Tea rinses for hair are another way to give your hair extra shine.
This is not the only benefit of using tea in your hair though, so make sure you read on to find out how tea can help your locks.
Tea rinses can greatly improve the health of your hair and scalp. Green and black teas both contain anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that can soothe irritated scalps and encourage hair growth. Herbal teas can provide additional nutrients to improve your hair texture and shine.
With so many teas available, choosing the tea rinse that is best for you can be a challenge.
This article should help you find the best tea rinse for your hair type, so make sure to read on!
11 Tea Rinses For Hair
If you are wondering what is a tea rinse for hair, you are in the right place.
A tea rinse after shampooing and conditioning can add that little bit extra to your hair.
Many teas can improve scalp health and are said to encourage hair growth.
Whatever your hair complaint there is a tea or herbal rinse that will help to improve the condition and health of your hair and scalp (source 1,2,3,4,5).
Below are some of the most popular tea rinses you can try:
1. Black Tea Rinse
Black tea rinses for hair are considered to be good for hair growth.
This may be because black tea contains caffeine which has long been used as a growth agent in commercial shampoos.
Black tea can also slightly darken hair, so is often used for this too.
Using a black tea rinse for hair shedding has also proven popular.
2. Green Tea Rinse
Green tea rinses for hair have many of the same benefits as using black tea.
Green tea rinses have been shown to be potentially useful for those suffering from alopecia.
However, we recommend that individuals suffering from alopecia should speak to their medical professional first before using a green tea rinse.
3. Peppermint Tea Rinse
Using a peppermint tea rinse for hair does not just give a nice scent.
It has also been said to bring about positive results in people with thinning hair and helps to regulate the levels of sebum naturally produced by your scalp.
4. Nettle Tea Rinse
Nettle tea is not only good for drinking, but it can also provide nutrients for your hair!
It is said to improve hair growth and some even believe that it can guard against early hair loss.
A nettle tea hair rinse contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce itching and improve scalp health.
5. Rosehip Tea Rinse
If you want to reduce frizz and improve the texture of your hair, then a rosehip tea hair rinse could be for you.
This rinse is often also used to improve the shine of your hair.
6. Herbal Tea Rinse
You can use a herbal tea rinse for hair growth, and indeed to combat any number of hair and scalp-related issues.
Just choose the herb that will treat the condition of your choosing, pour over boiling water and let steep for several hours before use.
7. Oolong Tea Rinse
Full of antioxidants an Oolong tea rinse for hair is said to be good for strengthening the hair and preventing hair breaking so easily.
8. Chamomile Tea Rinse
Scalp irritation and dandruff may be improved by using a chamomile tea rinse for hair.
If you have blonde or light hair, using a chamomile tea rinse will help to make your blonde blonder, and bring out natural highlights.
9. White Tea Rinse
Using a white tea rinse for hair is especially suitable for those with colored hair, or lighter-colored hair.
10. Hibiscus Tea Rinse
A hibiscus tea hair rinse covers almost all bases and hair ailments.
Not only will it nourish and condition your hair, but it can tame frizz, add shine, and bring out the beautiful natural color of those with darker hair.
It is also beneficial for the scalp which then promotes hair growth.
11. Sage Tea Rinse
To combat gray hair, a sage tea hair rinse can be used weekly. It can gradually darken grey hair to make it less noticeable.
Dandruff and scalp itching is often lessened by the use of a sage tea rinse.
Benefits Of Tea Rinses For Hair
Tea rinse for hair benefits are multiple.
If you are wondering what do tea rinses do for hair then read on to find out:
Anti-Bacterial
A large number of tea rinses have an anti-bacterial effect on your scalp.
Black and green tea though is often used to ensure a healthy scalp.
Anti-Inflammatory
Chamomile tea rinses can have an anti-inflammatory effect on your scalp and be wonderfully soothing.
Antioxidants
Found in many teas, antioxidants help to improve the health of our hair and scalp and allow your hair to grow at its best rate.
Vitamins
Vitamins B, C, & E, are found in Green tea.
