Hair

Clove Water For Hair 2025: Amazing Benefits & How To Use It

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Plenty of old-school home remedies have become popular in recent years. They can owe it to social media and the various emerging studies showing their benefits. 

Using clove water for hair is believed to have multiple benefits for hair health. From boosting and promoting hair growth and reducing the appearance of dandruff to cleansing dead hair follicles and helping strengthen your hair.

So, what are the benefits of cloves, and how to make clove water for hair growth at home?

Clove Water Benefits For Hair

Using clove water has many benefits for your hair such as:

  • It stimulates hair growth.
  • It improves scalp health.
  • It protects your hair strands.

Amazing Benefits Of Clove Water For Healthy Hair Growth

Regarding hair care, clove water stimulates blood circulation in the scalp, promotes hair growth, and helps with scalp issues like dandruff and itchiness. It can be used as a hair rinse or as an ingredient in hair masks and treatments.

Stimulates Hair Growth

Cloves are thought to boost hair growth and help prevent hair loss. They promote hair growth by increasing blood circulation and nourishing your scalp with oxygen. Additionally, they contain important micronutrients such as vitamins C, A, and K, as well as potassium, iron, and manganese. These nutrients help strengthen your hair and prevent hair loss.

Improves Scalp Health

There is no healthy hair without a healthy scalp, and clove water might help reduce itchiness and irritation of the scalp and help with getting rid of dandruff. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and antiseptic properties[1] help control dandruff by soothing the scalp, reducing your urge to scratch, helping eliminate the white flaky compounds, and keeping your scalp healthy.

Protects Your Hair Strands

Clove extract is rich in antioxidants[2] such as polyphenols. Antioxidants are known to help[3] restore hair pigment levels, preserving the natural color of your hair and protecting your hair strands from damage. Cloves can also be used with other hair health-promoting ingredients and nutrients such as coconut oil and biotin.

However, even though cloves have been used in traditional, natural remedies, scientific research on their specific benefits for hair in humans[4] is limited. If you have any concerns or underlying scalp conditions, it’s always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

What Is Clove Water?

What Is Clove Water?
Clove water benefits hair growth and strengthens strands effectively.

Clove water is a liquid preparation made by steeping cloves[5] in water. They have a strong, aromatic flavor and are commonly used as a spice in cooking and baking, like pumpkin pie.

To make clove water, boil a handful of cloves in water and let steep overnight to extract the beneficial compounds. The resulting liquid is then strained to remove the cloves, leaving behind clove-infused water.

Clove water is known for its medicinal properties[6] and is often used in traditional medicine for various purposes. It contains active compounds like eugenol, which has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,[7] and antioxidant properties. These properties benefit oral health, digestion, skincare,[8] and hair care.

Is Clove Water Good For Hair Growth?

Clove water can be an excellent addition to your hair care routine. It stimulates blood circulation and hair growth, prevents hair loss, protects hair from damage, and helps strengthen it. It’s rich in antioxidants and other helpful nutrients that can nourish your hair strands and keep them protected.

How To Use Clove Water For Hair Growth

How To Use Clove Water For Hair Growth
Clove water promotes hair growth through scalp massage and application.

Here’s a suggested method for using clove water for potential hair growth benefits:

  1. How to make clove water for hair: Boil a handful of clove buds for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the beneficial compounds from the cloves to be extracted. Let the water cool down and strain it to remove the cloves. The resulting liquid is your clove water.
  2. Scalp massage: Before applying clove water, massage your scalp gently with your fingertips. This helps improve blood circulation to the hair follicles and stimulates the hair growth process.
  3. Application: Once your scalp is massaged, you can spray clove water from a bottle, use a cotton ball, or simply use your hands to apply it. Make sure to distribute it evenly across your scalp and massage it with your fingertips. Avoid applying it directly to the lengths of your hair unless you have a specific scalp issue.
  4. Leave-in or rinse: You can leave the clove water on your scalp as a leave-in treatment or rinse it off after a certain period. If you leave it in, ensure it dries naturally on your scalp, you can even keep it on your hair overnight. If you prefer to rinse it off, wait for about 30 minutes before washing your hair with a mild shampoo and conditioner.
  5. Frequency: Start by using clove water once or twice a week and observe how your hair and scalp respond. If there are no adverse effects, you can gradually increase the frequency to three times a week. However, it’s important not to overuse it, as it may lead to a dry and itchy scalp.
  6. Storing: The best way to store clove water is by letting it completely cool, transferring it into an airtight container, and refrigerating or placing it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat.

Side Effects Of Using Clove Water On Hair

While clove water is generally considered safe for use on the hair and scalp, there are a few potential side effects and considerations to keep in mind:

  • Skin irritation: Clove water contains potent compounds like eugenol,[9] which can cause skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to cloves. It’s important to perform a patch test before using it on your hair or scalp to check for adverse reactions. Apply a small amount of diluted clove water to a small area of your skin, such as the inside of your wrist, and wait for 24 hours to see if there is any redness, itching, or irritation.
  • Allergic reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to cloves[10] or have a sensitivity to clove oil. Allergic reactions can vary from mild to severe and may include symptoms such as skin rash, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis. If you experience any of these symptoms after using clove water, discontinue use and seek medical attention immediately.
  • Overuse or misuse: Using excessive amounts of clove water or using it too frequently may lead to dryness or irritation of the scalp. It’s important to follow the recommended guidelines and avoid overusing clove water to prevent adverse effects.
  • Interaction with other medications: If you are using any medications or have underlying health conditions, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before using clove water on your hair. Clove water may interact with certain medications, and your healthcare provider can provide guidance based on your specific situation.

Conclusion

Clove water can be an excellent addition to your hair care routine. It’s believed to help stimulate hair growth, prevent hair loss, strengthen hair strands, and protect your hair from damage. Still, the current research is limited. Be careful with the application and ensure you have no negative reactions on a small patch before using it all over your scalp.

+ 10 Sources

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  2. Vanessa Lee Rosarior, Pei Shan Lim, Wei Kit Wong, Chen Son Yue, Hok Chai Yam and Tan, S.-A. (2021). Antioxidant-rich Clove Extract, A Strong Antimicrobial Agent against Urinary Tract Infections-causing Bacteria in vitro. tropical life sciences research, [online] 32(2), pp.45–63. doi:https://doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2021.32.2.4.
  3. Estibalitz Fernández, Martínez-Teipel, B., Armengol, R., Barba, C. and Coderch, L. (2012). Efficacy of antioxidants in human hair. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, [online] 117, pp.146–156. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2012.09.009.
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  6. Gao, X., Luo, F. and Zhao, H. (2021). Cloves Regulate Na+-K+-ATPase to Exert Antioxidant Effect and Inhibit UVB Light-Induced Skin Damage in Mice. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, [online] 2021, pp.1–13. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5197919.
  7. Han, X. and Parker, T.L. (2017). Anti-inflammatory activity of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts. Pharmaceutical Biology, [online] 55(1), pp.1619–1622. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13880209.2017.1314513.
  8. Hwang, E., Lin, P., Hien T.T. Ngo and Tae Hoo Yi (2018). Clove attenuates UVB-induced photodamage and repairs skin barrier function in hairless mice. Food & Function, [online] 9(9), pp.4936–4947. doi:https://doi.org/10.1039/c8fo00843d.
  9. Praveen Tammannavar, Pushpalatha C, Jain, S. and Sowmya Sv (2013). An unexpected positive hypersensitive reaction to eugenol. Case Reports, [online] 2013(sep18 1), pp.bcr2013009464–bcr2013009464. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2013-009464.
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