Even if you don’t feel your age, your hair might give it away. Personally, I’ve been spotting gray hairs since I was a teenager. Lately, more of those annoying gray strands have been showing up. My hair is very dark, and I’m not ready to let all the gray show just yet. I don’t want to use harsh chemical dyes, so I decided to try a natural method to cover my grays.

Sage offers many health benefits. It can soothe sore throats, reduce inflammation, treat depression, and strengthen teeth and gums. It’s also delicious with poultry and root vegetables. Sage is great for your skin and hair too. Historically, it’s been used to combat baldness and stimulate hair growth. For dark-haired folks, sage acts as a natural tint. While it won’t completely cover gray hairs, it will darken them over time, blending them with your natural color.

I decided to make a sage hair rinse and added apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for your hair. It helps restore pH balance and removes residue build-up. It’s also a great conditioner and detangler. For this recipe, I used plain garden sage (Salvia officinalis), which has the properties needed to darken hair.

Here’s what you’ll need:
– ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
– 1 heaping handful of fresh sage leaves or 2 tablespoons of dried sage
– 2 cups of water
– Tea kettle
– Bowl (large enough to hold 2 cups)
– Funnel (optional)
– Cruet bottle (optional)

First, remove the sage leaves from the stems (if using fresh) and tear them a bit to release their natural oils. Fill the bowl with the sage leaves.

Next, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat, and pour it over the sage leaves. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes and cool. The water will turn a pretty green color. If you have a sore throat, you can save some of the tea and add honey for a quick remedy.

Strain the sage tea and mix it with the apple cider vinegar. Give it a gentle swirl. Using a cruet bottle can make it easier to apply to your hair. If someone mistakes it for salad dressing, it’ll probably taste great on greens!

To use the sage rinse, apply it after shampooing. Yes, you’ll smell the vinegar, but the smell will fade as your hair dries. I like to hang my head over a basin, pour the rinse over my hair, and let it drain. I reuse the rinse caught in the basin several times, then towel dry. The key to darkening gray hair with this rinse is consistency. Use it several times a week. It will not only darken your grays but also enhance the color of brown or black hair and add shine.