One of the first treatments for skin, hair, and wellness is sesame oil. It has many advantages, including fighting hair and scalp infections, eliminating toxins, UV protection, and many more.
Sesame oil for hair is one of the best oils to keep your hair healthy and nourished. In more detail, let's examine sesame oil's ever-lasting effect for gorgeous hair.
What is Sesame Oil (Til Oil)?
Popular in Asian cuisine, sesame oil is a cooking oil derived from sesame seeds. They are used in many ways in Chinese, Japanese, South Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisines and come in a few variations produced with pressed plain or roasted seeds. Toasted sesame oil is a flavour in sauces, soups, and other meals, while light sesame oil is often used as a neutral cooking oil.
Sesame oil is the seeds' that have high protein and B-vitamin content. However, it retains the fatty acids and antioxidants, such as phytosterols and vitamin E.
Raw sesame seeds produce light-coloured oils with a delicate, flavourless aroma. On the other hand, toasted types are richer, darker, and taste more like nuts. Both have several culinary uses. Sesame oil is frequently added to sauces and marinades as well as used to sauté meats and vegetables.
Sesame oil is thought to provide several significant health advantages, including heart-healthy lipids, anti-inflammatory properties, and UV protection for the skin.
History of Sesame Oil (Til Oil)
The Pedaliaceae family includes the tall annual herb known as sesame. Sesame oil is typically used as a food ingredient and condiment but has cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. It is believed that the plant, the earliest oil source, began to be utilised as essential oil thousands of years ago. China used it for about three thousand years as food, medicine, and ink.
Around 1500 years ago, the Egyptians recorded using it to relieve pain. Sesame oil is said to have been utilised for thousands of years by the Greeks and Romans for both culinary and cosmetic purposes. It is used as a foundation oil for nearly 90% of herbal oils in Ayurvedic treatment. Sesame oil is frequently employed in aromatherapy. It is extremely good for massage.
Is Sesame Oil Good For Hair?
Of course, it is! Sesame oil is a popular dandruff treatment option, often used to clear the scalp of harmful fungi and bacteria. Sesame oil also has occlusive properties that help close your scalp skin pores and aid moisturization. One can treat dryness, itchiness and inflammation of the scalp through correct sesame oil usage. Research suggests that sesame seed oil has been used in various ayurvedic treatments for hair loss.
How to make Sesame Oil
You can obtain sesame oil benefits for hair while making it at home.
Toast 2-3 cups of sesame seeds in a frying pan on medium heat. Once it turns golden brown, mix it with any cooking oil you prefer. You can even blend it with warm water to make a fine paste.
Transfer the runny paste into a cheesecloth and let it sit for a while. Once the water settles down, you can find traces of oil over it. Freeze it up to separate the oil from water as sesame oil is lighter than the other oil that you used.
Also read: Coffee oil benefits and how to use it
Sesame Oil Benefits for Hair
A few of the benefits of sesame oil are as follows:
1. Preventing Grey Hair
Sesame oil can deepen hair and stop hair from going grey. As a result, it is effective as a safeguard against early greying. Additionally, it helps preserve the natural colour of your hair. Even while hair greying is a common side effect of ageing, it can also appear early for both internal and external factors.
Sesame oil helps battle these free radicals that cause premature hair ageing because of its antioxidants.
2. Enhance Hair Growth
Again, regularly massaging sesame oil into your scalp encourages faster hair growth and provides you with thick, dense hair if you are already bald or at risk of becoming so. Sesame oil is frequently recommended as an effective and failsafe treatment for hair loss. This is backed up by a tonne of studies. Additionally, the massage with hair oil improves blood flow, which encourages hair growth.
3. Prevents Hair Lice
Sesame oil eliminates head lice gently and has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can be mixed with other essential oils like tea tree oil to combat hair lice more successfully.
4. Smoothes Dry Hair
Additionally, sesame oil is effective in curing it! Because of its cooling and conditioning properties, it prevents damage to your hair from overheating. Sesame oil also guarantees that moisture stays inside the hair shafts. By forming a shield, it ensures that pollutants won't injure your hair anymore.
How to Apply Sesame Oil for Hair
As mentioned before, using sesame oil on the hair and scalp is advantageous for health of the hair and scalp. But how can sesame oil be used on hair in the best way? This is how:
1. Consume Sesame Seeds
Every morning, eat a tablespoon of sesame seeds. Sesame contains calcium and magnesium, which promotes faster hair development. The seeds are where the sesame oil for hair growth is found.
