My neighbour in Mexico taught me this recipe!
Hibiscus is such a beautiful and beneficial plant - if you don't have access to the flowers, you can still reap benefits by drinking the tea, or buy hibiscus powder online to mix in with water and use as a paste for the skin.
What does Hibiscus Do?
Hair - Full of amino acids, hibiscus feeds hair follicles to encourage hair growth and protect loss of pigment (colour), stimulates keratin production to strengthen the hair to prevent breakage, as well as balancing hair pH to leave it soft and shiny.
Skin - Hibiscus is a natural cleanser. While vitamin C in hibiscus stimulates collagen production, antioxidant Myretin prevents it's breakdown, contributing to skin firming and improved regenerative capacity. Hibiscus extract has been shown to significantly improve skin collagen levels, and improve wound healing.
Ingredients & Utensils
- Hibiscus Flowers
- Filtered Water
- Cheesecloth
How to Make
Tear the Hibiscus flowers into a bowl, and using your hands, kneed the flowers in the water for 10 minutes to squeeze a gel like consistency out of them.
Filter the Hibiscus water through a cheesecloth (you can find these at many health food stores or on Amazon).
Store in a jar or spray bottle.
How to Use
In the shower, cover your hair, face and body with the Hibiscus Water.
Leave for 10 minutes or longer and wash off.
You can do this daily if you want to, although used regularly the Hibiscus might add a red tinge to hair, especially lighter hair.
References
As always, this article has been written for fun & educational purposes only, and is not to be used as medical advice.
Written by Ingrid van den Berg (Founder of Radical Botanics)
- O. Martino, A. Lucia, A. Cimmino, et al. 2017 "Hibiscus Syriacus Extract from an Established Cell Culture Stimulates Skin Wound Healing" Biocehmistry Research International:7932019, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5733167/