I used to wonder how my best friend grew long, luscious and healthy natural hair while I struggled with my mane. I discovered that her secret is in tea rinses!

Using tea rinses in your natural hair regimen has a lot of benefits on hair.

Herbal teas such as black tea, green tea and hibiscus teas are loaded with nutrients that stimulate hair growth, acts as a brightening agent for hair and help relieve an itchy scalp and prevent dandruff.

In this article, we will explore:

• Benefits of tea rinses on hair
• How to prepare tea rinses for hair
• Teas that are good for hair growth and
• How teas such as black tea, green tea, hibiscus tea, chamomile tea, rosemary tea, sage tea, nettle tea, promote hair and scalp health based on their nutritional content.

Are tea rinses good for hair?

Tea has been used for centuries as a natural remedy to promote hair growth. The benefits of tea rinses on hair range from stimulating hair growth, protecting the hair from free radicals that damage the hair and promoting a healthy scalp due to the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of various teas.

Incorporating tea rinses in your hair care routine is one of the best ways to naturally boost healthy hair growth.

Below is a summary of the benefits of tea on hair.

Benefits of tea rinses on hair

1. Promotes healthy hair growth

Several studies have shown that the use of teas such as green tea and black tea leads to a significant increase in hair growth. This is because teas are loaded with nutrients that are essential in promoting hair growth.

Using teas promotes blood circulation the scalp as well as lead prevents common scalp infections which therefore leads increased hair growth.

2. May prevent hair loss

Hair loss is a common condition among both men and women. There is nothing as annoying as experiencing hair fall or hair loss. Dealing with hair loss should begin with identifying the root cause for your hair loss.

Trying remedies such as black tea rinse has yielded results according to various studies conducted. Tea has properties that reduce the hormones responsible for hair loss.

3. Natural hair dye

Using rinses with hibiscus or black tea will result in a temporary change in the hair color.  Using teas is a natural and non-invasive way of brightening up your hair color.

4. Moisturizing the hair

Tea rinses are made from steeping the teas in water. Water is essential is moisturizing the hair, therefore preventing excessive dryness which often leads to hair breakage.

5. Promotes a healthy scalp

Teas are loaded with antiseptic and antibacterial properties therefore are very good for preventing common scalp infections such as dandruff. Applying a tea rinse on your hair will moisturize and sooth the scalp and prevent irritation or inflammation.

How to prepare tea rinses for hair growth

Preparing tea rinses is one of the easiest things to do. Once you decide how to use your tea rinses, preparing the tea rinse is as easy as ABC. Below is a simple process I use to prepare my tea rinses:

1. Put a cup of water in a pot and bring it to a boil
2. Add a tablespoon of the tea you intend to use (it can be one or a mixture) to the hot water. Steep them for 5-15 minutes.
3. Strain the tea and let it cool before using it on your hair

How to use tea rinses for hair growth

There are various ways to incorporate tea rinses in your hair regimen. Below are two popular ways tea rinses are used to promote hair growth.

a) As a final rinse after washing your hair. This method is commonly used. In this case, the rinse is applied, let to sit for some 20-30 minutes then rinsed or it can be left in.

b) From your spray bottle as a moisturizer. Another popular way to use tea rinses is to spray it on your hair overnight to moisturize the hair. The tea can be left in or washed off the next day.

The best teas for hair growth

In this section we will cover one of the most popular questions on using teas to promote hair growth:

What kind of tea is good for hair growth?

The best teas to use on your hair are those loaded with essential nutrients for hair growth. Such teas include Black tea, Green tea, Hibiscus tea, Chamomile tea, Sage tea among other.

With so many options available, it’s very easy to get confused on where to start. I will cover 10 popular and effective teas that you can try today. You may need to experiment by trying each of the teas individually or creating different blends to find the perfect one for your hair.

Black Tea

Black tea is among the most consumed beverages in the world. This tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves through a fermention and oxidization process to create its color and flavor.

Black tea offers an impressive nutrient supply on hair follicles.

It contains caffeine and is rich in tannins such as catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins. These compounds are critical in maintaining healthy hair.

Black tea provides a substantial amount of nourishing minerals sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous which promote healthy hair growth.

Black tea is also a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which help eradicate dryness of the scalp.

Benefits of Black Tea on Hair

1. Black tea inhibits hair loss and promotes hair growth

Caffeine in black tea counteracts the effects of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the main hormone responsible for hair loss. Caffeine also stimulates hair follicles to grow.

One study that looked at the effects of black tea on hair showed that in vitro applications in humans lead to hair growth. (1)

2. Protects hair from harmful UV rays

Polyphenols in black tea (catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins) have anti-oxidative properties. (2) This enables it to protect your hair from harmful UV rays and excess chemicals which may cause inflammation.

3. Black tea can be used as a natural dye

Among the different types of teas available, black tea has the highest content of naturally occurring tannins. When black tea is used on hair, the tannins impart color on grey hair making them darken. This change is evident after repeated use.

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus Tea is a popular natural remedy for promoting healthy hair growth.

