Hair Loss Treatment with Honey

by Meenakshi Nagdeve last updated -

Are you worried about losing your hair? Have you tried honey? Hair loss treatments with honey are not new and they have been around since ancient times, but they are not widely known. Honey, in combination with other natural, and in some cases synthetic, ingredients can do miracles in stopping hair loss or baldness.

Honey

Honey, with its strong antioxidant properties, has germicidal and fungicidal properties as well as natural wax, making it great for conditioning hair and stopping hair loss. The question is, how does this happen?

The very idea of massaging your scalp and hair roots with that sticky, sweet and dripping honey may sound scary and messy, but it may be exactly what you need to stop or reduce hair loss. With honey, hair loss can be effectively minimized. Therefore, honey hair loss remedies are good news for those who are balding quickly, or for those beginning to see signs of balding before they have been able to get married or find a girlfriend yet!

Women shouldn’t laugh too much because hair loss and alopecia are not exclusive to men. Women also fall victim to hair loss and when girls go bald, they look far more unusual than bald men. So, honey, hair loss is a horrible thing for you too, but luckily, it can be treated with honey.

Back View of a woman and someone dipping her hair ends in a jar of honey.

Honey can soften your hair and give it a gloss. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Causes of Hair Loss

Out of the many causes of hair loss, microbial activity at hair roots and dryness of the scalp are two of the major causes and use of honey can be very helpful in curing these problems. Acute weakness can also be a major cause, particularly when someone is undergoing prolonged weakness, in cases of injury or disease. In such cases, honey can be useful, but in a slightly different way. We shall try to address each type separately and associate how honey hair loss remedies will work for each.

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. This is because it is left out in the open most of the time, which is unlike most of our other body parts. Hair catches a lot of dust and microbes throughout the course of every day. This dust works as an ideal breeding ground for microbes, dust mites and fungus that do their best to weaken the hair roots. Eventually, hair loss will begin. The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of honey can be very helpful in these cases. All you need to do is, gently massage your scalp with any of the following mixtures.

  • Pure honey by itself.
  • A mixture of Honey and Curd (2 tablespoons each)
  • A mixture of Honey and Lemon Juice (2 tablespoons each)
  • A mixture of Honey and any of the following essential oilsRosemary, Jojoba, Cypress, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedar Wood, Patchouli, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit or Camphor (2 tablespoons of honey and 1-2 drops of any one of the Essential Oils).

At this point, 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 antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

Note: While using essential oils, care must be taken to avoid unwanted ingestion, and they should be tested for any allergic reactions and should be used under the proper guidance of an expert.

Hair Loss due to Dandruff

Whether dandruff, either oily or dry, is one of the causes of hair loss is a matter of debate since different research studies have different opinions. It may or may not be the cause of baldness.

Some researchers are of the opinion that dandruff leads to hair loss, but it is close to normal levels and does not lead to heavy hair loss or baldness. They also believe that dandruff is not a cause of hair loss, but can simply aggravate other causes.

The other group says that dandruff is a major cause of hair loss and that severe dandruff can also lead to baldness. However, without involving ourselves in the debate, we have listed it here because the use of honey for hair loss due to dandruff can be very helpful.

Dandruff is a situation where the skin on your scalp dries out, dies and comes out as flakes. In the process, dandruff sometimes takes away some hair with it, along with their roots. This drying out and death of the skin is caused by various reasons, primarily due to fungi like Malazzesia Globosa and Pityrosporum Ovale (also called Malassezia Furfur).

Other causes include, but are 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, and dust.

In fact, the true or sole cause of dandruff is still not known. However, in nearly all the cases discussed above, the use of honey for hair loss treatment can be helpful.

Honey has antifungal properties that can be helpful in getting rid of dandruff caused by a fungal infection. Furthermore, 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 both the body and the skin. Now, let’s have some practical exercises. You can learn about some special applications and uses of honey to boost the health and longevity of your hair.

Honey – Jojoba Oil

This is a 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). 2-3 tablespoons of each and a few drops of essential oil of Geranium, Sandalwood or Lavender will be satisfactory.
  • 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 and subsequent hair loss.

  • Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of onion juice. The quantity may vary depending on hair length and thickness.
  • Preparation: Mix the two ingredients finely.
  • Application: Massage the scalp and hair roots with this mixture. This will give very good results.

