Ally asks: I have heard that honey will make your hair shiny and add moisture. And that it is a good alternative to ‘cones in conditioners. Does it really moisturize?
The Right Brain responds:
Ally, we’ve blogged before about the beneficial antibacterial properties of honey for your skin. But what about honey for hair? Good question!
Honey honey
Honey is a humectant, which means that it holds on to water molecules. This is a desirable property in a moisturizer, especially for skin. But unlike skin, hair is not alive and it doesn’t need as much moisture. What it does need is something to smooth the cuticle so the hair feels soft and looks shiny.
Sugar sugar
Unfortunately honey is not a good lubricant, so it doesn’t make hair slippery and smooth. In fact, it’s the opposite of slippery– it’s sticky because it’s basically a sugary solution. (Rub some between your fingers and you’ll see!) So it will not smooth your cuticles or help a comb pass through your hair without damaging it. So any moisture-grabbing benefits that honey might give your hair are off set by it’s stickiness.
The Beauty Brains bottom line:
There are plenty of honey based hair care products on the market but we’ve never seen any that use honey at effective levels for moisturization. Silicones are better for that purpose, even though people think ‘cones are bad for hair.
What do YOU think? Is honey an effective natural shine agent or just more marketing hype?
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Out of curiosity, purely scientific of course
, seeing as surgeons and dermatologists have managed to inject or implant silicones into all sorts of parts of the body, why not a hair cuticle? I know it would be hard but I’m sure there would be some demand among the hollywood elite for weaves made from silicone impregnated human or synthetic hair. Surely someone has already thought of or tried out this hare-brained idea before?
Teddy
I don’t use honey to add shine, but to add moisture. It does help for dry hair, especially if you have long hair as the ends then tend to be dry.
I mix it with vegetal oil and warm the mixture gently to make it melt and be more fluid. I apply it to the ends of my hair and let it on for an hour (or more if I can), before shampooing.
Thanks for this. I had been wondering about honey for hair just the other day. Love the blog. Thanks to the Brains, I fed my hair some coconut oil last night, and it’s beautiful!
Teddy:
Silicones only help on the OUTSIDE of hair by smoothing the hair shaft, and keeping it smooth. They effectively “seal” down your hair cuticles (that’s what theey’re called, right?). They don’t add water or moisturize, but by sealing the cuticle they keep moisture getting out and from your hair drying out. Therefore, injecting silicone would do nothing. Furthermore, your hairs aren’t tubes, and injecting them would “spread” the liquid throughout the hairs. You’d also have to inject every single hair. You’re much better off just washing your hair and using conditioner.
I’m no expert, but I’ve been a loyal reader of the brains since their earrrrrly days, and this is my understanding.
**wouldn’t “spread”
Oh I’m fully aware that it would be complicated and involve every strand. But, although having never had one myself, isn’t getting a full-length weave of long, high-quality hair insanely expensive and time-consuming to begin with? Ex. Beyonce Knowles. Over the past ten years her hair styles, colors, and lengths, have changed dramatically all the time, and I’m sure she has enough dough to pay for a radical new procedure for permanent shiny hair (japanese hair straightening anyone?).
Teddy
Does we really need humectants to our hair? Is there really effective humectants that can moisturize hair for a long time? And my last question is what is the best humectant for the hair if any?
I actually just used a home treatment made of warm olive oil and honey, and it worked very well to moisturize and smooth my hair! I have also heard of people mixing honey with their conditioner to add an extra punch of moisture to their routine. Although you mention its obvious stickiness, it seems to rinse out pretty easily in water IF it is mixed with at least one other ingredient.
Also, I would definitely suggest shampooing after your treatment to avoid residue.
I gave been using honey in my shampoo .My hair used to be dry but now it is soft and straight.my hair colour is black but after using honey my hair colour has changed to brown. Will honey eventually whiten your hairover time.pl advise
Honey is a bleach. It will lighten your hair (remove pigmentation) overtime. People in my home country use it to lighten their skin color.
Honey worked miraculously for me. I have very fine frizzy wavy hair. Wet hair enough to be able to apply honey. Leave honey on for about 20 minutes. Shampoo as usual. The cuticle of my hair has never been smoother! I didn’t even need conditioner THATZ A MIRACLE however will probably use conditioner but very lightly next time.
So I have dry hair and it likes honey as long as I mix it with oil.
I dont belive moisture is offset by the stickyness because it leaves just by rinsing i dont even have to shampoo!(Try not shampooing especially if u hav dry hair and see what happens!)
My hair is long, thick, dry, frizzy, and extremely curly. I have put honey on my damp hair and covered it w/ a shower cap for about an hour.
