Nettle is a group of plants that have stinging hairs and
even though the plant is so very valuable medicinally and environmentally, not
everyone can or would want the plant on their property for an unsuspecting
person to stumble upon. But there are sources where you can find products utilizing this undervalued plant.
The nettle plant is nutrient dense in that it is rich in
Vitamins A, C, D, K and B, a good source of minerals Iron, Potassium,
Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Silica, Iodine, Silicon, Sodium and
Sulfur. Taking advantage of this green pharmacy in the form of a tea can do
wonders for your health. But you can also take advantage of using the plant for
topical use as a benefit to your skin and hair care.
Nettles are one of the oldest treatments for helping with
hair loss. It stimulates the hair follicles which results in healthier growth.
Better nutrition is always best for seeing an overall improvement in the
appearance of our skin and hair, but applying nettles topically in the form of
after shampoo herbal infusion rinses, nettle-infused vinegar hair rinses or
nettle-infused oil conditioning treatments can also bring wonderful results.
People dealing with dandruff and scalp funk can get rid of the problem by
taking advantage of the antifungal properties of stinging nettles.
1. First, lets talk about the use of nettles as an herbal
vinegar hair rinse. Many of our hair care products are strongly alkaline and
cause a dull buildup on the hair shaft. Continuous use of shampoos,
conditioners and styling products can dry out and leave open the protective cuticle
scales of the hair shaft which results in hard to manage, fly away hair.
Healthy hair is on the mildly acidic side of the pH scale between 4.5 and 5.5.
Apple cider vinegar has a pH of 2.9. Occasional after shampoo vinegar rinses
help to balance the pH, remove that buildup and restore a softer, shinier head
of hair. Vinegar rinses also help prevent or get rid of a flaky or itchy scalp.
The acids and enzymes in the vinegar kill the "bottle bacillus", a
bacteria that is one of the causes for many scalp conditions. The bacteria
clogs the hair follicles which allows dry crusts to form that itch and flake
off. Adding the benefits of nettles to the vinegar rinse adds a powerful
boost to maintaining a healthy scalp and hair care.
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| Vinegar Rinse Dark Hair |
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2. An occasional oil conditioning treatment can help restore damage done from
hairdryers, curling irons, color treatments, summer sun, winter wind and
swimming pool chemicals. Infusing stinging nettles in a carrier oil such a
jojoba oil is a great blend for not only the hair on your head but for men's
beard care.
Jojoba oil isn't actually an oil, but rather the liquid wax
extracted from the plant's seeds. Jojoba oil so resembles human sebum that it
acts as a protective coating, quickly absorbed by the hair shafts. By infusing
the jojoba oil with nettles, the hair and scalp benefit greatly and helps
prevent scalp funk.
Conditioning oils can be used in a few ways: massage a bit
into snarls to help comb out tangles, scrunch a bit just onto the ends to help
with dry ends and split ends or use as a full head treatment by applying to the
hair and scalp, wrap with a towel for a period of time and shampoo.
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