Honey – Lemon Juice

Simply replace onion juice with lemon juice. The rest of the procedure remains the same.

Honey – Hibiscus Leaf Paste

Hibiscus Leaf Paste has been in use to treat dandruff for centuries in India and its neighboring countries. When mixed with honey, hair loss due to dandruff can be effectively managed with this treatment.

  • Ingredients: Paste of Hibiscus (China Rose) leaves, in a sufficient quantity to cover your scalp. 1 tablespoon of honey.
  • Preparation: Mix the two ingredients thoroughly.
  • 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 then wash it off. You will be surprised by the results!

Honey – Fenugreek Seed Paste

This treatment is also in practice in some places in the world.

  • 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: How did you know? Just apply it at the hair roots (scalp), leave it on for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it off.

Hair Loss due to Malnutrition

Hair loss is also commonly caused due to malnutrition and the deficiency of nutrients (certain vitamins and minerals) in the body.

Although it is not an accurate cure for all types of malnutrition or deficiencies, hair loss due to deficiencies can be reduced to some extent with honey, since honey also contains a small proportion of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin B2, vitamin B6, iron, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc. In this situation, honey is not important because of its vitamin and mineral content, since it is in very small amounts.

Honey may function as a carrier for these nutrients which, however small in quantity, can play a 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 absorbed energy. However, it should not be considered for treating other major malnutrition symptoms. Furthermore, honey is not a rich source of vitamins and minerals and should be relied on with that in mind. It is just readily absorbed by the body and can assist in the treatment of hair loss.

Hair Loss due to Weakness

Weakness or an acute shortage of energy can also be a cause for hair loss, although this condition is temporary in most cases.

By using honey, hair loss due to such weakness can be effectively reduced. Such types of hair loss are common in patients suffering from prolonged illness or disease, in pregnancy and lactation, and particularly in people who are undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.

Although honey cannot stop the hair loss due to cancer, it can be used for quick recovery by patients suffering from weakness due to other causes.

Honey serves as a great source of readily absorbed energy and this helps the patients recover from weakness, thereby reducing their hair loss.

Hair Loss due to Aging

Hair loss is a well-known symptom of aging, but it also happens due to a high concentration of free radicals or oxidants in the body. Oddly enough, these free radicals are many times responsible for untimely aging and aggravating the symptoms of aging, including hair loss, wrinkles, loss of vision, and macular degeneration.

Honey is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, and can, therefore, be used to eliminate the free radicals in the body. This, in turn, can reduce the symptoms of aging, slow it down, and reduce the resultant hair loss.

An infographic on information on hair loss treatment with honey

Honey comprises antibacterial & antiseptic qualities, which prevents scalp infections. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Hair Loss due to Hormonal Imbalance

Unfortunately, this type of hair loss cannot be helped with honey. You must try more mainstream medications and treatments to fix the imbalance in the hormones first.

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

  • Manuka Honey is considered best in terms of applications. Try to find this variety if at all possible, since it may be better than other types of honey.
  • Some people are allergic to honey. Be sure to test your allergic reaction before you apply it all over your scalp.
  • Try to use filtered honey, whenever possible. Unfiltered honey may contain dust particles, dead remains of bees, and pollen grains.

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

Availability: Most of the ingredients like honey, lemon juice, jojoba oil, fenugreek seeds, hibiscus leaves, and onions discussed in this article are widely available throughout the world, except in very cold regions where some of these may be impossible to cultivate. Moreover, they are not very costly either. While you will easily find some in your kitchen and others in your garden, the rest should not be hard to find.

Prices: As for prices, the honey and jojoba oil may be the only slightly expensive components of these home remedies for hair loss.

Verdict: Use it. You have nothing to lose. It will benefit you in many ways, but not harm you.

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About the Author

Meenakshi Nagdeve, Co-Founder, Organic Facts is a health and wellness enthusiast and is responsible for managing it. She has completed the Nutrition And Healthy Living Cornell Certificate Program, Cornell University, US. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM Bangalore and B. Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from IIT Bombay. Prior to this, she worked for a few years in IT and Financial services. An ardent follower of naturopathy, she believes in healing with foods. In her free time, she loves to travel and taste different types of teas.

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