diy beer rinse the effects of beer in natural hair

DIY Beer Rinse: The Effects of Beer in Natural Hair

Beer? Yes, Beer

Here’s a topic we have yet to cover: beer. We all know that about half the American population love beer. Bars have them, liquor stores have them, clubs have them, and even your local grocery store more than likely has them. The beer has been a part of our lives, indirectly, for as long as we have all been alive. But, what does beer have to do with hair? The beer has properties in it that promote the overall health of your hair, from root to tip. This concept is not all that new, but it is getting the light and shine it deserves after years of people only using it for oral consumption.

Let’s Talk About The Beer Rinse

There are plenty of rinses known to help achieve healthier and stronger hair. But when you were born with the tighter and more delicate curls, you are probably willing to try just about anything to get the results you want. But, have you tried beer? It can be a little gross to think about at first. After all, who willingly pours beer in their hair (unless you make somebody upset at the club, then you might get that treatment)? However, the benefits of a beer rinse for naturally curly hair makes sense, so it does not hurt to give it a shot, right?

What Makes Beer So Great For Your Hair?

You are probably wondering by now what the actual benefits are the beer contains. The ever so favorite yeasty brew, beer, can add strength to dull, limp hair. The key ingredients to your typical beer are yeast, barley, water, and hops. The best (or worst depending on how you look at it) part is that you do not need to drink the beer to get the benefits. The beer benefits you get when you drench your hair in it. The malt and hops in the beer have tons of protein. There are essential oils in it that are rich in antioxidants which can fortify and strengthen the hair. The protein then nourishes and strengthens your hair. Beer can also make your hair shinier. The protein binds to hair dehydrated from blow drying, straightening, and harsh weather. Leaving the hair restored and with more body to it. The beer benefits do not end there. As the proteins bind with hair cuticles, the newly smoothed surface will better reflect light, which means that your hair will become shinier. Dried and damaged hair can even be repaired to its former lusciousness thanks to the nutrients found in beer. The shine is also added thanks to B vitamins in beer. Beer contains B-vitamins and proteins which are great for conditioning. Maltose and sucrose sugars in beer help to swell and tighten the cuticle which adds body as well as shine. I got satisfying results after trying this rinse! Surprisingly, my hair was softer, shinier and felt fuller to the touch even before it dried. Body is usually difficult to achieve with thinner hair, so this was impressive. The beer rinse is also said to improve elasticity and helps to revitalize the curl after heat damage so if this is an area that you are looking to fix, try the beer rinse!

DIY Beer Rinses

Now, let’s get started discussing how to do your at-home beer rinse. I will talk about two different ways to do this, and you can choose one, depending on your preference. A beer rinse can add shine, luster, and strength to every single curl and at the same time. You will have fun doing it. I mean, why wouldn’t you? It is beer!

First Beer Rinse

All you need is one bottle of warm, flat, non-alcoholic beer, conditioner and something to co-wash your hair with during this process. It helps if you leave the beer uncovered overnight. Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you might need two bottles. This technique is the more straightforward method!

Step #1

Co-wash your hair in the sink rather than in the shower. You may not be too excited at the thought of beer running down your back.

Step #2

After co-washing, pour the beer all over your hair, coating every strand from the root to the ends.

Step #3

Once you pour all of the beer into your hair, let it sit for about 3 to 5 minutes and rinse it out with warm water before rinsing again with colder water to help get rid of the smell. Use a plastic shower cap when letting the beer sit in your hair, to keep the beer smell from following you around the room.

Step #4

This part is optional, but when you finish, you can add a little bit of conditioner after the beer rinse. This step keeps the beer smell out of your hair and adds extra moisture.

Step #5

Rinse the conditioner out with cold water to lock in the moisture and scrunch your hair with an old t-shirt to safely dry your curls. At this point, you can style your hair as usual.

Second Beer Rinse

All you need for this rinse is one bottle of warm, flat, non-alcoholic beer, shampoo, and apple cider vinegar.

Step #1

Mix it at room temperature, with an equal amount of water and add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar you add to get rid of the beer smell.

Step #2

After shampooing, use the beer rinse as your conditioner. To get the best result, let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing. Keep in mind when using either beer rinses that while too drying to use every day, a once or twice monthly beer rinse will work. It also would not hurt to invest in a pricey clarifying shampoo, to remove buildup from hair products. So, remember the golden rule: use but do not over-use.

What Else Can You Use Beer For In Your Hair?

Rinsing your hair with beer is not the only thing that you can do. You can also use beer as a leave-in conditioner. For a leave-in conditioner, transfer the mixture to a spray bottle, spray it on and go. As mentioned before, the proteins in beer bind to the hair shaft, and you will experience what exactly that means for your hair. That is right, volume! So for people with thin hair, this is the solution that will deliver tons of thickness. Many people have seen the benefits of fuller, thicker and more bodied hair through the use of a beer rinse. Beer is not, however, acting on growing hairs, but the existing ones. There is no actual evidence that beer can help hair grow, but you can see there are other beautiful benefits!

