Another happy experiment!
I've been thinking a lot about bladderwrack* ever since I threw it in my latest hair mask on a whim and had such excellent results. I got to wondering what else it could be used for...
*Bladderwrack is a seaweed. I use it in powdered form for hair stuff!
Recipe
The gel
2 heaping tablespoons of bladderwrack powder1/2 cup of boiling water.
Stir the powder into the water until it's smooth, and let it sit out until cool. Put it in a covered container and keep it in the fridge.
It turned out smooth and dark with an aroma not unlike the bottom of a fisherman's boot.
The Hair Rinse
1/4 cup vinegar (white or apple cider)
1/2 tsp bladderwrack gel
16 ounces water
Shake until the gel dissolves into the water. Your mixture should be a very light, transparent brownish. The low-tide smell will be much less noticeable as it is now overpowered by the vinegar smell! Yay for small blessings!
How to use
- Wash your hair as usual. I use Chagrin Valley Carrot Milk and Honey Shampoo/Conditioner Bar
- Rinse well
- Pour 1-2 cups of the hair rinse over your hair and work it in with your hands
- Let it sit while you do your other shower stuff (the longer, the better!)
- Rinse well
- Follow with a blast of cold water (YOU CAN DO IT!!!)
Towel dry and comb out gently.
That's it!
My hair honestly feels so clean and silky smooth right now, and it's wicked shiny. It was very easy to comb out, with less hair fall than usual. My hair now smells like the clove mask I used a couple of days ago. No sign of the fishy or vinegary smell at all, and no residue.
Why it works
Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)
Bladderwrack has three primary constituents: iodine, alginic acid, and fucoidan.The alginic acid (a polysaccharide) swells into a gelatinous substance upon contact with water. It protects the hair shaft and holds in moisture. I've seen references to its use for hair loss, but can't find any studies on that.
Vinegar
Removes residue from your hair, making it look less dull, and closes the cuticle, making it look smoother.MIRI
