Whilst browsing through No Poo DIY washes it became apparent that eggs are very popular. But how does washing your hair with eggs help? What do they do for your hair that other ingredients don’t?
This article looks at the benefits of egg washes and how to use eggs successfully.
Eggs are one of the most popular ingredients in No Poo washes. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also readily available. Eggs contain protein that can strengthen and repair your hair. You may also notice that your hair has more elasticity and added shine.
When it comes to going No Poo eggs can be your greatest go to ingredient.
This article looks in depth at the best egg washes and recipes to improve the health of your hair.
Read on to discover how eggs can help your hair.
How Does Washing Your Hair With Eggs Help?
The No Poo concept has been growing in popularity for many decades.
It is essentially a growing number of people who choose to keep their hair in good, clean, healthy condition by using natural products rather than traditional shampoos containing man-made chemicals.
Sulphates that are great for cleaning hair are out, as they also strip the hair of its natural oils and waterproofing characteristics.
Silicons are also rejected as they coat the hair making it impossible for the natural sebum to be taken up.
Simply put, sulfates dry and damage your hair, and silicons hide the damage and introduce fake shine.
With the silicons all over your hair, the natural grease cannot penetrate and you end up washing more frequently to remove the oil sitting on top of your hair.
It becomes a vicious cycle with your hair becoming drier and drier and damaged as time progresses.
Washing hair with eggs benefits your hair in more ways than one. Here’s just a few examples:
- Strength: Egg contains proteins that can strengthen your hair.
- Shine: Using eggs will increase the shine of your hair.
- Elasticity: Lutein will increase elasticity helping your curl definition.
- Breakage: Enhanced hair health will lower breakage levels.
- Growth: Eggs have been said to improve hair growth.
- Hair Loss: The protein in the egg improves the strength of the follicle and lessens the likelihood of hair loss.
- Volume: With lower hair loss and increased growth your hair will appear more voluminous.
- Moisture: Eggs can be hydrating and improve the texture of your hair.
With all these benefits it really isn’t a question of is it good to wash your hair with eggs, but rather how much healthier will my hair become once I start?
From washes to masks, there are many ways that your hair can benefit from eggs being incorporated into your hair care routine (source 1)
Read on to discover some popular uses.
How To Make Egg Wash For Hair?
There are far too many egg wash recipes, to list them all here!
So, why not read my article No-Poo Egg Wash Recipes for further ideas on how to give your hair a healthy treat?
The recipes below show what can be achieved if you only use the yolk or the white of an egg.
Each has its own special superpower that can change your hair from being nice and manageable to being your crowning glory.
Let’s take a look…
1. Egg White Wash
Below is an egg white wash recipe:
Ingredients
- Egg White
- Honey
- Olive Oil
- Aloe Vera Gel
Method
- Using equal parts of honey, aloe, and olive oil, mix with the egg white.
- Part hair into sections.
- Pour the mixture over your hair.
- Massage the mixture into the scalp for up to five minutes and make sure that the mixture has covered all hair from the scalp to the tips.
- Rinse the product out with cool water and leave the hair to air dry.
- Style as usual.
If you have very dirty or oily hair apply this wash to dry hair, otherwise, it will work happily on damp hair, leaving it gorgeously clean, soft, and moisturized.
Remember to only use cool or cold water to rinse the mixture from your hair.
2. Egg Yolk Wash
This is the simplest egg wash ever!
In fact, it is so simple that it only contains only 1 ingredient, and is incredibly simple and quick to do.
Take a look at this egg yolk wash recipe (source 1):
Ingredients
- 1 Egg Yolk
Method
- Freeze your egg yolk.
- Remove from the freezer for up to an hour before washing your hair.
- Step into the shower.
- Wet your hair thoroughly.
- Take your egg yolk and smooth it over your roots and scalp.
- Cover your scalp as much as possible.
- Massage your scalp first, before moving on to your hair.
- Do not worry if you feel as if it has not covered your hair, the rinsing will fix this issue.
