Sesame oil for hair and skin, really? Although best known in culinary applications, this polyunsaturated oil may also help regrow hair and benefit your skin.
Sesame oil is perhaps most associated for use in Asian stir fry dishes. In the west, most people know sesame seeds, from which the it comes from, as a delicious hamburger bun topping.
Although sesame oil is best known in culinary applications, this polyunsaturated oil may also help regrow hair and benefit your skin. But is there any scientific evidence to support using it for cosmetic enhancement?
Sesame oil uses and benefits
Before reviewing sesame oil for hair and skin, let’s take a look at its characteristics, uses and benefits.
It falls into the vegetable and seed oil category. In general, these are unstable. That’s because most of them begin to smoke at relatively low temperatures during cooking.
Vegetables and seed oils lack the fats to keep them stable. Thus, when you cook with an unstable oil, you are at risk for increased exposure to toxic compounds.
However, if you’re going to cook with a vegetable/seed oil, sesame may be the best one to use. Unlike other polyunsaturated oils, it has a higher smoke point. Thus, it’s more stable. Moreover, besides its delicious profile in stir frys and stable properties, there are several other benefits.
This study concludes the compounds in sesame helps break down alcohol in the liver. It also can help reduce high blood pressure.
In addition, sesame may help regulate the immune system and help prevent cancer. And that’s not all. Sesame may possess anti-bacterial properties and prevent accelerated aging.
Perhaps sesame is one of the healthiest of the veggie/seed oils because of its composition. It contains roughly the same amount of two polyunsaturated fatty acids: oleic and linoleic. Other oils in the same category also have these two fatty acids, but not in equal amounts.
There are other plant compounds which give sesame oil certain medicinal properties. This study reveals sesame extract was active against almost 80% of the tested microorganisms.
Another study concludes that in a lab, sesame is more effective at destroying damaging free radicals than vitamin E. In India and other countries where traditional methods of healing are still common, sesame oil is a favorite remedy to unblock arteries.
Why is using sesame oil for hair and skin logical?
Sesame oil may be beneficial to regrow hair and both protect and beautify the skin. The main reason why it may be beneficial, especially for skin, is its antioxidant properties.
In fact, sesame oil may prevent tumors from growing and may be able to prevent certain skin cancers such as melanoma. In addition, one research study shows it may prevent the growth of colon cancer cells. Moreover, another reason why sesame oil can benefit your skin is its ability to quickly penetrate the skin deep into the tissues.
Sufferers of certain skin conditions such as psoriasis may have symptoms subside by using sesame oil. Your skin is the largest organ. Toxins from your body have to escape somewhere. Sometimes it’s through your waste. But the skin is an easy exit for many toxins.
When toxins seep through the skin they can manifest as acne. But the compounds in sesame seed oil may attract toxins when you apply some to your skin. These toxins can then be washed away just by using synthetic-free soap and warm water.
For your hair, sesame oil may help because of its rich mineral content. These minerals provide your hair with nutrition, all the way from the roots.
In addition, the oil provides moisture for the scalp and helps restore your own natural oils. Although other oils such as coconut or olive also accomplish this, perhaps it’s worth a try to switch it up and give sesame oil a try?
Sesame oil is thought to increase the blood circulation in your scalp. Increased blood circulation to the scalp may result in hair regrowth. In fact, for certain men, sesame oil may prevent the growth of an enzyme that leads to male pattern baldness.
How to use sesame seed oil for hair growth
It’s easy to use sesame oil for hair growth. Just rub the same amount you would use for your shampoo directly into your scalp. Don’t vigorously rub the oil into your hair however. Rather, gently massage it like a therapeutic Swedish massage, using circular motions.
But don’t wash out your hair right after massaging the sesame oil into your scalp. Nope, if you have to, sleep with a shower cap on and wash out the sesame oil the next morning. Try this easy method a few times per week for several weeks to see noticeable results using sesame oil for hair regrowth.
This hair loss prevention website offers a recipe for making your own sesame oil shampoo. It requires a half cup of liquid castile soap; 2 tbsp maple syrup; up to 10 drops of carrot seed essential oil and 10 drops of sesame seed oil. The instructions are to mix the ingredients in a container. Then, you pour this concoction over wet hair and massage into your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing out.
An even easier way or additional method to regrow your hair with sesame: just eat a bunch of sesame seeds every day.
Sesame oil for skin fairness
Sesame oil contains vitamin E. And it’s this vitamin E (and may help regrow hair) that helps moisturize the skin. So, if you have dry skin, sesame oil may prevent your usual skin problems.
According to this natural health website sesame oil can help provide glowing and soft skin in just two weeks with a simple recipe. And all you need besides 1 tbsp of sesame oil is are these three ingredients:
- 2 tbsp Vitamin E skin oil
- 1 tbsp Sweet Almond oil / Coconut oil
- 7-8 drops Orange Essential oil
To use this sesame oil for skin fairness recipe, simply take a bowl and add 1 tbsp of sesame oil in it. Then add the vitamin E, almond/coconut and orange oil. Mix well. Soak a towel in hot water and steam your face with the towel. Next, apply the mixture on your face. Using this method after showering may be more beneficial, as your skin pores are more open.
Sesame oil for skin lightening
Can sesame oil also help remove blemish marks or dark spots on the skin?
This skin remedy website recommends applying sesame oil directly to blemish spots. Then, it’s recommended polishing the aging spots with rice powder. Then, wash your face (or other areas with blemishes) with warm water. Lock in your pores by washing the areas with cold water.
Sesame oil for hair and skin: conclusion
Sesame oil may help you improve your hair and skin because of its rich mineral and antioxidant profile. And unlike other oils, it may also be beneficial for teens, a group who in general has more skin sensitivity when exposed to oils. Although sesame oil isn’t the only natural oil that may benefit hair and skin, if you’ve never given it a try, what’s the harm in buying some? After all, if you don’t notice any results, you’ll have a delicious, healthy oil to cook with.
