How To Use Herbal Hair Tea Rinses

Posted on April 17, 2021

How To Use Herbal Hair Tea Rinses

Herbal hair rinses have been used for centuries to soften the hair, improve manageability, and bring back natural body and shine. Unlike many commercial conditioners, these simple rinses contain no synthetic ingredients, leave no heavy residue, and rinse clean.

Different herbs can be blended to support different hair needs — from helping the scalp feel calmer, to adding shine, to giving the hair a bit more lift or clarity.

Organic Stimulation Hair Tea

Make Your Own Herbal and Botanical Rinses

The recipes below are designed for loose herbs. If you prefer not to strain the mixture, you can easily make your own “tea bag.”

Simply bundle the herbs in cheesecloth, a cotton muslin bag, or even a clean sock, and secure it with natural cotton string.

You can use these same recipes with Chagrin Valley’s Organic Hair Teas — each blend comes with a reusable muslin bag.

Whether you are using a homemade bundle or one of our Organic Hair Tea Blends, the directions remain the same. Fill the bag with the amount of herbs called for in the recipe and place it directly into the hot water.

Avoid packing the bundle too tightly—the herbs need room to move around so their beneficial properties and aroma can infuse fully.

NOTE: Always make and store herbal hair preparations in nonreactive containers

Learn More: Herbs & Botanicals For Hair Rinses

Basic Herbal Tea Hair Rinse Recipe

Prepare the Tea

Boil 2 cups of water
Place 3 to 4 tablespoons of hair tea into a muslin bag or cheesecloth and secure tightly
Turn off the heat and allow the herbs to steep for at least 30 minutes to an hour
Allow the tea to cool
Give the bag a final squeeze to capture all of the botanical essence
If bits of herbs escaped the bag, strain the tea
Pour the cooled tea into a clean spray bottle, plastic squeeze bottle, or another container

When your infusion is complete, toss the contents of the tea bag into the garden or compost. Rinse the bag and allow it to dry. (We don’t recommend reusing the muslin bag if you’ve added oil to your infusion.)

Time-saving tip: Double or triple the recipe and save the extra tea so you always have some rinse on hand. You can refrigerate leftover hair tea for 7-10 days in a clean airtight container. Do not refrigerate tea in aluminum containers. For longer storage, you can also freeze the hair tea in small batches for up to 6 months.

If you are making larger recipes with lots of herbs, you may want to use more than one bag or just the loose tea. If you pack the muslin bag with too many herbs, they will not infuse completely.

How To Use a Basic Hair Tea Rinse

A hair tea can be used in several ways.

Use in the Shower

Wash your hair with a natural shampoo and rinse thoroughly
Squirt, spray, or gently pour a good amount of the tea rinse onto wet hair, and be sure to saturate your scalp
Gently massage the herbal tea into your scalp and hair to the ends
Let it sit for a few minutes while you finish your shower*
Leave in or rinse out with lukewarm water and towel dry
Use the tea on clean hair before or after conditioning.

*TIP: If you bring a bowl into the shower, you can catch the tea as it runs through your hair so you can reapply it several times if desired.

Use as a Hair Refresher Spritz

Place your infused tea into a clean spray bottle. Lightly mist onto dry or damp hair between wash days to rehydrate, refresh curls, and soothe the scalp without residue.

Storage

Since there are no preservatives, store the prepared tea in the refrigerator and use within 1–2 weeks.

Other Ways to Use Herbal Hair Teas

Herbal Tea and Honey Hair Rinse

A warm cup of herbal tea with a touch of honey can soothe the spirit — and the same simple combination can be a lovely treat for dry hair. You can use a single favorite herb, a botanical blend, or even a basic green tea, which is known for helping hair feel softer and more manageable.

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it helps draw and retain moisture, leaving hair feeling softer and more hydrated.

Directions:

Add 2 to 4 teaspoons of honey to the recipe for a Basic Hair Tea Rinse above
Gently massage the tea into your wet hair and scalp in a circular motion
Allow it to stay in the hair for 5-15 minutes
Rinse out with clean, cool water

Herbs and Vinegar Hair Rinse

Vinegar is beneficial for oily hair, itchy scalp, dandruff, dull hair, and build-up.

Directions to Make the Concentrated Vinegar:

Place approximately 1/2 to 3/4 cup of herbs into a glass jar
Cover with 2 cups of organic raw apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Steep this mixture in a tightly closed jar in the refrigerator or in a dark, cool place for two weeks
Shake the jar daily
Once infused, strain out the herbs

Tip: If you don't want to wait two weeks, speed up the infusion by gently warming the vinegar before pouring it over the herbs. "Steep" for a few days!

Application

Dilute 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of the herbal vinegar in 1 cup of water. Rinse through wet hair after shampooing and massage thoroughly. Rinse with cool water or, for extra conditioning benefits, leave it in and towel-dry hair. The vinegar scent will disappear as your hair dries.

A vinegar infusion is good for about 6 months. Up to a year if refrigerated. (I always leave about a week's worth in my shower in a plastic squeeze bottle!)

If you prefer a ready‑made option, Chagrin Valley offers three botanical‑infused organic Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses that make natural hair care simple and easy to fit into any routine.

Herbs & Oil Hair Treatment

Herbal‑infused oils are a simple way to support dry, dull, or frizzy hair. By steeping hair‑loving herbs in a nourishing oil, you create a concentrated botanical blend that adds moisture, softness, and slip to the hair while helping the scalp feel calm and conditioned.

Directions:

Place approximately 3-5 tablespoons of herbs in a glass jar
Cover with 1 cup of organic carrier oil (see list below)
Close the jar tightly and let the mixture steep for two weeks
Shake the jar daily
Once infused, strain out the herbs

Tip: If you don’t want to wait two weeks, you can speed up the process by gently warming the herbs and oil on very low heat for 15–20 minutes, then letting the mixture steep overnight. Store the finished oil in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Intensive Treatment #1
Place a small amount of infused oil in your palm and massage it into the scalp with your fingertips, working down to the ends. Repeat until your hair and scalp are lightly coated. Leave on for at least 30 minutes — longer is even better.

Intensive Treatment #2
Warm oil penetrates more easily. Gently heat the infused oil to about 100°F, then massage it into your hair and scalp. Cover your head with a towel and leave it on for at least an hour, then shampoo out.

Leave‑In Treatment
For added shine and softness, rub a small amount of oil between your palms and smooth it through wet or dry hair, working from mid‑length to ends. If your scalp feels dry, massage a small amount into the scalp as well.

Choose a basic carrier oil you already enjoy using on your hair — jojoba, grapeseed, coconut, olive, or another favorite. These simple oils make great bases for herbal infusions.

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