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Most of us are familiar with honey, the sweet, syrupy product of bee pollination. A common ingredient in both sweet and savory recipes, it has also long been used as a therapeutic ingredient in traditional medicine.
Honey is a popular natural hair ingredient because of its many dermatological benefits. Here we'll look at 10 reasons to use honey on your hair, including for hair growth, to prevent hair breakage, and more.
Honey is used as a treatment for wound healing because of its ability to promote cell growth.
A 2013 review shows that honey can promote the growth of epithelial (skin) cells. The scalp is full of epithelial cells that make up the many follicles and ducts so important for hair growth.
Conditioning treatments are designed to restore moisture to your hair. Many hair conditioning treatments also contain vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial ingredients.
As it turns out, honey has moisturizing properties to help keep your hair conditioned and healthy. It also contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Honey has both emollient and humectant properties, making it a great hair moisturizer. Emollients smooth the hair follicles, adding shine to dull hair. Humectants bond with water molecules, adding moisture to dry strands.
By moisturizing and locking in shine, honey can help restore the natural luster of your hair.
Honey contains glucose, as well as an enzyme called glucose oxidase. This enzyme breaks down the glucose, leaving behind hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is capable of bleaching melanin, the pigment responsible for giving your hair color.
Leaving honey on your hair for an extended period can be a natural alternative to harsh chemical bleaching treatments.
Keratin is an essential protein that adds structure and strength to your hair. Protein treatments are a popular part of modern hair routines and can help to restore weak and brittle strands.
Honey contains roughly 0.5 percent protein. This may not seem like a lot, but it can be beneficial in combination with the other vitamins and minerals honey contains.
Hair sheds daily as a part of the natural growth cycle. However, some people find that their hair sheds more than normal.
If you're losing more hair than you're comfortable with, reach out to your doctor to find out the cause. Sometimes it can be as simple as having damaged hair.
If your hair is damaged and needs some TLC, consider all the benefits that honey has to offer.
While honey isn't as effective as beeswax for removing unwanted body hair, it's a great option for fine hair or sensitive skin.
To use honey for hair removal, try this recipe:
- Mix together 1 tbsp. honey and 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice.
- Apply this mixture to smaller areas, such as the upper lip.
- Leave it on for roughly 20 minutes.
- Wipe it off with a wet, warm washcloth.
- Pat the area dry with cold water to reduce any irritation.
A huge part of natural hair care is making sure that your hair and scalp are clean and moisturized. Before beginning your natural hair journey, consider doing a hair detox.
While detoxing, using honey can help give your hair a boost of beneficial amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. You can even use honey after the detox to keep your curls moisturized and growing.
Keeping your scalp healthy is a necessary part of having healthy hair. Buildup from dirt, oil, or even hair products can make this difficult.
You can use honey in scalp treatments to clean your scalp and alleviate conditions such as dandruff and dermatitis. It also has moisturizing benefits for both the hair and the scalp.
Certain inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can affect the scalp. Research has found that honey exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are an important compound in the treatment of these conditions.
In addition, anti-inflammatory ingredients may help to reduce the severity of outbreaks of such skin conditions.
Honey is a great natural hair product that can be used by itself or incorporated into other natural hair treatments.
It can promote cell growth, help to retain moisture, and restore nutrients to the hair and scalp. It may even help alleviate inflammatory skin conditions when used with other therapies.
Consider adding organic, unprocessed honey to your daily hair routine for healthier, happier hair.
Shop for organic, unprocessed honey online.