7 Benefits of Hibiscus for Skin and Hair

There’s no flower like hibiscus – a beautiful red, pink, pale yellow or white edible flower that also has stunning beauty benefits!

In Indian Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, hibiscus is steeped in boiling water and drank as a tea for its various health benefits. It is a rich source of Vitamin C and antioxidants that keep the body healthy. Ayurvedic texts also mention hibiscus as a natural cleanser &hair growth booster! More and more beauty products nowadays contain hibiscus in them because of the amazing things they have to offer for amazing skin & hair!

# Rich in Antioxidants

Antioxidants are amazing for your skin’s health! Hibiscus is chockfull of antioxidants known as anthocyanocides. These antioxidants are powerful against skin damaging free radicals that cause premature aging of skin. Anthocyanocides also have natural astringent effects that control excess oily skin & tighten large pores. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation!

# The Botox Flower

If there’s any flower that has botox properties, it’s hibiscus! It firms and lifts the face, which leave it looking youthful! Mash up a few hibiscus flowers using a mortar and pestle then apply them onto your face, avoiding the eyes. Rinse off after 15 minutes to experience a natural face lift! Don’t forget that it’s filled with Vitamin C that also boosts collagen production!

# Natural Shampoo

Indians have been using hibiscus leaves & petals as a natural shampoo for ages! It works because it becomes slippery just like soap when crushed up due to the natural saponins (cleansing agents) in it. Here’s how to use hibiscus as shampoo:

Cleansing Hibiscus Shampoo: In a mason jar, pour ½ cup of hot water then add fresh petals & leaves from 2 hibiscus flowers. Allow the petals & leaves to soak up and soften in the mason jar for 15 minutes. Then pour the mixture into a blender and blend till smooth. You may strain the mixture using a plastic strainer into a bowl to remove any lumps. Now mix in ½ tsp olive oil, ½ tsp honey and 7 drops of lavender essential oil (optional) to your mixture. Work it into your scalp & hair for 2 minutes then rinse off thoroughly with tepid water. Enjoy clean and fresh hair!

# Evens Skin Tone

Got an uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, dark spots and other discolorations? It’s time to use hibiscus on your skin! It contains AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) including citric and malic acid that have exfoliating powers which speed up cell turn over, revealing fresh new lighter skin!

# Intense Moisturizing Action

The petals of hibiscus and also its leaves have a high mucilage content. This means when crushed, they are slippery and slimy. Don’t be grossed out! This property makes hibiscus incredibly moisturizing! That’s why you can find hibiscus in curly hair products especially those that are designed to provide slip & hold while sealing in moisture. This moisturizing action is also good for keeping skin hydrated and looking fresh instead of dry and dehydrated!

# Encourages Hair Growth

In Ayurveda, hibiscus is a potent ingredients used in hair growth oils to foster growth of new hairs while strengthening existing ones. This is because it’s rich in nutrients such as amino acids that are necessary for producing keratin which makes up the key structure of our hair. Infuse hibiscus petals in sweet almond oil for a month in a sunny place to make a hair growth oil as follows:

Hibiscus Hair Growth Oil: In a 4 oz mason jar, add clean & dry hibiscus flower petals from 2-3 flowers. Now pour sweet almond oil to fill the jar to the top. Store on a sunny window sill for a month while shaking often to release the nutrients from the petals. When the time is up, strain the hibiscus-infused oil in another jar, discarding the petals. Massage a suitable amount on your scalp 2 hours before washing your hair to see hair growth & thickness!

# Exfoliates Dead Cells

Hibiscus is a rich source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids which are known to be powerful exfoliators in the skin care industry. The AHAs in hibiscus dissolve dead cells and flaky skin on the skin’s surface, revealing fresh new skin underneath!

# Delays Premature Graying of Hair

Another amazing beauty benefit of hibiscus is that it delays premature graying of hair! Ancient Ayurvedic texts talk of hibiscus as a natural hair dye to mask gray hairs and it’s also recently been scientifically proven to have such powers! You can check out the 2015 study here. Use it by making and massaging the hair growth oil in Point 5 above to see results.