I stumbled across some information today that I tried on 12/28/2009. I deep conditioned from a Henna Gloss. (posting about that later...promise) The information I found was about using beer to provide body & shine for the hair. Hmmmmm....Interesting. Amazingly, this is NOT a new hair strategy. The process is to wash & condition your hair as normal, and follow with pouring the beer on your hair, letting it rest for 3 to 10 minutes and rinse (just go through your normal shower process). There is one exception to the rinsing out, supposedly beer is great as a setting lotion. Beer has also been discovered as a good heat protector when using heated tools. Who woulda thunk?!
Don't mangle your hair when you do this, just let the beer run down the shaft of your hair & through your hair, & do so without scrunching your hair. Rinse completely and style as normal. When your hair dries it should be soft and shiny. Dark beer works the best for a bath but you can use light beer too. Beer contains herbs known as hops which are natural astringents that have a beneficial tightening effect on the scalp. Hops are present at a very low level and are not in contact with your skin long enough to have a measurable effect. Beer contains alcohol which is good for removing dirt and grease from hair. The cleansing power of the relatively low amount of alcohol in beer pales in comparison to shampoo. (i.e. shampoo and condition as normal.)
Anywho...here's a website I found & the recipes available: http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/beerrinse.htm
Simple Beer Rinse
Once a month use a can of flat beer after shampooing. Choose a beer that does not have a strong odor. Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour the flat warm beer on your hair and work it through. Rinse with lukewarm, not hot, water.
Cider Vinegar & Beer Rinse
1 oz water
2 teaspoons Cider Vinegar
1 ounce of flat Beer
5 drops Rosemary essential oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients together. Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour the rinse on your hair and work it through. Rinse with lukewarm, not hot, water.
Jojoba Oil and Beer Conditioner
1 cup warm beer
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
Mix all ingredients together. Shampoo and rinse hair as usual. Pour the conditioner on your hair and work it through. Rinse with lukewarm, not hot, water.
Jojoba oil is non-greasy and adds shine to your hair while beer adds body.
Beer Styling Tonic
Beer is a very good setting lotion. It makes hair look healthy and shiny, and gives blown dried hair increased vitality, resilience, and hold. Spray a little beer into your hair using a pump bottle after shampooing, just before you dry and style your hair. You can store the beer for a week or two if you keep it in a sealed bottle in the refrigerator.
Tips from the site:
• The proteins from the malt and hops found in beer coat, rebuild and repair damaged hair.
• Beer's natural ingredients tighten the cuticle of the hair shaft and give hair a beautiful shine.
• Most people do not smell the beer after the hair has dried.
• If you love a beer rinse, but do not like the scent, take 1 cup of Chamomile tea that has already been boiled and cooled, and pour it slowly throughout your hair.
My personal experience:
• Shampooed with castile soap.
• Henna glossed my hair.
• Soaked 2 chamomile tea bags in beer.
• Allowed beer to breathe at room temperature.
• Rinsed out gloss until the water ran clear.
• Rinsed with a cheap moisturizing conditioner (2x if necessary)
• Towel dried hair.
• Applied deep conditioner and placed a plastic cap on my head.
• Sat under dryer for 1 hour.
• Rinsed conditioner in shower.
• Applied beer rinse; let set for 5 or so minutes.
• Rinsed hair with cool/cold water to seal the hair shaft.
My personal results:
• My hair was shiny & soft. (Not sure if it was the beer &/or cold water, because I use that method each time I condition)
• I did like the way my hair felt even though I forgot to add the jojoba oil.
• The chamomile tea REALLY changed the smell of the beer. (concoction smelled more like Victoria’s Secrets Champagne & Strawberries body lotion)
• Next time I am gonna try it as a setting lotion with my two-strand twist. (Add to this post about that later.)
• My hair didn’t smell like beer once my hair dried.
• I will use this again.
Additional Tips & Warnings
• It is important that you don't use very warm to hot water when rinsing out the beer and the chamomile tea or else you will not see the benefits of this recipe.
• You should always do a cold water rinse because it seals the hair shaft and makes your hair shiny. It also prevents split-ends and tearing of the hair.
• Chamomile tea will change the color of your hair with repeated use. It will lighten hair, adding highlights or brassiness.
• Use care doing this if you have already colored, straightened or relaxed your hair.
• Do not use any of these recipes if you are allergic to chamomile or beer.
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