There are plenty of people who claim that putting toothpaste in your hair is safe and effective for a variety of purposes. Using toothpaste to remove unwanted body hair, help your hair grow, and help color your hair are just some of the claims.

But some of these actually seem to contradict each other, and most of them don’t really align with the mechanism of most actual toothpaste ingredients. We did some detective work to discover if toothpaste actually does have any proven benefits when applied to your hair or scalp.

What does toothpaste do to your hair?

There hasn’t been any medical research done to demonstrate what happens to your hair strands when you apply toothpaste. The individual ingredients of a toothpaste formula can provide some indication as to how it can affect your hair, but every formula is different.

As a general rule, toothpaste may be able to influence your hair’s color and growth, but not necessarily in the ways that you might hope.

Does toothpaste make your hair lighter?

Certain types of toothpaste claim to whiten your teeth with lightening ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can make your teeth appear whiter, which means it might make your hair look lighter, too.

But using hydrogen peroxide toothpaste to lighten your hair is probably not such a great idea. For one thing, toothpaste is extremely difficult to apply evenly to your hair, since that isn’t what it’s made for. There’s no tried-and-tested instructions for effectively using toothpaste to lighten hair on your body or your scalp.

Can toothpaste bleach your hair?

Yes, leaving toothpaste on your hair long enough may bleach your hair, but that doesn’t mean you should try it. Even if whitening toothpaste can “bleach” or lighten hair on your skin and on your body, the result will be somewhat unpredictable. If you leave toothpaste on any of your hair for a significant length of time, the toothpaste will draw moisture out of your hair strand, leaving it dry and prone to breakage. It may also damage the hair follicle if applied to your skin or scalp.

It’s also not very cost effective to apply toothpaste to large sections of your hair, and can be difficult to get the toothpaste out once it dries.

Does toothpaste help hair removal?

You may have seen viral videos on the internet suggesting that toothpaste can be combined with other ingredients to dissolve unwanted hair, especially body hair. There is no evidence to suggest that this is an effective and safe method of hair removal.

In the process of removing hair from your skin, it’s likely that toothpaste would cause irritation. Toothpaste also contains alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, both of which dry out your skin. With many more gentle and efficient ways to remove hair from your body, there’s no strong case to be made for using toothpaste.

Can toothpaste help hair growth?

Many types of toothpaste contain peppermint oil, extract, or flavoring. This is probably why some people think applying toothpaste to your scalp can encourage hair growth.

It’s true that peppermint oil is a natural home remedy for regrowing hair, and it may stimulate blood flow to your scalp. There are even clinical studiesTrusted Source supporting the use of peppermint oil products to help hair grow.

But that doesn’t mean putting toothpaste on your scalp will have the same impact. Peppermint oil would need to be powerfully concentrated to impact hair growth — and the other ingredients in toothpaste dilute the peppermint extracts in your toothpaste. So it isn’t likely that topically applied toothpaste works for hair growth.

Does toothpaste have any topical benefits for your scalp or facial skin?

Toothpaste has some ingredients in common with skincare products and acne medication. Baking soda and sodium lauryl sulfate are two ingredients used in both skincare and toothpaste formulas. All toothpaste formulas also have antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients, such as triclosanTrusted Source, to support cleansing your mouth. For these reasons, some people advise applying a bit of toothpaste on your skin to blemishes and pimples, the way you would use a pimple cream.

Toothpaste probably can dry out some bacterial pimples, and may even reduce inflammation or redness. But it’s not a recommended treatment for acne. Using toothpaste on your skin can have unpredictable results and can trigger more breakouts and result in:

clogged pores

flaking

dryness

redness

Can it help remove hair dye staining on your skin?

Sometimes a DIY dye job can leave dark patches on your scalp and around the crown of your head. Toothpaste has been suggested as a way to remove these markings because of its lightening ingredients. Again, there is no medical research that supports using toothpaste for this purpose.

The most likely outcome is that you will get toothpaste in your freshly dyed hair, which could tamper with the color.

Soft, luminous hair is a common goal. However, life can get the best of your hair — whether due to aging, lifestyle habits, or poor hair care techniques — many things can damage your already delicate hair cuticles.

Over time, natural oils may be stripped from your hair, which can lead to dryness.

Still, this doesn’t mean you have to settle for dry, brittle hair.

Softening otherwise dry and coarse hair can be treated with home remedies. All you’ll need is a combination of moisturizing ingredients and healthy hair care habits. Consider the following remedies and steps you can easily add to your own routine.

