Black seed oil is a plant oil that has been touted for its health benefits for thousands of years -- it was even famously sealed in the tombs of some pharaohs and written about in many ancient medical texts.
It is purported to have many health functions, but the one that is the most prominent is its potential benefits for hair, including increased growth and reduced losses.
Below, we will delve into the details of black seed oil for hair including just what it is, what other names it may go by, the potential hair benefits, review the studies which have been done, and go over how to use black seed oil for hair.
Black seed oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the plant Nigella Sativa. The oil or seed itself may also be referred to as black caraway, black cumin, or nigella, just to name a few.
Black seed oil is a common component of aching folk medicine, and the plant itself can be found in eastern Europe or western Asia.
It has been discovered that black seed oil contains an active component called thymoquinone which may be responsible for many of its therapeutic actions. Thymoquinone may comprise 30-48% of Nigella Sativa seed oil. Thymoquinone is commonly considered an antihistamine, which may explain many of its anti-inflammatory effects.
There are a few attributes that we currently know about black seed oil. It may have antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Depending on what is behind your hair loss, there may be hair situations that can greatly benefit from these attributes. For instance, those experiencing hair loss or slowed growth from dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis may experience scalp health benefits from the antifungal and antibacterial properties of black seed oil.
Another common form of hair loss called Telogen Effluvium may result in a fast onset of excessive shedding, which eventually reverses and regrows. This situation often occurs after a time period of extreme stress, childbirth, or a severe illness. However, Telogen Effluvium may have an inflammatory component that may respond well to a topical anti-inflammatory scalp oil like black seed oil.
As a cosmetic component, black seed oil contains a good amount of omega 3s and omega 6s which may support the healthy appearance of hair when applied to it, and give it a silky feel and shiny look.
One study had 90 women split into 3 groups and apply either a mix of 6 oils (including black seed oil), just coconut oil, or a control group with no oils applied. At the end of 90 days, the oil mixture had the best results as far as drastically reduced hair fall. However, since this was a combination of oils, we don’t know for sure how much of the benefits were derived entirely from the black seed oil component.
Another small-scale study had 20 Telogen Effluvium patients split into 2 groups to apply either 0.5% Nigella Sativa seed oil daily or a placebo for 60 days. Both groups were evaluated initially as well as 30 and 60 days after treatment. At the end of the trial, 70% of the group applying the Nigella Sativa oil displayed significant hair improvements including increased hair density, increased hair thickness, and reduced inflammation.
While more large-scale studies need to be done with black seed oil, these initial findings are promising and suggestive of black seed oil being a potential benefit to people experiencing hair loss from scalp issues or Telogen Effluvium.
If you want to try using black seed oil for your hair, it is best to double-check with your doctor first to make sure it is a good fit with your current conditions and medications.
It is recommended to use black seed oil massaged into your scalp for hair benefits instead of taken as an oral supplement.
You may want to use a product that has black seed oil as an ingredient, or use a diluted form of black seed oil in a carrier oil. Undiluted essential oils may be too potent and cause skin irritation if not diluted. In the study mentioned above, a 0.5% dilution of black seed oil was used with good results. You will also want to patch test any new product before diving in and rubbing it all over your scalp.
Start by applying the diluted black seed oil, or black seed oil-containing product to your scalp each night and leaving it on for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before washing off. You may need to continue treatment diligently for at least 3 months before noticing benefits.
Black seed oil may have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties when applied to the scalp. For hair loss situations that have a fungal, bacterial, or inflammatory component, like seborrheic dermatitis or Telogen Effluvium, you may find moderate benefits in using black seed oil.
However, if you are experiencing hair loss from a genetic or hormonal source like male pattern and female pattern hair loss, you may have better results looking into prescription or over-the-counter medications like Finasteride or Minoxidil.
If it is approved by your doctor, topical black seed oil may be a good addition to a well-rounded hair and scalp care regimen, depending on the root cause of your hair concerns.
But, for hormonal and genetic hair loss situations, you may need to include prescription or FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like Finasteride or Minoxidil to achieve the best results.
At Strut, we carry oral and topical Finasteride and Dutasteride medications for men, as well as topical Spironolactone formulations for women. If you are interested in seeing if these formulations are a good fit for your hair goals, you can have a free online questionnaire and image-based consultation with our U.S. licensed doctors today.
If you are a good fit for treatment, your medication can be shipped to your front door with our fast and free shipping.
If you have any questions during your hair loss treatment, our staff and doctors are available for free unlimited follow-ups.
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