Benefits of Black Seed Oil for Hair: A Complete Guide
Black seed oil is a popular ingredient found in everything from health supplements to haircare products. This oil has gained popularity for its nutrient properties that support general wellness and its ability to maintain a healthy head of hair.
This page will cover what black seed oil is, why you should include it in your hair care routine, and how to start. Whether you need to revitalize the health and appearance of your hair or simply want to provide it with extra protection, the black seed oil is a perfect solution.
C h a p t e r 1 :
What Is Black Seed Oil?
With several potential uses and even more potential health benefits, black seed oil has become a popular health supplement and a topical ingredient in hair and skin care products. Understanding what black seed oil is provides some insight into its impressive capabilities and uses.
What Is Black Seed Oil and Where Does It Come From?
Black seed oil comes from a plant called Nigella sativa (N. sativa), native to Southwest Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Southern Europe. N. sativa is a small shrub that produces small fruits with nutrient-rich black seeds.
The oil can be extracted from these seeds and used for various purposes, from flavoring foods to offering potential health benefits. In fact, black seed oil has been used in traditional medicine for over two thousand years, believed to provide a remedy for chronic conditions like frequent pain and heart problems.
You can also find this natural oil by other names, like black currant seed oil or black cumin seed oil, as N. sativa closely resembles these herbs.
What Is Black Seed Oil Used for?
The black seed oil has increased in popularity in recent years for its potential uses for daily nutrition. One of the most common uses of the black seed oil is cooking. The oil features a strong flavor that provides a nice element of spice to food, similar to cumin.
Many people forego the cooking process altogether and choose to take black seed oil as a supplement to enjoy its nutritional properties directly. With its history as a traditional medicine, black seed oil has been used to help provide relief for asthma, support weight loss, and promote healthy blood pressure. To support general wellness, many people take black seed oil supplements daily.
Others look to take advantage of the ingredient’s beneficial properties by using it topically for hair and skin. Like many plant oils, black seed oil can support your skin and hair’s natural oils to promote healthy skin and hair. As a result, it is an excellent ingredient for daily hair care products and weekly hair treatments alike.
Can You Put Black Seed Oil in Your Hair?
Although it’s always good to be cautious about what you put in your hair, you can take comfort that black seed oil offers little risk as a hair care ingredient. Even though you may experience some side effects if you take black seed oil as a medicinal supplement, some are associated with using it in your hair.
Still, when trying any new product, there are a few things to consider. If you have a sensitive scalp, make sure to pay close attention to how you respond to using a product with black seed oil. Introducing any new product to your hair could cause irritation, itching, and redness. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should avoid using it.
Generally, though, the black seed oil is safe for use in hair and does not offer many risks. If you have a sensitive or irritated scalp, then it is a good idea to talk to your health care provider or a licensed dermatologist to see how you can incorporate a new ingredient like black seed oil into your routine safely.
C h a p t e r 2 :
Benefits of Black Seed Oil for Hair
Black seed oil is an excellent natural ingredient, full of antioxidants that can help support the health of your hair and scalp alike. With its many potential health benefits, there are many reasons for you to include this ingredient in your daily hair care routine.
Is Black Seed Oil Good for Your Hair?
In short, yes. Black seed oil is an excellent hair care ingredient that may offer many potential benefits for your hair. The most significant factor that makes black seed oil good for your hair is that it naturally contains a plant compound called thymoquinone. Thymoquinone is a powerful antioxidant that may have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
Antioxidants are found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are helpful for combatting molecules called free radicals, which are harmful to your cells and can speed up the aging process. Hair care ingredients with antioxidants help promote healthy cell function and slow the aging process.
In addition to antioxidants, black seed oil contains essential fatty acids, plant flavonoids, and amino acids. Black seeds from the N. sativa plant have also demonstrated antimicrobial properties and the ability to protect against the sun’s UV rays, making them perfect for supporting a healthy scalp and healthy head of hair.
