix cools, spray the scalp with it allow it to sit for 30 minutes with baggy on head. Rinse out condition, and go about your day.
*It works best on a clean scalp BEFORE you condition your hair.
*Ginger root powder can be substituted for the actual root, but you will have to deal with the grains or use cheese cloth to strain.
Effectiveness of this solution: 10
Scalp reaction: It was nice and soothing. It also kind of warms up the scalp in tender areas. The warming wasn't uncomfortable, but it was odd. It needs to be applied every other day or every 3 days. It also does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job, again. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp. You will feel results after the first 3 rinses.
Final points:
I must say that solution #4 is the best as far as MY scalp goes. My tenderness is relatively gone. Touching my scalp no longer hurts unless I skip a rinse, and then my scalp is like, "You knew better." So I work not to upset the monster. Keep in mind that the time ranges above are suggested . You or someone else may be able to go longer in between time frames, but it's up to you.
Solution #1:
----------------
Henna/Cassia Mix:
3:2 ratio of Cassia to Henna (in 1/4 cup increments)
1/2 cup of EVOO
1/2 cup of blend of oil (grape seed, jojoba, lavender, and rosemary)
1/4 cup (approximately) of ginger root
1 can of coconut milk
1 cup of honey
2 eggs
Mix the honey, oil, and eggs first. Then add the c-milk followed by the cassia henna ratio. Let cool off then apply to hair, and leave in for at least 4hrs with baggy covered head.
*This must be warmed on the stove/stovetop in the above order for the best consistency.
Effectiveness of this solution: 5
Scalp reaction: Well the mix is nice and thick. It doesn't drip even when your scalp warms it up. It does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp. If you're worried about the henna coloring the hair, don't. The cassia to henna ratio keeps it from coloring the hair. If you're still worried do a 3:1 cassia to henna ratio. Afterwards, the scalp doesn't feel as sore, but if you choose this method you have to do it every week in conjunction with solution 2.
*After first application, mix needs to be stored in the refrigerator.
Solution #2:
---------------
ACV Rinse Mix:
1 cup of freshly brewed calendula
1 cup of freshly brewed rose/rose petals
1 cup of freshly brewed chamomile
4 sticks of cinnamon
1 cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
2 tbsp of peppermint oil
2 tbsp of lemon oil
2 tbsp of lavender oil
2 tbsp of rosemary oil
1/4 cup of coconut oil
1/4 cup of another non-essential oil of choice
Let it sit for four days at least in the refrigerator. Then pour into a spray bottle minus the cinnamon sticks. Spray into hair. Cover head with baggy. Leave in hair anywhere from at least 1 hour to overnight. Warning: This does drip and it's sticky, so it's suggested you wrap the baggy covered head with a towel to catch dripping.
Effectiveness of this solution: 6.5
Scalp reaction: Let's just say depending how much peppermint oil you put in (be CAUTIOUS when exceeding suggested ratios) the head will feel like a frosty wonderland for the first 1-3 hours. When used once a week in conjunction with solution #1, the tenderness of the scalp begins to drastically lessen as long as you stick with it. It takes 2 weeks for you to begin reaping the results.
Solution #3:
---------------
Coconut Milk Mix:
1 can coconut milk
6 tbsp of ginger root powder
1 egg (optional)
Mix in blender or by hand. Freeze or refrigerate the mixture for any hour. Then apply to scalp. Cover with plastic cap, and wrap towel around head. Be aware as your scalp heats up the mixture it WILL drip. Leave in for at least 1 hour.
Effectiveness of this solution: 8
Scalp reaction: It was nice and soothing. It needs to be applied 3 times a week though. It also does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job, again. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp.
Solution #4:
----------------
Ginger Root Tea Rinse:
1/2 pound of ginger root (that's like 1 root at Walmart)
2 tea bags of chamomile tea
Chop the ginger root in chunky pieces or slices. Boil the ginger root for 15 minutes, and simmer for 15 minutes. Take the ginger root out (it can be frozen and used one more time after it cools off). Put the tea bags in the ginger water for 5 minutes. Takes them out. Once the mix cools, spray the scalp with it allow it to sit for 30 minutes with baggy on head. Rinse out condition, and go about your day.
*It works best on a clean scalp BEFORE you condition your hair.
*Ginger root powder can be substituted for the actual root, but you will have to deal with the grains or use cheese cloth to strain.
Effectiveness of this solution: 10
Scalp reaction: It was nice and soothing. It also kind of warms up the scalp in tender areas. The warming wasn't uncomfortable, but it was odd. It needs to be applied every other day or every 3 days. It also does at one point get itchy where your scalp is tender, but that's just the ginger doing its job, again. You must NOT scratch! The itching comes and goes during the early stages of the mix penetrating your scalp. You will feel results after the first 3 rinses.
Final points:
I must say that solution #4 is the best as far as MY scalp goes. My tenderness is relatively gone. Touching my scalp no longer hurts unless I skip a rinse, and then my scalp is like, "You knew better." So I work not to upset the monster. Keep in mind that the time ranges above are suggested . You or someone else may be able to go longer in between time frames, but it's up to you.
