Last Updated on August 1, 2018 by Marc Seward
When you see a certain thing associated with a certain meaning for a long period of time, it can be difficult to see that thing in any other light or context. This often happens with natural substances that are used in natural health and beauty practices. We see a certain food, plant, or other substance used in a particular way for so long that we become blind to its other functions and benefits. Of course, a little research into these substances can uncover a lot of information that could change the way you look at many things.
What Is Rose Water?
You are most likely very familiar with roses, as they are one of the most popular types of flowers in today’s society. Everybody can see a rose and identify it immediately. Scientifically known as Rosa damascena, it is generally associated with symbols of love and romance; although, different colored roses are used to symbolize different ideas and feelings. Of course, roses can be used for other purposes than just a pretty bouquet.
It may be surprising, but roses can actually provide many different benefits when used in health and beauty practices, which is part of the reason why they have become so popular today. While rose petals can be pressed to create rose oil, a more popular use of the petals comes in the form of rose water. You can often find this steeped solution in facial sprays, makeup removers, toners, masks, and moisturizers.
Rose water is produced by distilling rose petals with steam, which is often a by-product of the production of rose oil. It has been known to contain many nutritional properties and benefits that make it great for both medicinal and cosmetic uses. Historically, rose water has been used in traditional beauty practices since ancient Egyptian times. With that said, experts believe that its original use can be traced back to what is now Iran.
Rose Water in Aromatherapy
Many people support and swear by the positive effects of aromatherapy, while others think that there is nothing to be gained from it. Aromatherapy may be a confusing and often muddled area, but it certainly can provide a number of excellent health benefits.
For example, rose water is often used in therapeutic practices to help relieve headaches, reduce stress, and boost a person’s mood. Studies have shown that rose water vapor can relieve headaches, and spraying a rose water mist on the face has helped people feel happier and more alert.
Rose Water Uses
As mentioned, rose water can typically be found as an ingredient in many facial cleansers, toners, and other treatment products. Of course, it can also be used internally, especially when added to recipes like teas or other drinks. You might also choose to use it in a spray bottle as a perfume or method of aromatherapy. Generally speaking, rose water could be mixed into almost anything that could take liquid ingredients.
Rose Water for Hair
Recently, rose water has also been getting a lot of attention for the benefits it can provide for the hair, even though it is mostly used for the skin and face. As a toner, rose water helps to remove excess oils from the skin, and it can provide a similar benefit for the hair.
Rose water also has a similar pH balance to that of your hair, which means it can also help balance the oils and provide a natural shine.
Unlike many shampoos or conditioners that may claim to reduce or remove the excess oils from your hair, rose water does not cause dryness or frizziness. In fact, rose water acts as a great moisturizer to help fight both dryness and frizziness of the hair. It does this by bringing hydration back to the scalp, which would then help re-hydrate the hair and eliminate its frizz.
When rose water is used to target the scalp, its re-hydration and moisturizing abilities can also help target and eliminate dandruff. A lot of dandruff shampoos are filled with chemicals, so rose water is a great way to keep your scalp healthy while still addressing the irritating issue of dandruff. Generally speaking, using rose water is a great way to promote overall scalp health.
Otherwise, using rose water throughout the hair helps prevent and heal damaged hair, especially hair that has been chemically treated in the past. Weak hair, in general, can benefit from the application of rose water, as it was used for this purpose in ancient Chinese beauty practices. Rose water also promotes healthy hair growth, thanks to its levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B3.
Ways to Use Rose Water for Your Hair
There are many ways that you might choose to use rose water in your hair care treatments, whether that be mixed in with other ingredients or products or used by itself in direct applications. For example, you might choose to mix it in with your shampoo for a simple method of application. You could also use rose water as a final rinse after applying shampoo, similarly to how you might do a tea rinse.
You could also mix rose water with other natural oils and substances for added benefits.
For example, rose water could be mixed with jojoba oil and vitamin E to be used as a remedy for damaged hair. It could also be mixed with an herb like fenugreek seeds to create a paste and applied to the scalp as a treatment for dandruff. Rose water is a very good base, so you could end up mixing it with almost anything that provides other or similar health and beauty benefits.
In the end, rose water is very versatile, which is what makes it such a valuable natural substance. It’s also very easy to make, as long as you have access to the right types of rose petals. Rose water should be made with “food-grade” petals.
This means you can’t just use any normal, ordinary petals you get from the florist, as those may have been treated with chemicals to help it grow, stay healthy, or look a certain way. Overall, it may be simpler to purchase your rose water from a reliable company so you can reap the benefit without having to worry about where you got your petals from.
Rosewater and Glycerin Hair Spray
Rosewater combines well with glycerin and a few other natural ingredients to treat your skin and your hair. Glycerin is actually a humectant meaning that it helps your skin and hair to stay hydrated. It is especially good for dry or brittle hair as well as curly hair. Perhaps the best thing about glycerin is that it can moisturize your hair and skin without leaving it feeling greasy or oily.
