About two months ago, I ran out of my go-to deep conditioning treatment. At the same time, I had started eating mindfully, and the timing felt serendipitous. As I restocked my beauty products, I had the chance to rethink what I was putting on my body, not just in it. I downloaded a clean beauty app and scanned the label of the moisturizer I’d been using for years. One by one, the app flagged most ingredients, each linked to reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, or inflammation. I was done compromising. In that moment, I turned to what I already had: a knowledge of herbs thanks to my Jamaican roots, water, time, and intention. The herbal tea I made to replace my store-bought moisturizer became a ritual of Black wellness, grounded in self-maintenance and love.
I mixed the blend during a season when my hair was dry, and nothing on my shelf felt truly supportive. Now, I boil a fresh batch each week and spritz it onto my scalp and strands as part of my LCO (liquid-cream-oil) routine. This practice was about reclaiming intention. A simple spray, sometimes three spritzes, sometimes ten, became a moment to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with myself. Yes, the blend hydrated my hair. But more importantly, I made it for myself. I actively chose what belonged in my ritual.
This elixir features herbs that work together to restore. Hibiscus supports moisture and reduces shedding. Peppermint cools and stimulates the scalp, waking up hair follicles and circulation. Dandelion root offers a quiet strength. It infuses the scalp with minerals and calms inflammation. Each time I steep this blend, I feel connected to something that’s mine and ancestral.
Try it yourself. This ritual is simple, nourishing, and deeply rooted.
Makes 2 cups
This hair tea honors the diasporic connection between the earth, my elders, and embodied self-care. All ingredients can be found at grocery and health food stores. This tea is especially useful for low-porosity hair, but benefits a range of textures. It’s simple to store, too: keep refrigerated in an airtight jar or container for up to one week.
3 cups water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
1 tablespoon dried hibiscus petals
1 tablespoon dried thyme sprigs
1 tablespoon dried sage leaves
1 tablespoon dried peppermint leaves
1 tablespoon dried bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried dandelion root
1 tablespoon chia seeds
In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the chopped garlic and continue to boil for 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low, then add the hibiscus, thyme, sage, peppermint, bay leaves, dandelion root, and chia seeds. Stir gently, then cover the pot. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the tea cool completely. Use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain the mixture into a jar or spray bottle.
Use daily on scalp and hair, or as needed.
