Honey, I love it! Especially raw honey, the one that is a bit bitter and not so hugely sweet. And you can do so much with honey! Honey is delicious in a cup of tea, as a substitute for sugar or on your sandwich. But honey is also really nice for your hair and skin; As a hair mask or face mask. In addition, you have also specific honey species that have an antibacterial effect and help against irritated (scalp) skin. You can also use honey as a natural hair spray by mixing it with water and spraying it on your hair. But did you know that honey can also make your hair lighter? If lemon juice or chamomile tea does not work for you, or is too drying, honey is a really nice alternative to get your hair a bit lighter in color. Honey is also hydrating and makes your hair nice and soft. Honey can also be slightly purifying if your hair get’s easily clean from mild products. But what makes that honey will make your hair lighter? And how do you apply this on your hair?
On the website of the long hair community I came across a very interesting article about lightening your hair with honey. In this article they explain exactly how you can do this. Last summer I had tried several times to get my hair slightly lighter using lemon juice, but this was not successful.
Because honey is also very nourishing for your hair, I was very happy to read that honey can make your hair lighter in a natural way.
Glucose oxidase in honey.
In this article, which was in the monthly magazine of beekeepers, I read that Raw/unheated honey contains the enzyme: Glucose Oxidase. When you dilute raw honey with water, the glucose oxidase will make hydrogen peroxide.
The amount of hydrogen peroxide in the honey with water mix is not as much and not as strong as the hydrogen peroxide they use to bleach your hair. So don’t be afraid! It is a natural process and it will make your hair very gradually lighter in color.
This also means that you will have to repeat the honey hair mask several times before you see any good result. Beside this all, the conversion of glucose axidosis to hydrogen peroxide is comes very precisely. Don’t be afraid that if you want to do a honey hairmask, but you don’t want to lighten your hair.This will not that easily. If you do want to lighten your hair with honey, follow the following steps:
- To make your hair lighter in color, you will need to use a raw/unheated honey. If the honey has been heated, the enzyme glucose oxidase has completely disappeared. Choose a honey that is a bit bitter and full of flavor. These kind of honey contains more of the enzyme. Examples are: Manuka honey, Strawberry tree honey and Jarrah honey.
- Use distilled water which is at room temperature. The PH value of distilled water is 7.0 and the water is free of calcium and magnesium. This will get you the best result.
- Dissolve 10 grams of honey in 40 ml of water. To make it easier for yourself; Use with 1 tablespoon of honey, 6 tablespoons of water. I myself use 2 tablespoons of honey and 12 tablespoons of water.
- Dissolve the honey without heating it
- Allow the solution to sit for 1 hour at room temperature so that the honey can develop the hydrogen peroxide.
- When you use styling products, you have to wash your hair first. The result can be influenced by: a high level of vitamin C in your hair (Aloe vera gel or a leave in vitamin C), large amount of conditioner, lots of oil in your hair or other styling products.
- You can divide the mix with honey and water over dry hair or wet hair. I like to put the mix in a sport bottle, and apply it on dry hair. If my hair is wet, the hair mask will drip so much and I feel like my hair will nog absorb the whole mix.
- Let the hair mask sit for an hour. Rinse thoroughly with water.
- Do not use extra heat (No Hot Head).
Tip: You can add cumin, cinnamon, coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil to your honey hair mask to stimulate the hydrogen peroxide extra. Do a little test beforehand, so you know your skin does not get irritated if you want to use cumin or cinnamon.
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