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Isatis Tinctoria Shampoo，Miao Tribe, Hair Care
In the Miao villages of China, women's long hair is not only a symbol of beauty but also a cultural heritage. Passed down through generations, their herbal hair care secrets harmonize with nature, showcasing the stunning beauty of their hair.
Isatis tinctoria, commonly known as "hair growth herb," has been widely used in Uyghur traditions to promote the growth of eyebrows and hair, making them thicker, darker, and more lustrous.
Modern research indicates that Isatis tinctoria contains compounds such as indican and glucobrassicin, which can penetrate the eyebrows and scalp, continuously releasing nutrients to promote hair growth. However, it's important to note that woad has strict growth environment requirements; only the unique topography and climate conditions of Xinjiang are suitable for its cultivation. Transplanting it to other regions may lead to reduced effectiveness.
The Miao people incorporate Isatis tinctoria, also known as woad, into their daily hair-washing formulas; this is one of their secrets to maintaining long hair.
Miao women are famous for their long hair, with young women having an average hair length of 1.5 meters, while middle-aged and older women can grow their hair to over 1.8 meters, rarely trimming it in their lifetime.
From young girls to elderly women, they all use natural herbal plants to nourish their hair, making it smooth, thick, and full of shine.
Miao women make their own herbal hair rinse, infused with plant extracts, which helps maintain silky hair and enhances its natural beauty.
Natural herbal plants, 10 traditional handcrafted processes
Hand-picked herbal plants → Naturally sun-dried herbal plants → Herbal plant infusion → Traditional handcrafted plant oil extraction → Hand-mixed herbal essence and oils → Soap liquid preparation → Traditional herbal formula blending → Hand stirring → Hand-poured molding → 50 days of natural air drying.
Homemade Herbal Shampoo: Miao women use tea seed water or fermented rice water as their shampoo, adding Chinese arborvitae leaves, fleeceflower root, angelica root, and rosemary, which help keep their hair soft and smooth.
Washing Frequency: Traditionally, Miao women do not wash their hair daily. Instead, they adjust the frequency according to the season and scalp condition, usually washing their hair every 2-3 days to prevent excessive cleansing from drying out the scalp.
Washing Steps:
Rinse the Hair: Wash the hair with clean water or rice water to remove dust and excess oil.
Herbal Treatment: Apply the pre-boiled herbal shampoo evenly onto the scalp and gently massage for a few minutes to allow full absorption of nutrients.
Natural Conditioning: Some women perform a second rinse with rice water or tea seed water to enhance hair smoothness and shine.
Air Dry Naturally: Instead of using a hairdryer, Miao women let their hair air dry naturally to minimize heat damage.
Daily Hair Care:
Brushing Hair: Miao women use wooden or horn combs to gently detangle hair, preventing static electricity while stimulating blood circulation in the scalp.
Nourishing with Hair Oil: Some women apply homemade herbal hair oil (such as fleeceflower root oil or rosemary oil) to the hair ends to strengthen the strands.
Protective Hairstyles: To reduce friction damage, Miao women often braid or coil their hair into buns, making it easier to manage.
Note: Miao women's hair care wisdom is based on long-term use of herbal plants. The effectiveness may vary from person to person.
Isatis tinctoria – Promotes the growth of eyebrows and hair, making them thick, dark, and lustrous.
Polygonum multiflorum – Possesses anti-aging properties, enhances immunity, lowers blood lipids, combats arteriosclerosis, and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and antimutagenic effects.
Platycladus Orientalis Leaf Extract – Antibacterial and anti-dandruff properties help balance scalp oil production, improve scalp health, and reduce hair loss.
Morus alba – Rich in nutrients, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes blood circulation, aiding healthy hair growth.
Ganoderma lucidum – Enhances immunity, exhibits anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects, positively impacting hair health.
Soapberry Extract – A natural anti-dandruff ingredient that gently removes dead skin cells and flakes while strengthening hair strands.
Sophora flavescens – Possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, helps improve scalp health, and promotes hair growth.
Camellia Seed Oil – A deeply penetrating natural oil that nourishes the scalp, enhances hair smoothness, and adds a healthy shine.
Castor Oil – Nourishes hair roots, promotes hair growth, enhances hair resilience, and adds volume.
Alkali – Used to adjust the product's pH value, ensuring stability and suitability.
