6 Ways to Use Flaxseed Oil for Hair

Promote growth, shine, and hair health without the salon treatment price tag

Some hair-healthy ingredients promote growth. Others increase shine and luster. Some cleanse your scalp of set-in dirt, grime, and left-over product.

Why isn’t there an ingredient that does it all? You probably know where we’re going with this. We’re talking about flaxseed oil for hair.

While it’s still in its infancy as far as popular hair products go, flaxseed oil is truly an amazing ingredient for hair. From aesthetically bouncy, shiny locks to rapid hair growth, flaxseed can help your hair follicles produce longer, stronger tresses.

What Is Flaxseed Oil?

Flaxseed oil, also known as linseed oil, is a derivative of the flax plant. It’s made by pressing ripe, dried flax seeds. Flaxseed oil is a “drying oil,” meaning it’s easy to blend with other oils or harden into soaps.

Once used to bind and stain wooden furniture, today flaxseed oil is prized for its nutritional value. A natural source of omega-3 fatty acids like stearic acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA), oleic acid, and palmitic acid, this supplement is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.

Benefits of Flaxseed Oil for Hair

Flaxseed oil can be taken as a supplement, but what about using flaxseed oil for hair?

Flaxseed oil benefits hair by:

• Encouraging growth
• Providing essential nutrients to hair follicles
• Improving moisture
• Increasing shine
• Discouraging greys

According to the Flax Council of Canada, flaxseed oil consists of nearly 50% alpha linolenic acid and 25% linoleic acid, both of which are omega fatty acids. We’re talking 8 grams of omega-3, 2 grams of omega-6, and 3 grams of omega-9 fatty acids per tablespoon.

These polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce inflammation and promote heart health. What does that mean for your scalp? It means that your hair follicles may enjoy increased blood flow, which is a vital element of faster, fuller hair growth.

Flaxseed oil is also rich in B vitamins. B vitamins, especially biotin, are known for making your hair grow stronger and faster.

B-12 deficiency has also been linked to the appearance of grey hairs. Unfortunately, B vitamin deficiency is surprisingly common, with many sufferers not knowing that they’re deficient. Applying or ingesting flaxseed oil for hair may speed hair growth and reduce grey hair.

Looking for the right antioxidant for your hair? Flaxseed oil is rich in vitamin E. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that may reduce the effects of free radicals on your hair follicles, including drying and early aging.

Oils rich in vitamin E, like flaxseed oil for hair, also improve shine and brightness while retaining moisture in your scalp and hair. Flaxseed oil coats each strand of hair in a protective layer, preventing the atmosphere from sapping moisture from your hair and scalp.

The retention of moisture could be helpful if you suffer from dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp. This coating reduces the appearance of split ends, protects against breakage, and highlights your hair’s color by increasing shine.

How to Use Flaxseed Oil for Hair

Depending on what your hair needs, there’s a way for each unique hair type to use flaxseed oil: 

Hair Mask

Hair masks are a tried and true way to refresh your ‘do while making the most of the nutritional value of flaxseed seed oil. If you’re looking to increase hair growth, this is the best way to do it. That’s because a good hair mask doesn’t just coat your tresses – it penetrates your scalp and nourishes your hair follicles, too.

Because flaxseed oil mixes well with other oils, you can add flaxseed oil to your favorite DIY hair mask recipe. Alternatively, Aunt Jackie’s Fix My Hair Intensive Conditioning Masque uses flaxseed oil to restore and rehydrate damaged hair. And yes, Aunt Jackie’s is cruelty-free!

Treatment for Split Ends

Is your dry, damaged hair causing annoying frizz? Flaxseed oil can help. If your hair gets especially dry during winter, put down the scissors. Split ends can be reduced without having to cut them off every month. After all, they’ll continue splitting until summer comes.

Instead, wet the ends of your hair with water until moist, but not damp. Then, coat a fine-toothed comb in flaxseed oil and run it through the tips of your hair. You’ll immediately notice those wiley split ends calm down and join together.

This process not only reduces the appearance of split ends, it also protects them against further breakage.

Conditioning Spritz

Revitalize your hair and increase shine with a daily conditioning spritz. If you apply too much flaxseed oil, you may lose volume and appear “wet.” A conditioning spritz is an awesome way to get all the benefits of flaxseed oil for hair without the mess.

Mix a tablespoon of flaxseed oil with a cup of water. As you know, oil and water don’t mix, so shake your spray bottle well before each use. Spritz all parts of your hair, wet or dry, with the mixture and comb or brush thoroughly. 

Hot Oil Treatment

A hot oil treatment using flaxseed oil for hair is therapeutic on so many levels. We’ll discuss the benefits for your hair and let you discover the benefits for your heart and soul on your own.

A flaxseed hot oil treatment is like a hair mask, but adds heat to your scalp. The addition of heat promotes blood flow to your hair follicles, helping them get all the nutrients and fresh oxygen they need from your blood.

Heat also opens up your hair follicles, much like using warm water to open the pores on your face. This ensures that dirt and dead skin cells are washed away while antioxidants and vitamins are allowed to enter.

To do a hot oil treatment, first wet your hair with warm water in the shower. After you get out, wet a medium sized towel with the warm water.

Using your finger tips, massage your flaxseed oil onto your scalp and brush it through your hair. Depending on the length of your hair, you should use 2-3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil.

Wrap your head and hair in the warm towel and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Lastly, wash your hair with your favorite shampoo and conditioner until your hair is silky smooth.

Daily Shampoo

No time to mess around? Get all the benefits from flaxseed oil for hair in a daily shampoo or conditioner.

One way to do this is to simply add a few drops of flaxseed oil to your favorite shampoo or conditioner. You can also DIY your shampoo so you know exactly what you’re getting while targeting your hair’s specific needs.

If you want to jump straight to hair growth, Shamarwyn’s Botanical Shampoo combines flaxseed oil with aloe vera and peppermint essential oil to promote hair growth and improve shine. This cruelty-free shampoo leaves hair shiny and smooth.

Oral Supplements

Many of the nutrients in flaxseed oil are best absorbed when ingested. Not only that, but they’re beneficial to your overall well-being. B vitamins promote energy and mood in addition to helping hair grow. Omega fatty acids are heart healthy, encouraging better circulation overall.

You can get the benefits of flaxseed oil for hair by taking a flaxseed oil supplement in addition to using it topically. Just be sure to get a cold-pressed flaxseed oil supplement that wasn’t extracted using harmful solvents. Sports Research’s Flaxseed Oil Softgels are 100% vegan, cold-pressed, and non-GMO.

The Takeaway?

Flaxseed oil is rich in vital nutrients that help hair grow longer and stronger. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and B vitamins work together to improve scalp health and the function of your hair follicles. The gorgeous golden-brown oil adds an irresistible shine to your locks.

There are many ways to get the benefits of flaxseed oil for hair. Just be sure to refrigerate this natural product so it doesn’t spoil!