April

09

How Honey Helps Hair

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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Filed under Conditioners, Natural, Questions.

There has been 9 comments. Leave a comment

9 Responses to “How Honey Helps Hair”

1. teddyp Says:

   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

2. Pluche Says:

   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.

3. Kelly Says:

   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!

4. sofi Says:

   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.

5. sofi Says:

   **wouldn’t “spread”

6. teddyp Says:

   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

7. Dreniva Says:

   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?

8. Jen Says:

   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.

9. Fatima Says:

   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

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