We understand that many prefer to use products found in their pantry, or products infused with natural ingredients in their head-to-toe beauty regimen. We’re focusing on how you can use honey on your hair and why you should be doing so if you haven’t tried it out just yet. Read on to learn all about the benefits of using honey as a hair mask for your scalp, featuring some tips from Unilever Senior Hair Manager Leon Van-Gorkom. Plus, we’re showing you the best honey-infused hair products to try, so get ready to go all-out queen bee:
We Asked An Expert Why You Should Apply Honey to Your Scalp
Not convinced that you should start using honey on your scalp and hair? We spoke with Unilever Senior Hair Manager Leon Van-Gorkom to find out his expert opinion about using honey on your scalp.
An Expert on Benefits of Honey for Hair
All Things Hair: What makes honey a beneficial hair product? Leon Van Gorkom: Honey has a lot of sugars, vitamins, and minerals. Scientifically, honey has been proven to have a lot of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which makes it great for keeping your scalp in good condition. Since honey has lots of sugars, it also acts as a humectant. If your scalp is in good condition, then your hair follicles will be in good condition as well. Therefore, your hair that grows out of the follicles will be in good shape. How can one use honey on their scalp? To get the benefits of using honey on your scalp, you can make a concoction with honey. Make a paste with a lot of honey and apply it to your scalp as a treatment. Leave it on for a couple of hours, and then rinse with lukewarm water. Will it work for a dry and irritated scalp? Since honey has anti-inflammatory properties it also can help with an irritated scalp or dermatitis. It’s not necessarily anti-dandruff but it may work for people that suffer from dandruff as well. Are there any benefits for hair that’s already outside of the follicle? There’s very little scientific evidence that it does a lot. However, since it has a lot of sugars, you can look at it as a molecule that attracts water and therefore, absorb water in the hair. Honey is predominantly for the scalp. What are the benefits of using honey-infused hair products? Honey mixed with the other ingredients of a specific line helps provide the benefits provided by the line. For example, honey mixed with other ingredients strengthens and moisturizes the hair.
How to Use Honey as a Hair Mask
Learn how to make your own hair mask using honey.
Step 1. Make the mask.
If you want to go the natural route to achieve the benefits of using honey, you can add actual honey into your D.I.Y. hair mask. To do this, you’ll need:
A towel to cover the shoulders A hair comb 1 tbsp honey at room temperature 1 tbsp olive oil A small bowl
To make the mask, mix together one large tablespoon of any kind of honey and olive oil in a small bowl. The olive oil is very important to use because it gives the mask more of a liquid consistency while adding vitamins A and E, and fatty acids that can help with dry hair.
Step 2. Apply the mixture to achieve the benefits of using honey.
After your mask is made, place your towel around your shoulders so you don’t stain your clothes. Next, dampen the hair that you’re applying the mask to, and then apply the mask directly to your strands. You can apply this mask anywhere on your hair. For the least messy option, apply from the midshaft of your hair to the ends.
Step 3: Comb the mask through your hair.
Once you have the mask on your hair, use a comb to gently distribute it through. This will help ensure all of your strands receive the benefits of using honey and that your locks are evenly coated.
Step 4: Cover your hair.
To avoid making a mess, cover your strands with a shower cap or plastic wrap. This also makes sure your hair absorbs as most of the mask as possible and gets the benefits of using honey. Let the mask sit on your hair for 15 minutes.
Step 5: Rinse and style as usual!
After 15 minutes are up, rinse out the mask, then follow up by shampooing your hair. Because of the oily consistency of the mask, you may need to shampoo twice. Once your hair is all clean, dry and then style as normal, then you’ll be left with softer and shinier hair.
Honey-Infused Products
Is D.I.Y not exactly your style? Achieve the same benefits as actual honey with these products below.
Shampoo and Conditioner
If you want the benefits of using honey on your hair, but prefer to use store-bought products, then Dove Hair Therapy Strength & Fullness Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for you. While this set doesn’t have honey infused into the formula, these products offer similar strengthening benefits that you would receive from using honey. We also love this set because it can be used on a variety of hair types.
Leave-in Conditioner
Are you looking for a solution to dry, damaged hair? Try Suave Professionals Honey Infusion Strengthening Leave-in Conditioner to get the benefits of using honey throughout the day. We love this formula because it’s infused with pure honey, which creates a creamy formula. This leave-in conditioner helps make hair 10x stronger, reduces frizz, repairs rough hair, moisturizes, adds shine, and protects from heat. With all of the benefits, this product is definitely a hardworking must-have!
Curl Cream
Want the benefits of honey for your curly strands? Try SheaMoisture Manuka Honey Hydrate + Repair Whipped Curl Cream. We love this curl cream because it helps moisturize and define your strands while also working to strengthen your strands. This leads to shinier, stronger, and smoother hair. Plus, this product is free of silicones, sulfates, and parabens. Whether you want to go full D.I.Y or sticking to traditional products is more your style, there are many ways you can incorporate honey into your scalp and hair routine.
