I’m sure you’ve seen products on store shelves that contain honey, usually with claims of moisturizing hair. I can’t speak for every manufacturer since the honey they use is probably very processed, but using honey in your DIY hair routine definitely helps your strands get the moisture and nutrients they crave. Lucky for you, I have some sweet recipes to share.
Try to find raw honey since it has the most vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc; as well as vitamins B6, pantothenic acid, and some amino acids. Honey is a humectant, which means it draws in moisture. It’s also an emollient, soothing and softening the strands. All of these qualities make honey an amazing conditioner.
Now, applying honey to your hair on it’s own may not be the most pleasant experience due it’s super-sticky nature, so it needs a medium to help spread it around. Here are some deep conditioner recipes that are easy to make, easy to apply and nourishing for your hair.
Anti-Frizz
Frizzy hair is dry hair.The first line of defense against frizz is having very moisturized hair, and we can get that by using moisture-rich deep conditioners.
Try this honey avocado mask. Avocado has hair-healthy fats, vitamins and minerals that are amazing for nourishing dry hair; as well as oils that penetrate the hair shaft to lock in moisture.
Ingredients:
1T honey
Half an avocado
1T olive oil (optional)
Instructions:
Mash the avocado. Stir in honey, and olive oil if using, until combined. Apply to damp, freshly washed hair, leave on for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. After applying any leave-in products, smooth a little oil into your ends for extra frizz-fighting power. Style as usual.
Honey Hair Rinse
Ingredients:
1T honey
1C hot water
Instructions:
Mix the honey into water until dissolved. Allow to cool. Use as final rinse after washing and conditioning hair.
One of the surprising effects of honey is that it can be used to lighten your hair color when used over time. All you need is apple cider vinegar, honey, a container with a lid and some time. By mixing the ACV with the honey, we activate the natural peroxide (it’s not the harmful hydrogen peroxide) in honey which lightens hair. Plus, ACV works as a conditioner, and we already know how honey is a humectant, so you can lighten your hair without damaging it like most commercial dyes.
Here’s how:
Mix 4 parts honey to 1 part ACV, allow to rest, covered, for 30-60 minutes to activate
Apply to hair, cover with plastic cap or wrap, and leave on for 2 hours for max effect
Rinse with warm water, then shampoo and condition as usual.
You can also add lemon juice in the mixture if your hair is already light-skip this if you have black or brown hair as it will turn it orange.
For a reddish tint, add henna or ground cinnamon to the mixture.
If you have dark hair, it may take several sessions to get the color you want. I recommend doing this once a week until desired results are achieved. Feel free to try it on a small section of hair if you don’t want to commit to lightening your whole head-I applied this on the front part of my hair. To maintain the color, add honey to your conditioner, and use after every shampoo.
So now you know the benefits of honey in hair and skin care. For bonus points, apply a DIY hair and face treatment using honey at the same time! Stay sweet, friends - N
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