Haircare: Benefits of Rose Water

Rosewater is said to have a number of different benefits. People use it for their skin, to enhance their mood, soothe sore throats and relieve headaches. But did you know it can also help with your hair care routine? 

Did You Know: Rosewater has a similar PH level to that of human hair.

Rosewater hasn’t been extensively studied, however, it does contain a number of nutrients that may be beneficial for your hair.  It contains vitamins A, C, E and B and anti-inflammatory qualities. Plus, women who use it seem to rave about the benefits it has on their hair!

Rose Water Benefits For Your Hair

1. Softens hair 

Regular water typically contains minerals like calcium that can build up on your hair and cause it to become brittle. However, because rosewater is distilled it can help make your hair softer and fuller.

2. Reduce dandruff and oiliness

Rosewater can help with reducing oiliness and dandruff. This is down to the fact it is a mild astringent (helps with constricting your body tissues)

3. Help with scalp issues

Rosewater is known to be an anti-inflammatory, which means it could potentially help with scalp conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. A healthy scalp equals healthy hair!

4. Reduce frizz and add shine

Now, this isn’t known science, however, a lot of women with curly hair rave about how rosewater has calmed down their frizzy locks and added shine.

How to Use Rose Water for Your Hair

You have two options when it comes to using rose water at home. You can buy it or make it yourself – see below!

Ways to use rose water include:

• Pour onto your hair and use it as a rinse after shampooing or applying conditioner
• Add it to a spray bottle and use it as a mist to decrease frizz and add shine
• Add it to your prefered shampoo or conditioner
• Gently pat it onto your scalp using a cotton pad to help reduce dandruff and itching

Top Tip: If you do choose to buy it, make sure it’s free of preservatives, such as ethanol – which can dry out your skin.

Rose Water DIY Recipe

Making your own rose water at home is pretty simple. All you need are rose petals (as many as you like) and distilled water. Below we’ve put together a simple recipe on how to make your own rose water at home.

Ingredients

• Roses (8 stems)
• Distilled water (1.5 litres – enough to cover the petals)

Instructions

• Remove all the petals from your stems and give them a quick rinse under lukewarm water
• Add the petals to a large pot
• Add enough distilled water to just cover the leaves
• Bring the water to a simmer and leave for 20 to 30 minutes until the petals have lost their colour
• Strain the pot contains to separate the water from the petals
• Place water into a container of your choice and leave to cool
• Discard your rose petals

Prep time: 5 mins – Total Time: 25 minutes

Other Uses of Rosewater

You can use rose water for more than just your hair. Thanks to its mineral properties and versatility, it can be used in a wide range of applications. It may help with:

• Healing scars, cuts and wounds
• Reducing the redness of irritated skin and help with acne and eczema
• Strengthen skin cells thanks to its antioxidant properties
• Reduce redness under your eyes when applied with a cotton pad
• Delaying wrinkles and even tightening pores
• Reducing headaches and migraines 

It’s undeniable that rosewater is a hidden gem in the hair and beauty world. It’s a great natural hair care and beauty product and will only enhance your beauty regime.

Things to consider when using rosewater:

• Look for paraben, ethanol and sulphur free rosewater when purchasing
• DIY rosewater has a shorter shelf life than store-bought rosewater
• Always do a small patch test before adding rose water to your hair/skin routine
• Only use organic roses when making your own DIY rose water