Effects of Caffeine On Hair-

[Russet]

First, I want to introduce myself to you all. I've been a lurker for about 6 months and finally decided to officially join the forum!

I've been on this journey since about Oct. 2009 and ever since I have been trying to ditch relaxers. After a setback I cut my hair to about NL-SL all even, and am so serious about growing my hair thick and long, especially relaxer-free.

I am suffering from excessive breakage, not shedding. Has anyone heard of coffee/tea rinses strengthening the hair? I am thinking about trying a black tea rinse this weekend, but wanted to hear from you ladies what your thoughts were on this. Would continued use of this cause the hair to dry up? Will I have to up my moisture like when doing protein treatments?

Ladies, chime in!

 

[afrikurl]

I've never done it but I have a friend who swears by green tea rinses as a strengthening treatment. Her hair is faboulous. I bought some coffee because I heard that caffiene stimulates growth.I've only tried it once.

Do a search on the right hand side, I'm use you will find so much useful information you'll be a tea rinse scholar.

 

[afrikurl]

hey I just did a quick search on Tea rinse on the side bar. This is what came up on the first page. There were lots more
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=312901
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=333621
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=341733
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/archive/index.php/t-85826.html

This one is about coffee
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/archive/index.php/t-420544.html

I don't know how to make them links but you can copy and paste them into your browser.

 

[Russet]

Wow, that was fast! ^ Thanks, I will def. give it a look

 

[Nonie]

I don't know about strengthening hair but I do know caffeine has been found to help reverse balding by boosting growth of follicles.

I can see it working on living cells (follicles). I don't know much about hair itself. In fact, any scientific info I've seen about caffeine and hair has been on its effect on hair follicles. The only place I saw anything close to implying strength was in the descriptions of a shampoo called Thicker Fuller Hair Revitalizing Shampoo but we all know that marketing ploys could be misleading. The "thickness" probably comes from new hair being produced at the root so your hair appears fuller, not that the strands get thick and strong.

 

[nurseN98]

I use black tea as a spritz on my scalp & hair. It has def initely helped decrease my shedding. And I have tried garlic, neem, many others. I had extended post partum shedding so my hair has def. thinned out but I have been spritzing with the tea for a couple of months now and it is working so well. Just rinsing didn't work for me that's why I resorted to spritzing. HTH

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

I'm an avid coffee rinser and it is MAH-velous! It really shuts shedding down. It helps with detangling AND it's supposed to aid in hair growth. My hair has been flourishing and I recommend it to everyone I meet. I started coffee rinsing, hmmm, maybe last summer. Wish I had tried it sooner. I also pour it into a spray bottle and use it as a spritz.

 

[pisceschica]

I don't know about strengthening hair but I do know caffeine has been found to help reverse balding by boosting growth of follicles.

I can see it working on living cells (follicles). I don't know much about hair itself. In fact, any scientific info I've seen about caffeine and hair has been on its effect on hair follicles. The only place I saw anything close to implying strength was in the descriptions of a shampoo called Thicker Fuller Hair Revitalizing Shampoo but we all know that marketing ploys could be misleading. The "thickness" probably comes from new hair being produced at the root so your hair appears fuller, not that the strands get thick and strong.

I swear since drinking coffee daily around fall 2008, my hair has grown about 1/4 of an inch faster. I guess it has different effects on everyone because I have read conflicting reports about the effects of caffeine on hair.

 

[Nonie]

I swear since drinking coffee daily around fall 2008, my hair has grown about 1/4 of an inch faster. I guess it has different effects on everyone because I have read conflicting reports about the effects of caffeine on hair.

I don't think caffeine has a negative effect on hair. I think it's all the stuff we add to caffeinated drinks (sugar especially) that can affect hair growth in a negative way.

 

[Russet]

So are you ladies saying that just by drinking it (coffee/tea) you've seen effects from it towards your hair? I thought it'd only affect the hair follicles if applied directly to the hair.

 

[Nonie]

So are you ladies saying that just by drinking it (coffee/tea) you've seen effects from it towards your hair? I thought it'd only affect the hair follicles if applied directly to the hair.

I don't think drinking coffee/tea would have an effect on follicles coz you'd have to drink tons of it to get enough of it to your follicles...and at that quantity I'm sure you'd start having negative effects. I like Ticktock's thought that "...there is probably a law of diminishing returns after about 1 cup per day though." So while drinking it may do some cells in your body some good (due to its antioxidant activity), too much starts to cause other effects that aren't so great: anxieity, insomnia, irritability, irregular/fast heartbeat, muscle tremors, etc.

So if you're trying to get it to your hair follicles, better to apply it topically.

 

[Russet]

^ yeah, that's what I thought. Too much of it will do more harm than good. I think I'll apply black tea topically instead. Thanks everyone!