On top of these properties, black seed oil offers many of the same benefits as other oils. Like argan, olive, and jojoba oils, black seed oil helps to coat your hair strands, which helps to protect the hair strands, provide nutrients, and lock in hydration.
What Does Black Seed Oil Do for Hair?
Black seed oil offers many potential benefits for both your hair and scalp. Altogether, when used consistently, black seed oil provides all of the following benefits:
May promote hair growth
May help prevent hair loss
Helps to hydrate your hair
Promotes a healthy, hydrated scalp
Acts as a protectant for your hair strands
May provide relief for dandruff
Can slow the aging of your hair follicles
May preserve hair color in greying hair
C h a p t e r 3 :
Using Black Seed Oil for Hair Growth
We all want a full head of voluminous hair. Unfortunately, for some, achieving this is more difficult than for others. On the bright side, black seed oil may be able to provide some support when included as a regular part of your hair care routine.
Is Black Seed Oil Good for Hair Growth?
Black seed oil’s antioxidant properties make it one of the best options for supporting your hair growth. Thymoquinone’s anti-inflammatory properties are thought to be a direct contributor to promoting hair growth and reducing undesirable or excessive hair fall.
One common condition that leads to hair loss is telogen effluvium (TE), which leads to the shedding of hairs in the telogen phase of hair growth. In one study, patients with TE saw reduced hair fall, improved hair density, and improved thickness when treated with N. sativa over three months. More studies are needed to confirm the benefits of black seed oil for hair growth, but these results and the abundant positive anecdotal evidence are promising.
Not only may black seed oil contribute directly to promoting hair growth, but it also helps promote a positive environment for hair to grow on your scalp by promoting blood flow and keeping the scalp healthy. Dry, damaged hair and an irritated, dandruff-ridden scalp can stunt the growth of your hair, lead to hair fall, and leave it lacking volume.
Fortunately, black seed oil’s cleansing and antimicrobial properties can help keep your scalp from becoming irritated and support healthy and unrestricted hair follicles. After all, a healthy scalp is the most important factor in supporting healthy hair growth.
How To Use Black Seed Oil for Hair Growth
The best way to use black seed oil for hair growth is to include it in your regular hair care routine. Using the product daily is the best way to provide your hair and scalp with the antioxidants and properties needed to promote growth. This consistency is crucial for success. Fortunately, you can find black seed oil in shampoos, conditioners, and hair oils, making it easy to use the ingredient consistently.
In order to maximize its benefits, use the oil in deep treatments where the oil remains in your hair for an extended time. Examples of deep treatments include oil treatments and hair masks, where the nutrients can penetrate your hair follicles and deliver the nutrients necessary to support growth.
The black seed oil also works great combined with other ingredients that support hair growth, like argan, jojoba, or onion oils. By choosing a product that incorporates black seed oil with other natural ingredients, you can provide your hair with even more valuable nutrition and encourage growth. At the same time, avoid pairing black seed oil with ingredients that may hinder your progress, like sulfates, parabens, or harsh alcohols.
How Long Does Black Seed Oil Take To Work?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to how long black seed oil will take to start impacting your hair growth, as everyone is different. Some people may begin to see results within two weeks, while others may have to wait two months. In the above study, participants saw some results within 15 days but didn’t see the complete benefits until after day 75.
Like any hair treatment, it is essential to remember two things: persistence and patience. Your hair needs time to respond to new treatments and products, so don’t give up if you don’t see results in the first three days. On average, you can expect it to take anywhere from two to six weeks to start seeing the initial results.
C h a p t e r 4 :
How to Use Black Seed Oil for Your Hair
With the antioxidant properties and additional benefits that come with black seed oil, there are various ways you can include it in your daily haircare routine. Whether you want to use black seed oil to target a specific issue or just to enjoy the benefits, you have several options.
