How To Use Honey for Skin and Hair

There are many products out there that promise to help your hair grow faster, stronger and shinier. There are just as many products promising that healthy skin glow and clear skin. However, most of those products are expensive and stop working after some time. Plus, they usually contain chemicals we don’t want on our skin.

 

But there is one product, completely natural and healthy, with zero chemicals that can help both our skin, hair and overall health – it’s called honey.

 

Raw, organic, Manuka or regular, honey comes in various densities and enhanced benefits. But no matter which type you choose, you can rely on it to provide you with full support when it comes to beauty.

 

There are many testimonials all over the web on what honey did for different people. But what can honey really do?

 

Find out more by reading on.

 

Benefits of honey on skin

You have probably tried dozens of DIY home skin treatments and failed on most of them. DIY bloggers know how to make these things work – but most of the time, people who are not very good at making things will fail when it comes to DIY concoctions, creams, and lotions.

 

However, homemade skin care doesn’t have to be so complicated – in fact, one product alone will usually do. The old-fashioned honey, that is.

 

Simple, raw honey has antibacterial properties that make it wonderful for your skin – especially if you have acne or other skin issues. It’s also full of good antioxidants. It can help you glow again.

 

Here is what honey can help with:

 

Acne – As mentioned, honey has natural antibacterial properties which make it a great acne treatment.

 

Aging skin – Antioxidants we mentioned are excellent at removing or reducing the appearance of wrinkles and pores, as well as preventing fast aging of the skin.

 

Better complexion – Honey can also moisturise and soothe irritated skin which help your face look better and brighter.

 

Cleaning pores – Honey can open up your pores and make them easy to clean out.

 

There are several simple masks you can try with honey, to achieve the results stated above.

 

For one, you can use simple raw honey as a one-ingredient mask. A thin layer to a slightly wet skin will do. Keep it on for half an hour and rinse it off. This is great for cleaning the pores and moisturizing dry and irritated skin.

 

You can also use it for unexpected zits or outbreaks. Instead of using your regular cream, use a swab of honey on the spot where the zit appeared. Apply it lightly and in a very small amount so that you can sleep with it. When you wake up, you’ll see the change in the appearance of your zits. If you are looking for something with more ingredients, you can always use tea tree oil and lavender oil and mix it all together.

 

Honey can also serve as a cleanser since it’s great at removing makeup. Mix it with a bit of coconut oil and massage it into your face. This loosens up the makeup and moisturizes your skin.

 

Honey can be an exfoliator as well. Make it by mixing equal parts honey and baking soda. Baking soda will work as an exfoliator while honey will soothe the skin. You can use it all over your body since there are no harmful chemicals.

 

You can also have a honey bath. Add two cups of honey to your bath and soak for 15 minutes. Then add baking soda (one cup) and soak for 15 more minutes. Baking soda will gently exfoliate your skin and honey will make it smooth.

 

Benefits of honey on hair

Honey is made mostly of fructose and glucose with minerals and vitamins which feed the body. It’s completely natural and has an ability to retain water. Many products contain honey – both hair and skin products – because honey has moisturizing effect and can prevent tangling of the hair and breakage.

 

You can use it in many different ways for your hair. Here are some of the benefits:

 

Split ends – Split ends are a famous problem for most people. As seasons change and our hair is exposed to various natural and artificial factors, hair ends dry and become brittle, breaking on the way. This makes them look yellow, dry and basically really bad. To help your ends stay healthy for longer after cutting, you can massage a bit of raw honey into them – and even all over your hair. Leave it on for half an hour and rinse it off.

 

Colored hair – Colored hair can look great for a week or two. But all of those chemicals damage our hair. It breaks and becomes dry – the color also starts slipping away, wash after wash. Well, honey can help with all of this too. Just use raw or regular honey all over your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Keep in mind that honey can lighten hair, so if your hair is very dark and you want it to stay that way, don’t use honey. On the bright side, if your new hair color didn’t turn out how you wanted it to, you can use honey to improve that.

 

Hair loss – Hair loss is another major issue, especially for older women, women after giving birth and women with various hormonal issues. No one wants to lose their hair – it can be terrifying. So, if you want to stop the hair loss, use a bit of honey, apply it on your scalp and leave it on for 15 minutes. This will help your scalp stay nourished. Be careful, though, honey can be sticky so be gentle with your head.

 

Moisturizer – Is your hair looking dry? Are you struggling with dandruff? Well, honey can help. After you wash your hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner, use some honey to wash your hair again. To fight off some of the stickiness, you can mix it with some water. You will see almost instant results in your hair looking better and less dandruff.

 

Detangling – Tangles usually happens with thin, dry or damaged hair. So, honey being the natural moisturizer, can help. Mix it with a bit of olive oil and a mild shampoo, wash your hair with it and then rinse. Dry your hair and see the amazing results it creates.

 

Shampoo and conditioner – If you need a quicker alternative to any of these leave-in methods due to a busy schedule, add some honey to your regular shampoo and conditioner. It can have all of these benefits but it will take a bit longer to see full results.

 

Can we use honey for hair growth?

While honey is a natural superfood, it has benefits beyond the kitchen. Honey is especially good in various beauty treatments. And even though there is no scientific evidence or proof that honey supports faster hair growth, you can use it with a bit of cinnamon and olive oil to see great results. This is an old, folk medicine for hair loss.

 

Add an egg to that mixture and see your hair flourish.

 

Numerous testimonials support this recipe and state that it really does help your hair grow faster.

 

Now, honey doesn’t have the ability to magically grow your hair, but it does have nourishing compounds that can add vitamins and minerals your hair might be lacking. Once you put it on, those elements seep into your skin and follicle, making it healthier and thus, prepared to grow faster.

 

This hair mask can be used daily since it has no harming chemicals. At the very least, you will prevent split ends and make your hair shinier. You can also apply just honey to your hair.

 

Does honey lighten hair?

 

According to many online communities dedicated to hair – and thousands of positive testimonials – honey does, in fact, make your hair lighter.

 

Add it to your conditioner or shampoo – or both – to make your hair look better and stronger. It’s a slow and natural process, but it does work.

 

Why does this work?

 

Well, honey has a mild, natural hydrogen peroxide in it which is usually used in hair coloring, especially bleaching. There is also iron which oxidizes the hair and helps with the lightening.

 

Depending on how well your hair responds to honey, you can get different results. Some see a much lighter hair while some notice only small results.

 

Leave it in for a bit – the longer it’s on, the better – and add a bit of peroxide if you want quicker results.

 

How does honey help your face?

Raw honey has beneficial, bacteria-fighting components for your skin. You can use it for eczema, psoriasis or even candida.

 

It balances the bacteria on your skin and you can use it for acne as well. In fact, it can be even more effective than some products, especially Manuka honey.

 

Honey helps your skin heal faster, reduces inflammation or swelling. It’s a gentle exfoliator as well, so the dry, dull skin will go away too.

 

In any case, you can apply it as a mask, leave it in for at least half an hour and then rinse it. You can treat your spots with it as well. Honey helps lighten your dark areas such as the skin under your eyes.

 

Honey has numerous benefits for both hair and skin. You can use it as much as you want because it has no chemicals. Keep in mind that it can cause some allergies, especially if you already have an allergy to pollen or bee venom, so ask your doctor about safety of honey in that case.

 

References

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/honey-for-face

 

https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/hair_color/honey-hair-lightening-fact-or-fiction

 

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-use-honey-for-hair-growth/