Is black seed oil effective for hair growth?

Getting to know black seed oil

Before we begin our discussion on using black seed oil for hair growth, let’s introduce the ingredient. After all, it’s not quite as well-known as other seed oils like hemp, pumpkin, and chia. Black seed oil comes from a flowering plant called Nigella sativa. This grows across Northern Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, and produces fruit with tiny black seeds. These go by many names, including black seeds, black cumin, black caraway, nigella, and fennel flower.

People use black seeds and their oil both in cooking and for medicinal purposes. In fact, the plant has been part of traditional medicine systems for over 2,000 years.(1) Hippocrates, the Greek physician regarded as the father of modern medicine, mentioned black seeds in his texts. Archaeologists discovered the seeds in the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. And legend has it that Egyptian queen Cleopatra herself used black seed oil for hair growth.

What’s most exciting is that scientific studies are now starting to find evidence to support this ancient usage. From reducing oxidative stress and inflammation to supporting heart health, there are many potential ways the ingredient might benefit wellbeing. And then there’s our focus for today: using black seed oil for hair growth. It’s time to take a look at the research.

Does black seed oil help with hair growth?

These days, it’s easy to feel bombarded by a never-ending parade of products promising to promote hair growth. And it can be hard to know which to trust. So, is black seed oil good for hair growth or just a fad with no evidence to support its use? Well, research into the benefits of black seed oil for hair growth is still in its infancy. However, findings are emerging that suggest it could be effective.

For example, one study found that a mixture of black seed oil and coconut oil helped to promote hair growth in volunteers.(2) Another discovered that a treatment containing the ingredient reduced hair fallout by 76%.(3) A third investigation revealed that using a lotion made with black seed oil resulted in significant improvement in women with telogen effluvium.(4) This is a condition that causes hair thinning. Such results suggest that you could use black seed oil for hair growth and to prevent hair loss.

What is the reason behind these benefits of black seed oil for hair growth? One possibility is the ingredient’s potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s rich in a compound called thymoquinone, which helps to tackle free radical damage and inflammation.(5) Both of these can cause harm to your hair, scalp, and follicles. As such, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation could help to keep your locks strong and healthy.

Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the ingredient might moisturise the hair and scalp thanks to the fatty acids it contains. This helps to prevent flakiness and irritation of the scalp, and reduce hair breakage. However, as yet, we don’t have concrete research findings to confirm this advantage of black seed oil for hair growth.

Other benefits of black seed oil

In a moment, we’ll talk about the practicalities of how to use black seed oil for hair growth. But first, it’s worth mentioning a few of the other wellness benefits the ingredient offers. For instance, we said above that it acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. As well as supporting hair and scalp health, this could lessen the risk of developing certain chronic diseases.(6)

More specifically, research shows that black seed oil may help to treat asthma.(7) This is because the thymoquinone it contains can relax muscles in the airway and reduce inflammation. What’s more, the ingredient could decrease neuroinflammation (inflammation of brain tissue), potentially lowering the risk of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s.(8) Studies suggest black seed oil might also boost cognition in healthy people.(9) However, further investigation is necessary to clarify the ingredient’s protective effects on brain health.

Turning to a benefit similar to using black seed oil for hair growth, the ingredient could enhance your complexion too. Studies show that it can significantly improve skin conditions like acne thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.(10) The oil could additionally lessen the symptoms of psoriasis.(11) Even if you don’t have any specific skin conditions, it could boost your complexion by increasing collagen formation.

Black seed oil may additionally support cardiovascular health. Studies have revealed that the ingredient can reduce both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lessening the risk of heart disease.(12) Interestingly, it might help to lower blood sugar too, which is particularly relevant to those with diabetes.(13)

Finally, studies have also found that the ingredient could play a part in healthy weight management.(14) That’s a lot of benefits beyond black seed oil for hair growth that you could enjoy!