Fact Check: Does rinsing hair with black tea promote hair growth?

Hyderabad: A video apparently showing an AI personality dressed like a doctor is being widely shared on social media. The viral video claims that applying black tea mixed with shampoo and onion juice on hair not only promotes hair growth and nourishment but also acts as an anti-bacterial solution for the scalp.

Black tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It has become one of the most popular natural remedies for skin and hair and can also be found in hair care products. Apart from the hair care manufactured products black tea is being used for dry, damaged, or thinning hair, such as tea rinses.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim misleading.

Through our search, we found that black tea contains a high concentration of tannins, a type of polyphenol antioxidant that neutralizes cell-damaging compounds called free radicals.

According to Healthline, ‘Due to this dark pigment, black tea rinses may give naturally dark hair a temporary boost of colour and help reduce the appearance of grey hairs. Yet, this short-term solution won’t last after you wash your hair a few times.’

The limitation of this remedy is that this treatment doesn’t work well on those with blonde, red, white, light brown, or other lighter hair colours.

Moreover, moving to the next claim that the caffeine present in black tea can reach hair follicles to block Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a hormone linked to hair loss in people with a condition known as androgenic alopecia.

According to a study, caffeine enhanced hair shaft elongation, prolonged anagen duration and stimulated hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation. Female hair follicles showed higher sensitivity to caffeine than male hair follicles.

This study revealed new growth-promoting effects of caffeine on human hair follicles in subjects of both sexes at different levels (molecular, cellular and organ).

Another study also showed similar results using caffeine solution and minoxidil.

However, according to Healthline, ‘No research is available to determine whether black tea can promote hair growth. Moreover, it’s unknown how much black tea and caffeine are needed, nor how long you should keep this solution on your scalp to produce noticeable results.’

‘There is limited evidence suggesting that applying black tea to your hair and scalp may improve hair colour, shine, and hair growth, so more research is needed. It may work best on dark hair’ it added.

It should be noted that there could be a number of causes of hair loss. The condition could be genetic, diet and lifestyle related. In spite of relying on black tea to do the magic, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist for the best result.

Keeping the black tea concentrate on hair might dry out the hair as well. The results are completely anecdotal. If you are facing hair related issues, visit a dermatologist or a Trichologist.