marshmallow mixology

KinkyPJ · 10-19-2008, 06:48 PM

I read somewhere (m&c’s blog, I think) that marshmallow provides great slip when added to hair products and is great to combat dry hair. I couldn’t jump on this fast enough, slip is my best friend. Today I visited my local health food store and found it. It was quite expensive at $5.16/100g, so with my thinking cap on I decided to buy the organic marshmallow tea for $7 (24 tea bags). My mix: I filled up a 150ml jar with my conditioner and mixed the contents of two tea bags with it. After pre-pooing my hair, I conditioned it with my marshmallow concoction. Wow! Last week I was worried about how much hairs I lost to detangling. Today, I was able to detangle in under five minutes without my Jilbere comb. I lost less than 20 hairs, and yes I counted.

I would actually recommend getting the tea bags as the herb is all ground up for you. Saves time! The one downside to this herb is the grit left over. In future, I’ll sift it before mixing it. Marshmallow

*ahhhhhh*

kathymack · 10-19-2008, 06:53 PM

Do you know if it's marshmallow root or leaves? I have bought both and was wondering. BTW, it's really cheap at: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

jeamaria · 10-19-2008, 07:18 PM

@kathymack: The root is the part that contains the mucilage, which is supposed to give slip. I say supposed to as when I used it on my hair mixed with condish, I got a nice slippery feel but not that much actual added slip. I did really enjoy the tea, though.

I was thinking of trying it again, maybe as a natural gel?

KinkyPJ · 10-19-2008, 07:33 PM

It is both the root and the leaves together. I also read the herb book that the store had and it didn’t specify, it just said that marshmallow is good for dry hair and it has great healing properties when taken orally.

Thanks for the link. It’ll be cheaper for me to order from them next time. Just seem Jeamaria’s post, I will buy the root alone when I order.

kathymack · 10-19-2008, 07:38 PM

Thanks, I always wondered. Sometimes I saw marshmallow and sometimes marshmallow root listed in the ingredients. I wonder what I should do with the big bag of leaves??? LOL!!!

jeamaria · 10-19-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymack

Thanks, I always wondered. Sometimes I saw marshmallow and sometimes marshmallow root listed in the ingredients. I wonder what I should do with the big bag of leaves??? LOL!!!

Well, I just looked at a site which said the leaves actually do have some mucilage in them, albeit less than the root. So you could just use a whole lot to get the same effect as the root. That should get you through the bag in no time!

Suburbanbushbabe · 10-19-2008, 08:20 PM

I bought a little marshmallow root, but then found the alcohol-free extract at Vitamin Shoppe. So much easier to put a few drops in my clay treatment than to boil tea.

kathymack · 10-20-2008, 12:51 AM

Thanks. Of course, I have the alcohol free extract, too. What's a pj to do?

rainshower · 10-20-2008, 06:38 AM

marshallow herb is a wonderful natural detangler with great slip.

do a search for a recipe that i use on both mine and my daughter's hair.

its slip is so effective that the more i experimented with it, the more i discovered that finger-detangling with it is sufficient to adequately detangle my hair.

ETA: i got the idea from anitagrant.com in the herbal section of her site. she even lists the properties of the herbs she sells. i bought mine at whole foods and spent under a dollar for about 3 applications worth (i never weigh it, i just scoop!), maybe more, depending on the amount of tangles i have to work on.

KinkyPJ · 10-20-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainshower

marshallow herb is a wonderful natural detangler with great slip.

do a search for a recipe that i use on both mine and my daughter's hair.

its slip is so effective that the more i experimented with it, the more i discovered that finger-detangling with it is sufficient to adequately detangle my hair.

ETA: i got the idea from anitagrant.com in the herbal section of her site. she even lists the properties of the herbs she sells. i bought mine at whole foods and spent under a dollar for about 3 applications worth (i never weigh it, i just scoop!), maybe more, depending on the amount of tangles i have to work on.

Rainshower, do you know if Whole Foods sells it in the powder form? How do you use it?

