How to Use Flaxseed Oil for Healthy Hair
There are 2 ways to use flaxseed oil for hair and improving its strength and shine.
Both of them rely on the high omega-3 alpha linolenic acid content of flax seeds, which is concentrated even further in the cold pressed oil.
The first and most important is getting more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.
Many people report greatly improved hair and better health in general with a daily dosage of flax oil taken in a certain way.
The second is to use flaxseed oil on your hair directly, as a mask or conditioner, to immediately improve its strength and shine.
Flax oil hair benefits also include minimizing dandruff problems, encouraging follicle growth and helping to prevent hair loss.
If you’d like to improve both your hair and scalp then a bottle of flax oil can be a far more effective option than expensive brand-name conditioners and treatments.
The Importance of Omega-3 to Hair
While hair is composed primarily of keratin protein, omega-3 fats nourish the all-important follicles, encouraging healthy hair growth that is both strong and shiny from the outset.
They can also help prevent inflammation that can lead to hair loss, dandruff and other scalp conditions.
The natural vitamin E found in unrefined and cold pressed linseed oil also provides additional nourishment for the scalp, roots and shafts.
One of the most common indicators of an omega-3 deficiency is dry, lackluster and brittle hair. Over time, a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids can even lead to hair loss. Dandruff and eczema of the scalp are also often related to a lack of omega-3 fats.
Getting Enough Omega-3s for Healthy Hair
As important as strong and shiny hair may be to you, it’s 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.
It’s for this reason that you need to take a reasonably large amount of flax oil before you start seeing positive results with your hair.
How Much Flax Oil for Strong and Shiny Hair?
It’s important to start slowly with flaxseed oil. Immediately taking large amounts of high omega-3 oil may shock your body into a negative reaction if it has been accustomed to dealing with a certain intake of fats.
Using capsules does makes dosages easier. Bottled flaxseed oil, like this organic one, is much better value though.
Start with 1 gram in the morning with breakfast and 1 gram in the evening with dinner (usually 1 capsule or around a quarter of a teaspoon of flax oil) for the first week and see how well you tolerate it.
For the next week, up the dosage to 2 grams with breakfast or lunch and 2 grams with dinner (2 caps or around half a teaspoon).
Increase the amount to 4 – 5 grams twice a day (around a full teaspoon) on the third week and, assuming the oil is well tolerated, you should have a good maintenance dose of 8 to 10 grams a day.
Some people recommend up to 30 grams or 2 tablespoons of the oil a day. If you would like to try these higher dosages it is recommended to increase up to this amount slowly, perhaps adding an extra 1 or 2 grams a week to your morning and evening intake.
Keep in mind as well that hair grows slowly and usually only for part of the month. Given this, even using a good dose of flax oil, it is understandable that it will take a long time to see changes, quite likely months for full results.
Flaxseed Oil Hair Mask Instructions
While truly healthy hair comes from good internal nutrition, an easy way to see immediate results is to apply a hair mask of flaxseed oil once or twice a week. Here’s how:
- Start by wetting your hair in the shower and towel drying off excess water so that it is still wet but not dripping. Pour a small amount of flax oil into your palm and gently massage it all over your scalp.
- Next comb the oil through your hair, perhaps adding a little more to the comb occasionally if you have longer locks.
- Then wrap up your hair in a towel, ideally gently warmed in the oven (make sure it’s not too hot), and leave the oil on your hair for 15 to 20 minutes.
- After that time you can wash your hair with a light, natural shampoo. You won’t need any conditioner as the flax oil mask will leave your hair far softer and shinier without it.
It’s important to remember to store the oil back in the fridge as soon as possible after using it in the shower to keep it fresh.
Flax oil requires refrigeration to maintain its beneficial properties and avoid spoiling.
It may be better to pour the oil you intend to use into a small bowl and take it with you to the shower, rather than leaving the bottle out for long periods.
Better Hair with Flax Oil
For best results, both internally and externally, use a flaxseed oil for hair that has been produced from fresh organic flax seeds with cold pressing and minimal processing.
I hope using flaxseed oil helps improve your hair, whether you take it as an omega-3 supplement, use it as a hair mask or try both. There’ s more details on the correct flax oil dosage to take here and when to have it for best results.