
Looking your best on the outside has a lot to do with how healthy your body is on the inside. This holds true for your hair, skin, and nails, which all need a unique set of nutrients and compounds to grow strong and beautiful.
Of course, eating a healthy and well-balanced diet is an important piece to the puzzle, but herbs can give your body that extra boost it needs to keep your hair, skin, and nails looking great.
Here’s a look at how herbal support can become a key part of your beauty routine and the top herbs for the job.
WHAT YOUR HAIR, SKIN, & NAILS NEED TO THRIVE
Your skin, hair, and nails need “regular” nutrients like protein and fat to be healthy, just like the rest of your body.
Healthy fats are especially important for keeping your skin from drying out by contributing to the lipid layer in your skin’s barrier. Protein, particularly in the form of collagen and keratin, is vital to the structure of all three: skin, hair, and nails.
A few other priority nutrients include minerals, like silica, and vitamins, like biotin, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which come mainly from fish and algae.
Antioxidants are also very important because they protect your body from free radicals that can damage cells and tissues (including those that help build your skin, hair, and nails) and help get rid of problematic toxins.
The good news?
Herbs can supply you with almost all of the above nutrients (minus fat), which is what makes them such a great natural beauty support.
INTERNAL VS. EXTERNAL HERBAL SUPPORT
This post is focused on herbs you can drink as a tea or take in capsules so that your body absorbs all the beneficial nutrients and uses them to support your hair, skin, and nails.
However, there are also plenty of ways you can use herbs externally for skincare, hair care, etc.
For example, for shampoo, rinses, and other hair recipes that all use herbs. Many of these herbs and oils are also great for your nails!
BEST HERBS FOR HAIR, SKIN, AND NAILS
HORSETAIL
Horsetail is a great herb for your skin, hair, and nails because it contains an exceptionally high amount of the mineral known as silica.
Silica is important for your skin because it promotes collagen production, which means that it enhances skin regeneration and wound healing as well.
Silica is also an important building block of your hair and nails. It helps to keep your nails from becoming brittle and strengthens hair strands to prevent breakage.
Studies have even shown that horsetail may help remedy hair thinning.
NETTLE
Nettle leaf is an incredibly nutritious herb that provides your body with tons of nutrients that support healthy hair, skin, and nails.
It’s particularly rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium as well as vitamins A, C, and K. The leaves also contain a decent amount of protein and a lot of antioxidants.
Nettle is best taken as a tonic to get its full benefits, which means that you should consume it regularly for a few weeks to a few months so that your body can assimilate all its nutrients.
As a bonus, a strong nettle infusion makes a great hair rinse, too!
ALFALFA
Alfalfa is a very nutrient-rich herb, just like nettle. In fact, it supplies your body with so many essential nutrients that it’s often used as a nourishing tonic during pregnancy and postpartum.
This high nutrient content is also what makes alfalfa one of the best herbs for hair, skin, and nails.
It contains all the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks your body uses to make protein. It’s also rich in minerals your body uses for hair and nail strength and contains vitamins A, C, and E, which are all essential for healthy skin.
On top of all that, alfalfa is one of the richest sources of chlorophyll and contains antioxidants that may keep your skin looking youthful.
BURDOCK
Burdock root is one of the most important herbal cleansers for clear skin. It helps to clean toxins out of your blood, liver, and lymphatic system that may be affecting your skin and contributing to breakouts or rashes like eczema.
Of course, by promoting healthy skin, burdock root also encourages a healthy scalp and supports shiny, thick hair. It even contains minerals and plant compounds that nourish hair and nails.
Burdock is usually taken as a decoction for its cleansing benefits. It has very strong detox power, so take it slow at first!
GOTU KOLA
Gotu kola is a staple in both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It shines as one of the top herbs for hair, skin, and nails because it promotes the production of collagen and fibroblasts– both important building blocks.
Fresh gotu kola leaves are also rich in B vitamins and vitamin C, which are particularly helpful nutrients for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
And though you’ll want to consume gotu kola to benefit from the nutrients it contains, it can also be helpful when used in a skin cream and may even reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
Yarrow

Yarrow herb is well-known for its wound healing properties, it is popular for its hardiness and extensive rhizome. Its dried white flowers and stems are used in brewing and making Yarrow tea for hair as it’s highly beneficial for healthy hair growth. If you are dealing with regular hair problems like hair fall, itchiness, grey hair etc Utilising the Yarrow oil or tea can help with healthy growth of hair.
Yarrow oil has astringent properties that work under the pores, meaning open clogged pores, so your hair becomes shiny, strong, and ultimately beautiful. On top of that, if your scalp is oily, then add 15 drops of yarrow oil into lukewarm water and rinse off your hair with simple warm water. This will make your hair healthy and get rid of excess oil. Also, it protects your hair from split ends and adds volume to your hair.