Then I rinse until it no longer feels sticky (may take awhile) then use Treseme’s Vitamin e Moisture Rich conditioner(the best!)as a shampoo. Then sqeeze out excess water and apply the same conditioner again and left in on for the remainder of my shower.
Doin this has made my hair incredibly shiny, 100% less frizzy, tuned my curly poof into defined waves and made it slippery soft! Also easier to straighten since its healthier. My hair is however slightly lighter which i dont like since i love my dark hair.
Another great honey treatment is diluting one tablespoon and a half of honey into 2liters of water (i use a soda bottle) and using it as rinse after conditioning. Dont rinse afterward! Promise it wont feel sticky n it will make hair SUPER smooth!!!
uhh.. when i mentioned try not shampooing and see what happens i mean it will feel tons better and softer.
Sodium sulfate in shampoos only dry out hair since its technically detergent!
Conditioner does the job aslong as you concentrate in the scalp and rub your scalp in circles. This motion is what truly cleans your hair not he shampoo.
If your hair is excessively dirty try using apple cider vinegar or white vinager.
And if u MUST shampoo i suggest purchasing a sulfate-free shampoo.
I have just tried an experiment with honey after reading how it helps with hair.
I have been trying to find some way to rejuvenate my hair b/c I blow dry and flat iron it alot! which leaves it dry, which leads to split ends. Well I want my hair healthy [again] and I’m trying to grow it back out so I need to correct what damage I have done.
So I took a gold dollar size amount and massaged it throughout my hair and let it set for few min, and then added some conditioner, and let that set for about 5 minutes. and then rinsed it before shampooing and it seems to have my hair noticeably shiner and softer. I would recommend using honey to wash your hair. = D
I have tried yesterday honey melted with some water as a curl ,activator and it does wonders!!!! My curls are really good – just like with a gel. I usually wahs my hair only once a week as I have dry hair. Will the honey be damaged to the hair if left for so long? ( I don’t comb my hair when dry)
Please help!!!!!
I will have to disagree with your post because honey is a humectant and it does great things for dry hair. I use honey once a week and nothing can moisturize my hair like honey does. My mixtures is adding at least 5 tablespoons to a papercup. Warm it up in the microwave for NO more then 30 seconds and some conditioner to it and mix it together. I then wet my hair and then apply the mix and let it penetrate while I finish taking a shower. It rinses out without any sticky residue left on my hair because when you mix honey it basically liquifies.
i may have missed this in these numerous posts, but i really am looking to not shampoo hair at all.
is honey the answer>
i have very thin, dry hair. i am looking for a specific mixture and instruction how to use honey in place of shampoo. not use in et’s say mixed with oil then shampoo’d out. i would love to do it that way, but it just won’t work with my fine hair.
if anyone can haelp i would be sooooo appreciative.
thanks!
I too disagree have to disagree with you- honey does help dry hair. I have somewhat dry and porous hair which sometimes gets a frizzy. I tried this deep conditioning treatment and applied honey mixed with warm olive oil for 1 hr. My hair feels noticeably soft and smooth. But honey being a lightening agent can bleac my hair substantially- so i will have to switch to something else. Any suggestions- natural and readily avialable treatment.
To counter the lighting done by the honey I leave coffee grounds in my hair for about an hour. it also can be used without honey as coffee makes your hair shiny and (for me) removes greasy-ness
Honey is fantastic for hair, especially curly hair. This article seems to have a bias for straight hair – or naturally assumes everyone has straight hair – because the stickiness and hold of honey is not an issue with curly hair. Plus, curly haired women do not have to worry about passing a comb through other than when it is wet. (And by curly hair, I don’t mean barely wavy; I mean actual curls.) Silicones are terrible for your hair. They require harsh sulfates to remove and prevent moisture from getting into the hair shaft. They only give the ILLUSION of moisture and health – honey will actually make your hair healthy. Honey is vastly superior, especially for women who have curls as opposed to limp, straight locks.
I like to add a bit of honey to my conditioners. It makes my hair far softer than using the conditioner by itself. However, I would never (…again ^_^) straight out apply honey to my ‘fro. Sticky mess…
I just conditioned my hair w/ 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil heated up for about 20 seconds in mocrowave added to my conditioner and rub into my scalp and combed it through my hair and left on for about 3 mins. I rinsed until the feel of anything in my hair was out and then shampooed, rinsed and shampooed one more time and rinsed.
I blew dry my hair and it was so manageable and shiny. When I went to flat iron my hair it was beautiful not to mention it made my highlights pop. They looked really good. I would recommend using honey. I already use it on my face as a quick mask and rinse.
hi! my hairs are dry and curly it was straightend twice last 8 months before
now it has become curly again and very week. i have used lots of shampoo
and conditioners and spas also but it did not help.i have lot of hairfall
please help me how to use honey and which treatment is better.
thanks.
