From follicles to rituals – how to care for your hair using plants, food, and a little magic from nature
What exactly is hair – and why does it sometimes act like it’s offended?
Have you ever wondered why your hair can be stunning one day and resemble a frizzy broom the next? Coincidence? Genetics? Or maybe… too much stress and not enough iron?
Hair is essentially a creative form of protein – keratin – that’s made from what you eat, how you sleep, and yes, even how you breathe through your nose (seriously, that matters too). These delicate strands reflect your inner health.
What is a hair made of b?
- Cuticle – the outer layer, like scales. Smooth = shiny. Raised = frizzy.
- Cortex – the center of color and elasticity.
- Medulla – the inner channel, not always present.
But structure alone isn’t everything – what really matters is how you nourish it.
Do healthy hair start with the scalp?
Yes. And only there.
The scalp is the soil, and hair is the plant. If the soil is depleted, clogged with silicones, and tense – nothing will grow well.
How to care for your scalp naturally?
- Wash gently, without harsh chemicals or SLS
- Massage with herbal oils (e.g., rosemary, black seed)
- Exfoliate weekly (e.g., clay and fenugreek)
- Avoid excess dry shampoo and hairspray
- Rinse with nettle, horsetail, or chamomile infusions
Herbs, oils, and ingredients that hair truly loves
| Ingredient | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Nettle | strengthens follicles, reduces hair loss |
| Horsetail | rich in silica – builds hair structure |
| Rosemary | stimulates growth, boosts circulation |
| Bhringraj | Ayurvedic remedy for graying and thinning |
| Fenugreek | regulates sebum, supports growth |
| Castor oil | promotes growth, strengthens lashes and brows |
| Coconut oil | protects and restores |
| Pumpkin seed oil | supports hormonal hair loss |
Instead of shampoo? Natural alternatives
Clay + fenugreek (natural shampoo and mask in one)
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp rhassoul clay
- 1 tbsp ground fenugreek
- warm water or nettle tea
Apply to scalp, massage, leave for 10 minutes, rinse.
Fermented rice water
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1.5 cups water
Leave for 24–48 hours until slightly fermented. Use as a final rinse. Once a week is enough!
Do you dare to ditch shampoo for a week?
Experiment? Revolution? Or the healthiest week your follicles have ever had? Try washing your hair with only clay, herbs, and infusions for 7 days – no lather, no detergents, no expectations. Let your hair breathe. Give your scalp time. Watch what happens. Sometimes, the simplest things go deepest.
DIY masks, rinses, and natural treatments
Banana & coconut oil smoothing mask
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- few drops of lemon juice
Blend and apply for 30 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Yogurt + honey (for dandruff and irritation)
- 3 tbsp plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Massage into scalp and leave for 20 minutes.
Garlic + castor oil (for hair growth)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp castor oil
- 1 tbsp black seed oil
Warm slightly, massage into scalp. Rinse after 1 hour.
Hibiscus + aloe vera conditioner
- 1 tbsp hibiscus powder
- 1 tbsp aloe gel
Mix, apply to damp hair, leave for 20 minutes.
Do you have everything your hair needs in your kitchen?
Yogurt, banana, garlic, rice, hibiscus, oil… Maybe your pantry is actually your home spa? All it takes is a blender and 15 minutes to create a mask worth 30 bucks. And maybe the best hairstylist is… your kitchen.
Herbs to drink – nourish hair from the inside
- Nettle – iron and silica
- Horsetail – strengthens structure
- Fenugreek – balances hormones, oil control
- Bhringraj or tulsi – growth and relaxation
Drink daily for 2–3 months.
Why does hair fall out, turn gray, or go limp?
- Cortisol and stress
- Thyroid imbalances
- Iron and B vitamin deficiencies
- Styling and coloring damage
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Lack of sleep and recovery
Is your hair trying to tell you something?
Hair loss, frizz, dullness – this isn’t “just curly hair” or “a bad hair day.” It could be a silent protest: “Hey, I’m low on iron!”, “Eat more zinc!”, “Stop stressing out!” Your hair is like a thermometer – showing the state of your body. You just need to watch it closely.
Rituals you can start today
- Scalp massage for 3 minutes daily
- Herbal teas for drinking and rinsing
- Oil treatment before bedtime
- Sleeping on silk pillowcases
- Adaptogens for stress (like ashwagandha)
Rosemary elixir for growth
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp castor oil
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- optional: 5 drops peppermint oil
Warm slightly, massage into scalp. Leave overnight, rinse in the morning.
Did you know…
- In China, women of Huangluo grow hair over 2 meters long – washed with fermented rice water
- In India, hibiscus is called “hair botox”
- Stress hormone cortisol literally shrinks hair follicles
Did your grandma know a secret you forgot?
Flaxseed water? Apple cider vinegar rinse? A beer and egg yolk mask? Before the internet, women knew how to care for their hair naturally and effectively. Maybe it’s time to return to these rituals and ask grandma or great-grandma what she did before there was a hair care aisle.
And you? What works for your hair?
Do you have a secret, a grandma’s recipe, or a herbal ritual? Share it with us! Your trick might help someone who doesn’t know where to start.
