ICYMI, DIY hair mists and scalp treatments seem to be all the rage right now. They’re easy to make, affordable and can be your ticket to shiny and long hair. If you hate oiling your hair or heavy hair masks break you out, you can use hair waters instead. Also, a DIY hair treatment can save big bucks for those who can’t afford to visit a salon every week. Here are 5 DIY water-based hair treatments to pamper your natural tresses with.
1. Rice Water For Hair Growth
Homemade rice water is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and other minerals. In Japanese and Chinese cultures, it is an age-old practice for women to use the rinsed rich water (also called Yu- Su-Ru) to strengthen their mane and make it silkier. Rice water can help cleanse the scalp, and the starch provides protein which makes the hair less dry and reduces damage.
How to make it: Soak ½ a cup of uncooked Basmati or any other organic white rice (unpolished is better) in a strainer and rinse it once. Then put the drained rice in a bowl with two cups of water and let it soak for 24-48 hours to ferment. Now, strain the fermented water and store it in a sterilised spray bottle.
How to use it: Apply rice water generously all over your hair and scalp, keep it in for an hour and then wash off with a gentle shampoo; follow with a conditioner after. Start with once a week routine, and gradually increase the frequency according to your hair type. You can refrigerate the remaining water for up to a week.
ELLE tip:You can add lavender or jasmine oil to the soaked rice bowl to conceal the sour smell of the fermentation process.
2. Rosemary Water For A Shiny Mane
We’ve seen TikTokers swear by Rosemary water to boost hair growth and achieve softer strands. Turns out it’s not a gimmick but a secret ingredient (a.k.a Ursolic Acid) responsible for shinier and longer hair. It also helps reduce inflammation of the scalp giving you stronger cuticles and improved hair growth.
How to make it: Boil two cups of water and then add a couple of dried rosemary leaves and let it steep for 4 hours until the water becomes red in colour. Once it’s cooled, take 1 cup of rosemary water and 1 cup of distilled water and mix it in a 1:1 ratio.
How to use it: You can use this mixture as a post-shampoo rinse or leave-in scalp treatment.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
ACV can have many benefits for the skin, but don’t hesitate to use it for your water-based hair treatments as well. It can help with cuticle care to keep stubborn knots at bay, and maintain the pH balance of the scalp.
How to make it: Take four parts of water and one part of ACV in a bowl. Make sure the vinegar is diluted enough, or it may sting a little. If you have a dry scalp, you can use more water or add 2 teaspoons of honey to the mixture.
How to use it: After washing your hair, pour the mixture evenly on your scalp, let it sit for 2-3 minutes and follow up with a cold water rinse. You can decide the frequency based on your hair type but don’t use it too often as it may cause brassiness.
ELLE tip- Keep your eyes and mouth closed while pouring ACV, and don’t use it on any open wounds on your scalp or body.
4. Tea Water Rinse
Tea can be de-stressing for your mind, body AND hair! Tea contains tannins and caffeine, which provide nourishment to your hair and soothe your scalp. Tea has all the ‘antis’: anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, antiseptics and antibacterial effects.
How to make it: You can brew two bags of either green (treating dandruff) or black (for hair loss) tea. Let it cool and store in a non-metallic container.
How to use it: Shampoo and condition your hair and then rinse tea water. Wash with cold water after 4-5 minutes. The Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (commonly called EGCG) in green tea helps with alopecia as well!
5. Rose Water Rinse
Next time you receive roses, make sure to save a few petals for your water-based hair treatments! Rosewater is an astringent that soothes your scalp while fixing your hair’s porosity. Rosewater also has antiseptic properties, which helps treat dandruff caused by fungi.
How to make it: All you need to do is add rose petals to boiling water and let it steep for 30 minutes. Let it cool and store in a non-metallic container.
How to use it: Use rosewater as an after shower rinse (just like tea), and you will be left with softer, frizz-free hair with an added rosy scent in the end.
Photos: Pexels, Instagram
