Are you aware of all the hype about green tea? Do you frequently hear statements such as ‘Green tea is good for so and so’?  Did you also hear people around you saying that green tea is good for hair growth and often wondered the how and the why?

Well, here’s your answer !

Green tea, which is extracted from the leaves of Camellia sinensis plant, is originally from China. An interesting yet uncommonly known fact is that Black tea and Oolong tea are also made from the leaves of the same plant. The only difference is that Black tea and Oolong tea are made from oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves.

A few general benefits which have made a huge contribution to the popularity of Green tea are

• It aids in burning fat.
• It improves the physical and mental performance of a person.
• Is known to prevent cancer and cardio-vascular diseases.
• It keeps Type 2 diabetes at bay.
• It helps reduce depression and Down syndrome.

Another extensively popular benefit of Green tea is its ability to promote hair growth. But how does green tea aid in hair growth?

Green Tea for Hair Growth

Compounds called Free radicals are produced in our body when oxygen metabolism occurs. This unstable by-product is highly toxic in nature and causes damage to cells in our body. It promotes aging of the hair and thereby leads to hair fall. To prevent and/or reduce the damage caused by free radicals, anti-oxidants are required.

Green tea contains a bioactive compound, Epigallocatechin gallate( EGCG), which is an excellent anti-oxidant. It stops the free radicals from causing damage by interacting with the free radicals and stopping the chain reaction. This compound is what makes green tea a great supplement for hair growth.

Mice Experiment

An experiment was conducted on mice in the year 2005 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16035581) to prove the effects of green tea on hair growth. 60 mice, all of them female, who had suffered from hair loss problems on their neck and head regions were taken and split into groups of 30.

One of the groups was given drinking water with polyphenol extract from the green tea leaves. The other group received plain drinking water.  All the other conditions were same for both groups. They also lived in the same environment.

This experiment continued for duration of 6 months and the results were astonishing. It was found that 33% of the mice in the group who drank water with green tea extract had increased hair growth. In the other group, however, there were no changes in the hair growth at all.

How to Use Green Tea for Hair Growth

• Drink it: Consume 3-5 cups of green tea per day. This will not only help in hair growth, but will give you other benefits as well.
• Apply it as a hair mask: Masks are a great way to help aid your hair growth. Mix 1 tbsp of coconut oil, 1 tbsp olive oil, an egg yolk and 2 tbsp green tea. Mix these thoroughly, apply it on your hair and leave it on for 15 minutes before you shower. This will not only strengthen your follicles, but will also soften your hair.
• Use it as a rinse: Alternately, you can also use this as a rinse after you have washed your hair with shampoo and conditioned it as well. Just apply it onto your hair and wash it with cold water after 15-20 minutes. This will result in shiny, strong hair.

Enjoy thick, shiny and strong hair by using green tea as a supplement for hair growth!