8 DIY Hair Rinses for Shiny Healthy Hair

Homemade hair rinses are a staple of natural hair care. Using a hair rinse is simple, but the improvement to hair health can be quite noticable. They help restore moisture, add shine and softness, and can even reduce dandruff. Plus, they're incredibly easy to make at home!

I've included 6 hair rinse recipes you can use in your hair care routine to keep your tresses looking their best, along with the benefits of using them and tips for application.

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What are Hair Rinses?

If you are wondering what hair rinses are, they are simply a beneficial liquid of some kind that you use to rinse through your hair. A hair rinse is usually done either to promote hair growth, enhance hair color, get rid of dandruff, remove buildup from hair products or to promote overall hair and scalp health. You can of course use a hair rinse as part of your normal hair care routine for just about any reason you want!

Eight Hair Rinses for Healthy Hair

A natural hair rinse helps you take better care of your hair. All of these rinses are very beneficial for your hair and result in lovely  locks as well as a healthy scalp that is nourished and well cared for. After all, a healthy scalp, leads to healthy hair follicles.

These are simple and effective rinses that you can use to enhance healthy hair growth. All the rinses shared here are very easy to make and easy to use too. Just about any hair type from dry to oily hair would benefit from these rinses, but I will be sharing which ones are used for what specific reason as well.

Don’t worry if you have never made a hair rinse before, I'll show you how! You will soon know how to make several effective yet easy rinse solutions for your hair, as well as how to use them.

1.  Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

One of the biggest reasons why people start washing their hair with apple cider vinegar is because it helps with dandruff. The vinegar hair rinse also aids in removing hair product from the hair strands without leaving a stripped feeling.

Washing hair with an apple cider vinegar rinse also creates a mild exfoliating effect. As it helps to remove build-up on your scalp and roots helping to cleanse your hair. it's a great remedy for itchy scalp. No worries the vinegar smell quickly dissapates.

Even though apple cider vinegar is a gentler option for scalp and hair than some other hair treatment I wouldn’t recommend using it more than once a week. As too much of a good thing isn’t good.

While the scalp benefits are great, the lower ph of vinegar is also effective at reducing frizz of hair and none of us want the frizzies! [ref] Another acidic hair rinse option is a coca cola rinse, yes the soda.  I haven't tried this hair wash myself since we don't drink it. It is purported to add texture, reduce frizz and increase hair shine. A group of editors from Seventeen tried doing a coca cola hair rinse and their results didn't seem worth the effort. I'd stick with ACV.

If you decide to use an ACV hair rinse try to buy a brand like this apple cider vinegar that is organic and unfiltered for best results! It might look a little cloudy but that's why it's so beneficial for your hair!

Don't forget to dilute it with cool water. 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar.

2.   Rice Water Hair Rinse

Washing hair with rice water has many amazing benefits for the health of your hair!

Rice water is very rich in minerals, vitamins, and protein which can help to nourish and strengthen your hair by coating the hair shaft with these fortifying elements.

As amazing as rice water for your hair might sound, it is important to remember that everyone will see different results. So, don’t expect rice water to be a miracle cure for unhealthy hair right away!

It is also important to note that rice water can cause dryness, breakage, and protein overload to your hair. So, you should not use it more than a few times a month. [ref]

If you have damaged or dry hair you might want to use this only once every two months to be on the safe side or use a rice water shampoo bar that is fortified with moisturizing fats for more frequent use. I use these bars regularly and they have made my hair silky, smooth and less frizzy. They are safe for colored hair too.

3.  Green Tea Hair Rinse

Green tea is a good option for when you are wondering what are hair rinse. As green tea is mild and gentle while still having potent results for your hair.

It is rich in antioxidants and helps to stop hair loss. As well as treat dryness and dandruff build-up.

Some people have said that green tea dried out their hair with frequent use so you should avoid using it more than once a week just to be safe.

Try to buy a brand of organic green tea for the best results.

4.  Rosemary and Lavender Hair Rinse

Rosemary and lavender are herbs well known for their hair benefits and abilities. Which is why this pair makes an excellent rinse for your hair!

Rosemary is a stimulating herb much like peppermint. As it stimulates hair growth and increases circulation to the scalp.

These two herbs together create a stimulating rinse that helps to encourage new hair growth. As well as nourishing the hair that you already have.

This hair rinse is mild enough that you could use it up to twice a week if necessary.

You can make this hair rinse by making a tea of the two herbs then cooling to use on your hair. You can also add lavender and rosemary essential oil to one of the other rinses shared here for a double whammy! See my Apple Cider Vinegar Dandruff Hair Rinse recipe with essential oil.

5. Black Tea Hair Rinse

Black tea is rich in caffeine and as we mentioned earlier this can help to prevent hair loss. It is also full of nourishing minerals that will help your hair to become healthier and grow more quickly.

Overall black tea is a good option to try if you are trying to stop and reverse hair loss. 

It can also be a mild natural temporary hair color enhancement for dark hair or tint for gray hair. If you have very light-colored hair you might want to avoid black tea just in case it does darken your hair. It is great for black and brown hair though.

You can use this hair treatment up to twice a week.

I personally enjoy Earl Grey black tea, which is infused with bergamot. It is a great option whether you are drinking it or using it on your hair!

