Rooibos = Hair growth?

[frangipani]

Hello to all you beautiful long hairs out there
I haven't posted anything at lhc for a while due to a frustration haircut ... and subsequent loss of hairgrowing motivation...however:

I was googling on my new favourite tea, rooibos, to see if it has any health benefits. When I stumbled on this link, I thought yep! I must a. experiment with this and b. share it with LHC

http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/newsresearcharticle/rooibos-natures-answer-to-th/inning-hair?-trait108886

Anyone tried this/ any thoughts?

[sunshine-locks]

ooh, too bad it doesnt work by drinking, i love rooibos tea :)

[Svenja]

Sunsunshine-locks, I second you there! :)

I wonder if a rooibos tea rins might have similar effects? I like the smell too, so it would be worth a try.

[julliams]

I've been drinking it a fair bit. I wonder if it would make a good tonic to massage with? Haven't noticed any benefits in particular but I feel fine and my hair is growing so...

[dropinthebucket]

awesome! thnx for posting this! i have some rooibos tea i bought and didn't care for, now i'll use it up as a hair rinse! :)

[ChloeDharma]

I have been meaning to use this for ages. I read on another forum that a member makes rooibos oil for skin care and finds it really good so i was thinking of putting it in a hair oil.

[melikai]

I think Nightblooming puts it in her Panacea hair salve, so perhaps this is a reason why!

[lastnite]

it's one of the ingredients in that Ookisa hair line for thinning hair... also white tea and camilla oil is in it. I also heard green tea is good for thinning hair. So many things to rinse with... I still need to try catnip, do you think I could just mix them all together?

[ChloeDharma]

it's one of the ingredients in that Ookisa hair line for thinning hair... also white tea and camilla oil is in it. I also heard green tea is good for thinning hair. So many things to rinse with... I still need to try catnip, do you think I could just mix them all together?

You could play with mixing them together and seeing what happens, as long as your hair reacts well to it :)
When washing with Indian herbs i chuck a good few different types in as do some others here. Good luck :)

[Barniie]

Sunsilk has a like called longer and stronger, which has rooibos in it, so sounds good! ( i use it)

[redneckprincess]

Never heard of the stuff, where do I get it

[Barniie]

I get my shampoo and condish from basically anywhere, but i live in aus. Its the new line of co-creations from sunsilk, in a thin black bottle. I get it from woolies, coles or any other supermarket.

[Hotrox]

Never heard of the stuff, where do I get it

most supermarkets and certainly health food stores carry Rooibos tea bags

[Sissy]

I have been thinking a lot lately about doing a infusion of rooibos for my hair. I have also read of it's benefits and it is often used in South African creams and toners. My husband lived in SA for his childhood introduced me to rooibos a while back, it's honestly my favorite tea now :D


I think Nightblooming puts it in her Panacea hair salve, so perhaps this is a reason why!

yes, and I love it :D

[LadyJennifer]

Hmmm, I'll have to try it!

[Henrietta]

ooh, too bad it doesnt work by drinking, i love rooibos tea :)

Yeah, me too, especially in winter:)
So... maybe it works by drinking but it needs more time?:):):):)

[Tom Steinberg]

Great post. I have to make my own study now... What does it mean to have "clinical" trial? Does anyone know what the difference is?

[Rapunzal2Be]

Hmm, cool, I'll give it a try!

[ktani]

This (http://www.cosmetochem.ch/upload/docs/publications/rooibos.pdf) (link), is the cosmetic company, that 12 years ago had an independent laboratory test their product Herbasol® MPE Rooibos, on a small number of people (in vivo), and in 2002, based on that study, actively promoted their product. They do not appear to have done any follow up research on the subject since then. Other companies, promoting the rooibos extract they use, reference that one study to cash in on the marketing value of it.

There are no studies on hair growth mentioned here I can see.
The South African Rooibos Counsel
http://sarooibos.co.za/content/view/20/50/

[Sissy]

This (http://www.cosmetochem.ch/upload/docs/publications/rooibos.pdf) (link), is the cosmetic company, that 12 years ago had an independent laboratory test their product Herbasol® MPE Rooibos, on a small number of people (in vivo), and in 2002, based on that study, actively promoted their product. They do not appear to have done any follow up research on the subject since then. Other companies, promoting the rooibos extract they use, reference that one study to cash in on the marketing value of it.

There are no studies on hair growth mentioned here I can see.
The South African Rooibos Counsel
http://sarooibos.co.za/content/view/20/50/


Thanks for the links Katani, very interesting. Just wondering if there is any studies on catnip tea (I can't remember if there was or not) for growth or split ends. Also, I wonder if anyone has ever mixed their catnip and rooibos tea and applied them both as the same time as a treatment? Or do you think that would ruin the benefits of the catnip?

