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A head full of bouncy and thick hair is every woman’s desire, but when your crowning glory suddenly starts shedding and bald patches appear on your scalp, it can cause stress.
Hair loss happens for many reasons, including genetics, aging, telogen effluvium, prolonged sickness, scalp disorders, alopecia, and smoking. Tying a tight hairstyle can also lead to hair fall and cause balding. It’s not easy to pinpoint the exact cause of hair fall when there are so many reasons for hair loss. (1)
With tons of natural ingredients becoming famous for their usefulness in skin and hair care, green tea has gained prominence everywhere. Research shows that drinking green tea and applying it to the scalp can help stop the process of hair fall as the phytochemicals in it stimulate the central nervous system and maintain overall health. (2)
Article Contents
Why Is Green Tea Good for Hair Growth
Green tea is a popular beverage and is good for the hair because it is replete with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. One of its main elements for hair growth is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol present in abundance in green tea.
Research studies suggest that EGCG stimulates human hair growth in the growth phase and prevents it from falling. (3) It does so by enhancing the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs). (4)
Moreover, applying green tea to the scalp has been shown to hydrate it, get rid of dandruff, and contribute to hair growth.
Green tea is abundant in antioxidants compared to other tea forms and contains high amounts of catechins, which help in hair growth. (3)(4)
Studies on the water and ethyl acetate fractions of green tea show that it contains flavonoids that help in hair growth. The 4% water fraction had more flavonoid content in comparison to the ethyl acetate fraction. (5)
Benefits of Green Tea on Hair Growth
Green tea offers the following benefits for the hair.
1. Stimulates the growth and regrowth of hair
Green tea contains essential nutrients for hair growth: carotenoids, tocopherols, zinc, ascorbic acid, and selenium.
The ECGC in green tea promotes hair growth by preventing damage to the hair cells and by hair follicle stimulation. (3)
2. Stops hair damage
Green tea helps to soften the hair and control split ends. It also adds shine to the hair, making it lustrous. The abundance of vitamin C in green tea helps to protect the scalp and hair from damage due to pollution and UV rays. (6)
3. Strengthens hair
The abundance of polyphenols in green tea helps in eliminating oxidative stress in the scalp and strengthening the hair. (6)
4. Fights against greasy hair
Green tea is beneficial for the scalp and hair as it contains vitamin C, which reduces hair greasiness and keeps dirt, dead cells, and buildup at bay. (7)
5. Gets rid of dandruff
Green tea is abundant in antimicrobial agents that fight against scalp bacteria and fungi and help to maintain a clean and clear scalp. (6)
Ways to Use Green Tea for Hair Growth
Here are some ways to use green tea for your hair:
1. Green tea hair rinse
- Brew 2-3 green tea bags in 1 liter of water for about 15 minutes.
- Cool it down and rinse your hair with it.
- Wash it off with water after 30 minutes.
- Repeat this twice a week for good results.
2. Green tea hair mask
Add aloe vera gel to green tea to make a fantastic hair mask for your hair.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and 2 tablespoons of green tea.
- Apply the mixture to your scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes.
- Wash it off with water.
3. Green tea hair spray
- Boil 1 cup of water and pour it into a mug with a green tea bag.
- Let it steep for about 10 minutes.
- Throw away the tea bag and pour the water into a small bowl.
- Add 1 teaspoon of lime juice and a few drops of rosemary essential oil to it and mix well.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely and pour it into a spray bottle.
- After shampooing your hair, dry it thoroughly, and spray the green tea mixture.
- Massage it into your scalp and hair, leave it on, and don’t rinse it off. (7)
General Queries Related to Green Tea for Hair Growth
Is regrowth of hair possible?
Yes. Research shows that using natural ingredients such as green tea can help regain hair growth after losing hair due to non permanent hair loss reasons.
Most people who experience hair loss end up with bald spots on their scalp as the hair follicle is damaged, and hair doesn’t grow out from there. (8)
Is green tea an excellent addition to a hair wash routine?
Yes. Use green tea twice a week to nourish your hair follicles with essential nutrients such as vitamins C and E and antioxidants. (3)
Who should use green tea for the hair?
Everyone can use green tea on their scalp and hair, but those with alopecia and hair loss will be benefited more from the antioxidant-rich tea. (2)
Will my hair grow dry by using a green tea rinse?
No, a green tea rinse improves the hair condition and helps in hair growth. (6)
What do we know about safety?
You can safely consume 3-4 cups of green tea a day. The amount of added caffeine should be stated on product labels and not the caffeine that naturally occurs in green tea. (9)
Is green tea better than black tea for the hair?
Can I use green tea on my hair daily?
Drinking green tea daily can significantly improve your health and can be applied to the skin and hair to enhance both.
Final Word
Green tea is a gift of nature to humanity – when you drink it, you will feel refreshed, and when applied to your hair, your scalp will be healed from disorders due to its high amounts of antioxidants that prevent hair loss and boost hair growth. (10)
Recent studies have shown how polyphenols impact hair growth and follicle health. (11)
References
- Hair loss: Overview. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/fall-out.
- Prasanth MI, Sivamaruthi BS, Chaiyasut C, Tencomnao T. A review of the role of green tea (camellia Sinensis) in antiphotoaging, stress resistance, neuroprotection, and autophagy. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412948/. Published February 23, 2019.
- Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3 … https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6703993/.
- Zhang H, Nan W, Wang S, et al. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate promotes the growth of mink hair follicles through sonic hedgehog and protein kinase B signaling pathways. Frontiers in pharmacology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6028712/. Published June 26, 2018.
- Hair growth promoting activity of green tea leaves (camellia Sinensis L … https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336234823/.
- Koch W, Zagórska J, Marzec Z, Kukula-Koch W. Applications of tea (camellia Sinensis) and its active constituents in cosmetics. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6930595/. Published November 24, 2019.
- M; NCLNK. Development and clinical evaluation of green tea hair tonic for greasy scalp treatment. Journal of cosmetic science. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29394016/.
- Hair loss: Who gets and causes. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/18-causes.
- Green tea. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/green-tea.
- Efficacy of Alimental components in an oral supplement for the … – IJSRP. https://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0318/ijsrp-p7545.pdf.
- GREEN TEA: A MAGICAL HERB WITH MIRACULOUS OUTCOMES. International Research Journal of Pharmacy. https://www.irjponline.com/admin/php/uploads/1083_pdf.pdf.