Using Black Seed Oil for Grey Hair
Your hair color is produced by the hair follicles as your hair begins its growth stage. We all have a natural hair color created from a pigment called melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes. Grey hair is the result of your hair follicles producing less pigment for new hairs. As we age, our hair follicles naturally produce less color, leading to more grey hairs when the strands grow from the scalp.
Grey hair becomes more common when we get older, as melanocytes slow down melanin production. These cells are naturally affected by oxidative stress or the buildup of free radicals. This is the exact process that antioxidants help to combat. Since black seed oil contains the powerful antioxidant thymoquinone, it is perfect for helping to slow the natural aging process of your hair follicles and keep them producing pigment longer.
Use Black Seed Oil To Support Your Scalp
Your scalp produces a natural oil called sebum, which is important for keeping your scalp hydrated. Oil is so beneficial for your hair and scalp that nature produces it for you! Therefore, supplementing this natural process with black seed oil is a great way to give your hair extra support.
Black seed oil can help to support your natural sebum production and prevent dehydration of your scalp. Between these hydrating capabilities and anti-inflammatory properties, the black seed oil is excellent for promoting a healthy scalp, soothing irritation, and tackling dryness or buildup that can lead to dandruff. Dandruff can also be caused by a fungus called Malassezia, so the antimicrobial properties of black seed oil can give you extra protection against the frustrating condition. Using black seed oil regularly helps promote a healthy environment for hair growth.
Use Black Seed Oil for Your Daily Treatments
Although black seed oil is an excellent choice for soothing scalp conditions and promoting hair growth, you don’t need to be trying to resolve a problem to start using the beneficial ingredient. Using black seed oil in your daily routine is a great way to keep your hair looking lively and healthy.
Black seed oil can be found as an ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, and other products, allowing you to incorporate the antioxidant-rich oil into your routine without doing anything different. In fact, using products with black seed oil can help you prevent problems before they arise by nourishing your cells and preventing early aging that leads to dull or thinning hair.
Black Seed Oil for Daily Protection and Hydration
Your scalp’s natural sebum production is vital for protecting your hair and supporting healthy, damage-free strands, making them more flexible and giving them a barrier against harmful environmental factors. By using black seed oil, you can supplement your scalp’s natural oil production to magnify these benefits. Like sebum, black seed oil helps to coat your hair strands to protect it from heat damage, resist UV rays, and lock in hydration so you can maintain a lustrous shine.
Protecting your hair is especially important in dry climates or during the winter, where dry air can pull the moisture out of your hair. Using black seed oil before you leave the house is an excellent way to protect against the elements. Simply take two to three drops and work the oil into your hair, starting an inch from the roots and working toward the ends.
If you want sustained protection and hydration for your hair, all you need is to determine the right deep treatment for you and your routine. Consistent treatments are the best way to give your hair the revitalization it deserves, and there are multiple options.
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How to Incorporate Black Seed Oil Into Your Routine
Once you know all the benefits of black seed oil, the only challenge is determining the best way to add it to your current hair care process. Fortunately, there are multiple ways you can use this ingredient in your everyday routine or as an extra supplement to your daily hair care procedures.
Black Seed Oil Hot Oil Treatment
Hot oil treatments open up your hair follicles and allow the nutrients from the oil to absorb in, supporting a healthier scalp and more voluminous hair growth. Using black seed oil during a hot oil treatment is a great way to magnify the benefits of the antioxidant properties and support healthy aging.
To do an oil treatment, warm up two to three tablespoons of oil to slightly above room temperature—warm to the touch but not hot enough to burn. Test the oil gently on your skin before immediately putting it into your hair to ensure it won’t burn you.
Then, work the oil into your hair, throughout all strands, and allow it to sit for at least 15-30 minutes before rinsing. To give the oil more time to penetrate your scalp and hair follicles, you can use a warm towel to maintain the temperature and keep the oil in your hair for as long as overnight.
Hot oil treatment is a wonderful addition to your routine once or twice a week. As with most hair care routines, pay attention to how your hair responds to the treatment. Observing how your hair responds will help you determine whether you should use the treatment more or less often.
