Making your own Indian hair oil?

**Gulbahar** · July 5th, 2011, 03:26 PM

I was wondering if anyone tried to do an oil infusion of Indian herbs. Couldn't find anything really here.
Now I found this recipe:
http://www.indiacurry.com/women/homemadehairoil.htm
It sounds really interesting and I am willing to try it. I have a few herbs and oils, but didn't want to buy anything especially for that. So I would use amla, neem, henna and gotu kola infused with sesame and coconut oil and see where it gets me.
If anybody wants to share ideas or experience, please do!

**QueenJoey** · July 5th, 2011, 03:32 PM

I haven't done it yet, but I've been dying to! I just can't seem to find any of those herbs. Where do you buy yours? I already have those oils.

**diverbel** · July 5th, 2011, 05:53 PM

I have also been dying to try this myself! I am just saving up my money to get the herbs at my one and only indian store in this darn city and also to try to find an affordable sorce for jojoba oil. Please keep us updated on your progress with it!

**1953Diygal** · July 5th, 2011, 06:14 PM

My former husband is moving to Chennai at the end of the month and has basically said that if there's something I want, just say the word and he'll see if he can find it in the shops or at the markets. I'll have to make a list of herbs.

**charalito** · July 5th, 2011, 09:03 PM

I make my own oil mixture, but my recipe is a bit different, I adapted it from how we make infused oils at culinary school.

I haven't measured, but what I do is put some dry hibiscus flowers, chamomile, fenugreek seeds and fresh rosemary into a vacuum sealable bag (a thick ziplock can work too), then add coconut, almond and castor oils. Try to take out all the air and seal the bag, then put in in a crock-pot full of water, lid off. You can preheat the water if you want. Then leave it at least an hour in hot water (I usually leave it the whole afternoon). Carefully open bag and strain.

It is a great method because you can extract the goodies out of the herbs without overcooking the oil and since everything is sealed, there's no evaporation either. You can try different herbs and powders to see what works for you, just research their properties and get the ones suitable for you. I couldn't find most Indian herbs and since I'm strawberry blonde I substituted with chamomile, rosemary and hibiscus. I've heard of people using cayenne pepper or black tea.

About application, what I do is pretty much what it's described on the link you shared.

Hope it works for you.

**Gulbahar** · July 6th, 2011, 01:57 AM

What I like about the description I posted is that it uses water (which evaporates with cooking). I always felt that only infusing the herbs in oil wouldn't be enough because there are lots of thing in the herbs that aren't soluble in oil. With this method they'd really end up in the oil.
Well, I'm going to by some sesame oil today and try.

**charalito** · July 6th, 2011, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Gulbahar

What I like about the description I posted is that it uses water (which evaporates with cooking). I always felt that only infusing the herbs in oil wouldn't be enough because there are lots of thing in the herbs that aren't soluble in oil.

It does sound logical

Just don't make a big batch because water makes oils go bad quicker (either rancid or develop fungus over time)

**Gulbahar** · July 7th, 2011, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by charalito

It does sound logical

Just don't make a big batch because water makes oils go bad quicker (either rancid or develop fungus over time)

But the water will evaporate completely because of the cooking you see...

**ChloeDharma** · July 8th, 2011, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Gulbahar

What I like about the description I posted is that it uses water (which evaporates with cooking). I always felt that only infusing the herbs in oil wouldn't be enough because there are lots of thing in the herbs that aren't soluble in oil. With this method they'd really end up in the oil.
Well, I'm going to by some sesame oil today and try.

Using water extraction initially does seem a good idea. I have wondered if alcohol can be used in a similar way for extracting from tougher roots and barks.....like a tincture i suppose. As you point out, the water will evaporate leaving water soluble compounds in the oil that otherwise would be left in the plant matter and disgarded.

Diamondbell started a thread called "herbs and their uses" or something similar to that. In it she lists different natural ingredients, properties, uses and some recipes. If you want to make your own herb oils then it would probably be a good idea to look through that.

**Gulbahar** · July 8th, 2011, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by ChloeDharma

Diamondbell started a thread called "herbs and their uses" or something similar to that. In it she lists different natural ingredients, properties, uses and some recipes. If you want to make your own herb oils then it would probably be a good idea to look through that.

Ah, thanks so much, ChloeDharma! I was looking for that thread but couldn't find it.