Is Honey Moisturising or Drying?

[dorothea-brooke]

That's it -- just a very quick simple question for all you honey-heads out there! :D

thanks!
dorothea

[ktani]

Honey has humectant properties and is considered to be moisturizing.

However, if the honey you use leaves a lot of residue, it can feel drying.

Shampooing and vinegar rinses have been reported to remove honey residue very well - the drying effect is temporary when these are used.

[dorothea-brooke]

Great -- thanks so much for your quick reply, ktani!

I was asking because my weekly deep moisture treatment (1/4 EVOO, 1/4 coconut oil, 1/2 honey) seems not to be working lately -- my hair felt very dry afterwards last time I did it, and I was wondering if the honey was the culprit. But I do shampoo afterwards so sounds like the honey is not the issue....

cheers
dorothea

[ktani]

You are welcome.

Sometimes it can take more than 1 shampoo to remove the residue.

It depends on how much there is.

Is this a new honey that you used?

In Honey, people have reported residue with one honey but not another.

There is not one kind or type that is better for that. You need to experiment.

If you are using a different honey, I suggest going back to the one you used before.

[2luvmycurls]

I just tried, I think it's the SMT or something, I saw on here - I used 1 T honey, 1 T aloe vera gel (just used up some old stuff that's actually for sunburn relief and was a bright blue color) and 4 T condish. I left it on for about 2 hours, and rinsed. I actually applied condishioner twice because in the shower it didn't feel smooth, but now that it's all dry, it feels incredibly soft and I can see a shine to my hair (it's curly and doesn't usually have any shine at all)

[jojo]

However, if the honey you use leaves a lot of residue, it can feel drying.

. this is so true, what I have found prevents this is mix a big glug of ACV or white wine vinegar with your honey all together with either conditioner for a deep conditioner or with warm water for a final rinse; no cruchies!

[Teazel]

Strange, I've never had any residue with honey. It just leaves my hair soft and shiny - I love it! So I vote for "moisturising". :rockerdud

[dorothea-brooke]

Interesting about the different kinds of honey, too -- this makes sense. I was using a big cheap bottle of Safeway honey, and then switched to a fancier brand which is when it started to feel drying. Hmmmm.

Yet more proof that the cheap products (Suave, VO5, etc.) are often better for my hair! :p

dorothea

[ktani]

It has nothing to do with the price of the honey.

It has to do with the plant source and how it is processed in some cases.

I cannot be more specific.

I is something you just have to try - different honeys.

[burns_erin]

Additionally, the effects of humectants are changed depending on the environment. A humectant is going to act differently depending on the amount of moisture available to be moved. In theory, and some people have reported, that using a humectant in very dry climates actually does suck the moisture out of your hair because there is more moisture in your hair than the air.

[ktani]

That is true, however in most cases - honey is not left on the hair and rinsed out would not be present in a sufficient amount to cause that, IMO.

[dorothea-brooke]

Additionally, the effects of humectants are changed depending on the environment. A humectant is going to act differently depending on the amount of moisture available to be moved. In theory, and some people have reported, that using a humectant in very dry climates actually does suck the moisture out of your hair because there is more moisture in your hair than the air.

Ahhh... this is very interesting! Thanks, burns_erin.

Perhaps this explains why sometimes my treatment works and sometimes it doesn't....

:ponder:

dorothea

[plainjanegirl]

Maybe my hair does not like honey. I posted about this earlier in the SMT thread. I know my hair does not like AVG. So today I did a treatment with conditioner, honey, and coconut oil. And it left my hair very dry, especially the ends....and it was not like this before the treatment. So now I don't know what to do. I put oil in my hair tonight and I guess I will wash again tomorrow....normally I wash my hair every other day. So do you think the honey was drying? How do you use honey for it to be moisturizing? On wet or dry hair...and then rinse out?

[ktani]

Maybe my hair does not like honey. I posted about this earlier in the SMT thread. I know my hair does not like AVG. So today I did a treatment with conditioner, honey, and coconut oil. And it left my hair very dry, especially the ends....and it was not like this before the treatment. So now I don't know what to do. I put oil in my hair tonight and I guess I will wash again tomorrow....normally I wash my hair every other day. So do you think the honey was drying? How do you use honey for it to be moisturizing? On wet or dry hair...and then rinse out?

plainjanegirl

That sounds like honey residue to me.

Shampooing should get rid of it even more so than a vinegar rinse.

Try a different honey and less coconut oil - about a tablespoon only of oil and try the SMT without too much aloe gel - it can leave a residue too.

Some honeys have a very low pH - that can make them more astringent - use the SMT at 2 parts conditioner to 1 part honey to dilute it more.

Mirowave the honey separately over 10 seconds, under 1 minute to prevent it from lightening your hair.

[plainjanegirl]

Thanks ktani! I am going to try washing today again and see if that helps any.

[ktani]

Thanks ktani! I am going to try washing today again and see if that helps any.

You are welcome.

Good luck!

[dorothea-brooke]

Yes, I think I rudely forgot to thank you, ktani, on this thread for your helpful advice!

:flower:

dorothea

[ktani]

Great -- thanks so much for your quick reply, ktani!

I was asking because my weekly deep moisture treatment (1/4 EVOO, 1/4 coconut oil, 1/2 honey) seems not to be working lately -- my hair felt very dry afterwards last time I did it, and I was wondering if the honey was the culprit. But I do shampoo afterwards so sounds like the honey is not the issue....

cheers
dorothea

dorothea-brooke

You did thank me earlier - and I appreciate it.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=206082&postcount=4