2. Its Use in Cooking
Sesame oil should be used for cooking. In this manner, you can incorporate sesame oil for hair health. Cooking with sesame oil alone is not advised. Add a few teaspoons of it.
How to use sesame oil on hair
Being an excellent absorber, use sesame oil with different essential oils or treatment oils to extract sesame oil benefits for hair.
Gently massage the hair while combining it with neem oil or almond oil. Use it with coconut oil as it provides better nourishment and hair conditioning. Combine equal parts of coconut oil and sesame oil and massage your hair.
Leave it on for 30-40 minutes and rinse it with a mild cleanser or shampoo.
How to use sesame oil for thicker hair
- Warm up the sesame oil and gently massage your scalp.
- Coat all of your hair strands with it.
- Cover your hair with a warm towel or shower cap.
- Leave the oil mask for at least 1 hour for deep conditioning.
- Wash with mild shampoo and conditioner.
Hair mask recipe
- Use black sesame seeds for hair (as an oil) with a general hair mask
- Use a few drops with yoghurt
- Use sesame oil with other nourishing oils like argan oil, olive oil, or avocado oil.
Sesame seeds contain Vitamin E, B complex, and essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus that provide strength to the hair.
Sesame Oil for Hair Side Effects
Sesame oil can clog pores just like any other type of oil. This might itch your skin and scalp. Clogged pores can also bring on hair follicle loss. By using pure sesame oil to your scalp and hair for a brief length of time, you can avoid this.
Take care to thoroughly wash the sesame oil from your hair and scalp as well. Sesame oil hair treatments should be followed with shampoo and warm water. In the shower, gently massage your scalp to remove any remaining oil.
Sesame oil may be easier to apply if it is slightly warmed. Ensure that the oil is not overheated. Before using, check the temperature with a tiny drop on your wrist.
Can We Mix Coconut Oil and Sesame Oil for Hair
Yes, you can mix coconut oil and sesame oil. Coconut oil's high fatty acid content significantly nourishes the hair shaft. Additionally, it conditions your hair and aids in frizz control. In a bowl, mix the sesame and coconut oils. Then, work the oil through your hair after massaging it into your scalp.
Sesame Oil for Hair Growth Before and After
Black Sesame Seeds For Hair Benefits & Uses
According to Chinese Medicine, black sesame has anti-ageing properties.
Apart from stimulating one's hair growth, black sesame seeds for hair boost melanocyte activity. What is melanocyte activity? It is the process of melanin production, a pigment for skin and hair colour.
You can sprinkle the roasted seeds on salads or sandwiches and enjoy the wholesome snack with nutritional benefits. However, store the seeds or sesame oil in an air-tight container to avoid them turning rancid.
In A Nutshell: Does Til Oil For Hair Really Work?
Til oil or sesame oil is a great alternative to expensive, medical hair health treatments often accompanied by harmful side effects. Sesame oil aids hair growth, eradicates dandruff and helps slow down premature greying of hair. However, make sure to consult a dermatologist before trying new treatment on your hair. If used correctly, sesame oil can serve as a boon for your locks!
Also read: Top grey hair treatment to stop white hair from spreading
FAQs
Can we use sesame oil for hair daily?
Nutritionists recommend eating 10-15 grams of sesame seeds daily. But, using the oil daily may cause scalp pores, leading to irritative skin and scalp.
Use the oil on the scalp and hair for a shorter duration instead of leaving it overnight. You can wash it off thoroughly after one hour. Experts recommend using warm water for rinsing the hair.
Moreover, if you use lukewarm oil (at least two times a week), it relieves your scalp. An oil that is too hot can damage hair follicles.
Does sesame oil increase hair growth?
The different nutrients present makes sesame oil good for hair. Vitamin E, B complex and minerals nourish the hair shafts and follicles. Well-conditioned and highly nourished hair promotes hair growth.Moreover, it also heals damages caused due to chemical-oriented hair treatments.
Which oil is best for hair: coconut or sesame oil?
Both coconut oil and sesame oil are crucial for hair growth and nourishment. There are many til oil benefits for hair, and extracting the oil properly is necessary for you to get good results. Coconut oil relieves burning sensations and wounds. Sesame oil improves hair quality and prevents premature greying. Both oils have their pros and cons but you can try them both and see what works for you!
References
Jiradej Manosroi (2015) 5α-Reductase inhibition and melanogenesis activity of sesamin from sesame seeds for hair cosmetics (Chiang Mai Journal of Science) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281996352_5a-Reductase_inhibition_and_melanogenesis_activity_of_sesamin_from_sesame_seeds_for_hair_cosmetics