6. Baking Soda Hair Rinse

A baking soda hair rinse is very effective clarifying solution. It's great for removing product buildup, grease and dirt from your hair. The hair rinse can even be used in place of shampoo. Not only does it clean your hair but it helps balance the scalps pH and sebum production.

Add your favorite essential oil for hair growth to the solution to lightly fragrance it as well.

Just make sure to rinse well to get all the baking soda out when doing this hair rinse.

7. Beer Hair Rinse

Beer hair rinse is an easy and effective way to get shiny, healthy hair. The yeast and malt in beer can help strengthen and condition damaged hair.

Beer is packed with vitamins, minerals, and proteins that nourish the scalp and help promote healthy hair growth. It also helps improve the shine of dull hair and adds volume. Plus, the natural sugars in beer are great for giving your locks a boost of luster.

8. Aloe Vera Hair Rinse

Aloe vera is a natural ingredient that has many benefits for your hair and scalp. It can help to nourish, moisturize, and soothe the scalp while promoting hair health.  An aloe vera hair rinse is an easy DIY solution for those looking to revive dull or damaged locks and restore their softness and shine.

Learn more about the benefits of this plant>> Aloe Vera for Hair and Scalp + Hair Mask Recipe

Why Use Hair Rinses in your Hair Care Routine?

Hair rinse treatments are a good way of taking extra care of your hair in a natural and low effort way.

You can either use these as a kind of hair mask leaving them on for up to 30 minutes or simply use them as a rinse after washing your hair.

Whichever method you use, make sure you leave the rinse in your hair for at least 5 minutes for best results.

A good hair rinse should leave your hair feeling fresher and softer. Some might even have a detangling effect or may leave your scalp feeling clean and tingly.

From these five options, you can choose the treatment that best suits your hair. Whether it be for treating dandruff, promoting hair growth, increasing shine, or nourishing your hair!

How to Make a Hair Rinse

Making a hair rinse is about one of the simplest things that you can make for your hair!

They are extremely easy and fast to make with almost no effort needed from you. They are also gentle enough to be done several times a week minus that acv for hair and the rice water rinse. As those two rinses can become a little harsh with overuse.

To make your own herbal concoction for your hair simply brew it in 2 cups of water, like you would a tea only allow it to sit for much longer. Allowing it to become as strong as possible.

Herbal or Tea Hair Rinse

If I am making an herbal rinse I will usually use boiling water and a teaspoon of tea or beneficial herbs (or two tea bags). Allowing it too steep for up to four hours. Doing this will ensure that you are getting the most benefits out of your herbal hair rinse with a strong infusion.

You may also want to add a little lemon juice to make the solution to make it more acidic. This is great for dull hair since it boosts shine.

How to Make Rice Water Hair Rinse

To make a rice water hair rinse to improve hair strand strength, you can either use the water that you have drained from boiled rice you have eaten or simply steep your rice in hot water for up to 24 hours.

You could also ferment your rice water by letting it sit out in a warm environment for up to five days. It is supposed to make the rice water hair rinse more effective.

If you don't feel like making it yourself you can buy it ready made, but the process is so simple I encourage you to try making a batch.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

To make an ACV rinse for hair treatment combine ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with about 1 cup of water. 

The rinse recipe really is as simple as that, which is why an apple cider vinegar hair rinse is one of the easiest and most popular rinses that you can make for your hair!

Beer Rinse

To make a beer rinse, start by pouring 12 ounces of beer into a bowl or cup. Next, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils or herbal tea like chamomile or rosemary. The oils or tea will help add extra nutrients to the rinse and can act as a natural conditioner for your hair. Then, heat the mixture in the microwave for about 30 seconds until it's warm. After that, pour the beer rinse over your scalp and comb through.

Feeling lazy? Just use a room temperature bottle and pour it straight over your hair.

Aloe Vera Rinse

To make an aloe vera hair rinse mix aloe vera gel with warm water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Massage the mixture into your scalp, then rinse it out with warm water. 

How Often Can I Use a Rinse on My Hair?

Now that you know what hair rinses are and how to use and make them. You may be wondering how often you can use them on your hair in order to get all of those benefits.

For most gentle and mild hair rinses you can use them up to twice a week for the best results. I would only suggest using a vinegar hair rinse once a week.

That is a good number of rinses for most hair types and will keep your hair and scalp happy and healthy.

If you decide to go with the rice water rinse, just keep in mind that this rinse can be very drying. So, don’t use it more than once a month for the best results.

What are Hair Rinses Conclusion

I hope that this article on using rinses for the healthy luxurious hair has proven to be useful.

Rinses for hair are amazing ways of taking extra good care of your locks and scalp. Giving you a natural treatment option for issues such as dandruff, itchiness, oiliness, hair damage, and hair loss.

These simple treatments are great options for all kinds of hair and scalp ailments and are easy to make at home with just a few easy to find ingredients.

These rinses are also good for most if not all different hair types and can nourish and replenish dull and tired hair! They are also great for the health of your scalp since that can often be the center of hair problems.

If you are experiencing a dry scalp damaged hair, or hair loss a hair rinse should be one of your first options. They are just that effective! Just pick the option that applies the most to your current hair issue.

In addition to rinses, hair masks can be highly beneficial for hair as well. They just tend to be thicker.