Is black tea good for your hair? Find out now
Drinking black tea is a common routine to awaken the mind in the early morning and reap the most needed energy to get going with a long day.
Besides, drinking black tea is also highly praised for its exceptional health benefits, thanks to its antioxidant content. However, what you might not be aware of is that black tea is good for hair too. Yes, you heard it right, black tea may just reduce your cost and time for visiting a salon for hair treatment.
So, how is it good for hair? Well, black tea contains antioxidants that promote healthy hair growth. Moreover, caffeine in black tea blocks DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which has been identified as the major rationale behind hair loss.
To surprise you even more, it turns out, that taking a sip of black tea from a cup is not the only method to pull off healthy hair benefits from the tea. Recently, the process of applying black tea rinses to hair has become popular for healthy hair. And, it is found effective too.
Through this blog, we will explore the effective use of the beverage as a hair rinse. We will also find out possible side effects and precautions to consider when using black tea for hair. Let’s check out.
Benefits of Black Tea for Hair
Black tea has a healing effect that contributes to healthy skin which eventually ensures healthy follicles and promotes hair growth. This is why if you look at several health promotional products such as conditioners and shampoos, you will probably find black tea ingredients as one of the key constituents. Let’s find out without further ado.
May Enhance Hair Color
Amongst the many healthful polyphenols in black tea, tannins aid to fight free radicals to prevent cell damage. Also, tannins in combination with other important polyphenolic components such as thearubigins and theaflavins provide black tea rinse with a strong dark color. So, applying the rinse provides a naturally dark appearance to your hair.
Although it is only a short-term solution that will go away after a few washes, it is worth trying. This is because usual hair dye products include different chemicals that may damage your hair upon overuse. To avoid the risk with commercial products, trying black tea is definitely a wise idea to approach.
Just so you are aware, the preparation process may hugely impact the final result. We encourage you to prepare the tea bolder and stronger and let it rest for around 15 to 30 minutes before applying it for the best results.
May Reduce Hair Shedding
If you are fighting hair shedding, black tea may be the home remedy that you shouldn't miss. The nutrients and antioxidants in black tea in combination with caffeine; help to block DHT which is recognized as one of the common reasons for hair shedding.
Additionally, it helps in eliminating oxidative stress which is also identified as the leading cause of premature hair loss. That’s not all, the compounds in black tea also balance the pH level on your scalp to prevent the production of excessive greasy oil that does not do good for your hair health.
May Improve Hair Growth
The caffeine content in black tea not only fights off the hormones that are responsible for hair loss, but it also penetrates hair follicles and stimulates the blood flow to your scalp. As a result, your hair roots get sufficient nutrients and oxygen supply that aid in the fast growth of healthy and beautiful hair.
Moreover, the antioxidants and nutrients in black tea include antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that aid in preventing inflammation and irritation, as well as protecting against the bacteria and fungus that might have blocked your hair from timely growth.
To get the best benefits for your hair growth, we encourage you to massage your scalp while applying rinses to your hair.
May Provide Shiny Hair
If you are looking for shiny hair, but also avoid commercial products for possible risks from chemical includes, you might just want to look for the solution in your kitchen only. Yes, black tea also helps to provide a shiny appearance for your hair.
Did you know, damaged hair is the major reason for your hair’s dull appearance? Black tea is a rich source of vitamins C and E, which can give life back to your damaged hair and make it smooth and shiny again. Plus, the antioxidants ease the way for your scalp to absorb healthy nutrients including minerals and vitamins; and also, build a protective shield against UV rays to prevent further hair damage.
May Help Prevent Dandruffs
Dandruff is not only irritating but they are not so good for your hair health too as it can block hair growth. So, what causes dandruff? If for some reason, your scalp starts to produce excessive oil, it results in the unruly growth of fungus which ultimately ends up producing fungus.
The antioxidants in black tea help in regulating oil production and prevent the growth of dandruff-causing fungus. Besides, black tea also helps to remove other unwanted impurities from your scalp to enhance hair growth further.
Side Effects of Using Black Tea for Hair
While black tea is usually safe to use for hair treatment, unfortunately, it does come with several side effects.
Same as for its exciting health benefits, the different chemical compounds in black tea may also lead to unwanted side effects in the least possible cases. Here, we have compiled some identified side effects for you to note before applying black tea.
Could Induce Allergies
Black tea contains ample caffeine, which may not be welcomed by the body system for some. So, if you are also allergic to caffeine, then using black tea for hair may not be your cup of tea. It may irritate your scalp and result in redness and itchiness.
So, what is the solution? If you suffer the side effects, try diluting black tea with water to minimize the caffeine effect and see if it works. However, it is not always guaranteed to work as the dilution process may also not completely remove caffeine. If the condition persists, it is better to avoid using black tea for hair.
Could Stain Hair
As we discussed earlier, black tea is a popular home remedy suitable for many who love dark black hair. Unfortunately, it is only a temporary solution as the impact lasts only for a few months on the gray hairs. To make it worse, black tea stains are tenacious on already naturally black hair at times which can be irritating.
