Naturally Beautiful Hair ~ Glorious & Gray!

Naturally Beautiful Hair ~ Glorious & Gray!

Many of the Silver Foxes I talk to tell me that, while they love their silver halo, it's sometimes problematic to maintain. Their gray hair tends to be drier, duller, courser, and frizzier than their original hair color. I find that mine is drier, more fragile and baby fine. It breaks off easily and it's not as shiny. So I avoid harsh products and chemicals as much as possible. I like to whip up natural treatments, made out of ingredients straight from the kitchen. They're easy, non-toxic, inexpensive, and amazingly effective. These are a few of my favorites~

This recipe for Organic Sage and Rosemary Rinse is specifically for gray hair. It discourages yellowing, and naturally maintains the color of gray hair.

Organic Sage and Rosemary Rinse

~Ingredients~

1/2 cup organic dried sage

1/4 cup organic dried rosemary

~Directions~

Simmer rosemary and sage in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes, then steep for several hours.

Apply to gray hair and allow to dry, then shampoo.

Repeat weekly until desired shade is reached, then once a month for maintenance.

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Rich Mayonaise Conditioner is not exclusively for gray hair, but it's great for dry, fragile, brittle, or over-processed hair. I like to do this one once a month. It's best if you do it on a day when you're not planning to go out, because it leaves hair a little oily. But the next day, when you wash your hair, it will be soft and shiny!

Rich Mayonaise Conditioner

~Ingredients~

1 cup mayonnaise (room temperature)

1/2 cup olive oil

3 egg yolks

~Directions~

Blend all ingredients together in a bowl.

Apply thoroughly through your hair adding extra at the ends.

Pile on top of your head and cover with a plastic shower cap and then cover with a towel to keep in the heat from your head.

Leave on for at least 10-20 minutes and then rinse out (not wash).

Makes 1 to 2 hair treatments depending on the length of your hair.

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This Apple Cider Vinegar Shine Restorer works to restore luster by removing build up from other hair products. It removes tangles and leaves hair smooth and silky. Depending on your hair type, you may want to use it once weekly, or as often as three times weekly. It may cause minimal dryness to hair, so some people like to condition first, then use the rinse.

Apple Cider Vinegar Shine Restorer

~Ingredients~

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 cups warm water. Add a a drop of essential oil if you like.

~Directions~

Apply to hair.

Now you have a few choices. You may rinse it out if you want, or leave the rinse on your hair. Since the vinegar restores natural pH it also helps prevent an itchy scalp. As your hair is drying you will smell vinegar, but once your hair dries, no smell.

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And don't forget Hairbrush Cleaning. A dirty hairbrush just puts the dirt and residue back into your clean, conditioned hair. I like a natural boar bristle brush. Boar bristles are easier on hair than cheapie plastic brushes and they redistribute oils throughout hair, boosting shine. They're more expensive, but well worth it.

Natural Hairbrush Cleaner

~Ingredients~

Make a mix of half water and half vinegar.

Add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.

~Directions~

Remove old hair from hairbrush.

Soak hairbrush overnight in cleaner.

Rinse.