Hair loss is incredibly common. Believe it or not, more than 70% of men experience significant hair loss at some point.
Some start in their teens, while others start in retirement. Regardless, there are natural solutions available for preventing hair loss and even stimulating new hair growth. Here's what you need to know about pumpkin seed oil for hair!
Pumpkin seed oil is an extracted oil from, you guessed it, pumpkin seeds. It has high levels of polyunsaturated fats, as it's mostly comprised of fatty acids, including palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, which account in total for about 90% of its composition.
People use pumpkin seed oil for a wide variety of purposes. However, we're going to talk about it as a solution to hair problems.
Among the top pumpkin seed oil benefits for hair is stimulating growth. Pumpkin seed oil is great for stimulating hair growth, strengthening existing hair, and helping to moisturize your scalp and hair follicles.
Moreover, it can also help reduce inflammation in your scalp when used in your hair. When consumed orally, it may even help improve your heart health and urinary functions. Remember, you should always consult your doctor before using this oil if you have a heart issue.
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Pumpkin seed oil is a strong moisturizer for your hair. Dry hair can cause frizzing and hair loss, and it's hard for people with certain hair types to keep it moisturized. Pumpkin seed oil is a great natural solution for this.
Also, you have plenty of options to use pumpkin seed oil for hair growth. You can consume it orally, topically, or use it as a hair serum. You can even add it to your salad if you want!
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Yes, using pumpkin seed oil on your hair can cause mild itching or irritation. It's a very potent oil, and if your skin isn't used to it, your scalp could have a mild reaction. However, it's relatively easy to treat irritated scalps.
Of course, if you are allergic to pumpkin seed oil, reactions could be much worse. If you are uncertain, talk to your doctor to rule out potential allergies before using.
Also, pumpkin seed oil can lower your blood pressure when taken orally. While we could consider this a benefit for many, talk to your doctor before using the supplement if you have low blood pressure.
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Other than that, bloating and stomach issues are the only things to worry about. Pumpkin seeds are dense in fibre and nutrients, which can lead to stomach irritation for certain people. This is especially true with quality issues, as pumpkin seed oil can degrade easily with drastic temperature changes or direct exposure to sunlight.
For this reason, we don't recommend cooking with pumpkin seed oil. It can degrade quickly under direct heat, like many polyunsaturated fats.
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Believe it or not, the pumpkin seed oil is not the only oil used for hair growth. While rosemary oil is likely the most popular, the list also includes:
Yes, that's a lot of different oils. The reason is that our hair follicles and shafts need to stay hydrated for both strength and growth. Our bodies naturally produce oils to do this, which may diminish with age or become insufficient with hair loss.
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Consequently, artificially oiling your hair can have similar effects. Reducing inflammation in your scalp can help stimulate growth in hair follicles, and strengthening hair shafts will help you retain your existing hair.
More research is needed on each of these oils as they relate to hair growth. However, they are natural, nearly risk-free ways to potentially help facilitate hair growth.
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Again, there are plenty of options to try for stimulating hair growth with pumpkin seed oil. For the best results, we recommend following these steps.
Take a shower and shampoo like you would any other time. Try to get a deep clean, leave the shampoo in for a minute before rinsing, and avoid using conditioner or other products.
Gently warm up your pumpkin seed oil either using a double boiler or a cup inside of some warm water. Allow it to melt but not cook.
Next, wet your hair and gently massage the pumpkin seed oil into your scalp. Make sure to get all around.
From there, wrap your head in a warm towel and allow it to sit for a couple of hours. Then, remove the towel, shampoo your hair again, condition it, and style it how you like. Repeat this process once a week for the best results!
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If used regularly, it should take between four and six weeks to begin seeing sufficient results for your hair. Of course, if you use the oil directly in your hair, then you will see some of the benefits right away.
Still, whether you consume it orally or use it topically, it will take at least a month to potentially stimulate significant hair growth. Considering that it's a natural supplement, that isn't too bad!
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Now that you know some of the key benefits of pumpkin seed oil for hair, you can determine if it's right for you. Everybody's hair is different, but there are always natural ways to stimulate hair growth that won't break the bank.
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