5 Amazing Hair & Skin Benefits, Uses of Green Tea

Green tea which was originally drunk in China has become popular all over the world now for it’s wonderful health, skin and hair benefits. If you happen to visit tea plantations, you will agree with me that it is such a calming sight to see the workers expertly plucking the tea leaves and dropping it in the huge bag that they carry it behind their back.

We always pass by the tea factory when we visit our son’s school and the smell coming from the newly steaming tea leaves is incredible. Even those who don’t drink tea will feel like drinking it when they smell the fresh tea leaves steaming. Black tea does not retain the incredible freshness of the tea leaves whereas green tea retains most of the fresh flavor.

Though both black tea and green tea come from the same plant, the main difference is in the way they are processed. Black tea goes through oxidation whereas green tea does not, it is because of the minimal processing that green tea retains the fresh flavor. Because it is minimally processed, green tea is full of antioxidants.

Green Tea Hair & Skin Benefits:

Green tea has wonderful skin and hair benefits and I love to use it extensively both for hair and skin care. Green tea acts as a natural sunscreen, so each time you are using it on the skin, you are applying a very effective sunscreen without even realizing it. Scientists also have proven that green tea when applied on the skin helps to prevent skin aging.

Like external application, drinking green tea internally also has wonderful effects on the skin and hair. It helps prevent acne, treats skin inflammation and blocks DHT which is responsible for male pattern baldness.

How To Make Green Tea For Hair & Skin Care?

Though green tea has all these benefits if consumed daily, it has to be made properly using the correct temperature. I remember when I first made green tea, I boiled the leaves like black tea instead of seeping it and it was so very bitter that I had to throw it out! The correct way to make green tea is to boil a cup of water and once it comes to rolling boil, switch off.

Let it cool for 30 to 40 seconds (The ideal temperature is around 80 degrees centigrade). Then pour the water over a tsp of green tea in a cup and let it steep for 1 to 2 minutes, if you let it steep for longer, it will turn bitter. Add honey to taste but never add milk to green tea, however you can spice it up with ginger or herbs.

5 Top Skin & Hair Benefits Of Green Tea:

Skin Benefits Of Green Tea:

1.Green Tea After Shave Lotion:

Green tea is one of the perfect ingredients for using it in after shave lotions as it heals minor cuts very effectively. This homemade after shave lotion is very fragrant and will make a great holiday gift. There is something deeply satisfying about making our own things and presenting it to the people we love and of course, the added benefit of saving money too.

Men prefer after shave lotions to have a refreshing smell and it should also act as an antiseptic that heals the cuts and wounds from the shave. A good after shave lotion should also moisturize the skin. Though there are about thousands of after shave lotions on the market making homemade after shave lotion is very easy and economical. This homemade after shave lotion easily fills all the above said requirements. The alcohol in this homemade aftershave lotion acts as an antiseptic.

Glycerin moisturizes the skin and green tea acts as a natural sunblock. To make this after shave lotion, first make a double strength green tea. Take flavorless vodka that contains 40% alcohol (80 proof) and mix it with the double strength green tea. Now for the fragrance take allspice, cinnamon and bay leaf and bruise it slightly. Add it to the above mixture and leave it in a cool, dark place for at least a day. Strain the liquid and add few drops of glycerine. Your green tea after shave is ready to be bottled!

2. Green Tea Face Mist:

This vanilla and green tea face mist is very easy to make, smells wonderful and together with  vanilla pods, it makes a wonderful skin treatment. When we went on a holiday to Thekkady, I got organic vanilla pods and I really fell in love with it. The shop keeper showed me both organic and ordinary ones and there is lot of difference between both! The smell was sharp and truly incredible in the organic ones.

A few weeks back, I read about hydrating the skin with green tea and I truly loved the idea. Because on a hot summer day, the only thing I want to do is wash my face the whole time. Water keeps our skin hydrated and moisturizers simply trap the moisture in the hydrated skin. This vanilla & green tea face mist is very refreshing and does a wonderful job of hydrating the skin. I had these cute little glass spray bottles which I poured it into.

These spray bottles are really useful as you can carry it anywhere in your hand bag. To use the face mist, just spray it on your face whenever you feel like it to keep your skin hydrated. Make sure to keep in the refrigerator for some time before using it. Green tea has lots of antioxidants which helps to keep the skin flawless. Pure vanilla tightens the pores and fights against imperfections, you can watch the video for making the face mist here.

3. Green Tea Face Mask:

Contrary to what many people think making a good face mask is not time consuming at all. If made to suit the skin type, it will rival any expensive store bought face masks. This green tea face mask has just got two ingredients and can be used for even the most sensitive skin. But try to use organic green tea and pure honey for this treatment.

Since green tea and honey heals and nourishes, this pack is the best treatment for applying after a hot day in the sun or after outdoor activities. To make the green tea face mask, take green tea leaves in a mortar and pestle and grind to a smooth powder. The finer you grind, the smoother the mask will be and it will be easier to spread it on the face too. Mix enough honey to make it into a thick paste and apply on clean face, wait for 10 to 15 minutes and wash it off.

4. Green Tea Face Toner For Acne:

This homemade toner is a very effective treatment for acne. This toner is made with apple cider vinegar, green tea and tea tree essential oil. All the ingredients in this toner are very effective for treating acne and if used both morning and evening gives good results. To make the toner, make 1/2 cup of strong organic green tea and let it cool.

Add 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and 10 drops of tea tree oil to it and mix well. Pour it into a small bottle and store it in the refrigerator, this will store well for at least 15 days. To use, after cleansing your face, apply this toner using a piece of cotton. Try using it both morning and night to see good results.

Hair Benefits Of Green Tea:

5. Green Tea Rinse:

During summer, our hair hair tends to get very oily, especially if you are a person who ventures out into the hot sun a lot. There is a simple home remedy for oily scalp and hair fall, it is a homemade green tea hair rinse made with green tea and fresh lemons. I love homemade hair rinses for two reasons: They don’t have any chemicals in them and are usually very effective than a store
bought one and they are really inexpensive to make. You can make a bottle of hair rinse for a fraction of the amount of a commercial product. Using green tea both internally and externally arrests hair fall and stimulates hair growth.

In India, we get a variety of green tea only in hill stations, so if you go on a holiday to any hill stations in India, go green tea shopping. To make this hair rinse take a fresh lemon and grate the zest. Boil water in a pan along with the zest, once it comes to a boil, add the green tea leaves and switch off. Let it cool and add the lemon juice, strain and use it as a hair rinse. This simple homemade green tea hair rinse stimulates hair growth and controls hair loss.

Strain the rinse before adding the lemon juice and essential oil. To use, pour it over freshly shampooed and conditioned hair. You can rinse your hair after using it or leave as in. When using the rinse, make sure that every part of the scalp is covered with the hair rinse. If you have lemon essential oil at home, add a few drops of it to the rinse to make it even more effective, as citrus essential oils effectively prevents dandruff and stops hair fall.