Black Seed Oil Hair Mask
A hair mask sits in your hair for around 15 minutes, giving all the vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants inside the formula time to absorb into your scalp and hair strands. Hair masks are excellent for bringing life and vitality back to dull or damaged hair. A hair mask with black seed oil allows you to nourish the scalp, seal up split ends, and provide much-appreciated protection to your hair strands. As a result, you see lively, voluminous, damage-free hair for days after.
To do a hair mask routine, use a palm full of a quality mask product and apply it from the roots of your hair to the ends of the strands. Then, comb the mask through your hair so that it is spread evenly before allowing it to sit for 10-15 minutes. After giving the mask time to sit in your hair, rinse the mask out with warm water before rinsing with cold water to close your hair cuticles.
Black Seed Oil Shampoo
Shampoo, of course, is designed to cleanse your hair of pollutants like dirt and oil buildup. However, shampooing your hair also strips it of its natural oils, which can leave your strands dry, frizzy, and at risk for damage. When you use a shampoo with black seed oil, you can replenish some of the oil your hair and scalp need to stay healthy and resist dryness.
Shampooing is also the most crucial chance to cleanse your scalp and remove impurities during the week. Skin cells, oil, and dirt build up on your scalp in between washes. When you shampoo, a good product opens up the hair follicles and removes all that buildup, soothing the scalp.
If you use a shampoo with black seed oil, you should limit washing to as often as your hair type requires, usually between once to three times a week. Overwashing can still leave your hair looking too dry, even with quality ingredients.
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The Best Black Seed Oil Hair Products
As is the case for any hair care treatment, the base ingredients are important, but the other ingredients that accompany them matter too. When you look for a shampoo or conditioner with black seed oil, choose a product that is free from harsh chemicals and provides additional nutrients. WOW Skin Science makes it easy with many great products.
WOW Onion Black Seed Hair Oil
To experience the raw benefits of black seed oil, WOW Onion Black Seed Hair Oil is an excellent option. This product is an incredible supplement to any hair care routine because of all the remarkable natural ingredients in it. In addition to antioxidant-rich black seed oil, this hair oil also provides jojoba, almond, olive, and coconut oils. As a result, you get a powerful combination of vitamins A through E, essential fatty acids, and even more antioxidants.
A few drops of this hair oil are great for quick leave-in treatment, or you can use the product for occasional hot oil treatment.
WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Hair Mask
If you want to revitalize the life of your hair and include a quality hair mask in your routine, then the WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Hair Mask is a perfect option. This hair mask blends the benefits of red onion oil and black seed oil to support strong, shiny, and voluminous hair and soothe your scalp.
With hydrolyzed wheat proteins, this hair mask works to thicken your hair strands and defend against future damage. The rejuvenating formula also incorporates argan oil and almond oil, which provide omega-6 fatty acids to soften and moisturize the hair, as well as A, B, and E vitamins.
WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo
You are already using shampoo as a regular part of your hair care routine, but the right product can help you make the most of your shampoo routine. WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo combines two antioxidant-rich ingredients with onion and black seed oils, allowing you to prevent the early aging of your hair follicles.
The sulfur in onions also helps to support your hair’s keratin and melanocyte production making it great for strengthening your hair strands against damage and protecting against the early greying of your hair. Using this shampoo as part of your regular hair-washing routine is a perfect way to introduce antioxidants for vibrant hair without changing your haircare process.
WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Conditioner
Once you finish washing your hair, it is important to follow up with a good conditioner to support hydrated strands. For the right support, look no further than WOW Red Onion Black Seed Oil Conditioner. This formula includes red onion and black seed oil to support thick and voluminous hair, as well as almond and argan oils to keep it soft and moisturized.
Using this conditioner regularly provides incredible nutrition that works to strengthen your hair and offers daily protection against damage and dullness. With consistent use, you can expect strong, soft, and lively hair with a luminous shine.
