Black Tea for Hair Care: Benefits, Side Effects, & Uses 

Kinnari Ashar

26 Sep ‘22
UPDATED ON 27 May ‘25
Black Tea for Hair Natural Hair Care Hair Growth Hair Rinse
Black Tea for Hair Natural Hair Care Hair Growth Hair Rinse

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Did you know that tea isn’t just limited to sipping a good cup of masala chai? Well, let me tell you that black tea for hair treatments has been popular for ages! Of course, drinking black tea is delicious, nutritious, and prevents several health issues. But if you like pouring it over your hair, black tea can give you lustrous, long, and healthy hair. Black tea benefits for hair also include shine, growth, and overall scalp health.

Black Tea for Hair: The Basics

Black Tea for Hair: The Basics

The Chinese only drank green tea after Emperor Shen Nung discovered it. Green tea leaves, however, had difficulty being shipped to far-flung areas as their popularity spread throughout the world. To preserve tea's freshness and flavour, a method was invented. Four steps were involved in this method – withering the tea leaves, rolling them, oxidising, and drying them in the end. Once the tea leaves go through these processes, what results is called black tea.

So, is black tea good for hair? Let’s find out!

Black Tea for Hair: The Pros

Black tea is rich in caffeine and antioxidants that benefit your hair. Black tea hair benefits not only gives your hair a natural shine but also helps boost hair growth. Let’s talk about some black tea benefits for hair.

1. Improves Hair Growth 

1. Improves Hair Growth

Get that Rapunzel’s look with black tea rinses. Caffeine may stimulate the hair follicles, thereby supporting hair and scalp health.

Hormones could also play a role. Studies indicate that black tea contains caffeine that blocks dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. Hair growth can be slowed by this hormone, which can result in shorter, thinner new hair. How to use black tea for hair growth is as simple as brewing a strong cup and using it as a final rinse.

2. Creates Shiny hair 

2. Creates Shiny hair

What if I told you that black tea makes your dull, lifeless hair soft, smooth and shiny? Yes, you read it right!

To give your hair the final rinse, rinse it with black tea liquor, kept at room temperature, after shampooing your hair. You will notice that your hair becomes softer and shinier after a few weeks if you do this two to three times a week.

For the best results, brew your tea stronger than you usually would and leave the mixture on your hair for at least 15 minutes. Make sure you rinse well.

3. Decreases hair loss 

3. Decreases hair loss

You may be surprised to learn that drinking black tea can help you prevent hair loss. Further, black tea for hair contains antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause premature hair loss. In addition, caffeine reduces the production of the hormone DHT that leads to hair loss, while antioxidants stimulate the growth of healthy hair. There are many benefits of black tea for hair, but using it correctly ensures the best results.

4. Softens coarse hair 

4. Softens coarse hair

When rinsed with black tea, the hair becomes soft, shiny, and promotes hair growth. Moreover, it improves the appearance of greying hair by darkening it.

Black Tea for Hair: The Cons

Black Tea for Hair: The Cons

While black tea might be beneficial for your hair, it comes with certain disadvantages.

1. Could induce allergies 

Black tea can lead to allergies in certain people. To check if you are allergic to black tea, do a patch test before applying it on your hair.

2. Could stain hair 

Black tea has dyeing properties, which makes it popular among women whose hair is black, dark brown, or chestnut. It is however difficult to cover grays with black tea after several months. In natural hair, black tea stains are very persistent. Also, black tea cannot be applied to only gray hair. Thus, black tea will also color your whole head of hair even if you want to cover just your grays. A common side effect of black tea on hair is unwanted dark staining over time.

3. Frequent use may cause dryness 

Black tea is considered safe for use on the hair and scalp. Nevertheless, black tea contains caffeine, which may dry your scalp, resulting in dry, damaged hair. Use a spray bottle to directly spray black tea on the scalp and use conditioner afterward.

Black tea VS green tea for hair

Green tea hair rinse and black tea hair rinse have different effects on your hair. Black tea contains fewer nutrients and antioxidants than green tea. Additionally, green tea can be used to treat dandruff. Test out both tea rinses to see which you prefer and use one if you are unsure.

Black tea contains antioxidants that may benefit your hair in a variety of ways. Black tea is not only effective at flushing out toxins from the body, but it also makes your hair shine. It helps to stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss, remove oiliness from scalp, and treat dandruff. It’s high antioxidants and caffeine promotes healthy scalp and hair.

FAQs about the Pros and Cons of Black Tea for Hair

Does black tea cover grey hair? 

Yes, black tea helps in covering your greys. If you wish to have immediate results, you can mix henna and apply it on your hair.

Will rinsing my hair with black tea make it darker? 

Yes, black tea stains your hair, and hence, rinsing your hair with black tea 2-3 times a week will make it darker.

Q. Does black tea help with hair growth and hair loss?

Black tea contains caffeine and antioxidants that may help stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss by blocking DHT, a hormone linked to hair thinning.

Q. Can black tea make hair shinier or improve its appearance?

Black tea rinses can temporarily enhance hair shine and softness, especially for dark hair, but results are mostly anecdotal and may vary by hair type.

Q. Are there any side effects or downsides to using black tea on hair?

Leaving black tea on hair too long can cause dryness, particularly for those with low porosity hair, so it’s best to follow with a conditioner and avoid overuse.

Benefits of black tea for hair How to use black tea rinse Potential side effects Tips for healthy hair using natural remedies
Benefits of black tea for hair How to use black tea rinse Potential side effects Tips for healthy hair using natural remedies

Kinnari Ashar

A beauty and food enthusiast with a decade of writing experience, Kinnari treats her skincare routine like a sacred ritual and views a gourmet meal as a daily necessity. Balancing her time between uncovering the latest beauty trends and taste-testing culinary delights, she’s always up for trying new products or savouring a delicious dish.