Benefits of Green Tea Rinses for Natural Hair:

There are a plethora of DIYs and other at-home natural hair care alternatives you can find on the internet including homemade hair masks, treatments, and other tips that may benefit your strands. Some of these DIY treatments produce great results and others not so much. One treatment that can provide a multitude of benefits for your hair is a green tea rinse. The benefits of green tea rinses for natural hair are extensive and lasting. Green tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant that also produces other types of tea including black tea and oolong tea.

The tea leaves from the plant are put through differing processing methods to produce certain types of tea. Green tea is a popular beverage that has been around for centuries and can provide various health benefits. Not only can green tea benefit your general health, but it may also benefit the health of your hair according to certain studies. Here are a few of the potential benefits of green tea rinses for natural hair:

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Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. What is written throughout this article is not medical or professional advice. It is for informational purposes only. There is little evidence that suggests green tea is a completely effective remedy for hair growth, hair loss prevention, etc. This information is based off of a limited number of studies. 

RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Green tea is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are valuable for the body as they help protect your cells from free radicals as well as aid in the prevention of certain diseases. Epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG, is one of those antioxidants found in green tea. It is a type of catechin which is derived from antioxidant compounds called flavanols. EGCG has been found to potentially lower one’s risk for certain diseases including heart disease and cancer.

The assistance this antioxidant provides pours over into hair care and may also help to prevent hair loss. Due to the fact that green tea is made from natural, crisp new leaves, it is able to retain a lot of its healthful antioxidant properties that then transfer to and benefit your strands when you complete a green tea rinse. Various natural hair care products include green tea extract in the ingredients because of these perks.

MAY REDUCE SHEDDING AND HAIR LOSS

benefits of green tea rinses
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Shedding differs from breakage and is a natural part of the hair growth cycle. While most breakage is preventable, you can also prevent excessive hair shedding by taking good care of your scalp and strands. However, if you have been noticing an increase in shed hair, you should speak with a health care professional to make sure you are not experiencing an excessive increase due to an underlying medical condition.

Completing a green tea rinse may aid in reducing the amount of hair you shed. A green tea rinse is great for before or after protective styling. The reason a green tea rinse may lessen the amount of hair shed is because of the EGCG, a certain type of catechin, found in green tea. There are certain hormones (e.g. dihydrotestosterone or DHT) among other culprits, that are found to potentially provoke hair loss. Based off a few studies, EGCG in green tea may help to curb the adverse effects of these hormones and in turn prevent hair loss and reduce shedding.  

ENCOURAGES HAIR GROWTH

To attain and maintain healthy natural hair, it is important that you nourish your scalp and strands with healthful nutrients to keep them strong and to retain length. Green tea rinses may encourage hair growth based off the finding of a few studies. EGCG that is found in green tea has been found to vitalize the hair follicles as well as aid in the prevention of hair damage. Caffeine is also present in green tea and may provide stimulating effects on the hair follicles and promote hair growth. While there has not been a ton of research on this potential plus, there have been some promising results of green tea promoting hair growth also when the beverage is drunk.

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NOURISHES AND REVITALIZES YOUR STRANDS

Another one of the benefits of green tea rinses for natural hair is the abundance of nutrients a green tea rinse supplies directly to your scalp and the rest of your strands. Green tea contains a variety of nutrients including vitamin E, potassium, plus more. This combination of nutrients helps to nourish and revitalize your strands. To add to this, make sure you are eating a healthful diet and drinking plenty of water too. What we consume on the inside does affect the outside.

A QUICK AND BENEFICIAL TREATMENT

If you are a natural who likes to keep things short and simple, the benefits of green tea rinses for natural hair can be attained without spending a lot of time on your hair. The preparation process takes less than 15 minutes. The application process is even quicker as all you have to do is apply the treatment directly to your scalp. After that, rinse out the treatment and style as desired. It is a short treatment with lasting results and benefits.

HOW TO COMPLETE A GREEN TEA RINSE ON NATURAL HAIR:

  • First, you are going to need 1-2 decaffeinated green tea packets. You should also start with freshly shampooed hair to apply the treatment on to.
  • Second, prepare 1 cup of boiling water in a pot (be VERY careful with hot water). Once the water has reached close to boiling, turn it off and pour the water into a hot temperature-safe container or mug.
  • Place your green tea packet(s) into the water and let it sit until it cools down.
  • After the water has cooled down, transfer the green tea to an applicator bottle for easier application.
  • Then, apply the green tea liquid directly to and throughout your scalp. Let the treatment sit for at least 15 minutes.
  • Rinse the treatment out and style as desired.

References:

1Davidson, K. (2019, November 20). Green Tea for Hair: A Complete Guide. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-tea-for-hair#:~:text=Green%20tea%20may%20support%20healthy,of%20three%20participants%20with%20alopecia.&text=EGCG%20appears%20to%20increase%20hair,cells%20(%205%20%2C%2010%20).

2Gunnars, K. (2020, April 6). 10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green Tea. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-green-tea#2.-May-improve-brain-function.

3Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019, November 23). Slide show: Add antioxidants to your diet. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/multimedia/antioxidants/sls-20076428.

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