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Uses for Whey in Skin Care and Hair CareLearn the incredible, simple uses for whey for creating healthy skin and soft, shiny hair. Whey is naturally protein and vitamin-rich, and is one of the best things you can give your skin and hair!
Whey generated from acidification is known as acid whey, or sour whey, while whey generated from rennet cheeses is known as sweet whey. The uses for whey in skin and hair care range from the internal to the external. Liquid goat whey contains protein, vitamins and minerals. When taken internally, whey protein is rapidly assimilated by the body, and whey protein supplements are often used by athletes before workouts to help build muscle mass. That same whey protein that builds muscle mass is also needed to give you great skin, hair and nails! So, the first of the uses for whey to enhance your skin and hair is to drink it to provide your body with the complete protein building blocks it needs to regenerate and rejuvenate the protein-rich skin and hair cells. I know what you're thinking, but whey by itself is not all that unpleasant to drink. It's slightly tangy, and when chilled, is actually quite refreshing. But, if you'd rather, mix it with fruit juice, or whip it up in the blender with some fresh fruit and ice as a smoothie. You can also use whey instead of water in recipes. Use whey for cooking pasta, or making soups. When whey is used for making bread, it gives it a wonderful brown crust and rich aroma. With a little time, you'll find lots of other ways to add this protein powerhouse to your everyday diet &mdash just start thinking, "Why water when you could whey?". If you need to know how to make whey, there are several "wheys." The easiest is to strain an already-cultured milk product like yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream or kefir, through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or colander set in a bowl. Leave to drain at room temperature for 12-24 hours, then collect the liquid whey from the bowl. If you're using a commercial yogurt, be sure it doesn't have gelatin as an ingredient, or the whey will not separate. To produce a larger volume of whey, check out some of the Goat Cheese Making Recipes. That way, you'll be able to enjoy the full spectrum of goat milk nutrition through both the cheese and the whey! Your whey will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks. Now that you have whey, let's get started with some ideas for using it for skin and hair care! Whey for Hair CareWhey is excellent for hair care. It nourishes, strengthens and softens hair. You'll probably find that after using whey on your hair, it's altogether healthier and shinier looking. And, because it's slightly acidic, whey helps improve the health of your scalp &mdash where your hair gets its nourishment.
There are several variations of uses for whey on your hair. If your hair is not extremely dirty or oily, you can use whey in place of a shampoo to cleanse your hair. Just rub in thoroughly and rinse with cool to lukewarm water. If your hair needs a thorough cleansing, shampoo first, and follow with a whey rinse. Leave on the hair for 5-15 minutes, then gently rinse with water. Want some serious conditioning? Wet clean hair thoroughly with the whey, brushing with styling brush to distribute evenly, then let dry naturally. Rinse with warm water, dry and style. You're really going to love how soft and silky your whey-conditioned hair is! Now for one of my favorite hair care uses for whey! If you use styling gel or mousse on your hair, try using whey instead. Just spray or comb whey through your wet hair and style as usual. The whey adds great texture and body to hair, and is especially useful for fine or limp hair, because it doesn't weigh it down like many hair products. Just be sure to keep separating the hairs as you dry, or the hair will tend to clump together, just like gel or mousse would do. Whey is the best heat and humidity-resistant hair styling product I've used. Even in our record-breaking heat index of over 110 degrees F, the whey held my hair without collapsing. And, of course, you're getting the benefit of all that protein for your hair, too! Whey for Skin CareWhey can be used on the skin as an all-in-one gentle cleanser, toner and moisturizer. In fact,several commercial skin products incorporate whey because of its benefits. Whey is gentle and slightly anti-microbial. Personal testimonies have stated that whey helps with acne. Additionally, it was shown in a cosmetic pre-development research that whey helps lighten skin pigmentations such as age spots. The easiest use of whey for skin care is a whey bath. Simply add 1-2 cups of whey to a tub of fresh water. Soak for 10-20 minutes. The acidity of the whey is great for restoring the pH level of the skin, and the whey proteins will help rejuvenate skin cells. Use the same approach for your face with a whey toner. Dampen a cotton ball or pad with whey and smooth over face. For even more skin benefits, soak some herbs, such as chamomile or peppermint in the whey, like in the directions for this Whey Toner from the article, Homemade Facials.
For tired eyes, wet a tea bag with cold whey and place over closed eyes. In five to ten minutes, you should feel completely refreshed! For any homemade skin care recipes that use water, use whey instead, and when using a dry clay mask, wet your face first with whey. As you can see, the uses for whey in skin and hair care are not complicated, and the list of whey benefits far "out-wheys" the reasons for not using it. So, get some whey and start on YOUR way to better skin and hair with this one skin-friendly natural ingredient. 
Want more great ideas for homemade skin care recipes using dairy products and other super-healthy ingredients? Articles are updated frequently, so check back here for any new uses for whey in skin care and hair care! Return to Skin Care Recipes Using Goat Milk Return to Everything Goat Milk |
Whey is the liquid that is produced whenever milk is curdled, either through the addition of an acid, like vinegar or lemon juice, or through bacterial fermentation. As such, whey is generally regarded as a by-product of the cheesemaking process. 
