Does Beer Have Benefits For Hair?

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Stouts, porters, and ales all carry a hearty, robust quality that people have enjoyed for thousands of years. But for the more scientifically curious—those willing to examine the ingredients and plunge into experimentation for healthier hair—beer offers more than just flavor. Despite the variety of beer styles, the key ingredients remain water, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
Depending on the brewers’ brewing process, beer is packed with B vitamins and proteins, which may help strengthen hair and boost its shine.
Does that mean beer is full of nutrients? Not exactly—the alcohol content offsets many of its nutritional benefits. However, cosmetic chemists have harnessed its nourishing components, creating beer-infused hair products aimed at promoting hair health.
In this article, we’ll explore the recent trend of hair washing with beer to achieve healthy hair and how this bubbly brew might benefit your tresses.
Washing hair with beer may repair damaged strands
The ingredients in beer contain malts and hops, which are indeed protein-rich and can coat the hair strands, forming a protective layer. While it doesn’t penetrate deeply enough to repair the hair follicles on a molecular level, it provides:
- A temporary barrier shielding the hair cuticles.
- The ability to heal naturally over time.
- Potential aid for sun-damaged or chemically treated hair, which often requires extra protection as it recovers.
Additionally, the proteins in beer can enhance the appearance of the hair, giving it a fuller, shinier look, helping to minimize frizz, reduce the appearance of split ends, and improve overall smoothness.
While beer does have a distinctive smell, following up with a conditioner after the rinse can help neutralize the odor while enhancing the softness and shine of the treatment.

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Should you wash your hair with beer daily?
Beer has carbon dioxide in it, which makes it bubbly and difficult to manage when washing the hair with water. Many people go straight to the source and wash their hair with beer, leaving it in the fridge overnight to use flat beer. A beer rinse is fine occasionally, but the alcohol will likely dry out your hair unless you opt for a non-alcoholic beer. Still, there is probably a better option than finding a brand that omits the alcohol in beer.
What is an alternative to a straight-up beer wash?
If you are apprehensive about using beer for hair treatment, you can still reap the benefits of beer with a shampoo or conditioner. There are even beer hair masks on the market, specially formulated to promote hair growth and keep hair shinier.
Repairing damaged hair with an alternative hair cleansing method?
A beer hair rinse may not be everyone’s chosen elixir for achieving dream hair. Thankfully, other products, like a leave-in conditioner, shampoo, and hair mask, will minimize buildup from hair products, hydrate dry hair, and help strengthen the hair shaft, likened to salon-style treatments.
Whether you have thin, thick, straight, or curly hair, there are products out there tailored to your hair type. For overly dyed hair due to gray hairs growing in, stylists recommend only dying the roots and using quality hair masks weekly, if not every other day.
About Evergreen Beauty College’s cosmetology program
Our cosmetology program is designed to provide a comprehensive education in three phases, focusing on advanced cutting and coloring techniques, as well as a deep understanding of a holistic hair care routine.
In a safe classroom setting, the instructors will teach and demonstrate how to work with straight, curly, and wavy hair, do effective blow drying to achieve eye-catching hairstyles, and safely use hair color. They will explain the best approach for hair care, how to color already-colored hair, and how to consult the client on making brittle hair stronger.
Consider scheduling a tour at one of our campuses or taking a brief quiz to see if enrolling in a cosmetology program is the right fit for you!
FAQ: Does beer have benefits for hair?
Is drinking beer good for your hair?
Drinking beer will not benefit your hair. Excessive alcohol can lead to dry hair and skin.
Does beer thicken hair?
Beer may not thicken hair. However, it contains proteins that make the hair appear fuller and shinier.
What are the benefits of drinking beer?
Moderate beer drinking is fine, but an excessive amount may negatively affect your health and hair quality.