[Rapunzal2Be]

This (http://www.cosmetochem.ch/upload/docs/publications/rooibos.pdf) (link), is the cosmetic company, that 12 years ago had an independent laboratory test their product Herbasol® MPE Rooibos, on a small number of people (in vivo), and in 2002, based on that study, actively promoted their product. They do not appear to have done any follow up research on the subject since then. Other companies, promoting the rooibos extract they use, reference that one study to cash in on the marketing value of it.

There are no studies on hair growth mentioned here I can see.
The South African Rooibos Counsel
http://sarooibos.co.za/content/view/20/50/

Thank you for this!

[ktani]

Thanks for the links Katani, very interesting. Just wondering if there is any studies on catnip tea (I can't remember if there was or not) for growth or split ends. Also, I wonder if anyone has ever mixed their catnip and rooibos tea and applied them both as the same time as a treatment? Or do you think that would ruin the benefits of the catnip?

You are most welcome! I like to read a study if it is mentiond, at the source or as close to it as possible. I have not seen any other studies on rooibos and hair growth mentioned or posted online, just that one. That company spent money to have the efficacy of their "novel" product tested.

There are no clinical studies done on hair growth for rooibos or catnip that I am aware of to date. That rooibobs study was not a clinical trial.

I would not mix the 2 together. The polysaccharide content of rooibos would not work well with catnip in my opinion. Polysaccharides in a large quantity as I believe they are in rooibos, coat the hair too much.

[ktani]

Thank you for this!

My pleasure!

I had actually researched it some time ago and had to retreive it from my research stash.

Herbasol® MPE Rooibos is a proprietary, concentrated extract that is produced with a specific extraction process. All of the results of that study are from using Herbasol® MPE Rooibos as described, which includes its perceived conditioning benefits. For another company to use the study to promote their own products containing rooibos, unless they are using Herbasol® MPE Rooibos at the same concentration in a formula as in the study, I think is highly questionable on a number of very serious levels, to say the least.

I have seen 2 companies do so online, neither stating that they use Herbasol® MPE Rooibos. One company uses information for their marketing, taken almost word for word from the other's website, which "quotes" material from the study and has incorrect information about the company that commisioned the study. The company is described as a "processor of rooibos", which makes it sound like a rooibos farming operation.

Cosmetochem in fact, is a cosmetic industry producer of botanical extracts, and partners with clients to develop formulations. The study itself is not listed in the references cited. Why? The only reason I can think of is because the company that makes Herbasol® MPE Rooibos is competition to a degree.

I am hugely unimpressed with that kind of disreputable and deceptive marketing. Having said all of that, I am not posting the links. They are easy enough to find if one wants to look for them.

The products of many smaller cosmetic companies do not come from owners or employees "sweating over a hot stove" working out processess and formulas. That is part of the mystique though. It sells well. These days it is as simple as contacting with a company like this, http://www.bluestoneformulations.com/pages/privatelabelpg.html.

Plants are complex. They can be used in different ways and at different concentrations to yield different results. Timing, procedures and the proper extract used in a lotion as in the study for example, are critical.

It does not mean that one can slap on an infusion of rooibos and get the same results that were achieved in that study, which were not duplicated as far as I know.

Herbasol® MPE Rooibos was developed with expertise, care and precision. Just from experimenting with catnip infusions for close to 5 years, I can say with certainty, that there are variables that go toward desired results.

[curls2grow]

Are there any rooibos supplements in pill form that are decent?

[ktani]

Are there any rooibos supplements in pill form that are decent?

If not there will be no doubt. Dosages though have not been established, http://www.drugs.com/npp/red-bush-tea.html.

[Sissy]

I would not mix the 2 together. The polysaccharide content of rooibos would not work well with catnip in my opinion. Polysaccharides in a large quantity as I believe they are in rooibos, coat the hair too much.


Thanks, I was thinking that maybe their would be an issue with the coating as I know catnip cannot absorb or work well when anything else is coating the hair. Well, I may try a rooibos treatment someday... on it's own.

[ktani]

Thanks, I was thinking that maybe their would be an issue with the coating as I know catnip cannot absorb or work well when anything else is coating the hair. Well, I may try a rooibos treatment someday... on it's own.

You are most welcome! Good luck with your treatment.

[Denebi]

I'm going to try this.... probably today. And I will report on the results of course. Although I think that I have to do several experiments before I can conclude anything.