Aside from keeping the hibiscus as an ornament in your garden, you can also utilize the leaves and flowers in your hair care regimen. This perennial shrub is rich source of vitamin C, amino acids, and mucilage.

Benefits of Hibiscus on Hair

1.  Hibiscus promotes hair growth

Hibiscus has naturally occurring amino acids which help in the production of keratin.

This is a structural protein that is a building block of hair. Once it’s produced, hair grows thicker and longer. Your hair strands also become more resistant to breakage. Hibiscus is able to stimulate hair growth from dormant follicles and bald patches.

2. Prevents pre-mature greying of hair

Hibiscus contains antioxidants and vitamins which aid in the production of melanin, a pigment that give hair its natural color. When used on hair it imparts color on it. It can therefore be used to mask grey hair.

3. Acts as a natural hair conditioner

Hibiscus is rich in mucilage, a natural hair conditioner. It nourishes and helps your hair strands seal its naturally occurring moisture. Your hair ends up being soft with its natural sheen enhanced.

4. Soothes an itching scalp

Hibiscus has astringent properties controlling oil secretion from the sebaceous glands. This property makes it able to relieve scalp irritation that come as a result of low or high production of sebum.

Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages around the globe. Similar to black tea, green tea is also made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. This tea is produced by freshly drying the leaves dried then processed prior to oxidation and fermentation.

There have been multiple claims that it helps in enhancing the health of hair making it a popular ingredient in the production of hair care products.

Green tea is an excellent source of epillogallocatechin galllate (EGCG). This compound belongs to a group of compounds known as catechins. This compound contributes  to the health benefits associated with green tea-including the benefits it offers on hair.

Green tea is a source of potassium, calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. It also has traces of manganese, zinc, and copper.

Benefits of Green Tea on Hair

1. Improves blood circulation increasing nutrient and oxygen supply to the scalp

In a study conducted on 60 females for 12weeks, the consumption of green tea improved blood flow and nutrient delivery.

Hair requires nutrients and oxygen to grow. Poor blood flow to the scalp can lead to hair loss. Therefore using green tea on the scalp will ensure increased nutrients supply hence promoting hair growth.

2.  Protects hair from harmful UV rays

The polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate in green tea have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  This enables it to protect your hair and scalp from harmful UV radiation and excess chemicals which might cause inflammation.

3. Stimulates healthy hair growth

An experimental study carried out on three participants with alopecia showed that the use of green tea extracts on their scalps led to a significant increase in hair growth.

4. May reduces hair loss

Hair loss is a condition that affects both men and women all over the world. It’s caused by stress, diet, or hormonal changes. Excessive hair loss (androgenic alopecia), comes as a result of hormonal imbalance and is a frequent occurrence to men and women above 50 years.

A research found epigallocatechin gallate to inhibit effectiveness of the hormones that cause hair loss. In a study epigallocatechin gallate was found to reduce hair loss by prolonging the anagen phase and shortening the telogen phase.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile (Matricaria Recutita) is a herb that produces daisy-like flowers. Chamomile tea is made using dried chamomile flowers. Chamomile tea is a caffeine-free alternative to black tea and green tea. It has been traditionally used as a health remedy. Besides this, it also offers several benefits on hair.

Nutritional composition includes:

• Volatile oils -chamazulene, farnesene, bisabolol
• Flavonoids – apigenin, quercetin and azulene.

Benefits of Chamomile on Hair

1. Prevents dandruff

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which make it a natural remedy for the treatment of dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis that may be present on the scalp. Good health of scalp results in an improved hair growth rate.

2. Naturally brightens hair

Chamomile tea rinse has been used as a natural hair lightener and especially for blonde hair.Quercetin in chamomile works by inhibiting tyrosinase- an enzyme that limits melanin production. Melanin is the black pigment that gives color to skin and hair. Apigenin combination with azulene brightens your hair’s hue.

3. Protects the hair from damage causing free radicals

Chamomile contains antioxidants such as apigenin that protect the scalp against free radical damage.

Rosemary Tea

Rosemary is a fragrant herb native to the Mediterranean region. Not only does rosemary taste good but it’s also a good source of healthy compounds for the hair and scalp.

Benefits of Rosemary Tea on Hair

Rosemary constitutes of polyphenolic compounds beneficial for hair.

1. The rosmarnic acid and carnosic acid present in rosemary contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity. Once used on the hair, scalp inflammation and hair damage by free radicals become a thing of the past.
2. Rosemary also has anti-microbial properties thus is able to wade off infections present on the scalp.
3. The rosemary tea rinse contains ursolic acid which improves blood flow in the scalp. Sufficient oxygen and nutrient supply reaches the hair follicles thus promoting hair growth.
4. Based on anecdotal evidence, consistent use of rosemary tea rinse on hair slows the appearance of grey hair, and if  present, darkens it.

Sage Tea Rinse

Sage, Salvia officinalis,  is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. There are many species of the herb cultivated all around the world. For centuries, sage has gained use as a culinary and medicinal ingredient. It offers a ton of benefits to hair hence considered as great natural remedy for promoting health hair growth.

