Even if you don’t feel your age, your hair might give it away. I’ve been getting gray hairs since I was a teenager, and recently, they’ve been appearing more frequently. My hair is very dark, and I’m not ready to let the grays show just yet. I wanted to avoid harsh chemical dyes, so I decided to try a natural method to cover up my grays.

Sage has numerous 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 brunettes, it acts as a natural hair tint, darkening gray hairs over time and blending them with your natural color.

For my sage hair rinse, I added apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is excellent for your hair. It helps restore your pH balance and removes residue build-up. It also works as a great conditioner and detangler. I used garden sage (Salvia officinalis) for this recipe, but other types of sage generally have similar properties.

Here’s what you’ll need:
– ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
– 1 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 slightly to release their natural oils. Pack the bowl with the sage leaves.

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

After steeping, 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 will likely taste great on their greens!

To use the sage rinse, apply it after shampooing. Yes, your hair will smell like vinegar initially, but the smell will fade as it dries. I like to hang my head over a basin and pour the rinse over my hair, catching the liquid in the basin to reuse multiple times. Afterward, towel dry your hair. The key to darkening gray hair with this sage rinse is consistent use several times a week. Over time, it will darken your grays, deepen the color of brown or black hair, and add shine.