All of these can improve the condition of your hair and scalp when used in moderation.
Minerals
Iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, can all be found in a nettle tea hair rinse (do not use it if pregnant).
These can all improve hair strength.
Frizz
Rosehip tea rinses used once per week can help you avoid frizz in your hair.
Texture
As your hair becomes more healthy, you may find that the texture improves and it becomes softer and more manageable.
Color
Blondes can use chamomile tea rinses, whilst black tea, hibiscus, or sage tea are better for dark or red-haired people.
The tea rinses will help to bring out the natural highlights in your hair and add depth.
Grays
Sage tea is well known to darken gray hairs over time.
If you do not want to reach for chemical hair dyes, this may be the way to keep your gray hair at bay for longer.
Dandruff
Green tea is often spoken about when discussing which tea rinse is best for reducing or eliminating dandruff.
With its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties, your scalp will benefit all over.
Itching
Using hibiscus, black, or green tea rinses, will help to soothe an itchy scalp.
Growth
As many of the tea rinses help the scalp’s pH and cleanse at the same time, they will also help with hair growth.
Breakage
With healthier hair and scalp, and tea rinses adding vitamins, minerals, and proteins, you may find that regular use of tea rinses helps to stop your hair from breaking so much.
Depending upon the particular tea rinse used there are also similar benefits of tea rinses for natural hair (source 1).
Best Tea Rinses For Hair
If you are looking for a tea that combats a particular hair issue that you are having then look no further!
Below are the most common teas used for each specific hair complaint:
Tea Rinses For Hair Growth
Which tea is good for hair growth?
Black tea, or any tea with caffeine will help hair growth.
Whilst black tea is reported as being suitable for hair growth, any tea rinse will help as they all improve the health of your hair and scalp.
Black tea holds more caffeine though which is also found in many commercial products you can purchase for hair growth.
Tea Rinses For Hair Fall
Peppermint tea has a recorded benefit to those experiencing hair fall.
Tea Rinses For Hair Breakage
Most tea rinses will strengthen your hair so that breakage becomes less noticeable.
Tea Rinses For Hair Loss
Try a regular green tea rinse to reduce the hair loss you may be experiencing.
Tea Rinse For Hair Stimulation
Green tea with its anti-bacterial and antioxidant contents will help stimulate your hair.
Tea Rinses For Grey Hair
Sage, black tea, and hibiscus tea rinses can all color your gray hair over time.
These teas are more suited to those with dark, rather than blonde hair.
How To Use A Tea Rinse For Hair
If you are wondering how to apply tea on hair then rest assured it is the simplest method and costs only pennies:
- Choose your type of tea (green, black, chamomile, etc)
- Boil water
- Pop in teabags or loose tea leaves
- Allow to cool and steep for at least 3 hours
- Remove leaves and/or tea bags
- Pour tea water into a clean spray bottle
- Spray tea directly onto your hair
How to use tea rinse for hair is up to the individual, but normally leaving the rinse on for up to 30 minutes is recommended.
If you do not have a spray bottle you can use the tea straight from the bowl once the tea leaves are removed.
Try to catch the runoff in a separate bowl under your hair and re-use.
Try to use a tea rinse only once a week as depending on your hair type and the tea you use, you might find it slightly drying.
That is all there is to it to help your hair be the very best it can be!
How To Make A Tea Rinse For Hair
If you want to benefit from the positives that using a tea rinse will bring, then try the recipe below and see how your hair improves from the very first rinse:
What you need:
- Bowl
- Green (or other chosen tea)
- Boiling water
- Muslin or small-holed sieve
- Spray bottle
How to:
- Place tea in a large bowl
- Pour over boiling water
- Leave for up to 3 hours
- Using a sieve or muslin to catch the leaves, pour tea water into a spray bottle
- Wash your hair as normal
- Spray the steeped tea into your hair and onto your scalp
- Cover and leave for up to 30 minutes
- Rinse well with cool water
- Follow with your usual conditioner (if used)
How Often To Do Tea Rinse On Hair
When using tea rinses and herbal tea rinses it is best to determine the porosity of your hair first.
