Even if you feel young at heart, your hair might tell a different story. I’ve been spotting gray hairs since my teenage years, and recently, they’ve been appearing more frequently. My hair is very dark, and I’m not ready to embrace the gray just yet. Instead of using harsh chemical dyes, I decided to explore a natural method to cover my grays.
Sage offers numerous health benefits. It’s known for soothing sore throats, reducing inflammation, treating depression, and strengthening teeth and gums. It also pairs wonderfully with poultry and root vegetables. Additionally, sage is great for your skin and hair. Historically, it’s been used to combat baldness and promote hair growth. For those with dark hair, it’s a natural tint. It won’t entirely cover gray hairs but will gradually darken them, blending in with your natural color. Note: This method works only for brunettes.
To make a sage hair rinse, I added apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for hair as it restores pH balance and removes residue build-up. It also serves as an excellent conditioner and detangler. For this recipe, I used garden sage (Salvia officinalis), but other types of sage generally have the same properties.
Here’s what you’ll need:
– ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
– A 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)
Steps:
1. Prepare the Sage:
If using fresh sage, remove the leaves from the stems and tear them to release the natural oils. Fill a bowl with the sage.
2. Make Sage Tea:
Boil 2 cups of water, then remove from heat and pour over the sage leaves.
3. Steep:
Let the mixture steep for 15-20 minutes and cool. The water will turn a pleasant green. If you have a sore throat, you can save some tea and add a bit of honey for quick relief.
4. Combine with Vinegar:
Strain the sage tea and mix it with the apple cider vinegar. Stir gently. Using a cruet bottle can make application easier. If someone mistakes it for salad dressing, no worries—it’ll still taste great!
5. How to Use:
Use the sage rinse as the final step after shampooing. You might notice the vinegar smell, but it will fade as your hair dries. I like to lean over a basin, pour the rinse over my hair, and reuse the collected liquid several times. Then towel dry. To darken gray hair, use the rinse consistently several times a week. Over time, it will darken grays and enhance the color and shine of brown or black hair.
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