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The use of rose water for hair has not been extensively studied. But rose water does have beneficial properties that may make it good for the hair and scalp.
You can buy rose water ready-made or make it yourself. If you are buying rose water, look for one that doesn't contain added preservatives, such as ethanol.
Ways to use rose water for hair include:
Shop for rose water online.
If you want to make rose water at home, start with a half dozen fragrant roses. Many hybrid varieties of modern-day roses were cultivated for size or color instead of scent, so sniff before you buy. You'll also need distilled water.
One of rose water's uncontested attributes is its scent. Try experimenting with different types and combinations of roses to see which scents you like best. There are hundreds of varieties of roses and possibly, thousands of hybrids you can choose from.
You can also try adding ingredients to rose water that are known to be beneficial to hair. These include herbs, such as Gotu kola, or a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or rosemary.
Shop for lavender and rosemary essential oil online.
There are other DIY treatments which might have similar benefits for hair.
For example, you can try diluting apple cider vinegar with water and using it as a scalp rinse to reduce dandruff.
You can also use cooled-down rosemary tea as a hair rinse, to help soothe the scalp and reduce minor irritations.
Shop for apple cider vinegar and rosemary tea online.
Rose water is safe for most people to use. However, if you're allergic to roses, don't use rose water on your hair.
If you have severe dandruff or an itchy scalp condition, there may be more effective, clinically proven treatments, such as dandruff shampoos, that you might wish to try instead of, or in addition to, rose water.
The cultivation of roses, rose oil, and rose water is thought to have started thousands of years ago in ancient Persia, an area now known as Iran. Rose water may have first been made by Avicenna, a Persian physician and alchemist who lived during the 10th century.
As noted above, rose water is made by distilling rose petals with steam or boiling water. Typically, the most fragrant rose varietals are used for this purpose. These include Rosa canina (wild rose, also known as dog rose), Rosa damascena (damask rose) and Rosa centifolia (cabbage rose).
The resulting mixture has a gentle, pleasing scent and potential beauty benefits for skin and hair.