Continuation, #3
Anti-dandruff Shampoo Recipe
Rosemary works well to help with itchy scalps and for relieving dandruff.
Glass pots work best for creating this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of dried rosemary leaves (not stalks or other part of the rosemary) Use more or less rosemary according to personal tastes.
- 1 tablespoon of borax (from the health food store)
- 1 quart of boiling water (distilled or spring water)
- 10-20 drops of Camphor
Instructions
Place the dried rosemary leaves in the boiling water on top of a stove or heater. Bring the water to a full boil, turn off the water and then steep in the pot for 6 hours. You can steep the leaves for less time but the longer you steep the more concentrated the results.
Store the mixture in a dark amber glass in the refrigerator. Heat just enough for your treatment. This will probably last 1 week or more. You can tell by the aroma of the mixture.
Do not use the camphor until right before you use the rosemary mixture. Add 10-20 drops of liquid camphor. You may want to start slowly with a lower dosage since camphor can really blast open your sinuses and can make your eyes water if you inhale too much.
Use a cotton ball and dip into a small cup of the liquid and saturate your itchy scalp or root area. If you prefer, wrap your hair in a plastic cup and let soap for 30 minutes. For extra penetration wrap a hot towel over the plastic towel or wrap. Keep in mind that rosemary can stain.
The Rosemary scalp tonic can be applied every day or as desired. To darken hair you will need to apply as an overall rinse 3x a week. Keep in mind that you hair may take a long time to show a change in the color.
I like to play with these types of recipes in the bathtub because it makes them so less messy. Also, rosemary is good for your skin so if it drinks into your bath water...no big deal.
The rosemary mixture can also be used an all over final rinse. Use a plastic bowl to catch the liquid as it falls so you can rinse several times.
Honey & Rosemary On Your Hair
Honey mixed with a little of the rosemary hair oil mixture described above can be used an overall hair softening agent. It is very messy & sticky so if you are going to try it, apply the honey mixture to your hair in the shower after you have first wet your hair.
Note: It is not recommended that you experiment with honey mixtures on dry hair as it will be too difficult to apply.
Do not shampoo your hair first, just wet your hair w/ warm water. Squeeze excess water out and then apply the honey to your ends and dry middle hair.
Leave the mixture on for 5-10 minutes and then rinse out. You can follow with a moisturizing shampoo and rinse out conditioner.
Facials With Rosemary Mixture
Add 1 tablespoon of the rosemary liquid formula to any facial. It helps with stimulating blood flow and circulation.
If you prefer, you can mix one tablespoon of rosemary with fresh yogurt and slather on your face as a yogurt/rosemary facial. The yogurt tightens the pore and the rosemary will add stimulation.
DO NOT USE this recipe on your face if you have roscea or other proneness to outbreaks. It can bring the blood to the surface and cause a rosecea reaction.
Pre-Mixed Rosemary Shampoo
There are several brands of shampoo on the market that are already made with Rosemary. Burt's Bees has a
shampoo bar soap with rosemary.
Knotty Boy Dread Shampoo that is designed specifically to keep the itchies away has a rosemary/tea tree/peppermint all natural blend.
Paul Penders is famous for his all natural
Rosemary shampoo that has been on the hair care market for many years. The Pender's Rosemary shampoo has rosemary leaves and oil as major ingredients but also includes all kinds of other herbal and natural hair goodies like angelica, arnica, calendula, chamomile, comfrey, elderflower, ginger, ginseng root, honeysuckle, hops, horsetail, juniper, lavender, lemon balm, nettle, rosemary, sage, St. John's Worth, witch hazel, yarrow, Aloe Vera extract, jojoba oil, soybean oil, calendula oil, vegetable glycerin, plant gel, alginate, sea salt minerals, panthenol, vitamin C, grapefruit seed extract, essential oils of lavender, geranium and ylang ylang, and vitamin E.
Paul Pender's Hair Repair also includes rosemary herbs and oils to help soften and repair damaged hair.
Sun Dog has a cedar/rosemary hemp shampoo and conditioner that has a fabulous aroma.
Weleda Rosemary Shampoo and
Weleda Rosemary hair and bath oil is chock full of all the rosemary goodness.
Giovanni includes Rosemary with its famous
Tea Tree shampoo and
conditioner.
Phytotherathrie - Huile d'Ales is a revitalizing botanical oil that smoothes & hydrates dry, brittle hair & mends splits ends. 100% natural, it includes essential oils of sage, rosemary & juniper. Ideal for color-treated & long hair. May be applied to the hair before chemical processing.
Edwin Paul's Scalp Stimulator includes rosemary to help stimulate the scalp.
Facial Recipe With White Wine
Another alternative is to simmer a handful of dried rosemary leaves in a pint of white wine for 20 minutes. Strain out the rosemary leaves and then splash on your face as a stimulating wash. It will give you an instant refreshing wake-up call.
Rosemary, Roses & Honey Facial
Honey is a natural moisturizer and emollient. Rosemary is toning to the skin as are rose petals and rose oil.
- 1/2 cup of honey (organic when available)
- 1 small handful of fresh rosemary leaves or rosemary flowers or 10-15 drops of rosemary oil (your choice).
- 1 small handful of rose petals (optional) or 10-15 drops of rose oil.
Note: You can also substitute a few drops of rosemary essential oil.
Mix the honey, the herbs and rose petals or oils together. Store in a tight container w/ a lid in a warm dark place for 2-3 weeks.
Place the jar in a double boiler to gently heat. Use clean fingers to apply to newly washed skin on your face. The honey will feel tacky which is very good. This means that it is stimulating circulation. Be careful to avoid the eye area. Leave on the skin for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse well. Apply the facial moisturizer of your choice.
Burt's Bee's Grapefruit Complexion Mist is made with rosemary and it specifically states that rosemary is to help clear troubled skin. As an option spritz your newly moisturized skin with the Grapefruit Complexion Mist.
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Oil is another optional moisturizer. This wonderful product has rosemary extracts along with Apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, wheat germ oil, tocopheryl acetate & tocopherol (vitamin E), beta-carotene, fragrance.(98.00% Natural). It helps to keep skin fresh & glowing.