Sign In
In India, oils have been used to massage the scalp and nourish the hair since time immemorial. As kids, we too had our grandmothers or mothers massaging the oil into our hair and scalp. It was a weekly ritual, and our hair turned out to be soft as silk and shiny, thanks to this regimen. We need to go back to this ritual again for beautiful hair, and using sesame oil for hair will do wonders for your hair.
Sesame oil is made from sesame seeds and has been known for its many benefits through time. Another word for sesame oil is gingelly oil. Sesame oil for hair promotes good scalp health and encourages hair growth. Sesame oil has vitamin E, B complex, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein that strengthen the hair from the roots and deeply nourishes it. Read on to find out more about using sesame oil for hair.
HISTORY OF SESAME OIL
WHAT SESAME OIL CONTAINS?
SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
WAYS TO USE SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
DIY USING SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
Frequently Asked Questions:
HISTORY OF SESAME OIL
Sesame is a tall annual herb from the Pedaliaceae family. Normally used as a food ingredient and condiment, sesame oil also has beauty and medicinal uses. The plant has been thought to have taken root as an essential oil thousand of years ago, and is the oldest plant to be used as oil. China used it for almost 3000 years as food, medicine and ink.Egyptians have records of it getting used to alleviate pain around 1500 years back. The Greeks and Romans are also said to have used sesame oil, for both food and beauty purposes for thousands of years. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as a base oil for about 90 percent of herbal oils. In aromatherapy, sesame oil is popularly used as a massage oil and carrier oil for essential oils.
Tip: You can use sesame oil for hair as a carrier oil, and add appropriate essential oils to add to its benefits to get the best results.
WHAT SESAME OIL CONTAINS?
Sesame oil has high levels of natural antioxidants. These are called sesamolin, sesamol and sesamin oils. Sesamin has anti-inflammatory properties and contains vitamin E. Sesamol, on the other hand, has over 20 beneficial pharmacologically active properties. Sesame oil is also loaded with B-complex vitamins, including riboflavin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, niacin, folic acid and pyridoxine. It's rich in amino acids that help build up proteins, and minerals like copper, iron, manganese, calcium, selenium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.
Tip: Make the most of the benefits that sesame oil has by using it topically and ingesting it in the right quantity.
SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
Helps in hair growth
According to Ayurvedic experts, 50 per cent of Indian women approximately, are losing hair faster than before. When sesame oil is massaged into your scalp, it nourishes it and supplies the much-needed nourishment for the hair follicles and shafts. This leads to good hair growth. Using sesame oil for hair also helps heal any damage caused by the chemicals used during any treatments, or hair colouring.Helps against premature greying
If you’ve started seeing grey hair, despite being young, get your hands on sesame oil and massage it into your scalp and hair. Make sure you use sesame oil for hair to retain its natural colour for a long, hence ensuring that premature greying is avoided. The sesame oil, in fact, has properties that help darken the hair, so the hair that has already greyed prematurely gets darker.Keeps fungal and bacterial infections at bay
Sesame oil has antibacterial properties. Applying it regularly is highly beneficial to get rid of any fungus or bacteria. This in turn helps to get rid of head lice and any other problems that arise from bacteria-ridden hair. Ensuring that you apply sesame oil to your hair appropriately is essential.Helps to revitalise damaged hair
Sesame oil penetrates deep into the skin easily. This allows it to nourish the scalp and the hair from within. So, using sesame oil for hair that is damaged, does wonders to ensure they’re treated inside out.
Acts as coolant
High temperatures can affect the hair tremendously. They damage the follicles and draw out moisture. Applying sesame oil to hair helps soothe the heated scalp and hair. It also helps retain the moisture in the hair.Helps reduce stress-induced hair loss
Stress can lead to a lot of hair loss. Oil massage in itself helps with stress. When you use sesame oil for hair massage, its soothing properties help combat hair loss induced by stress.Protects from sun
Sesame oil offers natural protection from harmful UV rays. Long exposure to the hot sun can lead to hair problems, and using sesame oil for hair helps in avoiding that by layering the hair with a protective coating. It also helps hair to protect itself from the hot sun.Help get rid of dandruff
Dandruff is a result of dry skin, sensitivity to hair products and fungus growth on the scalp amongst other reasons. Applying sesame oil to hair helps to get rid of these problems helping reduce dandruff.Tip: Instead of using store-bought products that use many chemicals for different hair problems, opt for home remedies.
WAYS TO USE SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
Using sesame oil for hair and scalp is very beneficial for hair health and scalp health as stated above. But how can you use sesame oil for hair in the best way possible? Here’s how:
Eat sesame seeds
Eat a tablespoon of these seeds every day in the morning. As sesame is filled with magnesium and calcium, you get faster hair growth. The sesame oil for hair growth comes from the seeds.Using it in cooking
When you’re cooking, use sesame oil. This way you can use sesame oil for hair health as part of your daily meal. But don’t cook wholly in sesame oil. Add some teaspoons of it to your regular cooking oil.Massage your scalp and hair
Use sesame oil for hair and scalp massage. It soaks in quickly and nourishes the hair inside out.In a hair mask
Add sesame oil to any hair mask that you use. Using sesame oil for hair masks will add benefits to the benefits of the hair mask you use for your hair.As a serum
Use sesame oil for hair shine as you would use a serum.Tip: Ensure you don’t ingest too much sesame oil. Use a teaspoon or two.
