Honey is not only a healthy alternative to sugar but also a natural care alternative that strengthens your hair and skin. In fact, honey is one of the most common ingredients for hair masks. It is a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants. The nutrients help strengthen and grow your hair, while enzymes and antioxidants help clean, moisturize, and heal it. Honey also has anti-bacterial properties that prevent infections on the scalp. Therefore, if you’re having hair problems like hair loss or dandruff, treat your hair with natural products like honey, as chemical products can cause more harm than good.
Woman with honey spoon prepare for hair mask. Over white background.Below are some reasons honey is good for your hair.
Acts As Natural Conditioner
Honey makes a great natural hair conditioner, as it has moisturizing properties that soften and prevent hair from drying. Many hair conditioner treatments contain vitamins and minerals that help restore your hair’s moisture. Since honey contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, and amino acids, a deep-conditioning honey treatment can benefit all hair types.
To soften and condition your hair, heat a mixture of virgin olive oil and honey until warm, then apply the mixture to clean and moist hair and spread evenly. Cover your hair, let the mixture sit for about 45 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. You can also purchase a honey based shampoo & conditioner formulated with honey to clean, hydrate, and nourish your hair effectively.
Promotes Hair Growth
Traditionally, people used honey to heal wounds and prevent infection. This is because honey also promotes cell growth, particularly the epithelial skin cells, which make up the hair duct and hair follicles of the scalp. Hair ducts and hair follicles are responsible for healthy hair growth. Additionally, honey can boost dormant hair follicles, thus promoting further hair growth. Moreover, it contains proteins that help boost hair strength and structure and prevent hair breakage. Hair breakage is the main hindrance to hair growth, so preventing it can help hair grow longer over time.
To benefit from honey’s hair growth properties, mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of coconut oil and one tablespoon of peppermint oil. Apply the mixture to wet or dry hair and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar and follow up with a conditioner.
Treats And Prevents Dandruff
Dandruff is a common hair problem that can give you nightmares when figuring out how to get rid of it. Dandruff can cause hair fall and other scalp infections if not treated well. If you’re looking for a great solution for it, honey may be the answer. Dandruff affects people with dry scalps. Luckily, honey helps restore moisture to your scalp, which eliminates dandruff. In addition, honey creates a protective layer on the scalp to prevent moisture loss, thus alleviating the risk of dandruff.
Dandruff also forms on dirty and oily scalps. Honey contains natural enzymes that have cleansing properties. It contains traces of gluconic acid, which has exfoliating benefits for the scalp. Moreover, it cleans the excess oil deposits and other impurities that may lead to the formation of dandruff.
Furthermore, honey has multiple antioxidants like catalase, chrysin, and pinocembrin; vitamins B1, B2, B5, and B6; and minerals like calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and iron; all of which help nourish the scalp and maintain its pH balance. This help make your scalp healthier and more resistant to dandruff.
To treat dandruff using honey, mix honey with aloe vera gel and olive oil in a bowl to form a paste-like mixture. Apply the mask all over your hair and scalp and leave it to sit for about 20 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water. Repeat the process every week for better results.
Homemade hair mask made out of coconut butter and honey – White backgroundBoosts Natural Highlights
You don’t have to use harsh chemicals to highlight your hair. Honey contains a natural enzyme known as glucose oxidase and natural sugar known as glucose. When the enzyme disintegrates the glucose, it produces hydrogen peroxide, which acts as a natural lightener for your hair. Although honey takes frequent sessions to lighten the hair, unlike chemical products, it doesn’t cause damage to your hair follicles. In fact, it leaves your cuticles and strands soft, nourished, and great smelling.
To lighten your hair using honey, mix it with distilled water and wait a few minutes before applying it on clean, moist hair. Let it sit for about 30 minutes and rinse with conditioner. Add cinnamon to the mixture if you want your hair to be reddish blonde or lemon for a brighter blonde look.
The Bottom Line
Honey is a natural product with plenty of benefits, like hair maintenance. It can either be used on its own or incorporated into other hair treatments. Honey is beneficial to all types of hair and has no side effects. Therefore, you may be missing out on some great benefits if you’ve yet to include it in your hair care treatment.