[Lunarennui]

it's one of the ingredients in that Ookisa hair line for thinning hair... also white tea and camilla oil is in it. I also heard green tea is good for thinning hair. So many things to rinse with... I still need to try catnip, do you think I could just mix them all together?

I *really* hope you're right on this, because I have thinning hair and I've been downing green tea (for weight loss, actually) and rooibos (just because I like it) lately...and tonight I'm preparing to henna for the first time, with some strong-brewed rooibos mixed with the lemon juice. Imagine if I can get henna's strength and thickness with both green tea AND rooibos to stop the thinning! *crosses fingers*

[Lunarennui]

I have been thinking a lot lately about doing a infusion of rooibos for my hair. I have also read of it's benefits and it is often used in South African creams and toners. My husband lived in SA for his childhood introduced me to rooibos a while back, it's honestly my favorite tea now :D



yes, and I love it :D

...I have to limit myself to one box per week...I think my fiance would prefer that I just bought beer. ><

[tiare_petal]

Rooibos was my staple tea for 2-3 months and I saw no faster hair growth with it.
I tried it in a rinse once only because it made my hair look unkempt if I remeber right.

[strwbrry dakri]

And where can one find this tea? Is it pretty well available, or would a specialty store/website be the place to look?

[ChloeDharma]

And where can one find this tea? Is it pretty well available, or would a specialty store/website be the place to look?

I don't know where you are but in the UK it's fairly much available in every supermarket. Health food shops stock it as well.

[tiare_petal]

There's also green (unfermented) rooibos available on the market. Perhaps it would do better?
http://www.botanical.com/products/learn/rooibos-green.html

[ChloeDharma]

I found this while looking through some stuff i saved on my computer
http://www.segalshairlosstreatment.com/Rooibos-Hair-Loss-Study.aspx#aGeneralInfo
It gives quite detailed information on what rooibos contains and it's hair growth uses

[ktani]

I found this while looking through some stuff i saved on my computer
http://www.segalshairlosstreatment.com/Rooibos-Hair-Loss-Study.aspx#aGeneralInfo
It gives quite detailed information on what rooibos contains and it's hair growth uses

That study is discussed here on this page and the results are for the specific extract, Herbasol&#174; MPE by Cosmetochem, which paid for the study http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=50836&page=3. I posted the link on the previous page http://www.cosmetochem.ch/upload/docs/publications/rooibos.pdf. The specially processed extract was used at a specific concentration, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=1152840&postcount=23. There are no other studies on rooibos confirming hair growth that I have seen or that are referred to or cited, just that one from 12 years ago, which was not a clinical study.

[Tom Steinberg]

So what would be the best way to apply it? Mix tea leaves with conditioner? Drink it? Rinse the hair with tea? Put tea bags on the hair? lol I guess there will be better result with longer exposure.

[ghost]

I wonder how often you're supposed to rinse with it?
I prefer to drink tea (from the camellia cinensis plant) rather than tisanes (such as rooibos), because the caffeine and theanine in tea keep your metabolism up, but I drink rooibos every once in a while and have come bags lying around as we speak. I wonder if I should do a rinse with rooibos every time I wash, or if it should only be done once a week or so. Anyone know?

[ChloeDharma]

So what would be the best way to apply it? Mix tea leaves with conditioner? Drink it? Rinse the hair with tea? Put tea bags on the hair? lol I guess there will be better result with longer exposure.

An infuson used as a rinse would be the simplest way, or you could make the oil by soaking the herb in oil for 6 weeks. Or for a quicker version gently heat the oil with the herb in bain marie method or even in a slow cooker.

Ghost I would assume as long as your hair is ok with it you can use the rinse as often as you like. If your length is not so keen you could just apply it to your scalp dipping cotton wool into the liquid and rubbing that on.

[Aredhel77]

I was also going to suggest trying it on scalp/roots only if it coats the hair when used as a final rinse.

Or perhaps apply the tea to dry hair as a pre-wash OR immediately after shampoo/wash, leaving it to sit for a while and then conditioning? Just ideas...

I have loads of rooibos that I need to use up so I will experiment and post back.

[Vampire]

Hmm getting interested in Roobois too after reading all these
I will make a roobois oil experiment, soak teabags in my olive oil (make a really strong roobois oil?) wich i use for my hair and try that? or does that sound silly?

