Clean Beauty Tips & Techniques How to Make a Honey Hair Mask By Starre Vartan Starre Vartan Writer Columbia University Syracuse University Starre Vartan is an environmental and science journalist. She holds an MFA degree from Columbia University and Geology and English degrees from Syracuse University. Learn about our editorial process Updated August 29, 2022 Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Clean Beauty Products Tips & Techniques Overview Working Time: 3 - 5 minutes Total Time: 15 - 20 minutes Yield: 1 hair mask Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $10.00 Honey hair masks are incredibly moisturizing to both your hair and your scalp. Naturally antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory, honey may even help kill the bacteria that leads to dandruff. And if you have any cuts or abrasions on your scalp from hair treatments, sunburn, shaving, or over-styling, it can help with those, too. You will get the hydration benefits with any kind of honey, but unprocessed or raw honey, with all its natural enzymes, will have additional benefits for your skin. If you have pollen allergies though, definitely opt for filtered honey, as the unfiltered varieties can contain pollen particles. What You'll Need Tools/Equipment Small mixing bowl Spoon, spatula, or fork for mixing Old towel to cover the mask An old t-shirt Ingredients 1/4 cup raw honey 1/3 cup olive oil 3 drops lavender oil (optional) Instructions Treehugger / Sanja Kostic If possible, use a small bowl to mix your honey hair mask. It will be a lot easier to combine the ingredients if you do it carefully in as small a bowl as you can, simply because honey is so sticky and you'll lose what adheres to the side of the bowl. Be sure to have all your equipment ready, as well as your old towel and t-shirt before you start assembling your mask. Measure Your Honey Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Measuring out precise amounts of honey isn't easy, as it's naturally a bit messy. Do this first, and use your finger to get all the honey out of the measuring cup. Mix Ingredients Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Add the oil to the honey and gently mix. If you want some aromatherapy and additional dandruff-fighting and antibacterial punch, drop in some lavender essential oil. If it's cool in your home or the honey and oils don't seem to be mixing well, gently heat it. While stirring, check the consistency of your mixture. It's important that the mask be quite liquid so it spreads into your hair and soaks in easily. Brush Hair Well or Detangle Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Honey is quite sticky, so brushing dead hair and tangles out before you apply your mask is a good idea. This will also work to pull any superficial dirt and dust from your hair. Put a Towel Down and Check Your Clothes Treehugger / Sanja Kostic This hair mask is likely to drip, so protect your bathroom floor with an old towel (or use it to clean up what drips on the floor) and make sure whatever you're wearing can get oil drips on it and not matter. If you haven't already, go ahead and change into your old t-shirt. Apply the Honey Hair Mask Treehugger / Sanja Kostic It's best to use your fingers to apply the mask to your hair. Start at the scalp. Pour small amounts out of the bowl onto your scalp and work through your hair. Then, wrap your head in the old towel. Again, this mask will cause an oil stain, so be careful which towels you use. You could also wrap your head in a plastic bag and then wrap the old towel over it. You just want to make sure you keep it warm and moisturized while it's setting. Wait for the Mask to Do Its Thing Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Set a timer on your phone and wait at least 15 minutes while the mask works to hydrate and heal your scalp and hair. You can relax and listen to music or do some deep-breathing exercises, or anything that would create a more spa-like moment for you. Remove the Mask Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Your honey hair mask won't dry out, so you'll have to rely on timing to know when it's time to remove it. Get into the shower or put your head in the sink and rinse thoroughly with very warm water. Finish With Your Regular Hair Care Routine Treehugger / Sanja Kostic Finally, wash your hair following your usual hair care products. If your hair feels too oily after shampooing, use a couple of tablespoons of baking soda worked into your scalp and then rinse to pull the oil out. Frequently Asked Questions Which hair type will benefit most from a honey hair mask? Though suitable for all hair types, honey masks are most beneficial for those with dry hair. How often should you use a honey hair mask? Try using a honey hair mask once per week. Modify as needed based on how dry or oily your hair is after use. View Article Sources Bialon, Marietta, et al. "Chemical Composition of Two Different Lavender Essential Oils and Their Effect on Facial Skin Microbiota." Molecules, vol. 24, no. 18, 2019, pp. 3270., doi:10.3390/molecules24183270 View Article Sources Bialon, Marietta, et al. "Chemical Composition of Two Different Lavender Essential Oils and Their Effect on Facial Skin Microbiota." Molecules, vol. 24, no. 18, 2019, pp. 3270., doi:10.3390/molecules24183270