1. Know your hair type

Understanding your hair type is important before trying any home remedies. Dry, coarse hair can certainly use some extra TLC, but straight hair may not need as much oil compared with curly hair. This is because natural oils from the scalp move easier through the cuticle the straighter your hair is.

Although you may know your hair type now, it can change as you get older because of a decrease in natural oil production. Your hair might also be different based on the climate you live in and what season it is.

2. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is becoming increasingly prevalent in beauty products. Although researchTrusted Source has shown that coconut oil can benefit dry skin, there may also be some potential softening benefits for your hair, too.

Coconut oil itself can penetrate deep into the skin — some of these same effects may be seen in the hair shaft.

You can look for products already infused with coconut oil, or you can apply pure oil to your hair after you shampoo. If the result is too oily, try concentrating on the ends of your hair only and using the oil every other day.

Buy a product with coconut oil now.

3. Olive oil

Olive oil is well-studied for its effects on internal health, but research is also emergingTrusted Source about its role in hair care. It’s thought that olive oil can act as a barrier against water, which can help prevent water molecules from stretching and damaging the cuticle.

The downside is that this sort of barrier can also make your hair oily. For best results, apply a small amount of olive oil in a thin, even layer throughout the ends of your hair once a week.

4. Argan oil

Derived from Moroccan argan fruit extracts, this oil is known for its moisturizing properties. While research involving argan oilTrusted Source and hair care is lacking, this remedy shows a lot of promise.

Cosmetic manufacturers have added the oil to numerous shampoos, conditioners, and treatments, but extremely dry hair may benefit more from pure argan oil. (Get some here.) Plus, you won’t have to deal with any chemicals or other unwanted additives.

Apply as you would olive oil — in a single, even layer.

5. Use a weekly hair mask

Plant oils can be an effective way to add much-needed moisture to dry hair. But if you’d rather not mess with pure oils, you can look for a ready-to-use hair mask instead.

Used on a weekly basis, a hair mask can help your hair draw in moisture more effectively for softer hair over time. Apply on damp (not wet) hair after shampooing, then rinse out after five minutes.

Consider trying Redken’s All Soft Mega Mask.

6. Bentonite clay

Bentonite clay is a volcanically-derived substance that’s traditionally used for digestive ailments. It’s also sometimes used for skin issues, like dryness, eczema, and bug bites.

Research is ongoing about the possible effects of bentonite clay for your hair, though most related studiesTrusted Source have focused on animals. Proponents believe that the clay can help clean your hair while also balancing out moisture levels. It may even help with dandruff.

To use bentonite clay for your hair:

Get some bentonite clay.

Combine equal parts clay with water or vinegar, to form a thick paste.

Apply in the shower as you would a store-bought hair mask.

7. Don’t wash with hot water

Hot water can cause damage to dull, dry hair. Opt for lukewarm water instead.

You can also make your hair softer and shinier by rinsing your hair with cool water when you’re done conditioning. This will help rinse out any excess product without stripping out moisture.

8. Wash strategically

If you have dry ends and an oily scalp, you’ll still need to wash your hair regularly. To treat both dryness and oiliness though, you might need to apply a different strategy.

Try shampooing your scalp and then conditioning your ends only. This can help alleviate both excess oil at the top of your hair while softening out the rest of your strands.

9. Wash only as often as needed

At a young age, we’re taught to shampoo our hair every single day. But as you get older, your hair can change, and you may not need daily shampoos after all. In fact, people with extremely dry hair may only require weekly shampoos at best. On the other hand, if you have an oilier scalp compared to your ends, you may need to wash your hair every other day.

You can also touch up with dry shampoo as needed — this will help remove oil and dirt without stripping away moisture.

10. Go easy with heated tools

Blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons are staples for many hairstyles. However, prolonged, high heat can create bubbles in your hair cuticle leading to damaged hair that can then break off. If you must use heated tools, consider the following tips:

apply a heat protectant prior to each use

use the lowest heat setting possible

never use on extremely wethair — let your hair air dry for a little bit first

take weekly breaks to help your hair recover

11. Avoid certain hairstyles

Hair accessories can be a fun and easy way to change up your look. Some accessories, such as elastic bands, are even essential when you’re working out or playing sports. But over time, the pulling and tightening action from these hairstyles can damage the hair cuticle. This can lead to dryness, and even patchy hair loss.