How to Be a Natural Beauty with Herbs

Ever wonder what makes some people look so radiant? If you ask someone who has wonderful skin or shiny hair, chances are they are the types of people who take care of themselves.

Not only that, but they are likely using beauty products that are made from natural ingredients or that include herbs and botanicals. I take this one step further and use simple herbal preparations on my skin and hair to help make my outward appearance look healthier.

What that basically amounts to is I make a tea out of the herbs I choose. Then, I either pour it over my head after I shampoo and condition as a hair rinse, add it to bath water, or just put some of the strong tea on a wash cloth while I'm in the shower. This helps keep my skin and hair looking beautiful and healthy.

I'll give you a list of herbs and what they do in terms of the hair and the skin. You can keep these herbs separate or combine them any way that you like.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Stinging Nettle: makes hair shiny, helps relieve skin problems such as itchy skin
• Oatstraw: calming for sensitive skin and controls itchiness
• Parsley: helps control dandruff
• Chamomile: brings out blond and light highlights, helps control sensitive skin, effective on acne
• Rose: calms sensitive skin, nourishes dry skin, helps keep skin looking youthful and radiant
• Lavender: calms sensitive skin, works well on acne, as a hair rinse it is effective against dandruff
• Rosemary: brings out dark highlights, controls dandruff
• Dried herb (if using more than one herb, make sure the total amount is 1 tablespoon)
• 2 Cups boiling water
• Strainer if not using tea bags
• Large dish or mug for the water

Herbs You Can Use

1. Choose one of the herbs from the list.

2. Decide if you need to control a skin or hair problem such as sensitive skin or dandruff.

3. Use the steps outlined below to prepare a strong tea to use for your hair or skin.

Steps for Making Herbal Tea for your Body

1. Add dried herb or tea bag to the dish or mug.

2. Pour boiling water into the dish or mug.

3. Let steep 20 to 30 minutes.

4. Strain out herb or remove tea bag.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose one herb at a time and test it to see if it works for you.

• Let the tea cool down before you pour it on your head or body.

• Make sure you aren't allergic to the herb before you use it. Do a patch test on your wrist just to make sure. Wait 24 hours and then see if you have a reaction.

• Make sure you understand about the side effects and that you aren't allergic to the herbs.