Honey is derived from the nectar of flowers and is produced by honeybees. This gooey, thick liquid has been used for an assortment of purposes for thousands and thousands of years. Honey consists of different nutrients including antioxidants and as a result has been found to provide certain health benefits. The benefits of honey are not just limited to your health however. Honey can be very beneficial to your hair as well.
Here is a more detailed look at the amazing benefits of honey for natural hair:
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1) HELPS TO RETAIN MOISTURE
Honey is a natural humectant, meaning that it can attract and retain moisture. When applied to your natural hair, not only does honey help to absorb moisture from your products, but it also helps to seal this moisture in. This can create longer-lasting results with your natural hairstyles pertaining to moisture and softness.
The Camille Rose Honey Hydrate Leave-In is just one good example of moisturizing products featuring honey. Due to honey’s natural moisturizing property, it makes for a good addition to your DIY deep conditioners.
2) NUTRITIONAL CONTENT FOUND IN HONEY TRANSFERS TO YOUR HAIR
As previously mentioned, honey has a decent antioxidant content. Antioxidants help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. For your hair, the function of antioxidants in honey helps to keep your strands healthy and lessen breakage.
3) CONTAINS NATURAL ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES
Another one of the benefits of honey for natural hair is its antibacterial property. Honey has a historical medicinal use due to its natural soothing and antibacterial properties. When applied to your natural hair, this feature of honey can help to prevent certain scalp conditions/irritations from arising such as dandruff.
4) ADDS A BOOST OF SHINE
Just looking at honey, you can notice a slight glimmer to it. Its humectant property adds to this, helping to create more shine since your strands are hydrated and nourished. To add to this, the thick consistency of honey helps to smooth the hair cuticle, lessening frizz and dullness. Create your own hair mask with the inclusion of honey in it to get super soft and shiny results.
5) SERVES AS A NATURAL CONDITIONING INGREDIENT
The moisturizing, antibacterial, and nourishing attributes of honey makes it a beneficial ingredient to add to your conditioning products. Honey can aid in moisture retention, helping to keep your strands hydrated and nourished, as well as lessen the rise of certain scalp irritations.
BONUS: CAN BE USED AS A NATURAL HAIR LIGHTENER
Naturally, honey contains trace amount of hydrogen peroxide derived from its glucose oxidase enzyme. These trace amounts are released as it sits on your hair when diluted with water. This can produce a lightening effect on the hair. However, it is best to see a professional if you want to really lighten or highlight your hair, as it may take too much honey to do so.
With the benefits of honey for natural hair in mind, click here to check out other beneficial ingredients to include in your DIY deep conditioners.
References:
1 Bang LM, et al. “The Effect Of Dilution On The Rate Of Hydrogen Peroxide Production In Honey And Its Implications For Wound Healing. – Pubmed – NCBI”. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov, 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12804080. Accessed 28 Dec 2018.
2 Cold, Flu & Cough et al. “Slideshow: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Honey”. Webmd, 2018, https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-all-about-honey. Accessed 28 Dec 2018.
3 “7 Honey Benefits For Health And Beauty | Reader’s Digest”. Reader’s Digest, 2018, https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/honey-benefits/. Accessed 28 Dec 2018.
