The more women are restoring the natural state of their hair, the more cautious they are about using heavy chemicals in their hair care routine. It is pretty well known that less is more when dealing with natural hair textures. Meaning, less strenuous styling is optimal for healthy hair as well as less product use.
Hydrosols are made by warming plant material in water, cooling the heat produced from that warmth and collecting the leftover condensation. This process is also called distillation. That condensation is the hydrosol, which contains the very elements used in several natural hair care products. There is commercial equipment that makes hydrosols but you can actually make them from home too.
Depending on the hydrosol, these waters can have many uses for natural hair. For example, a lavender hydrosol can hydrate and sooth a sore or itchy scalp. Rose hydrosol can help tone hair and give it a natural, light fragrance–far more beneficial than chemical perfumes in commercial products. Hydrosols can also be used in conjunction with apple cider vinegar during a hair rinse. You can also mix it with witch hazel as a skin toner for facial and body care.
Many essential oils should not be used directly on the skin or hair because they are so concentrated. Skin irritations or allergic reactions are common when using some essential oils improperly. Because hydrosols are the clean condensation from the same plants that these essential oils come from, they can be used right away on the skin and hair, alleviating the chance of skin reactions.
Hydrosols can be made from nearly any plant, flower, bark, fruit or nut material. Popular hydrosols include lemon seed, lavender, rose, and jasmine. Hydrosols are a common ingredient in beauty products but they are not always listed as “hydrosol.” You may see “rose water” or “lemon water” listed as ingredients; these are very likely to be hydrosols.
Commercial hair toners and leave-in conditioners are nearly 95% water. Hydrosols are nearly all water, making them a far more lightweight and safer, natural alternative if you are concerned about putting heavy product in your hair.
Below is a list of some popular hydrosols and how they can benefit your hair:
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