I've always been into DIY beauty. Especially when it hits the trifecta of simple, natural, and effective. Bonus points if it's cheap.
But when I first learned that you can wash your hair with raw eggs, I was understandably skeptical. A little grossed out, even.
As you probably are now.
But after a bit of research, I was too curious not to try. Newly postpartum, I was willing to give anything a chance that promised to help me keep the thick, long hair I'd been enjoying during pregnancy.
And honestly? I'm glad I gave it a chance. But I won't lie and tell you that it's been an easy journey.
Long story short, I experimented with my hair so you don't have to. And now I'm here to share the good, the bad, and the smelly. (Yes, smelly.)
Let's get crackin'.
Wait… Did You Say, Raw Eggs?
Yup, you read that right.
Raw eggs. In your hair.
Relax. This isn't just another clickbait beauty hack circulating the internet. This method goes way back, possibly as far as the 11th century. We know that it increased in popularity during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when extra-long hair was all the rage.
Egg washes were used to clean, soften, and shine those long locks. Even Empress Elisabeth of Austria (AKA Empress Sisi), known for her gorgeous, nearly floor-length hair, reportedly used a mixture of egg and cognac to wash it.
I mean, if it worked for her, who am I to question it?
But did Victorian women simply use eggs because they didn't have Pantene? Or are there actual benefits to the egg itself?
To be clear, there isn't enough scientific research to say whether washing your hair with eggs actually improves hair growth or scalp health.
According to Healthline, eggs contain nutrients associated with healthy hair, including biotin, folate, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin D. But eating these nutrients and applying them directly to your scalp are two very different things.
Still, egg yolks contain fats and proteins that may help hair feel softer and more conditioned, while egg whites are sometimes used as a DIY cleanser.
There may not be solid scientific evidence that egg washes promote hair growth. But the images I've seen of Empress Sisi's hair were enough to convince me it was worth a try.
My Experience
Let me preface this by saying the egg wash method you use and the results you get are going to vary dramatically based on your hair type, length, and texture.
I first decided to try the egg wash after seeing my husband use it with incredible results.
He has thick, curly hair that's about three inches long. He's been on a curly hair journey for years, but I've never seen anything agree with his hair more than the egg wash. He hasn't used a drop of shampoo in about three months, and his hair has never been softer, bouncier, or shinier. He cracks an egg in the shower once a week and has nothing but great hair days.
Obviously, I wanted in on that.
My hair is pretty much the opposite of his. It's long, pencil-straight, and baby fine. But I figured it was still worth a try.
So, I whisked two eggs in a cup, added some rosemary-infused castor oil, worked it into my damp hair in the shower, and waited for the magic to happen.
Only, it wasn't so magical.
Unless you enjoy brushing chunks of eggs out of wet hair, that is.
It seems I made a critical error—one that seems pretty obvious in hindsight—and accidentally cooked the egg into my hair by using warm water instead of cold.
Not only were there bits of egg in my hair, but it smelled a little eggy. And instead of being soft and smooth, it was frizzy, tangled, and felt like straw.
But I wasn't ready to give up quite yet.
So, I tried again, this time with cool water.
To my dismay, I still found chunks of egg white in my hair. What? How?! I froze my ass off in the shower for nothing?!
Not to mention my hair still smelled eggy while it was air-drying.
Yuck.
But once it finally dried, my hair felt amazing. It was clean and soft with some incredible volume. It even had a natural wave to it (oh, hello there!).
As amazing as those results were, I wasn't prepared for the ick that would come over the next week.
Part of the idea behind this whole thing was to extend the time between washes. I've traditionally been an every-other-day kind of shampooer, so this was a journey all on its own.
By day five, I finally gave in and did another egg wash. I just couldn't take the oily hair feeling any longer!
After a few rounds, I was starting to feel pretty good about my new routine. I even experimented with an apple cider vinegar rinse between washes, which seemed to help with the oiliness.
But I was tired of spending 15 minutes after every shower removing bits of egg from my hair.
I'm not afraid to admit I had a shampoo relapse.
I just needed to feel some suds on my scalp, okay?
It felt amazing. But before long, I was right back to shampooing every other day.
Eventually, I got back on the wagon, this time determined to find a way to make the egg wash work without the mess.
So, I tried using just the yolks.
It still worked. But somehow, there were still a couple of pieces of egg in my hair. How?
It was YouTuber Zoe Carter who saved me. (Thanks, girl!)
She takes one extra step that changed everything. Instead of whisking up a couple of yolks and sending it, she punctures the egg yolk and uses the liquid gold inside, discarding the membrane.
I'm happy to report I haven't had a single piece of egg residue left in my hair since.
Oh, and that egg smell is gone, too.
All I have to do is braid my hair at night, and I've had great hair day after great hair day. And is it my imagination, or is my hair getting pretty long pretty fast?
I won't lie and say I'll never use shampoo again. But I don't think I'll be reaching for it more than once a month if this routine keeps working for me.
The process is a bit time-consuming, but my hair looks too good to stop.
How to Wash Your Hair With Eggs, Step by Step
Although it sounds, well, messy, washing your hair with eggs isn't all that different from using shampoo if you do it right.
I'll break it down for you.
Supplies Needed
- Mixing bowl (a measuring cup with a spout works particularly well)
- Fork or whisk
- 1–4 eggs, depending on hair length
- Oils (optional)
Instructions
Step One: Gather one to four eggs, depending on your hair length and whether you're using the whole egg or just the yolks. Generally speaking, you'll need one whole egg for short hair, two for medium, and three for long hair. If you're using just the yolks, grab an extra egg. (Don't forget to save the whites for tomorrow's omelet!)
Step Two: For a whole egg wash, whisk your eggs in a shower-safe bowl until smooth. If you're using just the yolks, separate them from the whites. To avoid leftover egg pieces, I highly recommend puncturing the yolk's membrane and letting the liquid flow into your bowl, discarding the membrane.
Step Three: Mix in your oils of choice, if using. I experimented with rosemary-infused castor oil, but you can skip this step entirely. If you're considering essential oils, make sure they're properly diluted and safe for your skin.
Step Four: Wet your hair with cool water. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT use hot water! You will regret it. Trust me.
Step Five: Work the egg mixture onto your scalp and through your hair. I prefer using my fingers because it gives me more control, but pouring it onto your head works, too.
Step Six: Allow the mixture to sit for 10–15 minutes. Take the opportunity to enjoy an everything shower. Wash, shave, exfoliate, the works! You deserve it.
Step Seven: Rinse thoroughly with cool water until all the egg is gone. Again, avoid hot water unless you want scrambled eggs in your hair.
And that's it!
It might feel a little weird the first few times, but you'll quickly get into a routine and may even start to enjoy the self-care.
As for how often to do an egg wash, that depends on your hair and scalp. While I've enjoyed stretching the time between washes, there's no magic number of days everyone should wait. If your scalp feels oily, itchy, or uncomfortable, there's nothing wrong with reaching for your regular shampoo.
One last thing: Raw eggs can carry Salmonella bacteria, so avoid getting the mixture in your mouth or eyes, don't use it on broken skin, and wash your hands and shower surfaces afterward. Skip this method entirely if you have an egg allergy.
Will I ever give up shampoo completely? Probably not.
But for now, I'm sticking with my egg washes.
Who knew great hair days could start in the refrigerator?