Healthy hair can be so hard to maintain. With the constant contact our hair has with factors like pollution, heat, and chemical treatments, damage becomes inevitable. This is why having a foolproof hair care routine becomes essential to having healthy hair. And any hair care routine is incomplete without a hair rinse. Here, I have put together a list of 11 DIY hair rinses for you to choose from. But first, let’s look at why you should be using hair rinses in the first place.
Why Do You Need A Hair Rinse?
If you’re still unsure and a bit skeptical about using hair rinses, following is a list of reasons for why you should try it.
- Hair rinses are rich in nutrients that help nourish your hair.
- They also help add moisture to the hair shaft, calm frizz, and minimize flyaways.
- Some hair rinses help balance the pH levels of your scalp.
- They also help balance oil production, which helps tackle issues like oiliness, dandruff, and hair fall.
- Hair rinses help clarify your hair and unclog your follicles. This makes your hair smooth, strong, and silky.
Keep reading to find out how to use a hair rinse and the different ingredients you can use to prepare hair rinses at home.
How To Use A Hair Rinse
A hair rinse is essentially the last step of washing your hair. It’s super simple and hardly takes a couple of extra minutes.
You Will Need
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hair rinse
Processing Time
15 minutes
Process
- Detangle your hair before you step into the shower to avoid knots and breakage.
- Wash and clean your hair well with your usual shampoo.
- Proceed to condition your hair. If you have really dry hair, leave the conditioner on for 5-10 minutes.
- Rinse the conditioner out of your hair.
- Pour your hair rinse through your hair and squeeze out the excess liquid.
- Do not rinse hair any further.
Here are some easy to use hair rinses that you can make at home:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
Method
This is one of the simplest hair rinses you can make. Simply dilute 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water.
How Often?
You can use this hair rinse 1-2 times a month.
Why This Works
Apple cider vinegar helps remove grease and product build up from your hair while balancing the pH and oil production.
2. Aloe Vera Juice Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 2 tbsp pure aloe vera gel
- 2 cups water
Method
Blend the aloe vera gel and the water together until you get a consistent liquid. Collect the diluted aloe vera in a jar to use for your hair.
How Often?
You can use this rinse once a week.
Why This Works
Aloe vera helps condition your hair, making it smooth and silky. It also has antimicrobial properties that boost scalp health.
3. Lemon Juice Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cups water
Method
This hair rinse is just as simple to make as the apple cider vinegar rinse. All your need to do is dilute the lemon juice with 2 cups of water.
How Often?
You can use this rinse once every one or two weeks.
Why This Works
Lemon helps boost hair growth while also balancing oil production. The rich content of vitamin C increases collagen production, which helps your hair grow faster.
4. Black Tea Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 2-3 tea bags of black tea
- 2 cups water.
Method
Boil 2 cups of water and then steep the tea bags in the water. Let it steep for a couple of hours until the tea has completely cooled.
How Often?
Use this rinse once a week.
Why This Works
This is an amazing hair rinse for reducing hair loss and boosting healthy hair growth. Since black tea is a rich source of caffeine, it helps block DHT production, which, in turn, curbs hair fall. It also helps darken your hair color by staining it. If you want a tea hair rinse that won’t color your hair, you can prepare it the same way using chamomile, jasmine, kombucha or green tea.
5. Baking Soda Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 cup warm water
Method
Mix the baking soda and water in a bowl until you get a smooth paste. Unlike other rinses, this one cannot be used as a final rinse. You can use this baking soda rinse to replace your shampoo, or you can use it after you shampoo and before you condition your hair. Simply apply and massage the rinse into your scalp and hair. Rinse it off with cool water and then proceed to condition your hair.
How Often?
Use this hair rinse once a month for oily hair.
Why This Works
Baking soda is extremely efficient at removing dirt, grease, and product buildup from your hair. It acts as a clarifying solution that cleans and boosts scalp health by balancing pH and oil production.
6. Coconut Water Hair Rinse
Unlike your regular rinse, you need to spritz this solution onto your hair rather than pour it through.
You Will Need
- 4 tbsp coconut water
- 2 tsp aloe vera juice
- 2 tsp jojoba oil
- Spray bottle
Method
Pour the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well to combine. Instead of pouring this rinse through your hair, spritz it on with the spray bottle before you proceed to style your hair.
How Often?
You can use this after every hair wash.
Why This Works
Coconut water contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are greatly beneficial when it comes to nourishing your hair. It also helps hydrate your hair, making it more manageable.
7. Coca-Cola Hair Rinse
You Will Need
2 bottles of Coca-Cola
Method
You cannot use Coca-Cola rinse as a final hair rinse. Instead, you can pour the coke through your hair and leave it in for about 5 minutes. Proceed to wash and condition your hair and then style it as you normally would.
How Often?
Once a week.
Why This Works
This method helps add body and texture to fine hair. It enhances your hair’s natural curl while tightening the cuticle with its low pH. This helps add shine and smoothness to your hair.
8. Epsom Salt Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 1 tbsp Epsom salt
- 1 tbsp conditioner
Method
Combine equal parts of Epsom salt and conditioner. 1 tablespoon of each should be enough for short hair – you can increase the quantity for longer hair. Apply the mixture to your hair after shampooing. Leave it in for about 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with water. Unlike a regular hair rinse, you have to finish with a final water rinse for this method.
How Often?
You can use this hair treatment/rinse once a week.
Why This Works
This Epsom salt conditioning treatment helps add volume while also tackling frizz.
9. Honey Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
Method
Pour the water into a jug, and to it add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey. Stir well to combine and set it aside to use after you shampoo and condition your hair.
How Often?
You can use this hair rinse one or two times in a month.
Why This Works
Honey is a well-known humectant. This means that it helps seal the moisture in your hair shaft. The benefits honey offer are boosted when combined with apple cider vinegar as the vinegar helps shut the cuticles with its low pH.
10. Jojoba Oil Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 1 cup flat beer
- 1 tsp jojoba oil
Method
Pour one cup of beer into a jug and leave it out for a couple of hours or overnight until it goes flat. To the flat beer, add one teaspoon of jojoba oil and mix well.
How Often?
You can use this rinse once in two weeks.
Why This Works
Beer is known for its conditioning properties. It helps make your hair silky and seals in moisture. This enhances the conditioning effects of jojoba oil, which forms a protective layer over your hair shaft, locking moisture in and adding shine.
11. Coffee Hair Rinse
You Will Need
- 2 tbsp coffee powder
- 2 cups water
Method
Boil two cups of water and to it add the coffee powder. Let it steep and cool for a couple of hours. You can also leave it overnight to cool.
How Often?
Use this once a week.
Why This Works
The caffeine in coffee helps prevent hair fall. This rinse also helps darken hair color by staining it.
