Benefits of Witch Hazel on Hair
Witch hazel is a natural astringent. It can help to remove excess oil from your hair and scalp, which will make the hair less greasy over time. For oily hair, apply witch hazel with a cotton ball or pad directly to the scalp before shampooing two to three times per week.
Some people also like adding 1-2 teaspoons of witch hazel extract into their shampoo for further benefits after rinsing out shampoo once per week. However, because it is an astringent, too much use may dry out your scalp and strip your color if using a tinted product.
For dry frizzy hair, add several drops of witch hazel into a small amount of coconut oil in your palms and work it through the ends of your hair. The coconut oil will help to moisturize and tame frizz, while the witch hazel helps to smooth and strengthen your hair follicles.
Another benefit of witch hazel is its antioxidant content which reduces free radical damage caused by environmental stressors such as pollution, UV exposure from the sun, and chemicals in our food and personal care products.
These free radicals destroy collagen production which can lead to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity in skin cells over time, resulting in signs of aging on the skin.
Antioxidants like those found in witch hazel reduce this effect by neutralizing free radicals before they do any damage, ensuring that you have younger-looking skin even as you age! This property also helps to reduce the appearance of acne scars and marks.
Witch Hazel can also be used to remove dandruff from your scalp. The main ingredient in witch hazel, tannins, acts as a natural antiseptic that helps kill off yeast cells that contribute to dandruff caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia furfur on the scalp.
Simply apply a couple of drops with a cotton pad to any affected areas twice weekly until symptoms subside. Witch hazel is not typically recommended for ongoing use as an anti-dandruff agent because repeated exposure can lead to dryness or sensitivity on the skin.
For fine lines and wrinkles, you can use witch hazel extract directly on sensitive areas around your eyes after cleansing before applying moisturizer. This is great for treating crow’s feet and under-eye puffiness because it reduces swelling, tightening the skin to reduce fine lines.
For redness, swelling, and other signs of irritation, witch hazel soothes your skin by reducing blood flow to affected areas to give you the appearance of reduced inflammation.
Witch hazel contains an active ingredient called tannins which can also tighten your pores when applied topically. For this reason, if you are prone to acne or have an oily T-zone, adding a few drops of tincture may help reduce sebum buildup to keep your pores clear.
However, this effect is only temporary after applying witch hazel directly on the skin! If you want permanent benefits that keep your pores clear, look for witch hazel that contains tannins combined with salicylic acid to deep clean and exfoliate the skin.
For oily skin prone to acne, Rubbing alcohol is an inexpensive way to control oil on the skin. This makes it a great option for people who are looking for cheap DIY skincare solutions or want to stretch their dollar at-home spa treatments. For best results, apply witch hazel to dry freshly washed skin before applying any moisturizer. This can help prevent unnecessary blocking of pores by trapping moisture inside your skin after you have cleaned away excess oils.
Hair loss is often linked to stress and emotional trauma which triggers an increase in cortisol production and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that attacks hair follicles. Witch hazel can help reduce this damage to your hair by acting as an antiseptic that reduces inflammation and kills off yeast cells that contribute to dandruff caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia furfur on the scalp.
Another benefit of witch hazel is its antioxidant content which reduces free radical damage caused by environmental stressors such as pollution, UV exposure from the sun, and chemicals in our food and personal care products.
These free radicals destroy collagen production which can lead to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity in skin cells over time, resulting in signs of aging on the skin.
Antioxidants like those found in witch hazel reduce the effect by neutralizing free radicals before they do any damage, ensuring that you have younger-looking skin even as you age! This property also helps to reduce the appearance of acne scars and marks.
Witch hazel can also be used to remove dandruff from your scalp. The main ingredient in witch hazel, tannins, acts as a natural antiseptic that helps kill off yeast cells that contribute to dandruff caused by an overgrowth of Malassezia furfur on the scalp.