Also, it is not an ideal option for those who are looking for black tea for hair benefits but prefer their blond hair rather than dark hair since it stains and darkens the hair, although for a short period.
Frequent Use May Cause Dryness
While black tea is praised for hydrating the hair, you should be careful that overuse may dry your hair and scalp instead. The offender once again is the high caffeine content in black tea. For this reason, using tea rinse more than twice a week is not generally recommended. Also, it is advised to use conditioner to wash your hair after applying a tea rinse to limit the damage risk.
Black Tea for Hair-Rinse: Step-by-Step Guide
All right, so now we are aware of black tea and its benefits for hair growth. And also if the possible side effects are not a concern for you then you are good to begin home hair treatment. However, to ensure the best results, it is crucial to follow the right procedures. That is why we propose the following guidelines to apply black tea hair rinses effectively and healthily. Let’s have a look.
Step 1: The process begins with simply boiling 2 cups of water in the pot or jug heater.
Step 2: Place 4 black tea bags in the boiled water and let rest for one hour. Before jumping off to the next step, make sure the water cools down to room temperature. Then, transfer the black tea rinse to a spray bottle.
Step 3: Before beginning with the black tea into your hair, you may want to make sure that your hair is clean. So, use shampoo to wash your hair well.
Step 4: Spray black tea into your scalp and gently massage for a while. Then spray on your hair thoroughly. Cover your hair and rest for 40 to 60 minutes.
Step 5: Rinse your hair with plain water; cold or lukewarm.
Step 6: Finally, use a conditioner to preserve moisture.
FAQs
How does black tea improve hair health?
Black tea contains abundant antioxidants and caffeine that work in different mechanisms to improve hair health. Blocking Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the prime reason for hair loss, black tea helps in smooth blood flow which further aids in the transfer of essential nutrients and minerals to your scalp for you to gain healthy hair. Additionally, it also helps you get rid of dandruff, dirt, and impurities from your scalp.
How to use black tea for hair growth?
To use black tea for promoting hair growth, prepare a strong black tea rinse by steeping 3-4 tea bags in boiling water. Allow it to cool, then pour it over clean, shampooed hair. Gently massage the scalp to stimulate blood flow, leave it on for up to 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water. The antioxidants and caffeine can stimulate the hair follicles and block DHT, a hormone known to contribute to hair loss.
How to prepare black tea for hair?
Brew a strong black tea by steeping 3-4 tea bags in a cup of boiling water for at least 15 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the tea. Once cooled, apply the tea to your hair after shampooing, leave it on for 20-30 minutes, and then rinse it out. This tea rinse can be used once or twice a week as part of your hair care routine.
What are the side effects of black tea on hair?
While black tea can be beneficial for hair health, there are potential side effects. Overuse may lead to dryness and brittleness due to its caffeine content. Individuals with a sensitivity to caffeine may experience irritation or redness of the scalp. It's recommended to use black tea rinses moderately and always follow with a moisturizing conditioner.
Drinking black tea for hair growth?
Drinking black tea can contribute to overall health, including that of your hair, due to its high antioxidant content. However, there's limited evidence to suggest that drinking black tea alone significantly promotes hair growth. A balanced diet and topical application as a rinse are more effective ways to utilize black tea for hair health.
Can you use black tea to dye hair?
Black tea can be used as a natural hair dye to darken your hair and enhance its color. For this purpose, apply a very strong black tea rinse to the hair and leave it on for at least an hour, or even overnight for more intensity. The tannins in the tea can give hair a darker shade, but the effect is temporary and will fade after several washes.
What should you do before and after you rinse hair with the black tea?
Before using a black tea rinse, ensure your hair is clean and free of products. After the rinse, you should notice that your hair may appear darker and shinier, and with regular use, it might also feel stronger and thicker. However, individual results can vary, and it's important to monitor your hair's condition and adjust usage accordingly.
Does black tea cause hair fall?
No, black tea does not cause hair fall. Instead, drinking black tea or using it as a hair rinse may improve your hair growth cycle.
Conclusion
Black tea with its antioxidants offers antiseptic properties that aid your hair hormones to relax which may promote healthy hair growth. While the evidence is limited on how black tea is good for hair, it is still worth trying as it is inexpensive, easy, and unharmful and may be magical. However, be careful with the potential side effects.
In the market, you will get numerous black tea brands, but you must go for black tea that ensures high nutrients and mineral content for the best results. If you are looking for robust and antioxidant-packed black tea for hair health, you can purchase them from Danfe Tea. At Danfe Tea, you can find varieties of black tea, all packed with healthful ingredients that you can employ as a refreshing drink or hair rinse; both work great for improving hair growth.
Buy the Finest Loose-Leaf Teas from the Himalayas
Danfe Tea brings you the finest loose-leaf teas in the Himalayas. With robust flavors and many health benefits, we invite you to try our high-quality black teas. These teas are available in 2.5-3.5 oz or 1 lb variants. We also offer monthly subscriptions to these products.
