It’s thick, it’s sticky, and it’s the addictive substance of choice for bears. Honey is truly a miraculous multi-tasking elixir. But have you ever wondered how it is, or where it comes from, or why it’s so amazing for our skin and hair? Let’s take a closer look at the sweet stuff that Winnie the Pooh goes crazy for, and learn about what it can do to beautify your natural hair!
Honey is a natural humectant. That means it attracts and holds on to moisture, which is exactly what natural hair needs! Plus it’s infused with antioxidants and minerals which help to strengthen and add shine to hair.
Honey by itself is too sticky to just be applied to your hair. But if you add it to apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, or even your favorite conditioner, it can add moisture and shine to your tresses.
Although that will pop up in your Google search when you search for honey, it’s not that simple. Bees consume nectar from flowers, using their tubular tongues to get it and then storing the nectar in their “crop,” an extra “stomach” made just for this purpose. They fly back to the hive and pass it to the mouth of another bee, and that bee then places it in the honeycomb and seals it with what then becomes beeswax. So yes, these are both products of regurgitation that come from the stomachs of bees. But it’s not just “bee vomit.” Know that.
There’s the clear golden stuff you buy that comes in a bear shaped bottle for $5 at the grocery store, and then there’s pure, raw honey. They’re entirely different, and the cheaper your honey is, the more likely that it’s been ultra-filtered and stripped of all the beneficial pollen. Raw, organic honey is even thicker and it’s an opaque product. And it’s more expensive (but worth it).
Honey is soothing and helps to prevent irritation. If you have a dry, itchy scalp (and hello, winter is coming), try a hair mask with honey, olive oil, avocado and Greek yogurt to moisturize your situation.
