I've been using an apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair for the past two years and in that time the health of my hair and scalp has greatly improved. I first began to use the rinse to combat dandruff and an itchy scalp, then I began to notice the strength and shine of my hair had also improved. This horsetail and nettle hair and beard rinse is a must for anyone looking to maintain or improve the overall health of their locks, scalp and or beard.
Horsetail & Nettle Vinegar Hair & Beard Rinse Concentrate
Yield: 32 oz (multiple month supply)
Supplies Needed:
1 – quart sized mason jar w/lid & ring
32 oz bottle or jar with a plastic lid
fine mesh strainer
plastic wrap
cheesecloth
glass bowl
chopstick
scissors
labels
pen
Ingredients:
32 oz raw apple cider vinegar
2 - 4 oz fresh horsetails
1/2 oz - 1 oz fresh nettle leaves
Prepare & Create
Gather the horsetail and nettle leaf. If wildcrafting, make sure to harvest both plants away from the roadside and in an area with clean water. Take only what you need and give thanks. Cut the herbs into small pieces and put them into the mason jar. Shake and pour the ACV into the jar, filling it almost to the top. Stir the herbs and vinegar with a chopstick and add a bit more vinegar to cover the herbs. Seal the jar with plastic wrap, the lid and secure both with the jar ring. Label with the contents and date, place the jar into a cool, dark place, shake well when you think of it and allow to infuse for 2-6 weeks.
Decant, Store & Use
Pour the contents of the jar into a glass bowl through a cheesecloth lined strainer. Bundle the 4 corners of the cheesecloth to form a sachet and squeeze to extract as much vinegar from the plants as possible. Compost the herbs. Pour the strained vinegar into an amber glass bottle or glass jar with a plastic cap/lid. Label the hair and beard rinse concentrate and store in a cool, dry place where it will last years.
For Hair & Scalp: Add 2-4 tsp of concentrate to 12 oz of water. Pour onto wet, freshly cleansed hair and scalp. Wring out hair and do not rinse. Towel dry, pin hair up and allow it to dry slowly or brush while still damp. The scent of the vinegar will disappear as the hair dries.
Beard & Mustache: Add 1 tsp to 8 oz of water. Pour onto a wet, freshly cleansed beard, mustache and face. Wring out hair and do not rinse. Allow to air dry, comb and style as usual.
Harvesting Tips
There are two different types of Horsetail, one fertile branch that reproduces by the distribution of spores and a sterile branch. The former is a single stalk with a cone-like top, while the latter has hair-like branches that grow upward and open as it matures. Both have the same mineral and medicinal value and can be used interchangeably. I typically harvest an equal amount of both to use in this hair rinse.
Horsetails grow in sunny, marsh-like areas during early - mid spring. They love water and are able to absorb silica and other minerals that are rarely found in plants. To harvest, cut the horsetail at its base with a sharp scissors or knife and place them into a paper or cloth bag. They are best used fresh within a few hours of harvest.
Stinging nettle also grows near marshy areas but in partial sun. It can be identified in early spring by its bright green pointed and serrated leaves, hollow stalks and needle like hairs on the underside of the leaves and upon the stalks. The sting of nettle is not caused by the hairs but the Formic acid inside of them. To avoid a sting, hold the top of the nettle plant with a plastic bag, cut its stem and flip the bag over to catch it. You can also do the same process leaf by leaf. Gloves can also be worn as an alternative to the bag method. Transfer the nettle tops and or leaves into a paper or cloth bag and use fresh within a few hours of harvest.
Have you ever harvested horsetail and/or nettle? If so, what do you like to make with these herbs? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers and happy harvesting and/or making!