[Aredhel77]

OK, to hijack slightly as this will not answer the question about whether or not rooibos enhances hair growth, I did try using an infusion on my hair today. I used 2 teabags to 1pt boiling water, let it cool and poured most of it over my dry hair in the bath. I left it on for half an hour, and out of curiosity, tried detangling it while wet - it detangled quite easily and felt smooth. I wondered at this point whether to leave it in or shampoo it out so as a compromise I CO washed it then conditoned normally. I still had a little bit of the infusion left (a tablespoon or so) so diluted it again and poured this solution over my hair as a final rinse. My hair did indeed feel 'coated,' definitely different to how it normally feels when wet, but it was coated in a nice way, very smooth.

It is extremely glossy now it's dry. My hair is henna'd and medium-thick and seemed to like this as a treatment. I Googled "rooibos hair rinse" and found it is used to give gloss and shine to red/brunette hair, so for me that was ideal.

Reading a previous poster's comment about polysaccharides in rooibos, I wonder if there would be any buildup/unpleasantness if I did try incorporating rooibos more frequently into my wash routine. I will try it and let you know.

Vampire: An oil infusion for scalp massage would probably be a great idea too. Doesn't sound silly, it's certainly worth a try!

[CaityBear]

Hmm, I might have to try this!! I had some Roobios tea that I wasn't really a fan of for drinking. I should try using it for rinses...

[LyssCraven]

I will make a roobois oil experiment, soak teabags in my olive oil (make a really strong roobois oil?) wich i use for my hair and try that? or does that sound silly?


And!? How did your Rooibos-oil-experiment went??

How long did you leave the Rooibos in the oil?
(Or maybe smb. else might be able to answer me that: How long would it need to stay in the oil, untill the oil is "ready"?) I'm also thinking about experimenting with Rooibos in oil.

(I'm already using (and loving) Rooibos-rinses!)

[Tom Steinberg]

I am currently trying Rooibos in this way. I first make a good strong cup of tea, then I wait for a week or so until the water is almost gone. Then there's actually some brownish rooibos at the bottom of the cup that I can apply to my hair. I will tell you in a year how it went :)

[hibiscus]

-----------------

[Viviane]

I copied the following from my blog, I don&#180;t know if this is a ok thingie to do. If not, I trust a swift snap on the wrist from mods and deletion.
Back in the day, I was practically living on rooibos tea. And my growth was indeed sped solely depending of how much and how strong tea I managed to drink.

"I&#180;ve had few growth spurts in my life.
One was very consistent. It lasted for 3-4 months during which I drank obscene amounts or rooibos tea. Really strong, really much. So much that the very whiff of rooibos tea makes me nautious to this day.
Back in the day my hair grew &#189;"/ mo. On rooibos months it grew 3/4 to almost an inch per month. Drinking rooibos was the ONLY thing that was different. I found rooibos at the time when Himsef was a tiny baby and refused to nap during the time. I found studies on line of rooibos, got sucked in ( rooibos was a very new thing then ) and stumbled upon on a study where they gave rooibos infusion to babies with milk and differentiated those babies with other group- sans rooibos infusion. After x- amount of time they noticed that babies slept longer and better on rooibos. Both groups looked pretty similar in comparison of blood tests. However, very soon the levels of vitamines, minerals and whatnots became more pronounced on the group of babies who were chucking rooibos. The same babies who continued sleeping better. It was a very new test, and it was very carefully done and monitored because there were babies involved. Well, I gave some rooibos, cooled down, to Himself from a spoon. A few teaspoons of the good stuff. The kid slept like he was meant to sleep forevah. I actually went to see if he breathed. The sleep was that deep. Even to this day, if he has troubles falling asleep, I infuse him some rooibos tea and off he goes.
My vanity was greatly fed with long-arse nails and good skin, not to mention almost doubled hairgrowth.
I have lots of rooibos tea, I might see if I can drink it yet.

[Finchen]

Bumping this thread. Anybody having success with Rooibos tea?

[Mesmerise]

I think I'm going to try a few rooibos experiments! I've been trying to drink one cup of Rooibos a day...but sometimes I forget ;) I like it okay but not THAT much! However, I'm also thinking of making a rooibos infusion of some kind.

One idea is to mix it with my castor oil, which I apply to the scalp two or three times a week. If I infused some into castor oil that would be a good way of really getting it on the scalp and keeping it there.

I've also thought of making it into a regular tea and using it as a hair rinse (maybe mixed in with my vinegar or lemon juice rinse?!).

I'm willing to try lots of different things to really speed up that hair growth :D.

[pelicano]

Hmm... interesting! I've just got back into drinking this again (I don't remember noticing increased hair growth when I was drinking it before). I'm tempted to try it as a rinse - I'm not looking for increased growth particularly (that would be a bonus), but condition.

