Flax Oil for Strong, Thick, Shiny Hair

Every day more and more people around the world are using flaxseed oil for their health. One thing a lot of people are unaware of, though, is the potential benefits flax can have for your hair. We have a number of customers who've told us how much they love using flax oil on their locks, so I decided to look into some of the reasons why.

There are a few oils that you can use to add moisture and shine to your hair, like castor oil for example, but a lot of them are really thick and hard to use or they leave a residue that can cause breakouts or rashes.

Flax oil is light enough that it won’t leave you with acne where your hair touches your skin, but it’ll also leave your hair incredibly smooth and shiny, which is especially good in the winter months when the cold weather can dry out your hair and skin.

In addition to adding moisture, you can use flax oil to make your hair stronger. Many people report that it helps stop both hair loss and hair thinning, as well as breakage and split ends. The Omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseeds are one of the essential nutrients for your hair follicles. The Omega 3 acids improve the elasticity of your hair thus reducing breakage of hair and making it strong and healthy.

Flax oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it a prime source of nourishment for your scalp too. Quite simply, flax oil is a very cost-effective, natural and healthy way to strengthen, grow and moisturize your hair.

Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Important for Your Hair

Your hair is mostly made up of keratin protein, so you need generous amounts of dietary protein to keep your hair strong and growing well. Protein, however, isn’t all that your hair needs; it needs vitamins, fats and other nutrients from your diet too. Putting those nutrients onto your hair and scalp also ensures that they have a direct impact on your hair and get right down into the follicle (that’s the part that covers the root of each hair, just under your scalp).

When you put flaxseed oil on your scalp, the omega-3 fatty acids in it ensure that your hair grows out with unparalleled shine and strength. Flaxseed oil also contains vitamins E, B1, B2, B6, biotin and vitamin C. Together with omega-3 fatty acids, these vitamins can help alleviate common skin problems that can affect your scalp, like dandruff and eczema. Flaxseed oil can be effective against dandruff due to the anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseeds reducing the possibility of dandruff, eczema and other scalp conditions. The seeds stimulate the production of sebum in the scalp, preventing flaking and dandruff.

If you notice that you have dandruff and dry hair, it might be because you’re lacking omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. The writers over at Superfood Profiles make an excellent point: “As important as strong and shiny hair may be to you, it is actually pretty low down on your body’s list of priorities. Areas of the body like brain function, cell formation and inflammation prevention all rely on omega-3 fatty acids. If you are already deficient in omega-3 (and most of us eating a modern diet will be likely to be at least mildly deficient), then these vital areas will be prioritized first.”

Flax is the best plant source of omega-3s; eating it regularly helps you digest all your foods better, which means that you’ll absorb the vitamins and minerals from everything you eat more efficiently. This will naturally have a direct effect on your hair and on the health of your scalp, among many other things.

Which Form of Flax Oil is Best?

You can purchase flaxseed oil in either capsule or liquid form. Some people enjoy the ease of taking a pill, but we recommend the liquid simply because it’s more bioavailable. As soon as you take it, it immediately goes to work in your body; you don’t have to wait on a capsule to dissolve.

Another thing about liquid is that it has so many more applications. You can put it in your salad dressing or your smoothie, or you can apply it to your skin and hair — all without having to break capsules open first. Flax oil that has gone rancid takes on a bitter aroma and taste too; if you’re swallowing a capsule it’s that much harder to know if your oil is safe to consume even if it was properly pressed.

Excellent hair health starts with good nutrition, but if you want to see more immediate results, you can add flax oil to your shampoo and conditioner. You can also rub it into your scalp after a shower and let it soak in. You can also make an easy hair mask for weekly deep conditioning. Your body needs omega-3s for many things, if you want to prioritize your hair, I recommend that you both take it in food or as a supplement and apply it directly to your mane.

Be sure to get high quality, organic flax oil. You want to be very certain that your oil is nutritionally intact and not rancid. Our premium Perfect Press®  Flax Oil is PerfectlyPressed™ from thousands of raw organic flax seeds. Our proprietary process and UV-protective bottles ensure that the oil retains 100% of its nutritional value from the moment we press it to the moment you use it. Zero damage means zero rancidity.

Flax oil can do so much for your health; thick, healthy hair is just the beginning, it’s the tip of the iceberg.

Find out what makes this flaxseed oil so unique.

References

http://flaxcouncil.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/FlxPrmr_4ed_Chpt1.pdf
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil-alpha-linolenic-acid/safety/hrb-20059372