Treating your Hair with Molasses

Beautiful hair is a sign of good health and vitality. My research has indicated that molasses has proved successful as both internal and external hair treatment to improve health and help with growth as well as combat grey hair. 

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   Molasses

   • This is a thick syrup obtained from the third boiling of a sugar syrup, generally from sugar cane (although it can also be made as a by-product of the processing of sugar beets or grapes). There are three grades of cane molasses: mild or barbados, also known as first molasses; dark, or second molasses; and blackstrap. For the rest of this article, the term 'molasses' is used to refer to blackstrap molasses from which most of the sucrose has been removed leaving trace amounts of vitamins and significant amounts of minerals.
     
     
     The many vitamins and minerals in the molasses gives the syrup a dark color and distinct flavor. Though well known as an alternative sweetener other usages besides promoting healthy hair include acne treatment, iron supplement, and improved energy. These benefits are achieved because molasses contains dense nutrients including; iron, calcium, manganese, copper, magnesium, and potassium. Thus improving our intake of nutrients may help to improve hair growth and the addition of molasses to the diet offers a great way to get these essential vitamins and minerals. The intake of molasses can:
     

     1. Reverse Grey Hair because molasses contains copper which facilitates the production of melanin that assists hair pigmentation, and
     2. Assist Hair Growth since molasses is full of B vitamins, which play a crucial role in healthy, growing hair.

   
   

   Molasses as a Topical Hair Treatment

   • Many people have used molasses as a topical hair treatment to smooth and improve the overall appearance and texture of the hair. It is recommended that you massage the molasses into your hair, covering with a shower cap or some plastic wrap and leaving in for about 1 hour. Then rinse out the molasses. This treatment should improve the condition of your hair.

     Dried out hair? Try the Molasses Intensive Hair Conditioner:
     3 tablespoons cold-pressed sweet almond oil (but you can substitute whichever oil you have, we use Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil)

     3 teaspoons molasses 

     aloe gel (or aloe vera juice)

     
     

     Whip together oil and molasses. Add aloe, and stir to form a smooth paste. Dip hairbrush into mixture and apply to clean, dry hair. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap and warmed towel to trap moisture and body heat. Leave on for 30 minutes and rinse with warm water, finishing with a brief tepid rinse. (Others have recommended rinsing throughly and then doing an apple cider vinegar rinse.) Allow hair to air dry for deeply-conditioned hair! Don't have time to do it at home? Come down to BEAUTIFUL EARTH  and get this deep conditioning treatment!

     
     

     Overall, the use of molasses should make your hair feels simultaneously stronger and softer. You should have no problem combing through your hair or rinsing the molasses from your locs. There is no after smell. Enjoy!

The Benefits of Using Rosemary

The Plant

Rosemary plant in bloom

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which also includes many other herbs such as include basil, patchouli, and lavender. Rosemary is thus a well-known culinary herb and the fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional Mediterranean cuisine. However, rosemary has a long history of medicinal uses too. It has been used to treat a wide range of ailments, including stomach upsets, digestive disorders and headaches. The use of ‘Rosemary for remembrance’ has been supported by a recent study, which found that rosemary "produced a significant enhancement of performance for overall quality of memory and secondary memory factors, but also produced an impairment of speed of memory compared to controls” [1].

Aromatherapy Properties: Rosemary Essential Oil is clarifying, warming, invigorating, improves memory, confidence and perception.

Medicinal Properties: Antiseptic, anti-microbial, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, fungicidal. Rosemary as a liniment eases muscles pains. Diluted oil applied to temples or rubbed onto the hair can help to relieve headaches.

For the Hair

Rosemary essential oil has a strong woodsy, camphor-like aroma and is a popular essential oil that has been used for thousands of years for its numerous health uses. This magnificent herb is widely respected for its value as a hair and beauty aide.

It is one of the most well-known essential oils and herbs used for promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss. According to author Judy Griffin in her book "Flowers that Heal," rosemary is not only a useful herb to encourage hair growth and prevent hair loss, it can also combat oily hair and scalp and help to heal split ends. Rosemary is used specifically to treat oily hair but is excellent for all hair types and problems because rosemary also eliminates dryness and act as an excellent conditioner. Additionally, it is one of the best herbs to use to treat dandruff, promote hair growth, stimulate hair follicles, give lustre and body to thin hair, and bring out dark highlights in the hair.

How to Use

Rosemary can be combined with other hair growth oils such as sage, lavender, or lemongrass oils, and mixed with a carrier oil to make an effective scalp treatment to combat hair loss. We use one such combination in our Beautiful Earth Coconut & Lemongrass Hydrating Oil and Honey Locs Twisting Butter.

Our Coconut & Lemongrass Hydrating Oil
Our Honey Locs Twisting Butter
Our 100% Jamaican Virgin Coconut Oil

Another way to use rosemary for the hair is to add it to a vinegar rinse. We thus also also offer a rosemary hair rinse at BEAUTIFUL EARTH, made by infusing raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with dried rosemary. This rinse gets rid of buildup and softens hair at the same time, as well as providing the other benefits of using rosemary.

  

For the Skin

Rosemary has two important properties that help the skin: it is an outstanding free radical scavenger and therefore has amazing antioxidant properties and it has a remarkable stimulating effect on the skin. Applied to the skin, rosemary essential oil helps strengthen the capillaries and has a rejuvenating effect. For this reason, rosemary is a common ingredient used in many cosmetics, including skin toners, creams, soaps and hair products. Recent research findings have now confirmed the skin-protective benefits of rosemary. According to researchers working at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, in Italy, rosemary extract helps protect the individual components of skin cells, which may prevent age-related skin damage such as wrinkles [2]. Like most of our products, our Coconut & Lemongrass Hydrating Oil can be used on the skin as well, allowing you to reap the benefits of rosemary for the skin.

Safety Warning: Since rosemary is a stimulant do not use rosemary essential oil if you are pregnant, suffering from high blood pressure, or suffering from epilepsy. It may cause irritation of the skin.

[1] Moss M, Cook J, Wesnes K, and Duckett P (2003), ‘Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults,’ International Journal of Neuroscience, 113 (1): 15–38.

[2] Calabrese V, Scapagnini G, Catalano C, et al. (2000), ‘Biochemical studies of a natural antioxidant isolated from rosemary and its application in cosmetic dermatology,’ International Journal of Tissue Reactions, 22 (1): 5-13.