[krissykins]

I really want to try this now. I need my hair to thicken up! :p

[fairystar32]

I love rooibos tea and drink 3-5 cups a day usually and have done for ages and ages I started drinking it when prgnant as its naturally caffeine free but I have never noticed an increase in hair growth though..

[CoilyCurlyME]

I love rooibos tea, and i have been thinking about trying it for the hair. Now i'm sure that i soon will try it. :)

[lokiveil]

Okay, so this may be a weird question, but I was wondering if any of you ladies trying the rooibos tea as a topical treatment had any scalp problems? Like did you have problems before and found an improvement? I am wondering if I should try adding this to my husband's shampoo, as he has folliculitus that has extremely bad flair ups. Currently I have him on a homemade mix with a base of T-gel shampoo, tea tree oil, alma, aritha, and neem powders all mixed together. I do the Indian herbs for their antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties...... I was just wondering if adding rooibos would help as well....... He doesn't care, he is just happy that whatever I make for him helps (which it has considerably, thank you LCHers!), but I don't want to add it if it will do nothing or if it may actually harm in some way. Also what would be the best way to add it?

Thanks in advance!

[pelicano]

I have seborrheic dermatitis and have done one rooibos treatment since reading this thread. My scalp usually reacts to herbs and suchlike, but I think the rooibos may have actually helped.

[NaiadOreiad]

I have been suffering from pretty bad allergies this spring, Chinese medicine says its because i over-exerted myself during winter (like riding my bicycle home 8 kms from work through almost blizzards at 11 at night). So allergies have been kicking my tush from here to next friday and lo and behold, DH on a whim decides to visit the tea shop and we picked up some Lemon Ginger Rooibos loose tea.

3 cups later: All congestion and swelling that has plagued me for 3 weeks has VANISHED. To celebrate I did a panacea and triple moon deep treatment, a ghassoul wash with the leftover tea bits, and a rooibos rinse.

Upon lightly oiling my ends and damp bunning to let it dry, I released my hair from its bun to find soft, SUPER glossy hair and happy ends.

tl:dr, count me as a rooibos fanatic.

[pelicano]

Anyone know whether rooibos tea is too acidic to use frequently as a leave in? My scalp seemed to like it last time I used it, but I'd have to use it daily to have a good effect.

[TheMechaGinger]

Well I drink a bunch of rooibos and green tea. I don't know if I could stand dumping it over my head instead of drinking it though, the stuff tastes too good to see it go down the drain =p

[Finchen]

I am going to rinse my hair with rooibos tea today. I hope it won't stain my hair red. :p

[pelicano]

It didn't stain mine (dark blonde) but was harder to remove from the white bath!

[Finchen]

It didn't stain mine (dark blonde) but was harder to remove from the white bath!

Thanks for the info. Will you continue using it?

Edit: I just saw you asked whether it is too acidic to use every day. If you want I can make some rooibos tea now and measure the ph-value. How strong do you make your tea to rinse your hair with it?

[pelicano]

Oh yes please! :)

Last time I made it as if I was going to drink it, ie a mug and one tea bag. Then I put it in a jug and added about the same amount of water again, before pouring over my hair.

[Finchen]

I only have lose rooibos tea (no bags). Anyway I will use 200 ml (1 cup) water + 2 grams of rooibos tea. Will update in 15 minutes. :p

[HairFaerie]

If I made the rooibos tea and put it in a spray bottle...what is the approximate shelf life? Will it spoil quickly?

A year or so ago, I made a tea rinse with dried chamomile, horsetail, nettles and a few other....I had to keep it refrigerated or else it would get moldy.

Has anyone made tea mist out of it or should I just make one application and use it immediately?

Thanks! ;)

[Finchen]

@pelicano: The rooibos tea is slightly acidic with a pH in the range of 5 to 6. Sorry that I cannot be more specific about the exact ph value, still I hope this helps you.

[pelicano]

@pelicano: The rooibos tea is slightly acidic with a pH in the range of 5 to 6. Sorry that I cannot be more specific about the exact ph value, still I hope this helps you.

Thanks so much for doing that - very helpful. :)

[jojo]

OK I have jumped on the rooibo growth train. I got some redbush tea made by Tetley's yesterday and I really love the taste of this. I was an avid coffee drinker up to 10 cups a day :o I know thats bad! Anyway I must have drunk 8 cups of the Rooibo tea yesterday and no coffee at all!

I also put 2 teabags in a pint jug with boiled water, left to cool and then used as a final rinse. I did not rinse off, which worried me a little but although I didnt comb it wet, it dried really nice and was easy to comb out. My hair looks glossy and I cannot see any further red tones that have been added. My hair is pretty red anyway, dont take no notice of how dark and unred it looks in my avatar; that was lighting!