Yarrow can also prevent your skin against skin infections and control skin blemishes.
- Reduce skin inflammation
Yarrow has active anti-inflammation properties that are good enough to speed up the healing process and reduce wrinkles. Also, it keeps skin highly moisturised and free from a bacterial infection that can prevent your skin from breakouts, especially acne.
- Give supple and beautiful skin
Yarrow oil is perfect for penetrating the skin deeply and preventing early signs of aging. The oil works deep inside the skin and just a few drops give extreme moisture to the skin, so your skin glows flawlessly.
- Other skin benefits
Its astringent and antiseptic properties help your skin stay tight, heal broken capillaries, promote PH levels, increase moisture content, and reduce scarring. Also, it is ideal for problematic skin, as it has powerful therapeutic properties.
VITAMINS & MINERALS FOR HAIR, SKIN, AND NAILS
There are a few specific vitamins and minerals that are especially supportive of healthy hair, skin, and nails. You may have picked up on a few already mentioned in this post, but here’s a quick overview:
- Biotin and other B vitamins: Biotin (vitamin B7) is vital for healthy hair and skin, and a deficiency may cause hair loss. Vitamins B3, B6, and B12 are important, too.
- Silica: Silica gives strength to hair and nails and supports the connective tissues present in skin.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is important for collagen production and helps protect your skin from UV damage.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E helps protect skin cells from damage. It works best in conjunction with vitamin C.
- Zinc: Zinc is a mineral especially important for hair growth, wound healing, and clear skin.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is needed for hair growth and strength as well as healthy skin.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER INTO AN HERBAL SOLUTION
Using herbs to support your skin, hair, and nails doesn’t have to be complicated.
use one or more herbs to make an infusion (a strong tea) that you drink daily. Just remember that consistency is important if you want to see results. Try for a month or two, and you’ll most likely be happy with the results. You’ll find all these herbs and oils at www.healthtea.ie
Turmeric Ginger Tea for Circulation
Many people who are lacking in energy often blame a slow metabolism. People with an inability to focus often attribute it to stress & fatigue. Someone feeling out of breath may wonder if they have a respiratory issue such as asthma. While all of these things...
Ginger & Turmeric – Nature’s Most Powerful Anti-inflammatory Combo!
From fighting nausea to aiding in digestion, ginger is a powerful plant that delivers results. In the same plant family as ginger sits turmeric, a root that aids with inflammation and controlling pain. Alone, these plants contain dozens of benefits, but together their...
Back-to-School Health Checklist: 13 Must-Knows To Boost your Child’s Defenses
Do you feel like your child is always sick once the school year starts? If you struggle with keeping your child healthy during the school season and wonder what you can do to make your kiddo less prone to repeat bouts of colds, strep throat, and ear infections, check...
8 Proven Benefits Of Elderberries
Have you ever wondered about the real health benefits of elderberry syrup? Is the dark berry pure winter gold or just an old wives’ tale??? We’ve been making elderberry syrup for years now to help combat the seasonal doom & gloom of our wet Irish climate. It...
How To Make Simple Herbal Syrups with Recipes
Herbal syrups are a delicious, yet potent, natural remedy that make taking something good for you much easier. Anyone can enjoy herbal syrups, but children seem to find them especially nice and often take herbs in a syrup that they would otherwise have nothing to do...
7 HEALTH BENEFITS OF ELDERBERRY TEA
Brimming with flavor and vitality, elderberry tea knows how to freshen your senses and bring a surge of sweet strength to your immune system too. Given superfood status, drinking elderberry tea is amazing for your health from tip to toe. This magic tea can help...
What Herbal Teas Are Safe in Pregnancy?
If you’re a tea drinker, you’re most likely curious if it’s safe to drink tea during pregnancy? You probably want to know if there are any teas you need to avoid too. With all of the warnings about consuming caffeinated drinks during pregnancy, many pregnant...
Herbal Tinctures 101- How To Make, Take & Store Tinctures
TINCTURES - WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO YOU USE THEM? What is a tincture you may ask? Tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs that you take orally (by mouth). They are usually extracted in alcohol, but they can also be extracted in vegetable glycerine or apple...
5 Amazing Benefits of Berry Powders
Berry powders are a perfect way to supplement any diet, especially for those who frequently travel or who have a busy lifestyle. Although dehydrated, powders contain the same vitamins and minerals as their fresh and frozen counterparts. They are convenient, versatile,...
Echinacea: What You Need to Know!
What Is Echinacea Tea? Echinacea is a herb commonly used to make herbal supplements, essential oils, tea, and herbal remedies. The tea is made by infusing the flowers and leaves of the echinacea plant in hot water. The echinacea plant is also commonly known as the...