If your hair is either extremely porous or very non-porous, then try to limit the frequency of your tea rinsing.
This is because, for both these hair types, overuse of tea rinses can leave your hair:
- Dry
- Brittle
- Prone to breakage
This is exactly what you are trying to rectify when using a rinse in the first place.
For ‘normal’ hair, using a tea rinse once a week should give your hair the benefits without any of the drawbacks of overuse.
If your hair falls into the categories above, then try only using a rinse once a fortnight.
You can always increase the frequency later when you know how your hair will react (source 1).
Does Hair Type Affect Tea Rinse Type?
Whilst everyone can use a tea rinse on their hair and benefit from the experience, some hair types will accept tea rinses better than others.
If your hair is lacking luster, is dull, and is dry, then using a tea rinse may perk it up.
If you use hibiscus or black tea on dark or red hair, you may notice that the rinse gives you a deep shine and brings out the natural low lights in your hair.
If you have light hair, then chamomile will bring out your blonde highlights.
If you have straight, curly, or natural hair, a tea rinse can help your hair and improve the health of your scalp.
At the time of writing, there appears to be no evidence of any one tea being better for any one of these hair types (source 1).
Can I Leave Green Tea Hair Rinse In My Hair?
Deciding whether to leave a green tea hair rinse in your hair, or rinse out with water is purely a personal choice.
Some people prefer to leave the rinse in, whilst others leave it in for up to 30 minutes before washing out.
Tea rinses can sometimes leave your hair feeling a little dry, so using a conditioner afterward is often recommended (source 1).
Is Black Tea Rinse Good For Hair?
A black tea rinse has been used for centuries as a tonic for hair and scalp.
It contains many beneficial properties that provide nutrients for your hair and an anti-bacterial, and antioxidant effect on your scalp.
There can be side effects of a black tea rinse for hair that you should be aware of before introducing a black tea rinse into your hair care regime:
The side effect of black tea on hair:
Caffeine
Black tea contains caffeine which can be great for hair growth.
However, it can also be quite drying, so consider using a good conditioner after your tea rinse.
Tannins
Black tea especially contains tannins that can color your hair.
If you have dark hair, black tea can add shine and deepen the color. It can also temporarily darken gray hairs.
If you have light-colored hair, this may be a side-effect that is unwanted.
Growth
There is anecdotal and lab-based data that shows that black tea can aid hair growth by various means, including by extending the growth portion of the hair life-cycle.
Oils
If you use a black tea rinse too often you might find that your hair becomes dry as black tea is very good at stripping the natural oils from your hair.
Allergies
As with any other product, always do a skin test before use.
Place a small amount of cold black tea onto the inside of your forearm and leave for 24 hours.
If there have been no ill effects on your skin you should be able to consider black tea a safe option for your scalp.
If you notice any signs of irritation, find an alternative to black tea as you do not want to irritate your scalp as this will impact the quality and quantity of your hair (source 1,2).
Conclusion
Tea rinses for hair can be a welcome addition to your hair care arsenal.
Many teas can provide nutrients for your hair, encourage growth, soothe your scalp, and even reduce dandruff.
Green and black tea is by far the most common tea rinses advised.
Making a tea rinse is a simple process, and easy to use.
It is inexpensive, and unused steeped tea can only be stored in the fridge for a few days, so if you have extra you are better off putting the tea in the freezer and defrosting it at will.
Different teas can also add color and shine to your locks.
Black tea for dark hair, sage tea to darken grays, hibiscus for redheads, and chamomile for blondes are generally considered the go-to tea rinses for these hair colors.
If you rinse your hair with tea too often you can damage your hair, especially if your hair is either very porous or not porous at all.
A fortnightly rinse for these hair types may be more suitable than the normally recommended weekly treatment.
Related Questions
Is Drinking Tea Good For Hair?
Whilst drinking tea will not directly affect your hair, if you are drinking tea (in moderation) in addition to having a healthy diet then your hair is off to the very best start.