Did you know that a plant-based food item known as flaxseed is beneficial to the human body? If you did not, then this article has specifically been written to explain to you what is flaxseed and, along with it also, highlights flaxseed's benefits for hair.
Flaxseed has played a big role in Asia as an effective Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Here are a few facts that will explain the flaxseed uses for hair and its benefits on the human body.
What is Flaxseed?
Flaxseed can essentially be defined as a type of plant food filled with healthy amounts of fat, antioxidants, and fibre. It is also often termed 'Functional Food' since it possesses ingredients that boost your overall health. Available in seed, oil, powder, tablet, and even capsule form, flaxseed effectively treats constipation, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The presence of antioxidants ensures that the flaxseed benefits for hair in terms of growth are immense.
Is Flaxseed Good for Hair?
Due to antioxidants and vitamins, specifically, flaxseed benefits for hair are numerous. The omega-3 fatty acids and high-fibre content of flaxseeds make them a superfood for healthy hair. Flaxseeds help adjust the pH level of the scalp and enable hair growth.
How Can Flaxseeds Help Your Hair?
If you are looking to maintain a good haircare status, then flaxseed is certainly a type of plant food that is very beneficial for your hair. To help you understand how flaxseed oil for hair proves to be the perfect solution to all your hair related woes, here are a few facts:
- In flaxseed, the component omega-3-fatty acids are present, which provides hair follicles with vital nutrients and proteins. It also stimulates circulation in the scalp, thereby inhibiting hair follicle inflammation and preventing hair fall.
- Flaxseeds for hair growth prove effective because they also contain Vitamin B and are rich in biotin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid, all of which are compounds that are responsible for stimulating hair growth.
- Vitamin E in flaxseed reduces the effect of free radicals on the scalp and strengthens hair follicles to improve hair growth.
- The flaxseed gel benefits hair and includes adjusting pH levels as the flaxseed functions like a tranquiliser for sebaceous glands and therefore ensures that the appropriate quality of the oil is produced for your hair to keep it healthy.
Flaxseed Benefits for Hair
There are quite a few flaxseed benefits for hair that you must understand before using it. They are as follows:
1. Maintenance of Curly Hair
The best solution is flaxseed gel if you have curly hair and intend to maintain nice curls. Furthermore, the flaxseed gel's benefits for hair outweigh its adverse effects. It also helps keep clumps of curls sticking together more effectively than any other styling product. Since Vitamin E is a vital component of flaxseed, it helps in reducing the damage of curly hair while also increasing elasticity and adding shine to it.
2. Flaxseeds for Hair Growth
One of the many flax seed benefits for hair is that it stimulates hair growth. Flaxseed contains a healthy mixture of nutrients, vitamins, and healthy fats. As a result, when flaxseed oil for hair is used, it helps prevent hair loss and enables hair growth.
3. Managing dry and damaged hair
The omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E in Flaxseed help repair damaged hair and provide it with the required moisture. Flaxseed helps deep condition your hair and makes it smooth and manageable.
Flaxseed Gel Benefits for Hair
Flaxseed gel can be used as a hair conditioner. There are many benefits of using flaxseed gel for your hair over and above just eating flaxseeds. Some of these benefits are:
- Hydration and moisturising effect for dry and frizzy hair.
- Helps reduce breakage of hair by reducing friction and making hair smooth.
- Direct absorption of the nutrients available in flaxseed via the scalp.
- Better hair growth due to the presence of antioxidants and vitamins in the flaxseeds.
- Protects from the harmful effects of pollution by forming a protective layer over the hair and scalp.
Flaxseed Oil for Hair
To make flaxseed oil for hair, all you need is flaxseed and boiling water. It is also important that you use an organic variety of seeds to protect yourself from harmful chemicals or pesticides seen in the inorganic type. To make this product, you need to follow the 'Do-It-Yourself' steps given below:
- Fill two cups of water, place it in a pan, and put it on high flame until it starts boiling.
- Add two tablespoons of flaxseeds to the boiling water while reducing the stove's heat to a low medium.
- For approximately eight minutes, continue cooking the mixture till it thickens.
- Remove the mixture from the stove and place it on a table for about 20 to 25 minutes.
- If you want to separate the seed coverings from the oil, pass the mixture through a sieve once it is cold.
- The flaxseed oil is now ready to be transferred into an airtight container.
How to Use Flax Seeds for Hair?
There are four different ways you can effectively use it at home regarding flaxseed uses for hair. They are as follows:
1. Flaxseed Hair Oil
Since flaxseed is rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin E, one of the best ways to efficiently use it is by applying flaxseed as oil and massaging your hair and scalp with it.
2. Flaxseed Hair Gel
A hair gel made from flaxseed is an easy 'Do-It-Yourself' product but is also effective in boosting the hair growth of all types of hair textures seen in women worldwide. The mixture can be used directly on your hair for better conditioning. Take a small quantity of flaxseed hair gel and apply it along the length of your hair as well as massage your scalp. Let the gel remain for 15 minutes and then wash it off with a regular shampoo.
