Among the many traditional claims for the use of black seed oil for hair, it is said to be very good for its health. It has been used for centuries to strengthen and beautify the hair as well as prevent hair loss and help hair growth. If you are wondering if you can use black seed oil for grey hair, the answer is yes.
You can find black seed oil as an ingredient in many hair products from shampoo to hair gel, hair oil, hair masks, and conditioner. It is added to promote strong shiny hair with improved texture and volume as it tames frizzy hair and smooths the shaft and repairs damage hairs. Black seed oil is particularly good for getting dandruff under control. It’s a natural preservative and because it has very low toxicity it is extremely safe for topical and internal use.
Benefits of black seed oil for hair
For healthy hair, you need to have a healthy scalp. Black seed oil has the following properties that are beneficial for both hair and scalp care:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Antihistamine
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
You can think of it as a natural detox for the head and hair because it unclogs hair follicles and helps shift dead skin cells, bacteria and different toxins like hair product build-up to give the scalp a deep cleanse. It nourishes the skin of the scalp and calms irritation caused by psoriasis, eczema and other inflammatory conditions. Natural sebum is designed to moisturize hair but when you when you use harsh commercial products they tend to strip the hair of oil that causes rebound oiliness. Black seed oil balances oil production and protects the hair.
Helps stop hair loss
Black seed is an age-old Ayurvedic remedy for hair loss. Not surprisingly, in an experimental model, black seed oil (Kalonji oil ) was found to be very effective in protecting the hair against chemotherapy-induced alopecia. This is very good news because of course, using black seed oil for hair does not cause the unpleasing side effects of drugs like finasteride and minoxidil.
Finasteride prescription is given for baldness because it is a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, meaning it moderates the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from testosterone. Black seed is a efficacious natural DHT blocker due to its rich content of β-sitosterol. Antioxidants and iron are also very important for hair growth and black seed oil is rich in both of these too. Hair is very sensitive to even a small change in iron stores in the body and iron deficiency contribute to hair loss, especially in alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, and diffuse hair loss. Besides being a good source of iron, black seed oil also supplies the zinc and magnesium necessary for healthy hair.
Black seed oil contains fatty acids and antioxidants, it helps in treating your scalp skin and helps in making the hair roots stronger, thus curbing hair fall. The balanced proportion of various acids as mentioned above in the oil helps in quick improvement of the undernourished scalp skin and reduces scarring. It also enhances blood circulation to the cells and tissues of root hair. The perfect combination of vitamins and acids present in the Oil gets absorbed into the scalp skin and hence helps in nourishing the hair from roots.
Promotes hair growth
A number of things can cause slow your natural hair growth from lack of sleep and nutrients to hormonal imbalances and inflammation. Taking black seed oil internally supports the hair from the inside out and applying it externally helps the hair from the outside in.
One of the most common causes of hair loss is TE (telogen effluvium). Hair goes through various growth stages and the telogen phase is the resting phase. TE is diagnosed when thinning and shedding occurs during this dormant stage and the number of follicles producing new hair drops.
In a double-blind blind experiment, topical black seed oil treatment produced impressive results. It not only promotes hair growth but also improved the quality of the new hair. “The results showed a significant improvement in 70% of patients treated with NS. Videodermatoscopic analysis showed a significant increment of hair density and hair thickness in patients treated with NS. NS was also able to reduce the inflammation observed in the majority of patients affected by TE.”[1]
How to use black seed oil for hair growth?
It’s very easy to make the own black seed oil hair products. The simplest way to do it is to add a few drops to the shampoo or conditioner. Alternatively, you can put a small amount into the palm of the hand, rub the hands together and then apply the oil to the ends before drying the hair.
To revitalize the scalp you need to do two things. One is to take nigella sativa oil internally every day so that you can assist the body by improving the immune system and general health. The other is to massage black seed oil into the scalp. Massage alone increases circulation and lymphatic drainage, that brings nutrients and oxygen from the blood to the hair follicle and helps remove toxins through the lymph. A massage with black seed oil, however, has the added benefit of supplying the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities of this wonderful oil, as well as the one of a kind nutrients in the form of fatty acids, vitamins, and trace minerals.
Black seed oil is good on its own or it can be mixed with other natural hair loving ingredients like castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, almond oil, and lemon juice.
Black seed oil hair mask recipes
Choose from one of these:
- Black seed oil – approx. 2 tablespoons
- Black seed oil and olive oil
- Black seed oil and coconut oil
- Equal quantities of black seed oil, coconut oil, and raw honey
- One part castor oil to 3 parts black seed oil
- Black cumin seed oil and juice from a fresh lemon/fresh lime or an equal quantity of apple cider vinegar
Adjust quantities for the length of the hair. Mix ingredients in a small bowl – you can gently warm them in a double boiler for easier handling.
Massage the mixture of choice into the scalp, taking time to cover the whole head whilst concentrating on the trouble spots like bald patches or the places where hair is thinning, then working from the scalp to the ends of the hair shafts. Wash the hair by wrapping the head in a warm to hot towel and shampoo after 30-60 minutes. Repeat weekly.
Now that you know about the amazing benefits and effects of black seed oil on the hair, you should definitely check our black seed oil products and black seed soap & shampoo bar.