Nothing can accentuate a woman’s natural beauty like a thick, robust, shiny bunch of ‘Rapunzel hair.’ But no matter how much you care for your locks, getting a desirable length can be challenging. Even the most expensive hair care products can fail to stimulate hair growth. Thankfully, one natural and super-effective remedy can give you the desired results. Yes, we are talking about flax seeds. This simple and readily available kitchen ingredient can promote your mane’s growth like never before. So, if you have yet to try flax seeds for hair growth, read on to know more.
What Are Flax Seeds?
Flax seeds are scientifically named Linum Usitatissimum and are commonly known as linseeds, alsi, or jawas. These are tiny seeds of the annual flax plant, mainly cultivated worldwide for textile fiber and nutrition. The glossy brown or golden-yellow seeds of flax fruits have a beautiful nutty flavor. They are also rich in short-chain omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibers, vital vitamins, and essential minerals. These inexpensive and easy-to-find natural ingredients can either be pressed into flaxseed oil (or linseed oil) or consumed directly for their health and medicinal benefits. If appropriately used, Flax seeds can also give you lustrous locks (1).
Why Use Flax Seeds For Hair Growth?
Flax seeds aren’t just beneficial for overall health but are crucial to achieving long and healthy-looking hair. Before delving into the specifics of how they can be harnessed for maximum hair growth, let’s explore why incorporating flax seeds into our routine is advantageous for the health and vitality of our hair.
1. Packed With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Flax seeds are loaded with short-chain omega-3 fatty acids called ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid), which are necessary for maintaining the health of our hair follicles. They help increase hair fibers’ elasticity, thereby repairing the follicles and making the hair healthier, stronger, shinier, and less vulnerable to breakage.
Also Read – Urine Therapy May Promote Hair Growth
2. Loaded With Vital Nutrients
According to scientists, flax seeds are a great source of vital nutrients, such as proteins, minerals (calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, etc.), and vitamins (especially vitamins B and E). It makes them a superfood for hair. Regular intake of these seeds can nourish both the scalp and the hair, keep them hydrated, stop premature greying, prevent split ends, and encourage healthier new growth.
3. Reduce Scalp Inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. This makes flax seeds highly beneficial for reducing inflammation caused by various scalp conditions like dandruff, itchy scalp, cicatricial alopecia (a medical condition in which healthy hair growth stops due to the scarring of follicles), etc. The essential fats keep the skin of the scalp well-moisturized, thereby reducing flakiness and promoting the growth of new hair.
4. Protect Hair From Thinning
Flax seeds are significantly high in lignin, a fiber-like organic substance and potent antioxidant. It slows the hair cells’ normal aging process, often leading to severe hair loss. The estrogenic properties of lignin also help reduce hair thinning caused by hormonal imbalance and menopause.
5. Strengthen Hair From Within
As a concentrated source of high-grade soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, these seeds can enhance the digestive process and boost metabolism by regularizing bowel function, which is essential for maintaining good gut health. As the internal system works fine, the hair cells can absorb sufficient nutrients, and the hair can grow more efficiently.
Flax seeds are considered as an excellent natural dietary supplement for vegans. It is not only a rich plant-based source of omega acids but also comprise a small amount of plant-based protein. It is a ‘concentrated and healthy nutritional supplement’ even for non-vegetarians.
How Do You Use Flax Seeds For Hair Growth?
Flax seeds can be used orally and topically for long, beautiful hair. Here are the ways to include them in your daily hair care routine to encourage new hair growth:
(A) Add Flax Seeds To Your Diet
- Snack on a spoonful of crunchy flax seeds every day whenever you feel the need.
- Add whole flax seeds to your regular meals. You need to shake a little bit of them over the stir-fried vegetables. It will not only increase the nutritional value of the food but also give it a new flavor.
- Drizzle your favorite salads with some flaxseed oil. It can indeed be a fantastic dress.
- Reduce some flax seeds into a smooth, fine powder and store them in an air-tight container. It can be added to almost anything and everything, such as salads, sandwiches, chutneys, smoothies, shakes, cookies, muffins, stuffed parathas, yogurt, dips, and many more. It gives a beautiful nutty flavor while making the food crispy.