Simply apply a couple of drops with a cotton pad to any affected areas twice weekly until symptoms subside. Witch hazel is not typically recommended for ongoing use as an anti-dandruff agent because repeated exposure can lead to dryness or sensitivity on the skin.
witch hazel hair refresher:
my favorite summertime spa treatment is a witch hazel spray that smells of lavender. It makes me feel instantly calm and refreshed, especially when my scalp is still damp after shampooing. I bought the ingredients at Whole Foods Market. When I am not near a specialty market, I can find witch hazel extract in many supermarkets or drugstores.
If you are feeling lazy, there are some products on the market that have more concentrated witch hazel than others so you can just spritz yourself with one product instead of mixing your own all-natural version. The best-known brand is probably Thayer’s Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner.
Ingredients: witch hazel extract, distilled water, lavender flowers
Directions:
Place the contents of a sachet in a 4-ounce spray bottle. Add 1/4 cup purified water and shake well to dissolve the crystals. Fill with distilled water and shake again to combine. Tightly cover the bottle and place it in a dark cabinet for 48 hours so that the color from the flowers leach into the solution.
Shake before each use. When you want to feel luscious, mist your face and body with this wonderful concoction. This toner can be used any time after cleansing before moisturizing if you have oily skin or throughout the day to refresh dry skin or battle redness. You will find yourself craving this soothing and cooling toner. It is a marvelous alternative to the alcohol-based formulas found in most drugstores and beauty counters.
Witch Hazel Rose Petal Toner:
Ingredients: distilled water, witch hazel extract, aloe vera juice, vegetable glycerin, soy lecithin, citric acid, rose petal infusion (rose petals and distilled water), vanilla planifolia fruit extract (vanilla bean), potassium sorbate, optiphen plus.
Tea tree oil and witch hazel for hair:
I have been using both tea tree oil and witch hazel infused in coconut oil for a while now to take care of the dry, itchy scalp I get from time to time. Many people use apple cider vinegar to treat their hair follicles, but I think the tea tree oil/witch hazel mix is much better suited for this task because it does not smell as bad.
Does witch hazel help with acne:
Witch hazel’s astringent properties make it beneficial for reducing oil production and inflammation on the skin, which often equates to less acne overall. Witch hazel is an anti-inflammatory, so applying it to the skin may help reduce redness or irritation associated with breakouts.
Also, its tannin content makes it helpful for tightening pores and removing dirt and oil. It’s also antibacterial; studies have shown that witch hazel can lessen bacteria counts on the skin. However, there isn’t enough evidence to prove that witch hazel can clear up existing acne.
witch hazel shampoo:
Witch hazel has some antibacterial properties, which can help fight dandruff. It also contains tannins that are good for getting rid of buildup in your hair follicles.
There are many products on the market that use witch hazel as an active ingredient, but if you’d rather make your own shampoo at home, it’s pretty straightforward. Here is a recipe for a DIY witch-hazel-based shampoo that comes from The People’s Pharmacy, a highly respected source for all things natural health-related.
Ingredients:
2 cups distilled water 3 ounces pure witch-hazel leaves 20 drops tea tree oil 15 drops lavender essential oil 12 drops rosemary essential oil Directions:- Bring the water to boil in a small saucepan and add the witch hazel leaves. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 30 minutes to make a strong tea.
Pour into a 16-ounce bottle (for easy storage) and add the essential oils. Let the mixture cool completely before using, then pour over your hair while it’s still dry and massage into your scalp. Rinse thoroughly with water. You can store this mixture in a jar or bottle for up to one month in the refrigerator but shake well before use as it may separate a bit when stored.
Witch Hazel For Hair Growth:
Witch hazel is most commonly used to treat acne, however, I have personally found that is also beneficial for promoting healthy hair growth! Witch hazel helps to balance the oil production of the skin, and this helps reduce clogged pores that can prevent healthy hair growth. I find that applying witch hazel to the scalp twice a week helps promote healthy hair growth and reduces breakage!