Benefits of Sage on Hair

1. Natural oils present in sage -thujone, cineole, borneol, linalool, camphor, and pinene- strengthen your hair roots and promote hair growth.
2. It also contains flavonoids and phenolic compounds i.e. usolic acid, carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, and tannin.
3. Carnosic acids and rosmarinic acid present in sage have strong antioxidant properties. Sage is able to relieve your hair and scalp off oxidative stress thus inhibiting premature greying of hair.
4. Ursolic acid contributes to the anti-inflammatory activities of sage.
5. The application of sage on your hair and scalp aids in relieving your scalp off inflammation and other unhealthy scalp conditions.
6. Research on sage has found that it inhibits a wide range of bacteria. Hence it can heal and prevent bacterial infections.
7. Naturally occurring pigments such as tannins and copper present in sage tea impart color on grey strands. Color difference is gradual it becomes noticeable after sage tea has been used over and over again.

Nettle Tea Rinse

stinging nettle or Urtica dioica has been used in herbal medicine since ancient times. It’s native to North America, Europe, and Asia.

Its leaves have hair-like structures that sting and produce itching, redness, and swelling upon contact. Once processed, frozen dried or cooked, it can be safely consumed and used as a natural hair remedy.

Read this article to learn more about the use and benefits of nettle in hair.

Below is the nutritional composition of nettle on hair:

• It contains vitamins A, C, and K.
• It’s rich in minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, silica, phosphorus, sodium, sulphur and iodine.
• Nettle also contains omega 3 fatty acids and  all essential fatty acids.
• It has the highest amount of chlorophyll in the plant kingdom.
• It’s a good source of tannins and beta carotene.

Benefits of Nettle Tea on Hair

1. Nettle reduces scalp inflammation

Inflammation is a natural process that is aimed at healing and protecting your body against infections.

Inflammation becomes harmful when it gets chronic. Chronic inflammation of the scalp may result in massive hair loss. In an animal study Nettle was found to reduce inflammatory hormone (NF-kB) by interfering with its production.

2. Neutralizes free radicals

Free radicals can form on the hair and scalp when it’s exposed to harmful UV rays and chemicals.

Due to their instability, free radicals seek to attack stable molecules and to draw electrons from them. This imposes a danger to living cells-including hair and scalp cells- and can lead to hair damage.

Antioxidants help to inhibit damage by the free radicals by donating electrons to them. Nettle is composed of flavonoids and polyphenols compounds which have antioxidant activity. This study proves neetle has a high antioxidant concentration.

3. Blocks formation of DHT

A high concentration of DHT causes baldness in both males and females. Studies proves that nettle extract inhibits 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT) thus blocking the formation of DHT.          

Witch Hazel Tea

Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana is a shrub that is native to North America. Witch hazel tea is made from the leaves or bark of the witch hazel plant.

Benefits of Witch Hazel on Hair

Witch Hazel contains saponins and flavonoids. These compounds help promote hair growth.

1. It provides a source of choline to your hair and scalp. Lack of choline causes hair thinning that would eventually lead to hair loss.
2. Witch hazel contains gallic acid and tannins which have anti-inflammatory properties.
3. This makes it useful as a treatment for inflammatory-related issues such as dandruff, psoriasis, and eczema. It reduces irritation on the hair follicles which can inhibit their growth.
4. Studies that have been conducted show that witch hazel can soothe irritated skin by reducing inflammation. It contains antioxidants which neutralize free radicals that may be present on the scalp.
5. Witch hazel helps increase blood circulation within the scalp. Hair loss is greatly reduced as the hair follicles are able to grasp firmly on the scalp.
6. It has natural astringent properties making it able to stabilize oiliness of the scalp without stripping moisture.

Parsley Tea

Parsley tea is made by steeping fresh or dried parsley in a cup of hot water.

Benefits of Parsley tea on Hair

1. Parsley is rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C. These vitamins all together help promote hair growth.
2. Parsley contains antioxidants such as luteolin, and vitamin C which prevents radical-induced hair and scalp damage by absorbing them.
3. Parsley is a great source of calcium, potassium and zinc. These minerals are good for maintaining your hair’s health.
4. Parsley is used to darken black hair. The herb contains copper, a major component in the production of melanin. This makes parsley an effective ingredient in the retention of natural hair color.
5. Parsley tea is majorly known for reducing the amount of hair loss.
6. Parsley also constitutes of anti-inflammatory properties.

Lavender Tea

Lavender tea is made by brewing the purple buds of Lavandula angustifolia plant in hot water. This tea is thought to bear a lot of benefits when externally applied to hair.

Here are possible benefits of lavender tea when used as a hair rinse:

1. It has an anti-inflammatory activity which makes it able to soothe an irritated scalp i.e. psoriasis.
2. Lavender oils have antimicrobial properties thus it can effectively fight infections.
3. It stimulates hair growth by promoting the synthesis of collagen.
4. Lavender hair rinse moisturizes dry hair stands rejuvenate them.
5. Caffeic acid in lavender oil contributes to its anti-oxidative activity.

Incorporating tea rinses in your hair care routine is an easy and natural way to boost the health of your hair. If you have tried any of the above tea rinses, we would love to hear about what you liked and disliked about the rinse. Let us know in the comments below.

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