(B) Apply Flax Seeds Topically
- Prepare flax seed hair gel right at your home. Start with boiling 2 cups of water. Add four tablespoons of organic flax seeds as soon as the water boils. Cover the pot with a lid and lower the flame. You must simmer the whole thing for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and strain the infusion. It would become a bit thick and sticky. Apply it all over your scalp with your fingertips daily to reduce hair loss and promote hair growth to a great extent.
- Warm two tablespoons of flaxseed oil and gently massage it into your scalp before working it through your hair. Wrap your hair with a warm towel so the scalp gets covered completely. Wait for half an hour, then wash it off with mild shampoo.
Also Read – 18 Amazing Sunflower Seeds Benefits For Health, Skin, and Hair
Side Effects Of Flax Seeds
While flax seeds come with loads of goodness, they must be included carefully in the daily diet. You will end up inviting adverse effects by consuming too much of these seeds. It is always advised that you do not take flax seeds more than the recommended dosage. Here are some minor and significant negative impacts of flax seeds:
- Being a good laxative, it can trigger abdominal discomfort, frequent bowel movements, and even diarrhea. You can also end up developing severe health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
- Flax seeds can negatively impact your blood clotting time. Clotting may take longer than usual, and blood may come out during vomiting or with stool.
- High flax seeds can obstruct the intestines, causing intestinal blockage.
- It also contains cyanogen, which induces neurotoxic effects in the body.
- Even though flax seeds effectively prevent arterial chronic inflammations, consuming them above permissive levels can worsen your inflammatory conditions.
- It introduces lots of alpha-linoleic acid into the body, putting you at a higher risk of macular degeneration.
- Flax seeds are not safe for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers as they have a substantial impact on our hormonal system.
- You can even develop rashes. Itchiness, acne, and shortness of breath if allergic to flax seeds.
Dosage Of Flax Seeds For Hair Growth
There is no specific dosage of flax seed consumption for promoting hair growth. Usually, 1-2 tablespoons of seeds are recommended a day. However, it is always good to consult your physician if you use it orally for hair growth. Otherwise, stick to the topical use of the seeds, as it will be completely safe, and you will also experience incredible results.
How To Consume Flax Seeds Safely?
When taking whole flax seeds orally, make sure that you dry roast them in a pan for at least 5 minutes to eliminate anti-nutrients that prevent mineral absorption as well as increase chewability. You can also soak the seeds overnight to improve their nutritional value. Also, take flax seeds with enough water to reduce their sliminess and increase their mobility in the gut (2).
Read Also – Natural Homemade Flaxseed Hair Gel For Super Sleek Hair
Summary –
Flax seeds are not only good for overall health, but also beneficial for growth of your hair. Enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and other vital nutrients, it makes hair healthier, stronger and keeps them hydrated. Moreover it can stop premature greying, prevent split ends, promote new growth of hair and reduce scalp inflammation. Flax seeds can be applied topically or/and can be added to your daily diet. Usually, 1-2 tablespoons of seeds are recommended a day for hair growth. It is advisable to take flax seeds within the recommended dosage. Overuse may cause side effects like diarrhea, rashes, acne etc.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do you leave flaxseed gel in your hair?
Topical application of flaxseed for about 20-30 minutes is good enough to extract its benefits.
What are the side effects of flaxseed oil?
Some of the most common side effects include allergic reactions, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, bloating, stomach aches, rashes, etc.
Can flaxseed regrow hair?
Topical application of flaxseeds stimulates hair follicles and improves blood circulation. It makes hair healthier and more robust, keeps it hydrated, and aids new hair growth.
Does flaxseed gel straighten hair?
While there is no scientific evidence to prove a correlation between the straightening of hair and flaxseed gel, applying flaxseed gel is often perceived as a hair-stightening solution.
How long does flaxseed gel last?
In a refrigerated condition, it can last up to 3 weeks.
Does flaxseed gel make your hair hard?
It should not cause any hardness as it keeps your hair hydrated. Adding coconut oil to flaxseed gel can fix this issue if you are experiencing any hardness.
References:
- “Flax“, Wikipedia.org
- “3 Reasons Why Flaxseeds are Good for Your Hair“, HairBuddha.net
