There is more to taking care of ones appearance than a great shave – even if a great shave goes a long way – and one problem many have is dry scalp. Or, put bluntly, dandruff… I suffer from it from time to time – usually in the summertime – but have found a cheap way to deal with it that works wonders for me.

First step is to get some gloves out… because you should go pick yourself a big bundle of stinging nettle leaves. Fresh leaves are best – or so my sources say – and you going to need half a liter of so of packed leaves (that’s a pint or so for those who haven’t gone metric yet…). Grab an enameled or stainless steel pot and put the leaves in, then add about a half liter of water – distilled or bottled water is ideal, but tap water should work fine unless you got very hard water. Bring to a boil, then pull of the heat and let sit until it’s cool.

Once it’s cooled down to room temperature you can simply strain the leaves out and transfer the infusion to a plastic or glass container. Used as a rinse when washing ones hair should help against dandruff – I also mix a little with the shampoo to work it into my scalp. Excess infusion keeps well in the fridge by the way, so you can make a large batch early in the season and keep all summer.

In addition to helping with dandruff, nettle is also commonly held to promote glossy hair – which apparently is why some farmers adds it to the cattle-feed. Nettle tea – preferably with a sweetener – is traditionally considered to be good against many ailments, both internal and external, among them disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, locomotor system, skin, cardio-vascular system, hemorrhage, flu, rheumatism and gout.. One should be careful with drinking too much though; nettle extracts can cause increased testosterone levels, and have been used by bodybuilders to achieve that effect.