DIY Horsetail Hair Mask for Fine, Dry Hair, Horsetail and Marshmallow Root, by Dakoda Herbals on YouTube. 1 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Put 2 tablespoons of dried horsetail and 1 tablespoon of dried marshmallow root into a heatproof jar or bowl. Break up any long stems so the water can reach them.
Pour about 500 ml of just-boiled water over the herbs. Stir once so every piece is wet, then cover the jar with a lid or saucer.
Leave it to steep for 30 to 45 minutes. The liquid should turn dark and feel slightly slippery between your fingers when it is ready.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve or muslin into a clean jar. Press the herbs with the back of a spoon to squeeze out the slippery mucilage.
Let the infusion cool to room temperature. Dab a little on your inner wrist and wait a few minutes to check your skin is happy with it.
If you like, stir a spoonful of calendula, rose and lavender infused oil into the cooled liquid for extra conditioning.
Pour the mask into a spray bottle or applicator bottle. Work it through damp hair from mid-length to the ends, and go easy near the roots.
Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the mask on for 20 to 30 minutes.
Rinse with cool water, then shampoo and condition as usual. Keep any leftover mask in the fridge for up to 3 days and bin it if it smells odd.
Tips and common mistakes
Horsetail is for external use only, so keep the infusion out of reach of children and never drink it.
Strain twice if you have fine hair, because gritty plant bits are hard to comb out.
This is a traditional botanical rinse, not a proven hair growth treatment, so judge it by how your own hair feels.
Make a fresh batch each time rather than storing it for weeks, since a water infusion spoils quickly.
Questions
Can I use fresh horsetail instead of dried?
Yes, but use roughly twice as much since fresh stems hold more water. Rinse the stems well first, because horsetail grows in gritty soil.
How often should I use this mask?
Once a week or less is plenty for most people. Skip it if your scalp feels irritated, and stop using it if your hair feels coated or stiff.
Will this make my hair grow faster?
There is no reliable proof that a horsetail rinse speeds up hair growth. The silica may help condition the hair you have, but treat it as a moisturising treatment.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
