Most of us would never dream of getting sticky, raw & unfiltered honey in our hair. But it turns out it may have some positive side effects, not unlike your favorite leave-in conditioner. Making a honey hair mask to hydrate your hair is surprisingly simple as long as you remember one thing: don't just put honey straight in your hair.

How does a honey hair mask work?

Not only can raw & unfiltered honey treat wounds, soothe bee stings and freshen up your face, it's an all-natural way to keep hair smooth and silky. Raw honey is an emollient, meaning it has just enough texture to smooth and soften each strand of hair for a shinier surface — like a super-sweet, super-fine-grain exfoliating sandpaper. 

Honey also absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and traps it in place. Just make sure your hair gets at least 20 minutes to absorb the moisture.

How to Make a Hydrating Honey Hair Mask

To try it for yourself, thoroughly mix 1 tbsp of Local Hive Honey with 1 tbsp of warm, melted coconut oil in a small dish. After the honey has soaked in for 20 minutes or more, wash with shampoo and conditioner as usual. Never put honey directly in your hair for reasons both obvious and sticky. Always use a moisturizing agent like coconut oil.

A honey hair mask will get you an added bonus: slightly lighter-toned hair. The trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in every drop of honey act as a gentle, natural lightener, that’s much more mellow than the products you might find on beauty store shelves. One 20-minute honey hair mask won't change your hair's color much at all, but you can expect to subtle shifts after 3 or more hair masks on different days.

So, next time you're reaching for a bottle of honey for your morning coffee, go ahead and grab some for your morning hair routine. Just make sure to wash thoroughly, or a honeybee might take a liking to your hair, too.

100 Years of 100% U.S. Honey 

This homemade honey remedy is part of our #100waystousehoney series, celebrating 100 years of 100% U.S. honey.

Throughout 2024, you can shop our limited-edition 1924 Golden Age Wildflower honey blend. It's an exclusive, 100% U.S. wildflower honey blend with a mellow, but flowery taste.