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Eastern Long-Haired Maiden’s Hair Care Wisdom, Easy to Rinse, Gentle on Hair
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.
The Platycladus orientalis (side cypress) primarily grows in regions of China such as Sichuan and Yunnan. Its leaves are rich in natural plant compounds and are commonly used for scalp care. In traditional Miao (Hmong) haircare practices, it is believed to help nourish the scalp and improve hair health, making the hair more lustrous. The Miao people are skilled in utilizing natural plants, often combining them with other herbs to create herbal shampoos or secret care formulas.
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.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate – A mild amino acid-based surfactant that gently cleanses without disrupting the scalp barrier, making it ideal for sensitive scalps.
Sodium Cocoyl Hydroxyethyl Sulfonate – A sulfate-free cleansing agent that produces a rich lather, effectively removes oil and dirt while maintaining moisture balance.
Platycladus Orientalis Leaf Extract – Antibacterial and anti-dandruff properties help balance scalp oil production, improve scalp health, and reduce hair loss.
Pine Needle Extract – Rich in antioxidants, soothes the scalp, and helps alleviate dryness and sensitivity.
Sophora Flavescens Root Extract – A natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredient that relieves scalp itchiness and reduces dandruff formation.
Mulberry Leaf Extract – Nourishes the scalp, rich in flavonoids, providing antioxidant benefits and soothing sensitive scalps.
Rosemary Extract – Stimulates scalp circulation, strengthens hair roots, reduces hair loss, and has antimicrobial and oil-control properties.
Soapberry Extract – A natural anti-dandruff ingredient that gently removes dead skin cells and flakes while strengthening hair strands.
Dandelion Extract – Calms and soothes the scalp with anti-inflammatory properties, ideal for sensitive and irritation-prone scalps.
Castor Oil – Nourishes hair roots, promotes hair growth, enhances hair resilience, and adds volume.
Shea Butter (Vitellaria Paradoxa Fruit Fat) – Deeply hydrates and repairs dry, damaged hair, improving softness and shine.
Coconut Oil – Moisturizes and conditions the hair, preventing dryness and split ends while improving elasticity and shine.
Evening Primrose Oil – Rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), it soothes sensitive scalps and helps repair damaged hair strands.
Camellia Seed Oil – A deeply penetrating natural oil that nourishes the scalp, enhances hair smoothness, and adds a healthy shine.
