For centuries, women cared for their hair using simple ingredients—herbs, oils, and slow, intentional rituals. These practices weren’t about complicated routines or expensive products. They were rooted in nature, nourishment, and consistency.
Below are hair rituals you can begin this week. They use concentrated formulas, minimal water, and clean and simple ingredients.
HAIR RINSES
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Shine Rinse
A simple clarifying rinse that balances the scalp and gives hair a natural, healthy sheen. It also helps remove product build-up.
Apple cider vinegar helps the hair by balancing the scalp’s pH, dissolving buildup, and smoothing the hair cuticle. This makes hair shinier, less frizzy, and easier to manage. Its natural acids also help keep the scalp clear of dandruff-causing bacteria and yeast, creating a healthier environment for stronger growth.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup filtered water
- Spray bottle
How to Use:
After shampooing, slowly spray over the scalp and hair.
Leave on for a few minutes and work it into your scalp. I personally leave a spray bottle of this in my shower and use it often to keep my scalp clean.
2. Rosemary + Mint Growth Rinse
An herbal, highly concentrated rinse that stimulates circulation and encourages thicker, stronger hair.
Rosemary and mint support hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp, delivering more nutrients to each follicle. Rosemary helps lengthen the hair’s natural growth phase and reduces inflammation, while mint provides a cooling stimulation that “wakes up” sluggish follicles. Together, they help reduce shedding, strengthen strands, and create a clean, healthy environment for thicker, fuller hair.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh rosemary (or 3–4 tbsp dried)
- 1 handful fresh mint or 2 tbsp dried
- 2 cups water
- Spray bottle
How to Use:
Simmer herbs for 15 minutes until the water turns deep and fragrant.
Let cool, strain, and pour into spray bottle and spray over clean hair.
Gently squeeze out the excess water and let your hair dry normally. The herbal extract stays on the scalp, but you’re not walking around with dripping hair. Use weekly for growth support.
3. Chamomile Softening Rinse
Chamomile helps soften the hair, calm an irritated scalp, and add a natural golden brightness to lighter hair tones. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory, which soothes the scalp, and its gentle pigments enhance shine and warmth without dye or chemicals.
Ingredients:
- 4-5 table spoons of loose chamomile tea
- 2 cups hot water
How to Use:
Steep tea until dark golden.
Pour over clean hair and leave in for softness and brightness. Avoid going in the sun with it unless you want a your hair to lighten a little in the sun.
4. Black Tea Strengthening Rinse
Black tea can help the hair because it’s rich in caffeine and antioxidants. The caffeine temporarily tightens the hair follicle, which may reduce shedding, and the antioxidants strengthen the hair shaft. It also adds a natural richness to darker hair, making it look shinier and fuller.
Ingredients:
- 5 black tablespoons of loose black tea.
- 2–2.5 cups hot water
How to Use:
Steep very strong and allow to cool.
Pour over scalp and hair or use spray bottle
Let sit 10-20 minutes minutes, then rinse lightly.
SCALP OIL MASSAGES
Scalp massage is one of the simplest, most overlooked ways to support hair growth.
Just a few minutes increases blood flow to the follicles, supports thickness, and relaxes the nervous system.
Use fingertips and move in slow circles across the entire scalp. Also lightly tugging on the hair, rotating through different sections to stimulate blood flow.
1. Rosemary Growth Oil
Rosemary essential oil supports hair growth by increasing circulation to the follicles and helping reduce inflammation on the scalp. Jojoba oil closely mimics the scalp’s natural sebum, keeping it moisturized without clogging pores. Together, they create a lightweight growth oil that absorbs well and supports thicker, healthier hair over time.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup jojoba oil
- 10–12 drops rosemary essential oil
Massage into the scalp once a week 20-30 minutes before washing hair.
2. Lavender Soothing Oil
Sweet almond oil nourishes and softens the hair, helps smooth frizz, and supports a healthier scalp with its vitamins and fatty acids. Lavender calms irritation, reduces dryness, and supports a balanced, healthy scalp. Together, they create a soothing oil blend that helps the hair feel softer, shinier, and less prone to breakage.
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup sweet almond oil
- 6–8 drops lavender essential oil
Apply before bed or before showering for 20 minutes.
3. Castor Strengthening Blend
Castor oil is rich and thick, helping strengthen the hair, reduce breakage, and support fuller growth. Jojoba oil is lighter and mimics the scalp’s natural oils, helping the blend absorb better and prevent buildup. Together, they create a powerful strengthening treatment that nourishes the follicles while still being easy to spread and wash out.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp cold-pressed castor oil
- 2 tbsp jojoba oil
Massage into thinning areas or the full scalp once a week.
A Simple Weekly Ritual
To keep this effortless (and not overwhelming):
- Sunday: Scalp oil massage
- Midweek: Herbal rinse
- Daily: Hand scalp massge and brushing from scalp to ends 100 times to move oils down from the top of your head to the ends.
Small, consistent rituals will transform your hair far more than any complicated routine.