I am going to continue with the above, as well as using the daktarin so we will see!

Anybody else got any results, they would like to share?

[Java]

I love this thread and am going to see if I can improve my growth by drinking it as much as I can.
Started today with 2 bags in a cup of hot (not boiling, should it be?) water. The brands I am using are Tazo's Honeybush and The Republic of Tea's Double Red Rooibos Tea. The Double Red Tea claims that ground rooibos contains more than double the antioxidants of regular leaf form, I am guessing they mean a different part of the plant? It says this on the label;
"In addition to its robust flavor, rooibos (ROY-boss) is known for its super antioxidant powers. It helps build your immune system and contributes to a healthier life overall. And ounce for ounce, ground rooibos packs double the punch of antioxidants as rooibos in leaf form. All the more reason to make organic double red rooibos your everyday power source."

[tgagurl27]

I was thinking that it was a waste too "TheMechaGinger" but then I thought... ? What about if you had your tea then kept the already used tea bags as a rinse or to add to your oils?? It wouldn't be as strong but im sure it would still help??

[Java]

I was hearing about infusing oils in the Castor Oil Thread, it seems like a great idea as long as you find a way to keep it from going bad. I will be looking into it more.

[Guenhwyvar]

For the last 2 washes I have put the cool tea on my hair between shampooing my scalp and conditioning the lengths for 15mins+. It has made my hair go really soft and shiny.

I have also starting drinking it again as I wanted to go decaf. I forgot how addictive it is.

[jojo]

Very addictive. Ive gone through 80 tea bags in a week! Hair growth or not Im sticking with it!

[NaiadOreiad]

Very addictive. Ive gone through 80 tea bags in a week! Hair growth or not Im sticking with it!

I know what you mean!!! I find myself reaching for rooibos more often than any others.

Its got such a nice subtle spice.... I love it! :D

[jojo]

I have a pint cup and its always full of the stuff even if it doesn't work for me, it sure tastes much nicer than normal tea. Another thing ive noticed is I have no arthritic pain in my hands in the morning since drinking it!

[Amber_Maiden]

I drink it all the time, an add it to my henna for a more red colour sometimes... I don't know if it helps with hair growth... Let me know how it goes!!!

[Busybee]

I thought maybe I had found a great "hair-grower-thickener" to add to my routine.........but I get kidney stones from too much tea (or at least that's what my Urologist tells me) - and I don't want any reddish tinge to my hair.

So I guess I can't drink enough to make a dent, and I can't put it on my hair topically, I am SOL - hahahaha.

And , as a cautionist by nature, I agree with Rapunzal2Be that there aren't any other studies of general/everyday Rooibos usage to prove hair growth/thickness. Lots of ladies on here are reporting that they are trying it - but not results of any signifigance, that I am finding...... unless you are inhaling gallons of it.

[shawty]

I've been using rooibos tea directly on my scalp not every day but most days, and here are my results:

3/4 inch in 21 days, as opposed to my usual 1/2 inch in 30 days. ^_^

note: i used this in combination with a daily scalp massage, so either one could have been responsible. here's my technique: when i finish drinking the tea, i part my hair in lots of thin rows and dab the teabag on the parts one by one.

[bunzfan]

I thought maybe I had found a great "hair-grower-thickener" to add to my routine.........but I get kidney stones from too much tea (or at least that's what my Urologist tells me) - and I don't want any reddish tinge to my hair.

So I guess I can't drink enough to make a dent, and I can't put it on my hair topically, I am SOL - hahahaha.

And , as a cautionist by nature, I agree with Rapunzal2Be that there aren't any other studies of general/everyday Rooibos usage to prove hair growth/thickness. Lots of ladies on here are reporting that they are trying it - but not results of any signifigance, that I am finding...... unless you are inhaling gallons of it.

In two weeks my hair grow 1/2 an inch and i drink 3 mugs a day and apply daily:)

[shawty]

In two weeks my hair grow 1/2 an inch and i drink 3 mugs a day and apply daily:)

That's the same growth rate I got, 1/4 inch per week. =)

[Tom Steinberg]

I am curious, do you just leave your hair to airdry after dabbing the teabag, or do you need to rinse out the rooibos afterwards?


I've been using rooibos tea directly on my scalp not every day but most days, and here are my results:

3/4 inch in 21 days, as opposed to my usual 1/2 inch in 30 days. ^_^

note: i used this in combination with a daily scalp massage, so either one could have been responsible. here's my technique: when i finish drinking the tea, i part my hair in lots of thin rows and dab the teabag on the parts one by one.