DIY USING SESAME OIL FOR HAIR
To nourish hair
Mix two tablespoons of sesame oil with almond oil. Massage this mixture into your scalp and your hair from its roots to the tips. Massage for five minutes ensuring you cover the entire scalp and the hair. Once done, wrap a hot towel around your head and keep it on for 30-40 minutes. Rinse out the oil using a mild shampoo. Do this thrice a week.How it helps: Almond oil has omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, magnesium, and vitamin E. This adds to the goodness of sesame oil and the hair gets nourished inside out. Combine the good properties of almond oil and sesame oil for hair care.
As a sunscreen for hair
Add two tablespoons of aloe vera gel to two tablespoons of sesame oil. Heat this in a saucepan for a few minutes and then set it aside to cool. Apply this to your scalp and hair and keep it on for 30-40 minutes before washing it off with a mild shampoo. You can do this thrice a week.How it helps: It forms a protective barrier against harmful UV rays and heat. Aloe vera helps to soothe the scalp and hair along with the sesame oil for hair.
To restore hair health
Mash one ripe avocado and add two tablespoons of sesame oil to it. Make this into a paste, and apply it to the scalp and hair. Keep it on for an hour before washing it off. Do this thrice a week.How it helps: The antioxidants and vitamin E in avocado add to the goodness of sesame oil. Avocado and sesame oil for hair is the perfect mix for good hair health.
To avoid hair fall
Take three tablespoons of sesame oil and heat it in a saucepan. Add a handful of curry leaves to this. Once a black residue starts forming around the leaves, remove the saucepan from the heat and cool it down. Apply this to your hair from the roots to the tips and massage it in. Keep this for 40-45 minutes after wrapping a hot towel around your head. Do this thrice a week.How it helps: A mix of curry leaves and sesame oil for hair loss is the solution that will ensure you keep a headful of healthy hair.
To deep condition your hair
Crush ginger and squeeze out the juice from it. You need a teaspoon of it for now. Mix it with two tablespoons of sesame oil and apply it all over your scalp and hair. Once it has been thoroughly massaged in, cover your head with a hot towel and wait for 30-40 minutes. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. Repeat this three times a week.How it helps: Ginger softens hair, adds shine and maintains scalp health. Add these benefits to the sesame oil for hair health and shine.
To avoid damaged hair
Beat two tablespoons of sesame oil with one egg to make a consistent mixture. Apply this to your scalp and hair before you wash it off with a mild shampoo after 30 minutes. You can do this thrice a week.How it helps: Eggs help with the much-needed proteins for hair. Ensure that both proteins along with sesame oil for hair are used appropriately.
To get rid of dandruff
Heat two teaspoons of fenugreek along with two tablespoons of sesame oil in a jar using a double broiler method. After it starts boiling, remove it and let it cool down till it’s warm. Massage this into your scalp and work it into your hair from roots to tip. Wrap your head in a hot towel and keep it on for 30-40 minutes. Do this thrice a week.How it helps: Fenugreek soothes your scalp while conditioning the hair and also adds shine. That along with sesame oil for hair is a good way to keep dandruff at bay.
Tip: When applying sesame oil to hair or scalp using it in the DIY methods, make sure you massage it well into the scalp and work it into your hair from roots to tips.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. How to make sesame oil?
A. Sesame oil is made by crushing sesame seeds using methods of cold pressing, hot pressing or toasting the seeds. Cold-pressed sesame oils are the best of the lot as that process preserves the nutrients in the oil the best.Q. How can you use sesame oil?
A. Sesame oil can be ingested or used topically. It is also used as nose drops or mouthwash. Ensure though that you don’t consume the oil in large amounts.Q. Is sesame oil safe to use?
A. Sesame oil is deemed safe to use in cosmetics as per the International Journal of Toxicology, published in 1993. Even when you’re consuming the oil, you can do so as long as you don’t use it in large amounts as it's a mild inflammatory and has high omega-6 levels.Q. Does sesame oil have any side effects?
A. If one has an allergy to sesame oil, then that person should not use sesame oil in any way – by ingesting it or using it topically. Depending upon the severity of the allergy, one can suffer from mild itching to anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition.Q. What is the best way to use sesame oil for hair?
A. When using sesame oil for hair, use it hot. You can add curry leaves, aloe vera, fenugreek, egg, ginger, etc as per what you are using it for.Q. Are there any specific hair types that sesame oil suits best?
A. Sesame oil suits all hair types.Q. What are the benefits of sesame oil for hair?
A. Using sesame oil for hair care aids in faster hair growth, stronger hair, and makes hair shine. It also helps keep lice and dandruff at bay, nourishes damaged hair, acts as a sunscreen for hair, helps avoid hair fall, etc.
Loading...