Flaxseed Oil for Hair: What Are The Benefits ?

Flaxseed oil is a highly nutritional and beneficial oil, preferred by people for its amazing health benefits. The oil is not just only used for skincare purposes but hair care purposes as well. Flaxseed oil amazingly helps hair growth and is a rich source of all the nutrients like vitamins, proteins, and sources of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for our health. In this article, we will be looking at the amazing benefits of Flaxseed Oil For Hair.

1. Flaxseed Oil For Hair: What is Flaxseed Oil?

flaxseed plants

Flaxseed oil, also known as linseed oil1, is a colorless, amber yellowish or a slightly brownish red oil derived by cold pressing the dried and ripened seeds of the flax plant. These seeds are a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids2. Flax-seeds are categorized under a species called Linum usitatissimum, where “usitatissimum” literally means “most useful.”

falxseeds

People have been using flaxseed oil for different purposes throughout history. In the 19th century, European ruler King Charlemagne passed laws regarding its consumption, as he firmly believed in the benefits of flaxseed oil. Even today, the oil is highly esteemed for its medicinal and industrial purposes.

2. Flaxseed Oil for Hair: Nutritional Content of Flaxseed Oil

oil and plant

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The flax oil is highly rich in Omega-3 fatty acids in Alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA)3, which is known for its heart health benefits and helps in curing heart disease. It reduces inflammation, controls diseases that affect hair growth, boosts healthy cognitive and cardiovascular functions, and finally helps get shiny hair and glowing skin. Lack of an adequate amount of Omega-3 fatty acids can affect our hair, making it thinner and getting a brittle texture.

2. Vitamin B

Flaxseeds are also a good source of Vitamin B, a group of nutrients that helps make our hair stronger and boost our hair growth at a rapid rate.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E, a group of nutrients mostly found in nuts and plant-based oils4, is also present in flaxseeds. It helps in reducing the free radicals from our scalp and promotes hair growth. An adequate amount of Vitamin E intake also helps in strengthening the hair follicles.

Apart from these nutrients, flaxseeds are also rich in carbs and fibers, proteins and amino acids that are good for healthy hair growth, sources of fats, and other sources of vitamins and minerals like thiamine molybdenum5, magnesium, and phosphorus. It is also rich in other plant compounds like; ferulic acid, lignans, and cyanogenic glycosides.

3. Flaxseed Oil For Hair: Benefits of Flaxseed Oil For Hair

use glossy hair

1. Moisturizes Our Hair And Gives It Shine

Flaxseed oil helps in moisturizing our hair and makes them manageable. It can be used as a good styling aid, mostly for struggling with frizzy hair. According to research, the composition of castor oil is similar to that of flaxseed oil, but the latter gets absorbed in our hair quickly.

2. Helps In Avoiding The Acne Issues On Scalp

oil capsules

Researches have shown that flaxseed oil helps in preventing scalp issues like acne. Flax oil is much lighter than other oils like coconut oil and many other oils that are comedogenic6 and might cause acne or pimples on our forehead and scalp when applied. Thus flaxseed oil is a good option for this purpose.

3. Nourishes Our Hair And Scalp

nourishes the hair ans scalp

The omega-3 fatty acids present in the flaxseed oil help in strengthening and nourishing our scalp and hair. It is good to apply on the scalp of those suffering from dry and itchy scalp. Flaxseed oil is recommended daily. One can also add flaxseed to their regular diet to nourish both skin and hair.

4. Helps In Conditioning Our Hair

Helps In Conditioning Our Hair

Flaxseed oil helps in conditioning our hair making them smooth and manageable. The oil is highly rich in nutrients and thus moisturizes our hair, controls issues like split ends, and prevents hair damage.

Flaxseed gel made out of the flaxseeds can also be used as hair gel and hair mask that is really good for our hair. One can keep it on for a minimum of 30 minutes or throughout the day till the next shampoo session.

5. Reduces Dandruff

Reduces Dandruff

Flaxseed oil for hair is also beneficial as it helps in preventing dandruff. The amino acids and other chemical compounds present in the flaxseed act as an excellent anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps fight dandruff and harmful bacteria present on our skin.

