Why Black Seed Oil Is Rocket Fuel For Hair Growth

The rapid advance in medical science has unfortunately made people far less interested in looking at the benefits of traditional remedies.

But what is becoming more apparent is that scientists, doctors and the general public are discovering that combining conventional treatments with natural ones can bring increased potential benefits.

When it comes to slowing, stopping or even reversing hair loss, one traditional remedy which is gaining ground because of more and more evidence from people who have tried it, is using black seed oil for hair growth, health and condition.

There are growing bodies of evidence that black seed oil can be beneficial to the hair and scalp. And when stacked up against the cost and intrusion of hair loss products containing minoxidil (such as Rogaine), it’s little wonder that more and more people are turning to it as a natural alternative.

But what is it that makes Black seed oil potentially so good for your hair?

What Is Black Seed Oil?

Black seed oil is derived from the nigella sativa plant, which is native to parts of Asia. The plant contains annually flowering seeds, sometimes called the “Magical seed” or the “Blessed seed”, with traditional applications dating back centuries in cultures such as Indian medicine.

It is referred to by several different names, which can be quite confusing especially if you are looking to buy black seed oil.

The different names that black seed oil is known by are:​

  • Kalonji
  • Nigella sativa
  • Black caraway
  • Nigella
  • Black cumin
  • Roman coriander
  • Black oil

As far back in time as ancient Egypt black seed oil was used for hair conditioning and strength. Not only is it rumored that Cleopatra used black seed oil on her hair to help it achieve a lush and deep gloss, but black seed oil was also found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Its reputation and properties must have been considered significant for it to have been placed in the tomb of a Pharaoh to assist them in the afterlife.

In more modern times, research in the 1960s and beyond has found benefits to the hair and scalp from using black seed oil. There have been hundreds of studies that have found that black seed oil has properties that are beneficial to the hair, such as being antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory.​

In general terms it has very similar properties to coconut oil. However black seed oil is not as dense and heavy as coconut oil, making it less likely to be difficult to remove.

Ingredients That Make Black Seed Oil Powerful For Hair Growth​

The composition of black seed oil has been thoroughly studied in hundreds a peer-reviewed papers over the past few decades.

The results of these studies have found that it contains more than 100 beneficial active compounds, the main identified ones being:​

  • Crystalline nigellone
  • Thymoquinone
  • Myristic acid
  • Palmatic acid
  • Stearic acid
  • Palmitoleic acid
  • Oleic acid
  • Linoleic acid
  • Vitamins B1, B2 & B3
  • Calcium
  • Folate
  • Iron
  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Phosphrous

Individually these compounds can be powerful, together they seem to have an amazing hair strengthening effect. Although scientists aren’t clear on exactly how black seed oil can encourage their growth, numerous studies back this up in general terms, for example in the study “Chemical composition and medicinal properties of Nigella sativa” Infammopharmacology 7, Khan, M.A., 1999.

Telogen Effluvium is a scalp disorder which can cause hair roots to prematurely move into a resting state. The effects of this are thinning of the hair. In one study, published in JCDSA, participants were split into two groups. One was treated for three months with black seed oil, the other half received a placebo.​

At the end of the study it was found that 90% of the patients who had been treated with nigella satavia had an increased hair density in thickness, compared to just 7% in the group who received a placebo. On top of that inflammation of the scalp was less pronounced in the group who used black seed oil.

The Benefits Of Black Seed Oil On The Hair And Scalp​

Hair loss can occur at any stage of life, but particularly male pattern baldness is very common, often amongst even very young men. And it’s not just men who suffer from hair loss, women suffer from a weakening of the hair as they get older, so for both sexes anything you can do to address this is beneficial.

At the heart of the causes of hair loss, are inflammation of the scalp, and unhealthy, undernourished skin and hair follicles. Once the hair follicles become inflamed, over time they will start to close up, or shrink, and the hair growing from them will be thinner and weaker until it eventually stops.

So the key to minimizing hair loss naturally is to try and use substances which can slow down, stop or even reverse the effects of inflamed and damaged hair follicles. That’s why black seed oil hair benefits are significant, it’s a natural product that can help to fight the onset of damaged hair follicles.

Black seed oil is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids which can help to cleanse and strengthen the hair and scalp. The various acids black seed oil contains are also helpful in speeding up the healing of broken skin and minimizing scarring.

On top of that, stimulating nourishment and blood flow to the hair follicles is vital. Black seed oil a natural emollient, which is packed with vitamins and acids that are rapidly absorbed into the skin, nourishing the hair follicles.

Black seed oil is beneficial in targeting two different areas of healthy hair maintenance. Firstly it can nourish and strengthen the hair and scalp, and secondly it contains active ingredients that fight off the external causes of hair loss.​

How To Use Kalonji Oil For Hair Growth

It will probably not surprise you to know that most people simply apply kalonji black seed oil topically in undiluted form.

However, there are multiple variations of application. Some people example swear by rubbing lime juice onto the scalp and leaving it for 15 minutes. Then washing the hair and applying black seed oil, not washing it out but simply leaving it to soak in.

The truth is there are no magical recipes out there, it’s simply a case of gently applying black seed oil to the scalp and hair and allowing it to nourish naturally.

Some people claim that you can take black seed oil orally and still see benefits to the hair. Although there may be sidelined benefits to doing this, in terms of rapid absorption and targeting the hair follicles directly, it’s far better to apply black seed oil directly to the head to aid hair strengthening and growth.

One word of caution is that black seed oil should be taken in moderation however it is applied because it is a potent natural essential oil, and if you do intend to take it orally then you should do further research. It should not be taken by young children and if you are pregnant or diabetic you should speak to a doctor first.

Where Can I Buy Black Seed Oil?​

​If you are wondering where you can buy Black seed oil, then a great place to start is a general retail website such as Amazon and eBay. On these types of site you get a range of different product types and range of different sellers, giving you a great choice of products and prices.

In terms of price, you can pick up good quality black seed oil for around $25 for a 16oz bottle, with premium black seed oil commanding around twice the price. I’m not sure that you need to spend the extra money, basically it comes down to looking for the following things:​

  • You should only buy organic black seed oil
  • It should be pure pressed
  • There should be no chemical extraction
  • It should not be diluted with other ingredients or oils
  • It should not have additives
  • It must be contained in a high quality bottle that will stop it getting tainted

Because black seed oil is so easy to buy and so reasonably priced there really is no reason not to give it a try. Even if you are not currently suffering from hair loss, it’s worth starting a regime of keeping your hair and scalp nourished and healthy right now.

If you have a history of baldness in your family, then it’s even more vital that you look into ways that you can protect your hair follicles from damage as much as possible, and with no possible side effects it makes sense to spend a few minutes a day giving black seed oil a try.​

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here