Nature is a secret hideout for bountiful affairs. We may be endowed with millions of options when it comes to skincare, haircare, and health care on an overall basis, but even today, nothing matches up to the products that have been stowed away in the natural environment. From herbs to essential oils, there are various extracts that can be used to perk up our tresses, and one of them is sesame.
Sesame oil for hair? Indeed. This is an option you should have considered a long time ago. Even if you have not, this is the time to know all about it. Sesame oil for hair is great, but what exactly is sesame oil? Well, for starters, this is one of the oldest oils used by humans. In fact, sesame seeds have been an inextricable and important part of Hindu mythology and even associated with immortality (though we do not know the authenticity of that claim!).
Sesame is great with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, amidst other things.In this article, we will talk all about this miraculous essential oil that can truly transform your tresses. Hang on for a nourishing experience.
Why use sesame oil for hair
Sesame oil is one of the oldest remedies for skin, hair and health. It has a plethora of benefits such as working against hair and scalp infections, getting rid of toxic elements, protection from UV rays and much more. Let’s take a closer look at all that sesame oil has to offer for beautiful hair.
1. Prevents grey hair
Sesame oil has hair-darkening properties. This makes it an effective agent in preventing premature greying. It also helps retain the natural colour of your hair. Hair greying often happens due to age, but it may also happen before the time due to internal and external factors.
The internal factors are mostly stress and anxiety-related, while external factors are mostly related to pollution. Sesame oil, with all its antioxidants, helps fight these free radicals that lead to premature greying of the hair.
2. Promotes hair growth
Again, if you are suffering from hair thinning and subsequent baldness, rubbing sesame oil on the scalp regularly will speed up hair growth and give you dense and thick hair. Sesame oil is recommended as a foolproof and quite effective hair loss treatment by many. There are many studies to back up the same. The hair oil massage also improves blood circulation which contributes towards hair growth.
3. Prevents head lice
No one likes head lice. They suck blood, quite literally, and are dirty and unhygienic. There are many products available in the market. However, they are full of chemicals directed towards killing the lice. Often, while your hair gets cleared of the lice, its texture may get affected.
This is not the case with sesame oil. It is antifungal and antibacterial in nature and gets rid of hair lice gently. It can be combined with other essential oils such as tea tree oil to work more effectively on the hair lice.
4. Soothes dry hair
Heat and dryness affecting your hair, making it dull and brittle? Sesame oil is effective in taking care of that too! It has cooling and conditioning properties that make sure your hair does not get affected harshly by excessive heat. Sesame oil also ensures that the moisture is locked in your hair shafts. It forms a protective layer, thus ensuring that pollution does not affect your hair anymore.
5. Protects hair from UV rays
UV rays affect both skin and hair adversely. Sesame oil is efficient in protecting hair against the sun as well. It is a natural sun-blocking agent. It forms a protective layer around the hair and makes sure it is protected against the sun’s rays. It also helps protect the hair against pollution.
6. Prevents dandruff
Sesame oil is antifungal and antibacterial in nature. This means it is also effective against scalp infections that lead to flaky skin and dandruff. It also helps calm down the skin, thus controlling the itching sensation. It ensures that the scalp is free from infections and itching, thus helping in the growth of healthy and beautiful hair.
7. Prevents hair fall
Another facet where sesame oil is extremely beneficial is in preventing hair fall. Two of the major factors that are contributing towards hair fall are stress and anxiety. Sesame oil massage is helpful in calming down the nerves. It helps with the stress, thus reducing hair fall. You can even create an elixir of sorts by mixing sesame oil with ylang ylang oil or even eucalyptus oil. It also helps treat conditions such as migraine and sleeplessness.
How to use sesame oil for maximum benefits
There are certain ways in which you can use sesame oil so that you get the best benefits. You can use it as an oil or as a treatment, depending on what concern you are targeting. You can even use it in combination with other oils to maximise its effect. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Sesame oil massage
Warm some sesame oil and massage your hair and scalp with it. Leave it on for around 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with a mild shampoo. You can do this twice a week.
2. Sesame oil with coconut oil for deep conditioning
Want deep conditioning without having to use chemical-laden conditioners from the drugstore? This is your solution. Add sesame oil to coconut oil, apply it and keep it on for around 40 minutes before washing off.
3. Sesame oil with almond oil for damage reversal
This is yet another concoction for deep conditioning. Leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing off.
4. Sesame oil with neem oil for a cleansed scalp
Neem is known for its antifungal properties and is great against flaky and infected scalps. It also helps in getting rid of lice and dandruff. Together with sesame oil, it is even more effective. Mix equal parts of both the oils, apply and leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with a mild cleanser.
FAQs on sesame oil for hair
Q. Can I ingest sesame oil?
A. There are a few types of sesame oil that can be ingested, not all. Do not ingest or intake just any sesame oil. While it has immense benefits when applied, if it is not meant to be consumed, it can be harmful. Others can only be used externally. Find out at the time of purchase and do not ingest just any sesame oil, especially without any medical advice.
Q. How can I use sesame oil for hair growth?
A. The best way to ensure sesame oil helps you with hair growth is giving your scalp massages. You can even combine it with other essential oils to boost its benefits. Sesame oil increases blood circulation in the follicles and its antibacterial properties ensure the scalp is free of impurities. It also protects against pollution and UV rays. This overall boosts the hair health and helps with growth.
Written by Kadambari Srivastava on Dec 06, 2021
A finance professional by degree who jumped into the world of content creation 7 years ago, Kadambari is a pro at spinning words, whether it's beauty, business, entertainment, or anything else. Better separate your 'its' from 'it's' when she is around. When she isn't writing, she can be seen with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other, keeping up with her book challenge of the year.