[shawty]

I am curious, do you just leave your hair to airdry after dabbing the teabag, or do you need to rinse out the rooibos afterwards?

I let it airdry. Sorry for the wait!

[Cirafly24]

I bought a box of rooibos tea on Friday, and I'm almost out already! I didn't think I'd enjoy it so much, since I've never liked hot tea (blah!)...but I've been drinking 2-4 cups a day at work, and I added some to my twice a week scalp treatment. I add a teaspoon or two of honey to my 2 cup mug, and it tastes nice...but not so nice that I'd say I love the taste. For some reason, though, I keep wanting more. You're right, it's addictive! I also like that it helps me drink more liquids...adding 16-32 oz to each day is great!

I'm interested to see if I see an increase in my growth rate.

ETA: my whole point in posting was to ask: what brand are you all buying? I think mine is Celestial Seasonings madagascar vanilla

[arcane]

I decided to try rooibos as a rinse, which I did for the first time yesterday. While I don't know if it will make my hair grow it was an awesome detangler. I barely had any knots when I combed my hair out, a lot fewer than usual.

I don't think I'll be drinking a cup a day or anything, it doesn't taste all that good to me. Not bad, just flavorless and not really worth drinking all that much. I'll probably have a cup once a week so I don't feel like I'm wasting a teabag on making a hair rinse (I admit it, I'm cheap).

I'm using Just Us! Organic Rooibos.

[Roscata]

ETA: my whole point in posting was to ask: what brand are you all buying? I think mine is Celestial Seasonings madagascar vanilla

I use Numi (http://ecart.raleys.com/pd/Numi/Teasan-Sachets-Organic-Herbal-Red-Mellow-Bush/1-52-oz/680692101027/) from Rayley's (this link (http://www.amazon.com/Numi-Tea-Organic-Rooibos-Herbal/dp/B001IS0EUY) has a better photo of it).

[Scarlet_Heart]

I've already reduced some rooibos tea (Twinings Rooibos African Red). I mean I prepared the tea and then boiled more water out so that I have a more concentrated tea.

I plan on making a leave-in concoction of the concentrated tea, castor oil, and grapeseed oil and seeing where it gets me.

ETA: It was a disaster. I have had hormone-related hair loss lately and this made me lose an unusually large amount of hair. It might be ok for someone who does not have this problem.

[Cirafly24]

I've been using rooibos tea topically and I've been drinking 2-4 cups a day. I haven't measured my hair yet (it's only been 3 weeks), but I noticed my eyelashes are visibly longer. I haven't been applying the tea to that area, so I guess it's from drinking it? Pleasant, but unexpected!

[Roscata]

I'm sad about this journal update but here it is:

"I don't even know why but I've been stressed out BIG time in the past 2 weeks. I've only been to school ONCE this entire time and I only did ONE of my homeworks and that was just because it's worth half my grade in that class.

The rooibos teas seem to be my best bet right now. I've been PMSing for weeks and my PMS sometimes makes me really depressed, like suicidal depressed, but only on hormonal birth control. Since I've read about women getting their period early or twice in one month while on rooibos tea I'm pretty sure there is some effect on that part of me. One plus one equals two. Makes me really sad though, I got one inch and a fourth on rooibos tea. It sucks. The reason I know is because aunt Ruby is in town and I am one happy gal right now. Top of the world, the hills are alive with the sound of music happy.

So my advice to anyone reading this is: 'If you have bad PMS or bad experiences with hormonal birth control watch your symptoms when trying out rooibos tea, stop it if anything out of the norm happens and try again in a few weeks if you want to be really sure.' "

One of the ladies reading my hair journal also commented:

"Wed.11.02.11 2:40pm
Oh my GOD! This explains everything! I thought I was having a miscarriage! my period was 2 weeks early!
And I got incredibly depressed one day too, once I got my period I thought maybe it was was PMS or the valium I took to get to sleep. Wow. I've never had such a reaction before."

[Revontuletar]

Hi all. I just found this thread and was wondering if it would still work by just drinking it, and not applying it to the hair, because I have blonde hair and have heard about rooibos staining hair a dark reddish colour.

[Rosetta]

^ It's true, at least in my experience... For a while I sprayed it on my roots, and it did stain the hair at my temples that's very light blonde (much lighter than the rest of my hair) somewhat. So I, too, hope that drinking it would work :) Not that I noticed any growth increase in applying it to scalp, though...