Not true… sometimes what should be doesnt happen. Put it on your hair and you will see its awesome..esp if you have damage. Makes it super soft. i let it dry hard and wash out I also mix w/ my conditioner and it rocks..
I heard from somewhere that honey acts like bleach. It will lighten your hair color. Don’t quote me on it but I think that’s true.
….Actually, honey is a wonderful conditioner for the hair. I am a licensed cosmetologist and I use it FAITHFULLY! It works better than any other conditioner that I have ever used. Although it may seem that the honey would become a sticky mess, it actually melts into your hair. The only thing that may become sticky are your hands, but you will soon find out, that once you rinse your hands, they too become soft! Honey is one of natures best beauty products. TRY IT! ITS WONDERFUL! (and for the person that said hair doesn’t need much moisture to grow, you should do some research on the anatomy of hair!)
heyy….i tried out evrything bt now im loosin more hair itll be gud if u giv me sm other advice…
Hi, plz help me to get rid of this problem. I had a long and strong hair before. but now i have a dandruff. And my hair gets weak and short. I did use different shampoos like: Jhonsons Baby Shampoo, Gernier, Head and Shoulder, Penten……How could i get rid of dandruff?? Plz tell me simple things i can do….What i mean is tell me some homemades…..
Using honey by itself is a bad idea! Using honey with natural oils (like avocado and olive oil) and applying to damp hair does WONDERS.
I have noticed that my hair is a little bit lighter in the winter, something it never used to do until the summer. I don’t mind the natural highlights. It must be the honey or weird lighting.
It’s not damaging when honey naturally lightens your hair…is it?!
For dandruff dont use honey, use Apple Cider Vinegar. it does wonders for dandruff. on dry hair pour in or spray in about 1/4 cup or 1/2 a cup (depending on the length of your hair) of apple cider vinegar all over your scalp and hair till it is covered and leave in for about 5 min. wash with normal shampoo and conditioner. if too much dandruff you can supplement your conditioner for apple cider vinegar instead. its a great conditioner despite its liquidy feel.
I would love to know what I need to do for my hair,my hair is dry, thick and long but I have the hardest times trying to find something that will make my hair soft and manegable.Please help
does hot coconut oil and honey help darken the hair
Wow ……I think beautybrains needs to go back to the basics of writing the pros and cons in an equal manner without being biased. Which this little bit is btw.
TSK TSK………..
Honey is the only conditioner I use now. Olive oil is too heavy, joboba doesn’t do anything,and honey just works well by itself. I mix a little water with the honey and microwave for 10 seconds. The honey melts and I pour it over my head. After I do that, my hair feels so soft and shiny already! I can feel/sense the difference. It’s amazing.
I has very smooth hair and some of the hair in top of my head.what is the problem?.can I apply honey to my hair for growth.Is it best method or not?
I would like to start of saying that honey is indeed great for the hair!! Mix 3 tsp. with 2 cups of warm water, refrigerate until cool. Shampoo and condition hair, as usual, rinse conditioner out with cold water and then pour the honey and water all over your hair (do not rinse out). Your hair will be so soft and you’ll be surprised how shiny it is.
P.S. Beyonce doesn’t have a weave, she wears a wig.
It seems as though some of those who have commented know exactly what they’re talking about. I find it difficult to take seriously the unfounded “science” in this article, particularly when it’s peppered with spelling mistakes.
I have curly hair and I apply a hand full of honey all over my hair once a week. I let it sit for about 15 minutes and wash in warm water. It helps my hair look shiny and cuts down on the freeze. I use a lot of flat iron and curling iron on my hair and honey does help repair my hair. I also use it on my face as a mask with some lemon, on my feet on dry spots.
i have a long straight hair,as usual the normal problem is that frizzy thing.for almost a week i myself tried using honey into my conditioner, & i usually added honey into water as my final rinse. it really works, my hair becomes much softer & the glossy effect is really there. really, honey makes wonders to our crowning glory….
by the way is it okey if i will do this routine daily?
Just a tip for people who want to use honey for its moisturising properties, but don’t want the hair lightening properties that come along with it: add something that contains vitamin C to your honey, as vitamin C does something to deplete the honey of its peroxide or something like that. Also, warming the honey before you use it does the same. I found this out on the net while doing research into honey lightening, as I am trying to get back to my natural blonde colour from my currently henna-ed hair, without using harmful chemicals.