ETA: You all are totally enabling my pj tendencies, lol. I heart Anita Grant!

rainshower · 10-20-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainshower

marshallow herb is a wonderful natural detangler with great slip.

do a search for a recipe that i use on both mine and my daughter's hair.

its slip is so effective that the more i experimented with it, the more i discovered that finger-detangling with it is sufficient to adequately detangle my hair.

ETA: i got the idea from anitagrant.com in the herbal section of her site. she even lists the properties of the herbs she sells. i bought mine at whole foods and spent under a dollar for about 3 applications worth (i never weigh it, i just scoop!), maybe more, depending on the amount of tangles i have to work on.

Rainshower, do you know if Whole Foods sells it in the powder form? How do you use it?

ETA: You all are totally enabling my pj tendencies, lol. I heart Anita Grant!

i don't know about powder form.

i take the dried herb, pour hot water (not boiling) over it and let the mucilage come out. after about 7 minutes, i pour it through a strainer into a squirt bottle, add a squirt of olive oil, shake it up, and apply it to sections of my hair to finger-detangle. the sliminess really defines my curls and waves during this process. then i shampoo it out.

it's so cheap that unless you use too much of the herb or just waste it, you'll come out way cheaper using this for an entire year than using a commercial detangling conditioner.

jeamaria · 10-21-2008, 12:28 PM

@rainshower: have you ever tried it as a leave in?

OnyxCabelo · 10-21-2008, 07:21 PM

I love marshmallow root. I've been doing a marshmallow root and hibiscus tea rinse the last few wash days, and I love the results. I was on anita grant's web page and saw the info on the marshmallow root there and decided to give it a try. I do rinse it out though, but even with rinsing it out i can tell a difference in my hair.

KinkyPJ · 10-21-2008, 08:34 PM

Wowzers, I think I may have used it incorrectly. I'm gonna have to try brewing the tea and doing a rinse.

OnyxCabelo · 10-22-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Wowzers, I think I may have used it incorrectly. I'm gonna have to try brewing the tea and doing a rinse.

I'm not sure there is a wrong way to do it

. If you do try the rinse though - let us know how it turns out

.

rainshower · 10-23-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeamaria

@rainshower: have you ever tried it as a leave in?

no. the only thing i leave in my hair is a natural liquid oil to condition the last few inches of my hair. these days, ex. virg. olive oil is my preference.

KinkyPJ · 10-23-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnyxCabelo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Wowzers, I think I may have used it incorrectly. I'm gonna have to try brewing the tea and doing a rinse.

I'm not sure there is a wrong way to do it

. If you do try the rinse though - let us know how it turns out

.

I just tried my mixture again last night. Detangling was a nightmare even after having pre-pooed. I'm gonna do the tea thing on Friday and will let you all know how it goes.

OnyxCabelo · 10-30-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnyxCabelo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Wowzers, I think I may have used it incorrectly. I'm gonna have to try brewing the tea and doing a rinse.

I'm not sure there is a wrong way to do it

. If you do try the rinse though - let us know how it turns out

.

I just tried my mixture again last night. Detangling was a nightmare even after having pre-pooed. I'm gonna do the tea thing on Friday and will let you all know how it goes.

Yeah, please let us know. Oh, I did try doing the marshmallow root as a leave in. Word of caution - it does not play well with KBB. I applied some KBB hair milk over it, and I had to rewash my hair

- it looked like I had chalk dust in it. Anyway, I think it works nice as a rinse out.

KinkyPJ · 10-31-2008, 05:38 AM

Thanks for the advice OC. I actually haven't revisited the marshmallow root b/c I'm so lazy. I bought HE HH and it's working really well for me in terms of me being able to detangle with my fingers. But, today's wash day so I may spice things up with the marshmallow root.

OnyxCabelo · 10-31-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KinkyPJ

Thanks for the advice OC. I actually haven't revisited the marshmallow root b/c I'm so lazy. I bought HE HH and it's working really well for me in terms of me being able to detangle with my fingers. But, today's wash day so I may spice things up with the marshmallow root.

I hear you - truth be told, I've been thinking about getting the powdered MMR, so I don't have to go through the hassle of straining it all the time

. It's not like it's a big hassle - I'm just feeling lazy, and I've just got better things to do

.