In this article, we’re going to be exploring cloves and their benefits for natural hair. Especially since cloves have been trending lately, with everyone talking about how wonderful they are for hair growth.
In usual Hibiscus Roots fashion, we’re going to look at why exactly cloves are great, and what’s so special about them.
Do cloves really increase hair growth? If yes, how can we add this simple kitchen ingredient to our natural hair routines to observe these benefits?
Grab your cup of tea and let’s get into it!
What exactly are Cloves?
Cloves are dried aromatic flowers that come from the clove tree. These trees are indigenous to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia but can be found throughout Europe and Asia today.
They can either be used whole or ground and can be used as an essential spice in different cuisines.
Cloves are rich in beta-carotene, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are essential to the human body. This is a huge part of why cloves have been so popular for hair growth lately.
Benefits of Cloves for Natural Hair
1. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant & anti-bacterial.
The eugenol content of cloves makes it a great anti-inflammatory ingredient that can help manage irritation. Since irritation is one of the primary blockers of hair growth, managing this irritation can largely improve the scalp condition and revive the hair.
Eugenol also gives cloves antioxidant properties that help the body fight free radicals which could potentially damage healthy cells.
Cloves are also really good at fighting bacteria. We can conclude this because researchers studied the use of cloves as a mouth rinse and found it to be effective in decreasing bacteria!
2. Improves scalp health
All the benefits of cloves for natural hair that we’ve mentioned make it the perfect ingredient for maintaining balance on the scalp. And as we’ve learned, the healthier the scalp, the healthier the hair that grows from it. With consistent use of cloves, the follicles will be unrestricted and free to grow thicker hair!
3. Increases natural hair shine
When cloves are applied to the hair and scalp, they can improve the overall health of the hair follicle. As such, this leads to overall shinier, healthier-looking hair!
4. Reduce hair thinning and hair fall
A clove rinse will work in the same manner as a tea rinse to stop hair shedding. By shuttling nutrients directly to the scalp that are both nourishing and antimicrobial. Especially if the hair fall and thinning are caused by irritation, bacteria or clove rinses can help rid the scalp of the irritants.
5. Promotes hair growth
We can only say that cloves promote hair growth because of the rich nourishment they provide the scalp, as well as how great they are at combating inflammation and irritation. So, cloves are not the missing ingredient in your natural hair care routine that could be increasing your hair growth rate. However, if you have mild recurring scalp irritation that might be hindering your hair growth, cloves can help you get rid of them.
How to Use Cloves in your Natural Hair
1. Clove Rinse (or Clove Water)
To easily incorporate cloves into your natural hair routine you can use a clove hair rinse. Here is the easiest way to make a clove rinse:
How to Make a Clove Rinse for Natural Hair
What you will need
- 1 cup of Water
- Saucepan
- 8 fresh whole Cloves
- 1 tsp dried Rosemary or 2 twigs of fresh Rosemary
Instructions
- Add the cloves and rosemary to a saucepan, pour in the water, and bring everything to a boil.
- Once the water boils, turn off the heat and let the solution cool.
- Strain the water from the herbs and into a spray bottle.
- Your clove rinse can be stored in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
How long should you leave clove water in your hair?
When doing a clove rinse, you should apply the clove water into your hair after a shampoo and before your hair conditioning step. Leave it on for 15 minutes, before rinsing it out and following with your conditioner.
2. Clove Oil
Another great way to use cloves in your natural hair is by making oil out of them. You can use the clove oil to seal moisture into your hair strands, or directly on your scalp.
How to Make Clove Oil for Natural Hair Growth
What you will Need
- 2 tablespoons of whole, fresh cloves (not dried)
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- Mortal and pestle (optional)
Instructions
- Crush the cloves as much as you can using a mortar and pestle, or the back of a wooden spoon.
- Put the crushed cloves into a glass container.
- Pour the avocado oil into the container until the leaves are fully covered.
- Let the clove oil infuse for about a week, shaking the jar from time to time to ensure an even infusion.
- You can leave the cloves in the oil, or filter them out to your taste. The longer the cloves stay in the oil, the stronger it gets.
Risks and Possible Side Effects of Using Cloves
- Risk of skin irritation: Always do a patch test before applying cloves to your entire head. Apply clove oil or clove water to the inside of your elbow, and look out for itchiness or irritation over 24 hours.
- Poisoning: Here at Hibiscus Roots, we do not advise the consumption of any herbs without the express consent of your medical professional. Though cloves are lauded for their benefits when consumed internally, we have no medical authority, and thus, do not recommend this.
Conclusion
Cloves are a great natural ingredient that can make the scalp an ideal and conducive environment for healthy hair growth! However, cloves are not the magical hair-growth herb that they are being touted to be. With a consistent natural hair routine, there are a lot of natural herbs that can make the scalp conducive to hair growth! You can add cloves to your regimen and see what it does to your hair! Just be sure to use fresh cloves instead of dried ones for more potent clove rinse and clove oil recipes for your hair.