3. Eating raw Flaxseed
One of the easiest ways to derive flaxseed benefits for hair is to eat it raw. So, take a spoonful of roasted flaxseed anytime during the day.
4. Crushed Flaxseed
Consuming Flaxseed can not only prove to be nutritious for your hair but also delicious. The ideal requirement for flaxseeds per day is up to two spoonfuls a day. You could sprinkle one teaspoon of flaxseeds on your salads and another on stir-fried vegetables. Do not cook the flaxseeds.
How to Prepare Your Hair?
Preparing your hair for applying flaxseed gel or oil means getting the hair ready to use these products effectively.
To ensure maximum absorption it is recommended to have a clean hair and scalp. Hence, it is essential to rinse it thoroughly before flaxseed gel or flaxseed oil for hair that you condition. The absorption of flaxseed nutrients are better when the hair are wet. So you could use the gel or oil immediately after a shampoo.
Flaxseed Gel Recipes:
There are a few flaxseed Gel Recipes that you can easily prepare at home by 'Doing-It-Yourself.' They are as follows:
1. Simple Flaxseed Gel
Ingredients needed:
- 1/4th cup of Flaxseeds
- 500 ml of water
- 2-3 neem leaves
- Essential oils (optional)
How to make this gel:
- Put the flaxseeds in a strainer along with the neem leaves.
- Ensure that the strainer has holes big enough for the oil to seep through and small enough to ensure the flax seeds don’t pass through.
- Boil the water while placing this strainer in the water.
- After five to seven minutes, the colour and consistency will change. We need a string like consistency of the water.
- This provides a gel base made from flax seeds.
- You can preserve the mixture by adding a few drops of essential oils of your choice or adding other substances such as aloe vera.
- The remaining flaxseeds can be stored in the freezer to be reused for making some more gel the next time.
Flaxseed Gel Recipe with Aloe Vera.
Ingredients needed:
- 1/4th cup of Flaxseeds
- 1-2 leaves of Aloe Vera
- 500 ml of water
- 2-3 neem leaves
- Essential oils (optional)
How to make this gel:
- First, slice the aloe vera leaf and soak it in water for 30 minutes
- The soaking in water helps remove the latex, which may cause allergies.
- Once the soaking is complete, scoop out the pulp of the leaf and blend it till it becomes a liquid-like mixture.
- Use the flax seeds based gel. The method to create a flax seed gel is described above.
- Add the aloe vera mixture to the gel base and whisk it till they both blend.
- You can preserve the mixture by adding few drops of essential oils of your choice.
Flaxseed Gel with Coconut Oil.
The base ingredients:
- Flax seeds (Golden) - about 5 tablespoons
- One cup of Water for dilution
- ½ tablespoon of coconut oil
- One tablespoon of aloe vera gel (as per your preference)
How to make it:
- Boil the water
- Add the flaxseeds when the water is boiling
- Mix the flaxseeds and water and let it boil for five minutes.
- Strain the flaxseeds to get a gel-like consistency liquid in a bowl
- Add the remaining ingredients, coconut oil, to the gel and mix well
- This mixture can be refrigerated for up to a week for re-use.
Flaxseed Side Effects for Hair
Along with benefits, there are also flaxseed side effects for hair that comes along with it. They are as follows:
- Since flaxseeds have properties of a good laxative, they could trigger abdominal discomfort, regular bowel movement, and diarrhoea.
- The use of flaxseeds prolongs blood clotting time.
- A high dosage intake of flaxseeds can cause intestinal blockage.
- Flaxseeds are not safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers since they harm the hormonal system.
Summing Up on Flaxseed Benefits for Hair:
There is no scientific suggestion that flax seeds cause hair loss, and in fact, there are only benefits to using the plant food product. However, more clinical research needs to be done to confirm the flaxseed benefits for hair.
FAQs
Do Flax Seeds Cause Hair Loss?
No, flaxseeds do not cause hair loss. Infact, due to the presence of antioxidants and omega free fatty acids in flaxseeds, they help in reducing hair loss.
Can I Leave Flaxseed Gel Overnight on Hair?
Yes, you can leave flaxseed gel overnight on your hair because there are no side effects you might have to face. However, if you experience any irritation, you need to wash it off immediately.
Can Flaxseed Oil Grow Hair?
Yes, when applied, Flaxseed Oil can help stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss because of its antioxidants.
References
D. Manjula, 2018; Formulation and Evaluation of Flaxseed Hair Gel: a Natural Hair Tamer - https://www.ijrpc.com/files/5-7-18/12.pdf
Chapter 9 - Aloe, Chia, Flaxseed, Okra, Psyllium Seed, Quince Seed, and Tamarind Gums - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080926544500139
Ruchi Tiwari, March 2021; Development and Evaluation of Herbal Hair Serum: A traditional way to Improve Hair Quality - https://opendermatologyjournal.com/VOLUME/15/PAGE/52/FULLTEXT/
Sakshi K. Fale, A Comprehensive Study of Herbal Cosmetics Prepared From Flaxseed - https://researchjournal.gtu.ac.in/News/10.PCP349.pdf