6. Improves Elasticity Of Our Hair

Improves Elasticity Of Our Hair

The compounds present in the flaxseed oil, Vitamin E, B1, B2, B6, and biotin enhance our hair’s elasticity. It improves the texture and quality of our hair and reduces dandruff and eczema7. Flaxseed oil also helps in preventing other common skin problems.

7. Prevents Hair Loss

Prevents Hair Loss

The Vitamin E present in the flaxseed oil helps in treating hair loss. It also helps in stimulating hair growth. The lignans present in the flaxseeds act as a strong antioxidant that helps in our hair’s regrowth, making them healthier and stronger.

8. Fights With Free Radicals On Our Scalp

Fights With Free Radicals On Our Scalp

Vitamin E and the other antioxidants present in the flax oil help fight free radicals on our scalp. The nutrients present in the flaxseed oil make our hair stronger and help develop hair follicles.

4. Flaxseed Oil For Hair: Flaxseed Oil Usage

1. Flaxseed For Hot Oil Treatment

Flaxseed For Hot Oil Treatment

Take a sufficient amount of flaxseed oil on your palm, and then massage thoroughly on your scalp and hair. Apply more if needed, and then comb the remaining oil through your hair.

Wrap your hair using a plastic wrap or towel to hold your natural body heat and let your hair sit for 15-20 minutes. Wash it away with a mild shampoo. For best results, continue this process at least twice a week.

2. Flaxseed Oil For Treatment Of Split-Ends

Flaxseed Oil For Treatment Of Split-Ends

Flaxseed oil helps in curing the split ends as well. First, we need to slightly wet our split ends, preferably using a spray bottle, then apply the oil directly to the hair’s ends. Use 1 teaspoon full of flaxseed oil for amazing results.

5. Side Effects while using Flaxseed Oil For Hair

side effects

It is always recommended to consult our general physician or dermatologist before using any new skin and hair supplements, especially for sensitive skin.

A person with sensitive skin or scalp might get allergies from using the oil, and thus it is better to try using the oil in smaller quantities. It is also advised to all those people who are not sure of their skin type to check how much their skin or hair can intake.

flaxseed oil for hair

Flaxseed or Flaxseed oil is a great source of many useful nutrients that are good for our body. If anybody wants to avoid the purchase of flax oil from the market, making the oil at home from the flax seeds is also possible. Flaxseed oil can serve as a great option for anyone looking for a great oil, hair pack, or hair conditioner to nourish their hair. Nowadays, Flaxseed oil is also used in various skin care and hair products.

Apply flaxseed oil daily to get beautiful natural hair.

Infographic That Debunks 5 Common Myths About Hair Oil
Icy Health
  1. Nykter, Minna, Hanna-Riitta Kymäläinen, and Fred Gates. “Quality characteristics of edible linseed oil.” Agricultural and food science 15.4 (2006): 402-413. ↩︎
  2. Jeppesen, Charlotte, Katja Schiller, and Matthias B. Schulze. “Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and type 2 diabetes.” Current diabetes reports 13 (2013): 279-288. ↩︎
  3. Stark, Aliza H., Michael A. Crawford, and Ram Reifen. “Update on alpha-linolenic acid.” Nutrition reviews 66.6 (2008): 326-332. ↩︎
  4. Ramsey, J. Tyler, et al. “Focus: Plant-based medicine and pharmacology: Essential oils and health.” The Yale journal of biology and medicine 93.2 (2020): 291. ↩︎
  5. Olkowski, A. A., S. R. Gooneratne, and D. A. Christensen. “Effects of diets of high sulphur content and varied concentrations of copper, molybdenum and thiamine on in vitro phagocytic and candidacidal activity of neutrophils in sheep.” Research in Veterinary Science 48.1 (1990): 82-86. ↩︎
  6. Mills, Otto H., and Albert M. Kligman. “A human model for assessing comedogenic substances.” Archives of Dermatology 118.11 (1982): 903-905. ↩︎
  7. Sohn, Andrew, et al. “Eczema.” Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine 78.5 (2011): 730-739. ↩︎

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

Author

Ahana Sengupta

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *