We have talked a lot about the benefits of tea on skin, but how about the benefits it has on our hair. From promoting hair growth to covering grey hairs, let us take a look at what your everyday tea can do to keep your hair feeling fresh, full, and healthy. I mean after all, it is only fair to let our hair down every now and then.
1. Keeps hair soft and shiny
Sometimes our hair can get a bit dull and lifeless, and hair products can become an expensive feat, so if you are looking for a quick alternative, why not head into your pantry and take out some tea bags! Green tea contains flavonoids which act as a powerful antioxidant that can help to cleanse the scalp and keep our hair soft and shiny. The same can be said with the tannins in black tea, their antioxidant properties helping to keep your hair healthy, resulting in radiant looking hair. Soothing chamomile tea can add natural highlights and shine to make your hair look like it is glowing. Chamomile tea works best on those with light hair as it has a lightening effect, enabling your light locks to shine in the sun.
2. Promotes hair growth
The caffeine in black tea and oolong tea helps to increase hair growth by reaching the hair follicles to block the hormone DHT, linked to hair loss in some people. It is said that caffeine may increase keratin production and may lengthen the phase of hair growth. But beware that too much caffeine may in fact dry your hair out, so when using these teas, ensure you use a nourishing conditioner. Hibiscus tea and peppermint tea are other known teas to give your hair that extra boost to grow. Containing amino acids that aid in stimulating blood circulation in the scalp, both hibiscus and peppermint tea work by strengthening the hair shaft to prevent damage which results in longer and stronger hair. Peppermint tea also soothes the blood vessels to boost blood flow to your hair’s roots. Lastly, Green tea and its powerful antioxidant EGCG help to stimulate hair follicles resulting in less hair loss and enhanced growth.
3. Covers grey hair and adds colour
A natural and temporary fix in-between colours is directed towards your nearest tea stash. For brunettes or natural darker coloured hair, black tea will be your pick. How it works is through the dark pigmentation found in black tea that will gradually and naturally add darkened highlights to your hair. This can also darken the appearance of greys, without the use of chemicals. Rosemary tea has similar darkening properties when used on dark hair and can be applied with black tea to give your hair that added colour. For those who are wanting to add or enhance the red pigments in their hair, hibiscus tea has been used as a traditional hair dye for centuries, by adding sheen and natural red highlights. And if you are wanting to lighten or enhance your blonde hair, you cannot look past chamomile tea. Other than its soothing properties, chamomile tea is known for lightening hair and adding natural highlights and shine, resulting in luminous looking hair.
4. Prevents split ends
One thing that can really drag your hair down is split ends, and if left untreated it can weaken your hair and cause breakage and hair to fall. Green tea thankfully contains B vitamins which helps to repair the hair cuticle by adding moisture to the hair. Alongside the high level of antioxidants, which help to prevent breakage and strengthen strands, this makes green tea a good remedy to treat and prevent split ends from forming.
5. Soothes and cleanses the scalp
The reason why tea is a great natural remedy for dry and itchy scalp is thanks to its abundance of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea is no stranger to either of these and is the reason why it makes such a good choice for scalp care. It is gentle and cleansing on the scalp by unblocking hair follicles to remove dead skin cells which aids in managing dandruff and itchy scalp. Hibiscus tea is another tea aimed at keeping our scalp healthy. Its natural acids help to balance the pH level of our scalp, alongside its effectiveness in fighting dandruff. The soothing blend of chamomile tea gently exfoliates dead skin cells and any residual build up on the scalp. It has additional antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that help reduce itchiness and bacteria.
Like any new product, ensure you do a skin patch test to be aware of any allergies or reactions. If you have a serious scalp condition, it may be best to consult your doctor before trying any home remedies.
How to use a tea rinse
-Brew 4 tea bags of your chosen tea in two cups of water for 1 hour.
-Once tea has cooled, pour into a spray bottle.
-Shampoo your hair as normal, then towel dry hair.
-Spray tea directly onto hair and gently massage into your scalp, covering all hair.
-Place a shower cap over your head for 1 hour.
-Rinse your hair and follow up with a nourishing conditioner.
