It all started, as these things often do, with a bit of frustration. My hair, see, it wasn’t what it used to be. Thinning a bit, looking a bit sad. I’d tried all sorts of stuff from the shops, you know, the fancy bottles with big promises. Most of them just made my wallet thinner, not my hair thicker.
How I Stumbled Upon These Leaves
Then one day, I was chatting with my neighbor, old Mrs. Henderson. She’s one of those folks who seems to know a trick for everything. We were just talking about gardens and whatnot, and somehow my hair moans came up. She just nodded, then said, “Ever tried Platycladus leaves? The ones from that flat cedar tree?” Well, no, I hadn’t. Sounded a bit like something out of a fairy tale, to be honest.
I was skeptical, you know? Leaves for hair? Seemed too simple. But then I thought, what have I got to lose? It’s not like those expensive shampoos were doing wonders. So, I decided to give it a proper go.
Getting My Hands Dirty: The Process
First, I had to get the leaves. Luckily, there’s a big ol’ Platycladus orientalis tree down at the end of my street, the one with the flat, scale-like leaves. I just snipped a few fresh sprigs. Made sure they looked clean and healthy.
Here’s what I did next, more or less:
- Washed the leaves thoroughly. Didn’t want any bird surprises in my hair concoction.
- Then, I sort of just boiled them. Put a decent handful in a pot of water, brought it to a boil, then let it simmer for a good 20 minutes. The water turned a sort of greenish-brown.
- Let it cool down completely. Strained out the leaves. What I was left with was this herbal-smelling liquid.
The first time, the smell was a bit… earthy. Not bad, just not like a fancy salon product. But I was committed by then.
My Experience: The Nitty-Gritty
So, how did I use it? Well, after my usual shampoo, I’d use the cooled leaf-water as a final rinse. Just poured it over my scalp and hair, massaged it in a bit, and then usually just let my hair air dry. Sometimes, if I had more time, I’d leave it on for a bit longer, like a quick mask, before a light rinse with plain water.
Now, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you I woke up the next day with a lion’s mane. That’s not how these things work, is it? It was gradual. Real gradual. But after a few weeks of doing this pretty regularly, maybe two or three times a week, I did start to notice a few things.
My scalp felt less itchy, for one. That was a nice surprise. And my hair, it just seemed to have a bit more… life to it? Hard to explain. Maybe a bit stronger, less wispy. I wasn’t shedding as much in the shower drain, which was a big win for me.
It wasn’t a miracle cure, don’t get me wrong. My hair didn’t suddenly double in volume. But it felt healthier. And there’s something satisfying about using something so simple, something you prepared yourself from a tree down the road. Beats spending a fortune on chemicals, that’s for sure.
I still use it, off and on. Sometimes I get lazy, sometimes I’m more consistent. It’s become one of those little home remedies I actually stick with because, for me, it just seems to do some good. No fuss, no big expense, just good old-fashioned leaves. It’s funny how sometimes the simplest things are the ones that end up working out, eh?
