Safflower oil has been gaining popularity as a natural remedy for hair growth. But is there any truth to these claims? In this blog, we'll explore the science behind safflower oil and its potential benefits for hair growth.
What is Safflower Oil?
First, let's take a closer look at safflower oil. Safflower oil is derived from the seeds of the safflower plant, which is native to the Middle East and Central Asia and is one of the oldest crops in the world, the safflower plant, has been used for centuries.It is a rich source of vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that can help protect your hair from damage. It also contains linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid that can help improve the health of your scalp and hair follicles.
The first thing to recognize about safflower oil is that it is not nearly as widespread in its haircare usage as lavender oil, clary sage oil, cedarwood oil, or even sunflower oil. Instead, if you browse the Internet looking for articles on “safflower oil,” chances are you’ll come across far more articles on how to use it for cooking rather than hair care. That said, safflower has been used as a hair care product for thousands of years in Chinese, Ayurveda, and Unani culture and for a good reason!
Hair Growth Benefits of Safflower Oil
So, how does safflower oil help your hair to grow? Here are a few ways:
1. Promotes Hair Growth Cells and Fights Hair Loss: It was found that this powerful encourages hair growth by promoting the proliferation (rapid increase) of both dermal papilla cells and HaCaT and by stimulating hair growth-promoting genes such as the vascular endothelial growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor. At the same time, it suppresses the expression of the hair loss-related gene, the transforming growth factor‐β1. As a result, the treatment of hair using safflower extract significantly increased the length of cultured hair follicles and stimulated the growth of hair.
To get a better understanding as to what this really means, let's break it down a bit further:
- Dermal Papilla Cells - these cells play pivotal roles in hair formation, growth, and cycling of hair follicles and hair shaft ~ located at the bottom of hair follicles
- HaCaT
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) - important signalling proteins that stimulates the formation of blood vessels. Remember.. hair is made up of protein! VEGF's normal function is to create new blood vessels.
- Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) - also known as "fibroblast growth factor" and is required for hair development and helps damaged and destroyed hair follicles heal or replace themselves
- Transforming Growth Factor‐β1 - a secreted protein that performs many cellular functions, including the control of cell growth, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis
2. Improves Blood Circulation to The Scalp: Safflower oil contains oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid that can help improve blood circulation to the scalp. This increased blood flow can help deliver more nutrients and oxygen to your hair follicles, which will promote hair growth.
3. Moisturize Your Hair: Safflower oil is a lightweight oil that can help moisturize your hair without weighing it down. This can help prevent breakage and split ends, which can lead to longer, healthier hair.
4. Reduce Inflammation: Inflammation can damage your hair follicles and prevent hair growth. Safflower oil contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation and promote a healthy scalp.
5. Protects against Stressors: Safflower oil can help to protect your hair against environmental stressors as it contains high levels of antioxidants, which can help to neutralize free radicals and protect your skin from damage caused by pollution, UV radiation, and other environmental stressors
6. Increases Follicle Strength - Safflower oil helps to increase the strength of your hair follicles. It contains high levels of vitamin E, which helps to improve the circulation of blood to the scalp, which can help to strengthen the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
7. Increase Follicular Diameter
8. Jump Starts The Hair Growth Cycle
Safflower Nutrient Content
Safflower Oil is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals that can provide a wide range of benefits for hair growth, let's explore the vitamins and minerals that safflower oil contains and their potential benefits and how it relates to growth:
Vitamin E: Safflower oil is a rich source of vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that can help protect your cells from damage. Vitamin E can also help improve the health of your skin and hair, and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Linoleic acid: Safflower oil is also a rich source of linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for good health. Linoleic acid can help improve the health of your skin and hair, and may help reduce inflammation in the body.
Oleic acid: Safflower oil contains oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid that can help improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation in the body. Oleic acid may also help improve the health of your heart and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Vitamin K: Safflower oil is a good source of vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting and bone health. Vitamin K may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Vitamin B6: Safflower oil contains vitamin B6, which is important for brain function and the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B6 may also help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Phytosterols: Safflower oil contains phytosterols, which are plant compounds that can help reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the body. Phytosterols may also help reduce inflammation and improve the health of your immune system.
How to Incorporate Safflower Oil?
The best way and the most easiest way is to get a hair growth oil that already contains this powerful flower, such as this one. You may find that there are not many hair growth oils on the market that contain safflower oil and that's simply because it's highly underrated and not marketed as a hair growth treatment. Luckily, this hair growth oil can be your one-stop-shop, as it contains over 15+ hair growth oils to ensure your scalp isn't missing out, and can reap as much benefits at one time for maximum growth!
Another option is to use 100% pure, cold pressed Safflower Oil as a standalone oil, like this one or create a DIY mixture and it into your scalp!
So there you have it! Safflower oil is a powerful flower that is not only a rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly Vitamin E, linoleic acid, oleic acid, vitamin K, vitamin B6, and phytosterols but also, helps to jump start the hair growth cycle, forms keratin proteins for hair production, supplies nutrients to the hair follicles and increase follicular diameter. It has high potential to promote healthy hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp, moisturizing your hair, and reducing inflammation.
Have any questions? Comment below!