- Massage egg yolk into the tips of your hair.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm (not hot) water.
- Rinse again.
- Dry hair and style as usual.
The great thing about eggs is that it not only repairs your hair but it also moisturizes too, so you will not need to apply a conditioner.
The egg yolk will remove the grease and dirt, whilst also adding protein to strengthen your hair and moisturize it so it stays hydrated.
How To Apply Egg On Hair?
If you have decided that egg is the way forward for your hair, then you will probably wonder do you apply egg to wet or dry hair.
The general consensus is that damp hair gives the egg the best chance of cleaning and repairing your hair.
Depending on which recipe you choose, the method you use to wash your hair with egg will change.
You may find that a small container with a lip allows you the best control over where the egg wash goes on your scalp.
How Often Should I Wash My Hair With Egg?
If you are wondering if there is a simple answer to how often can I wash my hair with egg, then the answer will be a disappointment.
How often it is best to wash with an egg, be it just the white, the yolk, or mixed, is determined by the needs of your hair rather than by a calendar.
Egg contains protein that can overload your hair so should be used quite sparingly.
If you notice that your hair has become dry or weighed down, then reduce the frequency of your egg wash to keep the benefits without damaging your hair in the long term.
Side Effects Of Applying Egg On Hair
Using eggs in your hair can have many benefits; including:
- Strengthening
- Hydrating
- Softening
Like everything though, there is often a hidden downside if something beneficial is used to excess.
This is why you may wonder if using eggs too much can damage your hair. The answer is simple, there may be side effects if you use eggs in your hair too frequently.
The following list lets you know the most common side effects of egg over usage:
- Allergy: You may develop a reaction to eggs. This may not be restricted to just the scalp and hair.
- Bacteria: Egg yolk especially has bacteria that do not improve the health of your scalp. Too many egg washes or masks may lead to the scalp bacteria being overwhelmed.
- Itching: The egg white may be too drying for your scalp, resulting in itchiness and flakes.
- Stiffness: Too much protein can make your hair stiff and crunchy.
- Breakage: An overload of protein may make your hair more susceptible to breakage and loss.
- Greasiness: If you use eggs too often you may find that your hair becomes greasy, more quickly.
- Removal: If you use water at too high a temperature then (especially if using whites) the egg can cook in your hair, and be difficult to remove. Additionally, the same will happen if you leave the egg on too long and it dries out.
- Odor: Using egg in your hair may leave your hair with a slightly unpleasant scent after use
Most of these side effects are unlikely to occur, but it is always advisable to be aware of the problems rather than for them to come as a surprise later on down the line.
How To Wash Hair After Applying Egg
Eggs will improve the hydration and condition of your hair and should be able to be rinsed out simply with water.
If you feel that you need an extra rinse or wash after using egg in your hair, then one of the following washes should be applied:
- Water Rinse: Cool water only should clean out the egg without a problem.
- Water With Essential Oils: If you want to make doubly sure that there is no egg scent after an egg wash, then rinse with water containing a couple of drops of your chosen essential oil.
- Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): ACV has long been used to balance the hair and scalp pH so that your hair can grow to its best ability and strongest potential.
- Tea Rinse: A green tea rinse can help to restore elasticity and combat the bacterial buildup that eggs may leave on your scalp.
If you have been wondering can I use shampoo after using egg on hair, then the simple answer is yes, a No Poo shampoo can be used.
However, whilst it is possible to use a wash, it should not be necessary.
Eggs are cleansing, strengthening, and hydrating and should provide everything that your hair needs.
Does Washing Your Hair With Egg Help It Grow?
If you want to know which part of egg is good for hair growth and does washing your hair with eggs make it grow, then read on.
Eggs contain protein and lutein which help both your hair and scalp.
The protein and beneficial enzymes in eggs help to restore the strength of your hair and protect it from further damage.
Egg whites can also improve scalp health and reduce dandruff.
- Yolk: Strengthens, nourishes, and conditions.
- White: Good for hair growth and reduces scalp oil production.
