Using This Popular Drink as a Hair Rinse Will Help You Regrow Stronger Strands

The idea of splashing black tea on your hair rather than sipping it might sound strange, but there’s a good chance it will help grow new strands! A black tea hair rinse can also soften the texture of your locks while boosting their strength.

According to Healthline, the popular beverage has been used as a natural hair growth remedy for centuries. Although there isn’t a ton of scientific research to back it up, anecdotal evidence many to believe black tea works so well thanks to it’s high level of antioxidants and caffeine. These elements can protect our scalps from free radicals and potentially block the hormone most commonly associated with hair loss — dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 

One study found that caffeine may also helped to increase keratin production in hair follicles, stimulating growth and smoothing out the texture. More human studies are needed, but there’s no harm in trying it out with black tea in the meantime.

All you need to do is steep three or four bags of black tea in a few cups of boiling water (however much you think you’ll need to cover your head). Once it’s brewed, fish out the bags and let the tea cool all the way down before applying to your scalp. You can use a spray bottle (Buy at Walmart, $0.97) to make things easier. There’s also no need to splurge on fancy tea — cheap black tea (Buy at Walmart, $1.94) will get the job done.

The most important thing to remember is to not leave it on for more than an hour max. Otherwise, the caffeine might cause your scalp to dry out and cause more harm than good. After it’s been on for at least 30 minutes, you can rinse it off and follow with a hydrating conditioner. Doing this one to three times a week should be plenty to get the hair growth benefits. 

Take a look at Rocio Isabel’s video below for a simple step-by-step guide on using black tea as a hair rinse:

As Isabel points out, the high caffeine level in black tea might be too much for someone with low porosity hair. Not sure what your porosity is? (Take a look at our tips for figuring it out!) If you do have low porosity, you can try giving your hair a boost with green tea for the same helpful antioxidants, but a much lower amount of caffeine. 

Who knows, a spot of tea might be just what your strands have been waiting for!