If it is not yet completely clear how to use Ayurvedic herbs to wash your hair, then this post might be useful.

 It can be a bit of a struggle at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's really very easy! Everything takes some getting used to, and this switch from shampoo to natural herbs to wash your hair is no different. 

What I really like is that you are almost obliged to take a moment of rest, so to speak 'Me Time'. That's how women in India used to do it, together in the river with a whole washing ritual involved. Now we just do it in our own bathroom :)

1. take a bowl, a tablespoon and the bag of Als Je Haar Maar Goed Zit herbs

2. Spoon 2 to 5 tablespoons into the bowl. The amount depends on the length and thickness of your hair. If you have short/thin hair, you need much less. Feel for yourself whether you need more or less. After using it a few times you really know what you need.

TIP: 

-Does your hair need more hydration or is your hair damaged? Try one of these tips:

-> add a teaspoon of Provitamin B5, honey and/or hydrolyzed protein (wheat, rice or silk protein, available online at www) to the mask. 

-> add 3 to 4 drops of good oil. Take a nourishing oil that is suitable for hair such as Ayurvedic hair oil, Jojoba oil, hibiscus oil, etc.)

->Mix the herbs with cooled tea or rose water instead of plain water until you get a smooth paste. Tea provides more hydration to your hair than plain water. Some types of tea are extra good for your hair, such as Hibiscus, rosemary, nettle, chamomile, horsetail tea.

3. Mix the herbs well into a smooth paste that is not too runny. Add a very small amount of water at first and gradually add more as needed.

4. The idea is that you can easily apply the herbal paste to your hair and that it does not drip off your face (it stings the eyes, try to avoid this).

Apply the Ayurvedic herbal 'shampoo' to wet/damp hair. 

5. Leave on damp to wet hair for 5-30 minutes, the longer the better for hair and scalp. I just sit in the bath for a very long time, but that is completely natural :) You can also apply it in the shower or bath or even outside in the summer! Put your hair in a bun or put on a bath cap or wrap it in a towel that you don't mind getting dirty and let it soak in thoroughly. 

TIP: Do you have little time or simply don't feel like waiting? 

-> Place a few spoons of the Ayurvedic herbs in a vase. Hold the vase with the herbs under the shower head (with enough pressure on it). You will see that there is natural foam on it! This is due to Reetha aka soap nuts that are in the mixture which contains saponins (natural soap substances). The 'original mix' contains more reetha, so more foam.

Pour this mixture over your hair and rub it in. Leave some herbal water in the vase each time and fill the vase again with water. You will see that you can refill several times and that extra foam will still appear. Rinse your hair with this until it is gone. Rinse well with water afterwards. 

-> another option: put a few spoonfuls of herbs in a blender. Add lukewarm/warm water (2 to 3 glasses). Turn on the blender for a moment. You get natural foam with herbal water. Rinse your hair with this, rub it in well and rinse well. 

Your hair is certainly clean and you can leave the house cheerfully! The difference is that your hair will become greasy again more quickly, and the herbs will be less able to have their effective effect on your hair & scalp. Yet it is an ideal solution for in between!

6. Rinse the mixture thoroughly! Let your hair air dry. Try to avoid using a hairdryer as much as possible. This is really not good for your hair.

TIP: use organic apple cider vinegar mixed with water as a natural conditioner. It is not necessary if you use Ayurvedic herbs, but for those who want something extra you can certainly try this. Apple cider vinegar closes the hair cuticles again, so it has the same function as a conditioner.

TIP: For extra hydration After washing you can make homemade linseed gel or aloe vera gel (check YouTube or my next blog post) and apply it to your still wet hair. You can just leave this in. This is the best way to add extra moisture to your hair. It is especially useful for curls because it gives extra definition to the curls. The jar of gel will keep for at least 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Your hair may feel a bit 'crispy' once dry, don't worry, you can gently rub it out.