Science-Backed Reasons Honey Is Great For Your Hair

Most of us just think of honey as the syrupy sweetener produced by bees. We love it in tea and use it in a variety of recipes. But what you may not know is that honey has been valued around the globe for its medicinal and therapeutic properties for thousands of years.

It turns out that honey offers a number of benefits for the skin and hair, too. Today, we’re looking at 7 science-backed reasons honey is great for your hair and how to incorporate it into your beauty routine.

1. Honey promotes scalp health.

Keeping the scalp healthy is absolutely essential to having healthy hair. Buildup from hair products, dirt, and oil can lead to major issues for your scalp, including conditions like dermatitis, dandruff, psoriasis, and eczema. Honey has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that help to alleviate these conditions.

1. Honey may help prevent hair loss.

You are probably aware that hair sheds every day as part of its normal growth cycle. Unfortunately, some people find that their hair falls more than it should. Honey may help to prevent hair loss by improving the health of the cells and hair follicles of the scalp.

1. Honey helps the hair resist breakage.

Most of us have heard of keratin hair treatments that are designed to restore weak, brittle, overprocessed hair. Keratin is a protein that strengthens the structure of the hair. Honey contains a small amount of keratin. When combined with the other beneficial properties of honey, it can help make hair more resistant to breakage.

1. Honey boosts natural highlights in the hair.

Honey contains a natural enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme breaks down the glucose found in honey. The by-product of this process is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach out the melanin in your hair, which is the pigment that gives it its color.

Honey can be a gentle, natural alternative to chemical highlighting treatments. Applying it to your hair regularly can boost the natural highlights in your hair. Leaving honey on the hair for an extended period may even lighten it slightly.

1. Honey adds shine to the hair.

Due to its natural humectant and emollient properties, honey is intensely moisturizing for the hair. It helps to smooth the follicles of the hair. The humectants in honey also bond with water molecules in the hair. These properties make honey ideal for adding luster and shine to the hair. 

1. Honey conditions the hair.

When we choose a conditioner, we look for one that restores moisture to the hair and leaves it more manageable. Bonus points if it has beneficial ingredients like vitamins and minerals that promote hair health.

Well, it turns out that honey has natural emollient properties that make it an excellent hair conditioner. It also contains many nutrients that are good for the hair, including antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Many beauty influencers across the world have been swearing by shampoo & conditioner infused with honey by Gisou for it has given great results with well moisturized and healthy looking hair.

1. Honey promotes hair growth.

Honey has been used as a wound treatment for centuries. In recent years, scientists have discovered that honey has the unique ability to promote cell growth. According to medical professionals  honey promotes the growth of epithelial skin cells. Epithelial cells in the scalp make up the hair follicles that are necessary for hair growth. 

When applied to the scalp, honey offers skin regenerative properties that promote cell growth and indirectly, hair growth. Honey may even strengthen or wake up dormant hair follicles.

Hair Types That Can Benefit from Honey

In general, honey makes a fantastic addition to any hair care routine, no matter what type or texture of hair you have… even if it’s color-treated. However, some hair types may appreciate its benefits even more than others.

Those with dry or chemically processed hair will find that honey adds shine and softness to the hair. Brittle hair that’s prone to breakage will benefit from the added protein in honey. And, if you’re a curly-haired girl, you’ll appreciate the additional moisture and restorative benefits of honey. 

Those who deal with dandruff, or an inflamed, itchy scalp will also find the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of honey to be especially helpful.

How to Use Honey for Hair

The easiest way to incorporate honey into your hair care routine is to purchase honey-infused haircare products. You’ll find it in many different products, especially those formulated for dry, damaged, and curly hair.

Honey is also a popular and well-loved ingredient in many homemade hair treatments, mainly due to its numerous benefits and affordability. We suggest using it at least once a week for maximum benefit. Keep in mind that there’s a potential for allergic reactions with honey, so a patch test is recommended.

Here are some easy ways to use honey for hair:

• DIY Honey Scalp Treatment: This one really couldn’t be any easier! Simply mix two tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of water and massage it into your scalp. Leave on for up to two minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. This makes a great remedy for dandruff and itchy scalp.

 

• Honey Deep Conditioning Treatment: You can create your own custom deep conditioning treatment by mixing equal amounts of honey with your favorite carrier oil. Coconut oil is a great choice due to its many benefits for the scalp and hair. You can also add avocado to your treatment for additional conditioning benefits.

 

• Scalp Cleansing Mask: If you’re looking for a gentle way to cleanse and remove buildup from your scalp, this mask is for you. The added protein in the yogurt can also help strengthen your hair, while the coconut oil adds moisture. Simply mix four tablespoons of honey, ½ cup of yogurt, and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Massage it into your hair and scalp and let it sit for 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning as usual.

 

Wrapping Up

Thanks to its numerous therapeutic benefits, using honey for your hair can moisturizer your scalp and hair, restore shine, reduce breakage, and even eliminate frizz. Whether you buy honey-infused haircare products to use every day or make your own weekly hair treatments, honey makes an excellent addition to any hair care routine.

xoxo