Let’s talk ingredients. For this scalp tonic, all you’ll need is distilled water, witch hazel, and your essential oils of choice. Witch hazel is the workhorse here, as the botanical boasts anti-inflammatory and sebum-control properties to help clean and stimulate the scalp. As Washington mentioned, it’s a great cleansing option for protective styles—those oil-controlling, anti-inflammatory properties can help stave flakes and buildup while relieving any itchiness. “It’s a mild scalp refresher,” texture specialist and artistic director at Matrix Michelle O’Connor told mbg about witch hazel for hair.
Even better, Washington makes sure to choose an alcohol-free version to spray into her roots; alcohol can be harsh on the skin and disrupt its natural barrier and microbiome, which can lead to irritation.
As for the EO’s, Washington’s partial to rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender, all of which have hair-healthy properties: Rosemary is linked to improving hair thickness; lavender can help protect your length; peppermint can promote blood circulation on the scalp; and eucalyptus has antifungal and antiseptic properties. “Also you become like a walking aromatherapy,” Washington quips, which, of course, is a benefit in and of itself.
Finally, the distilled water dilutes the solution a bit (in case full-on witch hazel is too astringent for your skin), so you can play around with those ratios depending on what your skin can handle. If you’re a witch hazel novice, though, perhaps try this formulation: