Worried about hair loss? Have you tried honey? Hair loss treatments with honey are not new and they have been around for quite a long time, but they are not widely known. Honey, in combination with other natural (in some cases, synthetic too) ingredients can do miracle in stopping hair loss or baldness. Honey, with its strong anti oxidants, germicidal & fungicidal properties and natural wax in it, is really great in conditioning hair and stopping hair fall. Let us see how honey does it.

The very idea of massaging your scalp and hair roots with that sticky, sweet and dripping honey may sound scary and messy, but it is exactly what you need to stop or lessen hair loss. With honey, hair loss can be effectively minimized. So, honey hair loss remedies are good news for those who are balding fast and more so for those who are balding and not yet married or could not manage a girlfriend. Girls, you need not laugh at that, for let me tell you that it is not that men alone suffer from hair loss, girls also fall victim to hair loss and when girls go bald, they look far worse than bald men do. So honey, hair loss is a horrible thing and it can be treated with honey.

Let’s have a look what we have here.

Causes of Hair Loss: Out of the many causes of hair loss, microbial activity at hair roots and dryness of scalp are two major causes and use of honey can be very helpful in curing these. Acute weakness can also be a major cause, particularly when somebody is undergoing prolonged weakness. In such cases too, honey can be useful, but in a bit different way. We shall try to address each type separately and associate how honey hair loss remedies will work there.

• Hair Loss due to Microbial Activity at Hair Roots: While hair is one of the most beautiful parts of our personality, it is also one of the dirtiest parts. This is because it is left open most of the time (unlike our other body parts) and catches a lot of dust and microbes throughout the day. Now, this dust works as the breeding ground for microbes, dust mites and particularly fungus that work their best to weaken the hair roots. Eventually hair falls. The anti microbial and anti fungal properties of honey can be very helpful here. All you need to do is to gently massage your scalp with any of the following;
  • Pure honey alone.
  • A mixture of Honey and Curd (2 tablespoon each)
  • A mixture of Honey and Lemon Juice (2 tablespoon each)
  • A mixture of Honey and any of the following essential oils viz. Rosemary, Jojoba, Cypress, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedar Wood, Patchouli, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit or Camphor (2 tablespoon or honey and 1-2 drops of any one of the Essential Oils). Here, let me add that essential oils of Rosemary, Tea Tree and Camphor work best in stopping hair loss by eliminating microbial activity in the scalp, due to their strong anti microbial and anti fungal properties.
    Note: While using essential oils, care must be taken to avoid unwanted ingestion (particularly when using toxic ones), should be tasted for allergy and should be used under proper guidance from an expert.
• Hair Loss due to Dandruff: Whether or not dandruff, oily or dry, is one of the causes of hair loss, is a matter of debate as different researchers have different opinion. It may or may not be the cause of baldness. Some researchers are of the opinion that although dandruff leads to some hair fall, it is close to normal and does not lead to heavy hair loss or baldness. They also believe that dandruff is not a cause of hair loss, but can aggravate it. The other group says that dandruff is a major cause of hair loss and severe dandruff can also lead to baldness. However, without involving ourselves in the debate, we have listed it here because use of honey in hair loss due to dandruff can be helpful. Dandruff is a situation where skin on your scalp, dries out, dies and comes out as flakes very fast and in the process, sometimes takes away some hair with it, along with their roots. This drying out and dieing of skin is caused due to various reasons, primarily due to fungi like Malazzesia Globosa and Pityrosporum Ovale (also called Malazzesia Furfur), and others including but not limited to lack of moisture, lack of skin nourishment, malnutrition, Seborrheic Dermatitis, stress & anxiety, lack of rest, over exercise, hormonal malfunction, prolonged exposure to adverse weather conditions & dust and many more. In fact, the true or sole cause of dandruff is still not known or may be that all the causes are not listed. But, in nearly all the causes discussed above, use of honey for hair loss treatment can be helpful. Honey has anti fungal properties which can be helpful for treating dandruff due to fungus. Further, the natural wax in it and its moisturizing properties can help treat dandruff due to dryness and exposure to adverse weather. Finally, even if the dandruff is due to lack of skin nourishment, honey can be helpful here too as it is very nourishing for the body and the skin. Anyway, enough of lecture! Let’s have some practical exercises. We shall prepare a few applications with honey for hair loss.
  • Honey – Jojoba Oil – Essential Oil Dandruff Treatment cum Conditioner: This is great combo pack containing a conditioner as well as a dandruff treatment. Here is how you make it;
    • Ingredients: Honey & Jojoba Oil in nearly equal quantities (the quantity depends on thickness and length of hair), say 2-3 tablespoons of each and a few drops of essential oil of Geranium, Sandalwood or Lavender.
    • Preparation: Mix the ingredients thoroughly into a uniform mixture.
    • Application: Massage your hair roots or scalp with this mixture, using your fingers. Avoid vigorous rubbing.
  • Honey – Onion Juice: This is a very popular remedy for dandruff.
    • Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of onion juice. The quantity may vary depending on hair length, thickness etc.
    • Preparation: Mix the two ingredients finely.
    • Application: Massage the scalp and hair roots with this mixture. This gives good results.
  • Honey – Lemon Juice: Same as above. Just replace onion juice with lemon juice.
  • Honey – Hibiscus Leaf Paste: Hibiscus Leaf Paste has been in use to treat dandruff for centuries in India and its neighbouring countries. When mixed with honey, hair loss due to dandruff can be effectively managed with this.
    • Ingredients: Paste of Hibiscus (China Rose) leaves, sufficient to cover your scalp. 1 tablespoon of honey.
    • Preparation: Mix well the two ingredients.
    • Application: It is not very hard to guess. All you have to do is to apply it all over the scalp, leave it for 10-15 minutes and wash off. You will be astonished to see the results.
  • Honey – Fenugreek Seed Paste: This treatment is also in practice in some places. So, I thought to list it too here.
    • Ingredients: Two Tablespoons of Fenugreek seeds and one tablespoon of honey.
    • Preparation: Soak the fenugreek seeds for about twelve hours (overnight) and grind them to a paste. Mix it well with honey.
    • Application: You guessed it right. Just apply it at hair roots (scalp), leave for 10-15 minutes and wash off.
• Hair Loss due to Malnutrition: Hair loss is also caused due to malnutrition and deficiency of nutrients (certain vitamins and minerals) in the body. Although it is not an accurate cure for all types of malnutrition or deficiencies, but with honey, hair loss due to deficiencies can be reduced to some extent, as honey also contains small amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B2, vitamin B6, iron, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. Here, honey is not important because of its vitamin and mineral content (as they are in very small amounts), but rather due to the fact that since honey is absorbed very well in the body, it may function as a carrier of these nutrients which, however small in quantity, can play significant role in treating malnutrition due to timely and regular absorption.

Note: Honey can only be useful in treating energy malnutrition, as it is a rich source of readily absorbable energy. But it should not be considered for treating other major malnutrition. Further, honey is not a rich source or vitamins and minerals and should be used accordingly. It is just readily absorbed by the body and hence can assist in treatments.

• Hair Loss due to Weakness: Weakness or acute shortage of energy can also be a cause for hair loss (although temporary in most cases) and using honey, hair loss due to such weakness can be effectively reduced. Such type of hair loss is common in patients suffering from prolonged illness or disease; in pregnancy and lactation and particularly in those who are undergoing Chemotherapy for treatment of cancer. Although honey cannot stop the hair loss due to cancer, but it can be used for quick recovery of the patients from weakness due to few other causes. Honey serves as a great source of readily absorbable energy and this helps the patients recover from weakness, thereby reducing the hair loss.

• Hair Loss due to Ageing and action of Free Radicals (Oxidants): Hair loss is a well known symptom of ageing and it also happens due to higher concentration of free radicals or oxidants in the body. Peculiarly, these free radicals are many a time responsible for untimely ageing and aggravating the symptoms of ageing, including hair loss, wrinkles, loss of vision, macular degeneration etc. Honey is rich in antioxidants (including some vitamin C) and thereby can be used to eliminate the free radicals in the body. This in turn, can reduce the symptoms of ageing, slow it down and reduce the resultant hair loss.

• Hair Loss due to Hormonal Imbalance: I am sorry, but this type of hair loss cannot be helped with honey.

General Guidelines: Here are some general guidelines regarding use of honey to prevent or reduce hair loss.

• Manuka Honey is considered best in terms of applications, for reasons unknown to me till now. Anyway, try to find it. It may be better than other types of honey.

• Some people are allergic towards honey. So, test this before you apply it on scalp.

• Try to use filtered honey, as far as possible. Unfiltered honey may contain dust particles, dead remains of bees, pollen grains etc.

Disclaimer: Use of honey should not be considered as an alternative or replacement for the conventional treatment of the conditions above, that a person is already undergoing. Honey is not meant for therapeutic uses. It is just an assistance to reduce hair fall and may not be the sole treatment. Hair loss is caused due to scores of reasons and honey may not be effective in all the cases. Honey is neither a treatment for malnutrition or deficiencies. It is just a good source of energy. It should neither be treated as a source of vitamins or minerals in case of deficiencies, as they are present in very-very small quantities in honey. It is good only when no other good source of nutrition is around. It can just add to the benefits of the supplements one already taking. I just mean to say that with honey, hair loss can be reduced or treatment of hair loss can be benefited. Honey is not a treatment or cure for hair loss.

Availability: Most of the ingredients like honey, lemon juice, jojoba oil, fenugreek seeds, hibiscus leaves, onion etc. discussed in this article are pretty well available worldwide, except in very cold regions where some of these may not be. Moreover, they are not very costly affairs either. While you will easily find some in your kitchen and some in your backyard garden, the rest should not be far away.

Prices: About prices, it is only the honey and jojoba oil that may be a bit costly among all the ingredients.

Verdict: Use it. There is nothing to lose either. It will benefit you all the way, but not harm you. All the best!

This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee

Source of photo: nikonvscanon (honeybees)