What You Need
- 100 ml of rose water
- half a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin
- 5 ml of ale vera gel
- 4 drops of lavender essential oil to add fragrance (substitute for another essential oil like rose geranium if you prefer)
Instructions
- Pour all of your ingredients into a glass spray bottle and shake well.
- Store in a cool dry place and use it when needed.
- Spray it on your hair when it is dry or damp paying special attention to frizzy and dry areas.
- You can also use this spray on your scalp to soothe irritation and itching and to eliminate dandruff.
Other Benefits of Rose Water
As rose water is steeped and distilled until it has absorbed everything from the petals, the resulting concoction is full of all of the healthy nutrients found in the roses themselves. Because of this, it can provide many different benefits through many different uses, from topical applications to even ingestion.
Skin Care
You can primarily find rose water commercially used in facial cleansers and other treatments. This is because it has great anti-inflammatory properties that could help relieve skin irritation and conditions such as eczema or rosacea. The anti-inflammatory properties could also be used to heal many internal conditions as well.
For the skin, rose water also helps reduce the appearance of redness and puffiness; overall, it can improve the complexion and reduce acne breakouts.
Wound Healing
Another powerful skin benefit comes from the antibacterial properties found in rose water. These properties make it great for promoting the faster healing of wounds, as well as protecting cuts, burns, and other types of wounds from getting infected.
When taken internally, rose water provides many similar benefits. For example, rose water has been used traditionally in treatments for sore throats, which means it could potentially be used as a natural alternative to antibiotics in those circumstances. With that said, more research needs to be done on that topic to prove whether or not it would truly be effective.
Antioxidant Benefits
Similarly, rose water could also reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines associated with premature aging. Because of its antioxidant properties, rose water can protect against damage done to the skin by free radicals that we encounter daily in our environment and diets.
Rose water also contains many antioxidants that can help protect the internal cells from becoming damaged. There was a study that showed that the antioxidants found in rose water were able to prevent and stop lipid peroxidation. This in turn improved the protection of the cells. Another potential internal benefit is that rose water helps improve digestive health and the secretion of bile in the body. (1)
Sore Throats
Although antibiotics are often prescribed for a sore throat, they are not always effective and given the fears over bacterial resistance, it is good to look for a more natural treatment. Rose water is one such natural product that can effectively relieve a sore throat. Despite the lack of scientific research, there is strong anecdotal evidence that it works and there is definitely no harm in giving it a go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does rose water do to your hair?
Rose water is very good for your hair. It helps to stabilize the pH balance in your hair because its pH is similar to that of the hair. It can also help hydrate the hair and is especially good for dry or brittle hair while people with curly hair can also benefit. Rose water also has natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties meaning it can help soothe scalp irritation and clear up scalp infections like dandruff.
What is rose water good for?
As well as its uses on the hair, rose water can be applied topically to treat a range of skin conditions. It is a good source of nutrients and antioxidants that can help reverse wrinkles or fine lines. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and may help soothe redness and inflammation common in people suffering from inflammatory skin issues like eczema or psoriasis. Some people also recommend using it to treat bouts of acne because of its antiseptic properties and its ability to tighten your pores.
Can rose water lighten my skin?
Many people claim that a combination of lemon juice and rose water can lighten the skin. Lemon juice is often used as a natural skin whitener and the gentle acting effects of rose water can give your skin an additional boost.
Can you drink rose water?
Yes, you can. Drinking rose water may have a variety of benefits due to its antioxidant properties and nutritional make-up. It may give your skin a healthy boost from the inside out. It can also help relieve sore throats and colds. Drinking a little rose water in the form of a tea may also help improve your digestive system and treat common complaints like stomach upset, bloating and indigestion.
Risk of Using Rose Water
Usually, natural substances meant for topical applications are given a score called a comedogenic rating. This comedogenic rating is given on a scale ranging from zero to five, and the lowest numbers represent the substances that are least likely to irritate a person’s skin, clog their pores, or worsen the appearance of acne breakouts.
Higher ratings, on the other hand, represent the opposite. These ratings may not always be accurate for everybody, as each person’s skin will react differently to certain substances.
With that said, it seems that rose water has not specifically been given a comedogenic rating. Based on studies and analyzing the substance, however, it does seem that most people should not experience any bad reactions to its use. Because its base is water, there should not be any irritants that could harm or react poorly with the skin. It seems that the only reason why a person might have a bad reaction to rose water is if they already had an allergy to roses themselves.
Final Thoughts
Rose water is a wonderful natural substance with a number of potential health benefits. While it is primarily used to treat the skin and hair, it is also a potential remedy for sore throats, colds, digestive troubles and digestive troubles.
You can apply rose water topically to the skin or combine it with essential oils to treat your hair. You can also get even more benefits from drinking it in the form of a tea.
Do you use rose water for cosmetic or health reasons? Please let us know what you use it for and what you think of its effects. We would be very happy to hear from you.
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