How to Use Chamomile for Lightening Hair

You might be familiar with chamomile tea and its ability to soothe and calm you at bedtime. However, chamomile is also used for lightening hair. If you have blond or light-brown hair that has become dull and you want to brighten it a bit, chamomile is a gentle way to enhance the highlights in your hair.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup of dried chamomile flowers or chamomile tea
• Enamel or glass pot
• Plastic strainer
• Glass bowl
• Spray bottle (optional)
• Baby shampoo
• Olive oil

Instructions

Highlight Fair Hair With Chamomile

1. Purchase chamomile tea at a grocery store or health food store. Alternatively, you can buy dried chamomile anywhere that sells bulk herbs.

2. Use an enamel or glass pot to make a rinse. Metal pots will react with the chamomile and alter its lightening effect.

3. Add 1 cup chamomile flowers or tea to 2 cups heated water in the pot. Allow it to boil gently for 30 minutes. Let it cool to a comfortable, lukewarm temperature before you use it--this can take several hours.

4. Strain the chamomile flowers through a plastic sieve and collect the liquid in a bowl. Wash your hair as usual and use the chamomile lightening liquid as a final rinse. When you pour it through your hair, catch it into the bowl again and rinse it through your hair several times this way.

5. Dry your hair in the sun if possible, as this strengthens the effect of the chamomile rinse. Use the tea often to keep your subtle highlights fresh or to attain the effect you desire.

Care for Hair Using Chamomile

1. Make your own highlighting shampoo with chamomile. Simply add 2 tsp. dried chamomile to 1/4 cup boiling water. Steep the chamomile in the boiling water and then strain the liquid and mix it into 1/4 cup mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo. Use it as you would any shampoo. It will be gentle on your hair and soothing to your scalp.

2. Make a chamomile conditioner by adding 1/3 cup chamomile flowers to 1/3 cup olive oil in a jar with a lid. Leave it on a windowsill in the sun and shake it up once as day. Strain out the chamomile after a couple of weeks and use it on the ends of your hair.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using chamomile tea to lighten your hair, it might contain other herbs. Brew the tea very strongly to get the full power of the chamomile in the tea.

• Another way to apply chamomile tea as a lightener is to pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spray it into your hair.