Other Strange Hair Methods

Beer is not the only weird method that presented itself to be a proven hair health factor. Other practices may be just as questionable as beer, but they still have proven to work with the right research. Here are a few different methods besides beer that you can quickly do at home and as often as you see fit.

1. The inversion method

This method causes your hair follicles to reach maximum capacity and stimulate growth. The technique is a favorite, but whether turning upside down for a few minutes, every day for just one week of the month works is debatable. If you do decide to do this method, you may not want to do it more than one week out the month. If you do, you could risk headaches and other severe problems in the future.

2. Wear a shower cap

This method involves wrapping your head in cling film or wearing a shower cap and leaving it on as long as possible, preferably overnight. The idea is that the build-up of heat will increase your scalp’s sebum production and encourage hair growth. Some women also apply a healthy amount of oil to their scalp before doing so, as a form of deep conditioning, so if your hair doesn’t grow at least, it’ll be super soft and shiny. It is similar to what the purpose of the inversion method is.

3. Drizzle on some fish oil

Full of good fats and omega-3, fish oil is said to fortify your hair and flood your scalp with nutrients. The downside is you’ll be a little smelly and may want to avoid people until you’ve washed it out. If you do not want the smell of fish in your hair, try some fish oil vitamins. I have personally tried this every single day where I took an omega three fish oil pill, and I experienced significant growth in my hair. There are other options, so find them!

4. Rub your fingernails

That is right! Some may say that rubbing your nails together for 5-20 minutes a day or even more can encourage hair to grow out of your head faster. There’s no scientific backing for this, but apparently, the nerve endings in your nails are connected with your scalp and will cause a tingling sensation when stimulated. Again, I am not sure how true this is, but it does not take that much effort to try. Rub your fingernails when watching your favorite television show and do this every day for a week.

5. Pour on some cayenne pepper

Mixing this spicy powder into oil and applying it to your scalp is growing in popularity. The tingling or stinging sensation is thought to draw fresh blood to the hair follicles and stimulate a healthy growth rate. Do not pour too much onto your scalp or you could risk burning it.

6. Try an onion water rinse

You may not believe that you can use onions for anything else, except cooking, but that's not the case. Boil some onions in water and use the water on your hair as a rinse, no seriously! It'll make it grow super-fast because it provides nutrients and circulation to the hair follicles. Which can aid in hair loss and not to mention it'll give it an impressive sheen that everyone will be jealous of when they see you!

7. Monistat7

That is right, everyone, vaginal yeast infection cream is the new wave. Monistat 7" craze is going around on the YouTube. People are applying the cream from the tube straight to my scalp much like using dry shampoo to the hair section by section and seeing results within a week! Some people experienced headaches, but nothing too drastic.

8. Try using Potato Juice

This method may be the most effective. Yet it is the least known to people for hair growth and is very beneficial for those of us that are affected by hair loss. Use the juice of 3 potatoes with an egg yolk, and one tbs of organic honey dilute the solution with a bit of water. To apply the potato juice on the hair for enhanced hair growth and thickness you need to massage it on the scalp gently.

9. Cinnamon

It is highly anti-inflammatory and aids in the circulation of blood. When used on your mane, this helps with removing impurities from the scalp in which promotes hair growth even further. Cinnamon is also perfect for treating scalp infections antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties with benefits of whether taken internally and orally. Cinnamon powder can also alter the color of your hair! If you have a lighter than black, you may notice that your hair may have lightened a bit to a beautiful cinnamon brown color depending on person to person. When using anything for the first time, please apply with caution and sparingly to better determine what may or may not work best for you. Preventing your hair from hair loss and treating baldness.

Beer Might Be the New Wave in 2018

Let’s sum all of this up so that you do not think I am crazy for believing that beer is right for your hair. Beer contains protein which can strengthen your hair and it also has an acidic pH which makes your hair shiny by tightening the cuticles. Beer contains hops, which are natural astringents. Because beer is rich in proteins and vitamins, through the natural barley and hops, it does provide necessary nutrients for helping to develop healthy hair. Have you thought about trying out a beer rinse? Are you against it? Are you a believer? Wait, have you already tried a beer rinse? How was your experience? Let me hear your thoughts on this topic! It is a somewhat different subject than other hair topics. Leave a question or comment below!
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1 comment

I have used a “stale” beer in my hair, once a week since 1976. It’s always been a beer with alcohol and I have never once rinsed it out after. My hair has never smelt like beer once dry, and it is loaded with luscious volume. My baby, fine thin hair loves “beer day!”.

I rarely ever use styling products because I’m allergic to isopropyl alcohol and that’s a main ingredient.

I also apply a thin dusting of baby powder to my hair daily, and it’s loaded with volume and texture and pretty much stays put without any gels, mouuse or spray.
Try it on a day off if you’re concerned, but the once you see the magic of beer and a tiny bit of powder, you’re not going to want to turn back to anything else.

Sherri H

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