With a healthy scalp and clean follicles, your hair has the best chance it can have to grow faster and stronger, not restricted by blocked follicles and poor health (source 1).
Does Washing Your Hair With Eggs Make It Thicker?
No Poo has many recipes that help your hair in various ways.
Eggs with their many beneficial proteins can strengthen your hair and repair previous damage.
One of the best things about using eggs to keep your hair clean and healthy is that eggs have the bonus of making your hair appear thicker.
Egg hair masks can make quite a significant difference to the health of your hair.
Either using eggs on their own or combining them with other ingredients, your hair will be thankful that you tried a No Poo recipe.
Aloe vera and olive oil are two of the favorite combinations for thickening hair masks, that also clean and stimulate the scalp.
An egg hair mask for hair growth and thickness cannot be discounted when looking into all of the alternatives.
How To Get The Egg Smell Out Of Hair
When you use eggs to clean and nourish your hair you may be slightly concerned that there will be an unpleasant odor to your hair both during and after treatment.
This does not have to be the case.
In most instances, you will not notice any scent at all. This is not dependent upon whether you use only yolks, whites, or a mix of the whole egg.
If you are still worried, and there really is no need to be, then there are ways to combat the perceived unpleasant scent:
- Rinse: Rinse thoroughly.
- Rinse With Essential Oils: Use water with a couple of drops of essential oil added in your final rinse to disguise any remaining egg scent.
- Tea: Use a tea rinse. Green tea will remove any bacteria that the egg has left behind which may cause a smelly scent once your hair has dried.
- ACV: Using apple cider vinegar as a final rinse will remove any scent clinging to your hair.
- Conditioner: Condition your hair after washing with either your usual homemade conditioning agent or a No Poo commercially available alternative.
- Oil: You can smooth a few drops of argan oil through your freshly washed hair. Not only will this smell wonderful, but it will also help to avoid hair frizz and dryness.
If you follow the advice above you should only benefit from the positive effects of egg, without the downsides.
Does Egg Dry Out Hair?
There is no reason that egg when used correctly and in the correct frequency for your hair, will leave your hair dry and lackluster.
In fact, the egg is well known for its hydrating properties, and after an egg wash, it is often possible to forgo a conditioner as the egg has hydrated the hair brilliantly.
However, if you use too much egg, or use an egg-containing wash or mask too regularly, then your hair and scalp could end up suffering from a protein build-up.
This may lead to your hair becoming dry and brittle and possibly more prone to breakage.
Therefore, moderation is key, as too much egg can be just as damaging as too little, over a long period.
The most important thing is to listen to your hair. It will tell you what and how much it needs.
To help you, why not keep a diary of which washes and masks you use over a few months, noting down the changes your hair experiences after each one?
Long-term improvements to your hair can take time, so a little persistence will go a long way.
However, it is important to note that changes usually take time to show, whereas egg use will show instantaneously.
What Happens If You Leave Egg In Your Hair Overnight?
Many hair masks can be left in your hair overnight with no ill effects. Indeed, with some oils, your hair may even benefit from such a duration.
However, eggs are not something you should leave on your hair overnight.
Not only should egg not be left in your hair overnight, it should also not be left to dry on your hair as it will become difficult to wash or brush out.
Conclusion
Using eggs in No Poo is very common.
You may quite reasonably ask how does washing your hair with eggs help to improve the health of your hair and scalp.
The answer is simple…
The proteins found in eggs can strengthen your hair, whilst the lutein may be able to repair any previous damage.
However, too much egg can be as damaging as using too little, so you will need to find the right balance for your hair.
Related Questions
Does Egg Help Thinning Hair?
Egg is said to strengthen, repair, and protect your hair. Another main benefit of using an egg wash or hair mask is that it can also improve your hair’s volume, and can make the hair appear thicker too.
Egg Hair Mask Before And After
You will likely be able to see the improvement in your hair after using egg, just once. However, you can keep a diary with photos to chart how your hair blooms when an egg is added to your No Poo routine.