Hair care requires commitment and dedication. While many resort to purchasing hair care products, you can leverage home remedies to maintain healthy hair. Individuals experiment with different hair packs using aloe vera, onion juice, yogurt, and honey – some of the ingredients that are easily available in every household – for long, lustrous, smooth, and shiny locks.
Here’s where the benefits of flax seeds for hair can come to your rescue.
We have all consumed flax seeds, but using it as a gel for hair is unheard of. Flax is a food and a fiber crop. This plant-based food contains dietary fiber, healthy omega-3 fatty acid, and antioxidants. It has a crispy and crunchy texture and a nutty flavour. You can add it to your smoothies, oats, homemade veggie burgers, pancake batter, or consume it as a trail mix.
Furthermore, the numerous healthy benefits of flaxseeds for hair cannot be understated –
- It can reduce the risk of cancer.
- If you feel hungry, you can always munch on a fistful of flaxseeds, as it can keep you full for a long period of time, thereby preventing you from snacking on fried foods and helping you in weight management.
- Flaxseeds are also immensely useful to keep chronic conditions such as type-2 diabetes, cholesterol, obesity, and constipation at bay.
These advantages aside, you will be surprised to know the numerous benefits of flax seeds for hair.
Nutrient-Rich Composition of Flaxseeds:
Flaxseeds are a powerhouse of vital nutrients. One tablespoon (7 grams) of ground flaxseeds contain –
- Calories – 37
- Carbs – 2 grams
- Fat – 3 grams
- Protein – 1.3 grams
- Thiamine – 10% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Copper – 9% of the DV
- Manganese – 8% of the DV
- Magnesium – 7% of the DV
- Phosphorous – 4% of the DV
- Selenium – 3% of the DV
- Zinc – 3% of the DV
- Vitamin B6 – 2% of the DV
- Folate – 2% of the DV
- Iron – 2% of the DV
- Rich source of omega-3 fatty acid
However, for your hair care, ground flaxseeds are not enough. One is required to cook and process flaxseeds to release their natural oil, a gel-like substance which can be applied to your hair.
Stimulated Hair Growth and Thickness:
If you struggle with frizziness, flaxseed gel and oil is the ideal solution to make your hair stronger, reduce frizz, and keep it hydrated. Flaxseed gel is suitable for individuals with all hair types, especially those with thin and brittle hair. Flaxseed for hair is high in lignans, a compound found in fiber-rich plants, that keeps your hair dense, shiny, and maximises its volume and elasticity.
Improved Scalp Health and Moisture Retention:
Flaxseed gel for hair can nourish your hair follicles and help your hair grow faster. The vitamin E content in flax seeds provides nutrition to the scalp and keeps free radicals away. The omega-3 fatty acid in flaxseeds condition and lock moisture in the hair, thereby reducing dryness and frizziness. The mucilage in flaxseeds contains water-soluble heteropolysaccharide (a chemical group formed by many glucose units) which comprises 3-9% of the total seed. This gel-like substance when mixed with water retains moisture in the hair strands.
Owing to the flaxseeds binding this moisture in the hair, it reduces breakage and split ends. It is believed that flaxseeds reverse damage by sealing the cuticle of the hair strand. Add flaxseed gel to damp hair for a bouncy effect.
Protection Against Environmental Damage:
While flaxseeds can protect your hair from free radicals, you need to care for your hair while stepping out. Ensure you cover your hair with a hat or scarf so it is not exposed to dust, dirt, air pollution, or the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. All these external factors can damage your hair. But treating your hair with flaxseed gel can help replenish it.
Addressing Common Hair Concerns:
Benefits of flaxseeds for hair include its ability to prevent your hair from premature greying. Using flaxseed gel on the scalp can improve your hair’s texture and promote hair growth.
Enhanced Shine and Luster:
Whether it is a skin care regime or hair care remedies, beauty is personal and varies from person to person’s skin and hair type. Here’s where Skin and Hair Academy’s online portal, Find a Dermatologist, can connect you with expert dermatologists who specialise in addressing skin and hair issues. The platform supports a vast network of experienced healthcare professionals, who can ensure personalized care and guidance. Prioritise your health and make optimal use of this resource to access the expertise needed for your skin and hair condition.
FAQs
How can I incorporate flax seeds into my hair care routine?
You can either add flaxseeds to your diet or use its gel on your hair. Here’s how you can make the flaxseed gel at home –
Ingredients –
- ¼ cup of flaxseeds
- 5 cups of water
- Essential oils
- Aloe vera (Optional)
Method –
- Pour the ¼ cup of flax seeds into 2.5 cups of water.
- Bring it to a boil on medium heat and continue stirring so the flaxseeds don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. The texture you are aiming for should be similar to a gel-like substance, neither too thick, nor too runny.
- Turn off the stove and allow the gel to cool for 45 minutes to an hour, during which the gel will thicken.
- Add the gel into a muslin or a thin cloth to strain the gel.
- You can also add a few essential oils or aloe vera drops in the mix.
- Pour the gel into a jar and store it in the refrigerator.
Flaxseed gel can last up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator, and more so, if you add essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, or jasmine.
Are there any precautions or side effects associated with using flax seeds for hair?
Flax Seeds for hair are naturally a healthy substance. However, hair and skin type vary from person to person. While it is unlikely to cause any side effects, it is high on the comedogenic scale, that is, it can clog pores for some people. Since flaxseeds are plant-based sources, they may have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers, which may cause potential allergies. Also, if not washed properly, flaxseed gel may leave a residue on the hair’s outer covering, making it sticky or crunchy. It is advisable that pregnant and lactating women consult their physician before applying or consuming flax seeds due to possible hormonal effects.
Can flaxseeds help with scalp conditions like dandruff and dryness?
Flaxseeds are an excellent source of anti-inflammatories alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which calms any irritation felt on the scalp. It can help treat conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, and can prevent dandruff too.
Primary Keyword – Benefits of flaxseeds for hair
Secondary Keyword – Flaxseed for hair, flaxseed and hair, flaxseed benefits on hair, flaxseed gel for hair
Sources –
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-flaxseeds
https://www.byrdie.com/diy-flaxseed-hair-gel-recipe-4694485
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/flaxseed-gel-for-hair