[Tom Steinberg]

I have been dabbing my roots with rooibos tea, and it has not changed the color of my hair (although I am not light blonde as I used to be when I was young). I am not sure that drinking would do any good, and apparently (please read above) there seem to be some sideffects of too much tea drinking. There is info about adding rooibos to hair lotion here:
http://www.segalshaircare.com/Rooibos-Hair-Loss-Study.php

[Loviatar]

I'm going to try using rooibos as my spritz/mister with a mix of horsetail tea. I'm hoping it will help me stretch washes and keep my scalp fresh, any growth is a bonus.

I tried it today to drink, and it's delicious. I have cut caffeine, so switching my regular tea and coffee for rooibos feels like a good idea. The reason I want to drink it is really nerdy: it's what Mma Ramotswe drinks in the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency books :oops:

[ladylovecraft]

I have tried most, if not all of the growth 'accelerators' toted on this website and others (including the vagisil cream, lol) and none of them actually increase my growth rate but rooibos. Castor oil actually increased my hair shedding, but drinking excessive amounts of rooibos daily seems to speed it up. I've stopped measuring, but I'll try to start again. I know that with no outside forces I grow 1/2" a month, but I definitely notice that I need to henna my hair more and my roots show faster on rooibos. That being said, I drink A TON of rooibos. I brew a gallon of the stuff and ice it, and I finish this every other day. So half a gallon of iced rooibos a day, pretty much. It also seems to clear my acne-prone skin. : )

[Audhumla]

I've heard a lot of women say that drinking Rooibos tea or red bush tea causes serious disruption to their hormonal balance which can have any number of effects.
A lot of girls say that taking the pill which is obviously designed to alter your hormonal balance gives them more hair growth and I've experienced this too however I'm not sure drinking a lot of this tea would be very good for you.
Rinses can't really hurt though one would imagine.

[WilfredAllen]

I've been spraying it and I think it's helped with my growth

[PolarCathy]

For some, those hormonal changes may actually be beneficial. I posted about it I just don't remember where (might have been a private conversation) that Rooibos gave me absolutely painless periods which was hmmm... more than welcome. Drinking Rooibos right now, I mean, restarting today... (I have been off for several months, I just forgot...)



I've heard a lot of women say that drinking Rooibos tea or red bush tea causes serious disruption to their hormonal balance which can have any number of effects.
A lot of girls say that taking the pill which is obviously designed to alter your hormonal balance gives them more hair growth and I've experienced this too however I'm not sure drinking a lot of this tea would be very good for you.
Rinses can't really hurt though one would imagine.

[Audhumla]

For some, those hormonal changes may actually be beneficial. I posted about it I just don't remember where (might have been a private conversation) that Rooibos gave me absolutely painless periods which was hmmm... more than welcome. Drinking Rooibos right now, I mean, restarting today... (I have been off for several months, I just forgot...)

Ah yes, I know it's recommended for women with period pain and also women going through menopause and I'm glad it's been of some benefit to you I just meant that if you have a normal and relatively comfortable hormonal cycle going on it's probably best not to tinker with it.

[*Rose Red*]

I read this thread for the first time and it reminds me that I bought some rooibos-tea to enhance the colour of my hair. Then I completely forget it, but increasing my hair growth sounds good :D, so I want to start again with rooibos rinses after hairwash.

[Chaotica]

I've never heard of roiibos-tea increases hair growth. After reading this article I'll absoulutely try out! :)

[ChloeDharma]

Bumping this up to see if it sparks some interest.

[bonbon58]

j wonder which would work faster, drinking or rinsing??

[priinnz]

Hi I know this is an old thread, but can anyone advise if drinking rooibos tea also increased facial hair and on arms and legs? I see that a lot of people noticed longer eyelashes and eyebrows so a bit worried..

[Ylva]

Hi I know this is an old thread, but can anyone advise if drinking rooibos tea also increased facial hair and on arms and legs? I see that a lot of people noticed longer eyelashes and eyebrows so a bit worried..

I don't know about rooibos specifically, but if anything taken internally increased hair growth on the head, it would likely also affect hair growth in other places. When I took biotin, I noticed no effect on any hair. Then again, my leg hair already grows pretty damn fast. :D

But as far as I've gathered, drinking rooibos hasn't shown effects on hair growth, only topical application.

[nycelle]

No.. I drink it all the time and there's no increase in hair growth anywhere. But I'm lucky in that I'm not very hairy, other than my head.

[priinnz]

Thanks Ylva And nycelle, That is good to know. Some people on a different thread mentioned that their eyelashes have grown longer with rooisbs. This got me a bit concerned.