11 Benefits of Honey For Hair

Did you know that honey isn’t just for soothing sore throats and sweetening tea? Using honey for hair comes with a host of benefits. 

This sweet goop created by bees can moisturize, improve scalp health, prevent breakage, and more.

Below, we cover the benefits of honey for hair, along with how to apply it correctly — because let’s face it, nobody wants to end up with a sticky mess on their hands (or heads!).

Is honey good for your hair? According to some research, this sweet condiment has several potential hair benefits. Let’s break them down.

1. Natural Moisturizer

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it can pull moisture from the air and surrounding environment into your skin and hair and retain it. This helps hydrate hair, leaving it soft and manageable.

2. Scalp Health Booster

Honey is a natural wound healer. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may help calm scalp irritation, reduce dandruff, ease itching, and limit inflammation due to scalp conditions like tinea capitis (AKA scalp ringworm), psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis.

3. Promotes Hair Growth

Some research suggests that applying honey to the skin may help stimulate new cell growth. 

Since your scalp is covered in skin cells, honey could potentially “wake up” dormant hair follicles and promote stronger, healthier hair growth. Though more research is needed to determine whether honey could help combat hair loss.

4. Reduces Hair Breakage

Honey’s moisturizing properties can help strengthen hair strands, making them less prone to breakage and split ends. Healthier, stronger hair means less damage — and more growth.

5. Acts As a Natural Conditioner

Honey is a natural emollient, which means it can soften hair and skin. In hair masks or treatments, honey doubles as a conditioner, leaving your locks silky and smooth. 

6. Rich in Antioxidants

Honey is rich in antioxidants that protect your scalp and hair from free radical damage caused by pollution and UV rays — key culprits behind weakened hair. 

A 2021 study found that applying antioxidants directly to the scalp might help reduce hair shedding and improve the overall condition of the scalp.

7. Helps Repair Damaged Hair

The nutrients in honey can help repair damaged hair, improving its texture and elasticity. 

Honey is low in protein (about 0.1 grams (g) per tablespoon), but even that small amount supports keratin production, helping to restore brittle hair.

9. Improves Shine

Honey infuses hair with moisture, antioxidants, and a little dose of protein — all of this helps to enhance your hair’s natural shine.

10. Can Naturally Lighten Hair

Want to brighten your hair without bleach or dye? Honey can help. 

It contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase, which breaks down natural sugars to produce hydrogen peroxide — a natural lightener. 

Pro tip: If you’re looking to lighten your strands, raw honey works best. 

11. Natural Hair Remover

You probably wouldn’t use honey to remove the hair on your head. But for unwanted facial or body hair it’s a natural solution. 

Simply mix honey with a bit of lemon juice, apply it to your skin, leave it on for 20 minutes, then wipe it off. 

Here are a few ways to incorporate honey into your haircare routine:

• Make a DIY honey scalp treatment. Mix honey with a bit of water to thin it out and reduce stickiness. Then, apply the treatment to your scalp and all the way down to the ends of your hair. Leave the treatment on for about 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

• Mix with your shampoo and conditioner. Add a few drops of honey to your shampoo or conditioner, then shampoo or condition as you usually would. You might need to rinse your hair twice to completely remove the honey.

• Make a honey hair mask. To make a DIY hair mask, mix honey with equal parts hair oil (like argan or coconut oil). Then apply the mix liberally to the ends of your hair and your scalp. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly so the oil doesn’t leave greasy residue behind.

Who should use honey for hair? 

Honey works for all hair types, but its naturally hydrating and strengthening properties make it especially beneficial for dry or damaged hair.

Should anyone not use honey for hair?

If you’re allergic to honey or bee pollen you should avoid honey for hair. If you’ve never used honey topically, you may want to consider doing a patch test before applying it to your scalp.

How can I use honey to lighten my hair?

When lightening your hair with honey, first mix equal parts honey and water. Apply to your hair in sections — it can help to use a paintbrush for this. Leave on for an hour or overnight, then rinse thoroughly. You won’t see dramatic results, but you can do this treatment multiple times and hair should get progressively lighter.

Are there side effects of honey on hair?

Honey for hair is generally safe for most people. But you should avoid using honey on your scalp or hair if you have an allergy to honey or bee pollen.

What does honey do for hair? Honey is a natural, hair-friendly ingredient that you can use to boost hair health and appearance. 

Here’s a recap of honey benefits for hair:

• Honey has multiple hair benefits. Honey hydrates, strengthens, and repairs hair while promoting scalp health, enhancing shine, and even naturally lightening hair.

• You can use it in a few ways. This includes DIY masks, deep conditioning treatments, or scalp treatments. You can also mix honey with your shampoo.

• It’s all-natural. Honey is a natural ingredient that supports healthier hair for all hair types, especially if you have damaged or dry hair.

To learn more about how to revive your hair, check out our guides on how to fix dry or damaged hair and home remedies for dandruff. 

And if you’re interested in other natural ingredients for hair care, check out our guides to aloe vera for hair loss and olive oil for hair growth.