Here is a list of ingredients that contain vitamin C http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=83009&postcount=429 if you are looking to use honey without lightening your hair. You’re welcome:) by the way, i have very curly hair and love honey. Also use it as a facial mask to make my skin nice and pale and to get rid of any little red marks left over from pimples. I use it mixed with extra virgin olive oil, witch hazel, distilled water, and cinnamon. Makes my skin look awesome and pores look smaller too. I’m obsessed with making my own beauty products instead of buying that expensive crap from the shops! I’m getting my hair chemically straightened so I need all the hair moisturising i can get. I’m trying to prepare my poor mane for all those harsh chemicals and get it strong and healthy as possible. Sorry hair:(…. Looking forward to living with straight hair for a while though!
This is so comical to me-I love articles that do no research whatsoever into what they’re yapping about. Honey literally dissolves instantly in water. I slather my hair and skin in it every time I bathe and it’s gone about 2-3 seconds after water hits it. “Sticky” doesn’t apply at ALL. It’s like calling concrete “soft and maleable”.
My hair is straight and moderately thick. It’s healthy except for the ends, which I have fried with my various hair color experiments. I’ve noticed without honey, the ends look like they were electrocuted. When I use honey, they’re smooth as silk. The difference is insane. I still use conditioner, though. Can’t lie.
Basically what I do is shampoo, add honey to already wet hair, let sit for 2 minutes or so, rinse, add conditioner, rinse and that’s it. It’s just one extra step and worth it. My hair isn’t sticky, it doesn’t smell like honey, etc. You’d never even know it was there. I also use honey on my face and body for extra moisture retention. Again; it slips right off of you with water. All this author would have to do is try honey on hair to give an objective opinion. Why we’re all reading a blog where the authors don’t even test or know what they’re talking about is pretty sad.
If you want the benefits of honey without the bleaching effect, I heard that molasses is a good substitute (maybe even darkens your hair?). Of course, do plenty of research before trying anything, but you never know for sure till you try it!
I too have been using honey on my hair and I love it. I noticed my hair was getting lighter and had no idea it was a lightening agent though. I like it because I actually did want to dye my hair but didn’t want to use any harsh chemicals. The honey has helped my hair feel softer and it looks shinier. Does anyone ever leave honey in their hair without rinsing it? I’m just wondering. I usually rinse it out, but was wondering if it safe to leave it in also.
I normally have to use mousse on my naturally curly hair after I shampoo and condition it because my hair gets too fluffy(only way I can really describe it)……If I use the honey treatment would I still have to use the mousse?
So i didn’t get my hair chemically straightened (too expensive) but i got the Brazillian hair treatment. It has relaxed my curls and made them much more manageable. It’s great. I’m currently smoothing honey through my slightly damp hair because it has been looking very dull and feeling dry lately. I spend hours sometimes just sitting and searching through my hair for split ends with a pair of scissors. I’m trying to grow it but the ends are bad. Anyway, afterwards i will wash it with this Salon Only sulphate-free peppermint shampoo that my salon gave me (sulphates will ruin the brazilian treatment) and then condition with tresemme (the same stuff Chiqui mentioned in an above comment) and then i let my hair dry with a little olive oil in it. Yay can’t wait to have smooth hair again
Honey <3
i live in the barbados and we use honey as hair moisturizer. Just melt it and add two teaspoons to any hair moisturizer. Not only will it make your hair shiny but it will promote healthy scalp, killing fungus and bacteria which will help your hair to grow quicker. I disagree about honey being damaging to the hair. If you dont believe me do a patch test.
Honey is better than olive oil when melted because it seals in moisture and treats the scalp.
hi,
I have a very oily scalp and extreme dry hair and they also split a lot.
The very next day of my hair wash, my scalp becomes oily and oily dandruff .
But the day when i wash my hair, i rarely find any dandruff.
I put curds, lemon, eggs, banana, aloe vera at times.
Also use conditioner every alternate hair wash. But nothing seem to solve the problem completely. I have medium thickness and wavy kind of a hair.
I dont use hair dryer or ironing machines at all. I dry it naturally.
I love to have a beautiful hair.
Can anyone please suggest me home remedies, and also can u plz tel me clearly how to use honey, without discoloring my hair.
Hey, so I’ve been looking for natural ways to lighten my hair and I found this girl on youtube that said that instead of just sitting outside with lemon juice on her hair (which will totally dry out your hair BTW!) she mixed lemon juice with chamomile tea, apple cider vinegar, and honey, along with her conditioner. She said it really worked well for lightening her hair. I think mixing it with the conditioner is a good idea, because your hair won’t dry out as bad.
Do you think this is a good idea? Let me know! Oh and btw, I’m definitely going to use honey in my hair regime! LOVE IT!
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