In recent years, studies have shown the health
benefits of moderate wine drinking specifically attibuted to red wine. Of course, I took this concept and ran with it, although adjusting to red over my white wine preference took awhile. But what if I told you there are also studies claiming that a wine rinse applied topically could give the same benfits, but even more pronounced? People in the beauty industry have been writing about using wine for skin and haircare purposes and contemplating if it's worth it. So, can a wine rinse good be good for your hair?

The Science Behind The Rinse

Most studies suggest that wine applied directly to the hair as a rinse can have some unique benefits that are hard to find elsewhere. It is important to note you want to use red wine over white wine since red is higher in antioxidants than white. Rinsing hair with red wine can help with UV protection, hair loss, dandruff, and irritated scalp. Red wine contains an ingredient called resveratrol, that helps stop hair loss while also stimulating the scalp with improved circulation. Resveratrol gets rid of inflammation while encouraging new cell turnover for a healthy scalp capable of producing new growth. According to Allure, "Wine does contain resveratrol, which has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant and useful for treating sun damage and the effects of aging," reports dermatologist Jason Emer. "And other polypheols (like tannins) that are common in wine may be useful for aging and inflammation, as they have been thought to fight free radicals and decrease the risk of cancer when drunk. To have any long-term benefit, however, they would likely need to be constantly applied topically."

Will It Color My Hair?

Many women with blonde or lighter hair shades may worry about the red wine dying their hair. While red wine can be used to create a temporary dye, it is usually combined with henna to achieve that effect. Red wine alone won't change your hair color. If it does give it a slight red hue, it can be washed out with a few washes. If you are worried about this, you can always do a strand test to make sure it won't be a problem for you.

Can't I Just Drink It?

You can drink red wine and reap these same benefits for the most part. However, if you apply the red wine directly to the source, you will see results faster and in a more pronounced way. Hair will also get a luster to it when the wine is applied topically.

How Do I Do a Wine Rinse?

It is best to do a wine rinse after you shampoo and condition. While some rinses are best when completely rinsed from the hair, such as eggs, mayonnaises, or anything that can take on a spoiled smell, red wine is acceptable to not wash out fully from your hair. Simply apply wine to hair and scalp until saturated. Rinse it out, but don't shampoo it out. If you leave a little red wine behind, it is not going to hurt your hair at all. You can choose to do this treatment once a week or every couple of weeks, depending on your preference. If you don't enjoy the smell of wine, you can also dilute it with water prior to applying it to hair, but the results may be less noticeable than using undiluted wine.
The wine craze has reached full peak when it becomes a staple of your beauty routine. With such great benefits, who can blame you?


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