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When hair becomes dry, lackluster, and brittle, the first thing to look into is your routine — does it contain the proper ingredients and products to address your dryness concerns? Chances are if your regimen doesn't contain honey, probably not. But don't fret, because the best honey-infused products for hair are easy to find and most are relatively affordable.
In case you're unaware of the moisture-retaining powers of honey, New York City-based hairstylist Nicholas Taylor says that this bee-derived ingredient (sorry, vegans) absorbs and locks in moisture similarly to hyaluronic acid, which you may be familiar with through your skin-care routine. "Humectants like honey help lock in moisture by attracting water," says Taylor. "Honey's humectant properties are also great for your skin, therefore, it hydrates your scalp and promotes hair growth, too."
Trust us — no matter your hair type, honey is the key to hydrated, silky-smooth hair. Don't believe us? Then try out one of the best honey-infused beauty products for hair and see for yourself. Below, take a peek at the buzziest honey hair care products recommended by hair experts and Allure editors alike.
For an intensive hydrating treatment, Taylor says to reach for Briogeo's Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, a nourishing treatment that'll plump, condition, and improve the elasticity of damaged hair with the help of an apple-derived honey alternative. "This mask delivered everything I needed and truly makes an immediate difference in the feel of your hair," he says. "It also smells great, is super moisturizing, and minimized frizz in a single treatment."
Gisou's Honey Infused Hair Wash is the latest honey-infused concoction from Negin Mirsalehi's Allure Best of Beauty-winning brand that'll nourish your hair. This hair cleanser utilizes the moisture-retaining benefits of honey to gently wash hair while replenishing much-needed hydration. "This shampoo is sulfate- and paraben-free and because of the honey, it prevents dehydration and breakage," says Taylor. "It relieves the scalp of buildup and is gentle enough for my clients that must wash their hair every day."
When Allure associate news editor Gabi Thorne wants a dose of hydration added to her pre-styling routine, she slathers the Creme of Nature Knot Away Leave-In Detangler onto her hair. As its name suggests, it's spiked with honey to condition and hydrate, but that's not the only conditioning ingredient within this formula. Shea butter and coconut oil work hand-in-hand with honey to intensely moisturize, making Thorne's detangling routine a total breeze.
According to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Ashley Gomila, the Eczema Honey Scalp Oil Treatment is an excellent addition to your scalp routine for its hydrating, itch-soothing blend of honey, aloe vera, tea tree, jojoba, and olive oils. "This product leaves a bit of a cooling sensation and feels like an at-home spa experience, perfect for a scalp massage," she says.
While most hairsprays leave behind a crunchy, tacky feel, Gomila says that the Kevin Murphy Anti.Gravity Spray actually softens hair and addresses frizz, thanks to the addition of manuka honey in its formula. The results: flawless, flyaway-free hairstyles without stiffness.
Yes, Guerlain's Abeille Royale Scalp & Hair Youth-Oil-in Serum may be pricey, but Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says it's one of the most impressive scalp treatments she's ever used. "I have a rather itchy, dry scalp — well, that used to be the case before this scalp serum landed on my desk," she says. "I like to apply this on my scalp and hair after showering to moisturize it, and then I'll apply a few drops on the shaft and ends of my hair after styling for a shine boost." Like all of Guerlain's Abeille Royale products, this lightweight elixir is spiked with honey and royal jelly, another moisturizing ingredient derived from bees.
The SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Leave-In Conditioner is a drugstore favorite that's nabbed an Allure Best of Beauty Award for its hydrating, hair-softening properties. This thick, custardy formula contains shea butter, honey, and baobab oil to provide much-needed moisture as you prep and style your hair.
Camille Rose's Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner looks good enough to eat, but the only thing that should enjoy this syrupy formula is your hair (especially if it's on the thicker, curlier side). This post-shower conditioning treatment provides a slew of softening and smoothing ingredients including honey, olive oil, and aloe vera.
A full-size shampoo and conditioner for less than $20? That's one of the many reasons why we're stocking up on Garnier's Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner. This in-shower duo contains basically everything except the beehive: each formula contains honey, propolis, and royal jelly extracts, all bee-derived ingredients with humectant properties to hydrate and smooth hair.
Leave it to Tracee Ellis Ross to create a lightweight yet effective leave-in conditioner under her beloved hair-care brand, Pattern. The brand's Leave-In Conditioner is infused with humectant honey along with a trifecta of moisturizing jojoba, castor, and coconut oils to provide instant conditioning effects.
Those with thicker, curlier hair will appreciate the intensively hydrating properties of the Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Curl Smoothie. Along with its star ingredients of conditioning honey and antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract, this leave-in serum also contains babassu oil for an instant surge of moisture.
Prepare for smoother, bouncier, and more defined curls after using the Matrix Total Results A Curl Can Dream Rich Mask. Slather this dense hair mask on for a manuka honey-powered hydrating treatment that'll change the game for curly hair types.
Dry hair and a dry scalp? That's nothing that the TPH By Taraji Honey Fresh Clarifying Shampoo can't address. This cleansing shampoo removes excess oil, buildup, and flakes with willow bark extract (which is rich in exfoliating salicylic acid, by the way) while aloe vera and honey replenish moisture.
We love that the Not Your Mother's Naturals Royal Honey & Kalahari Desert Melon Leave-In Conditioner comes in a lightweight spray, but that's not the only reason why we're spritzing it after every wash. Each and every spray douses your hair in honey and melon extract that'll draw in and retain water. After one treatment, your hair will feel softer and look shinier than ever.
Gomila says that the Honey Envy Hydrating Hair Oil is essential for coarse or extremely dry hair. This nourishing hair and scalp oil contains a mix of castor, tea tree, and peppermint oils along with vitamin E to relieve itchiness, dryness, and brittle texture.
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