One of the most difficult beauty challenges that we, women, face these days is to keep our hair strong, healthy, and shiny at its best. Continuous exposure to dust and dirt, a highly stressful lifestyle, improper diet, poor hair care practices, etc. are significantly associated with the most prominent hair woes including split ends, rough hair, and hair fall. All these apparently negligible issues can prevent the natural growth of our hair, which affects our self-confidence eventually. Mustard oil is known as the easiest proven solution for this purpose. In fact, it has also been used as a substitute for regular hair oil since ancient days. In this article, we will explore the benefits and uses of mustard oil for hair growth.
Mustard oil (Brassica juncea) is a dark reddish-yellow colored edible oil with a strong aroma and sharp, pungent flavor. It is extracted from the seeds of the mustard plant by pressing or grinding and then, purified through the process of distillation. The spicy oil has widely been used in countries like India, Rome, and Greece for culinary and therapeutic purposes. It has a high smoke point, which makes it a common ingredient in many Indian and Nepalese cuisines for sautéing and stir-frying. On the other hand, topical applications of mustard oil are great for massaging the skin or treating the scalp and hair.
Our scalp gets affected and loses its nutrition by a lot of external factors, which prevent the hair from growing in a natural and healthy way. With a regular massage of mustard oil, you can restore the health of your scalp and rejuvenate your tresses easily. The oil is available in every Indian household and can help you get long, soft, and silky hair in a few days without running to the salons for hair care treatments. Following are the ways mustard oil helps in growing hair:
* Improves Scalp Circulation
Massaging lukewarm mustard oil into the scalp has been known to boost the flow of blood throughout it. This facilitates an even distribution of nutrients all over the scalp, reproduces more and more hair follicles, and promotes the growth of hair significantly.
* Provides Nutrition to Hair
Proper nourishment of the scalp is very important for growing and maintaining good hair. Mustard oil is the solution to bank on as it keeps the scalp nourished by providing all necessary nutrients including the major ones like protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
* Strengthens It from RootsThe oil has antioxidants, minerals (calcium, iron, zinc), and vitamins (A, D, E), which are essential in the process of hair growth. Using it regularly for massaging the scalp offers good quality nutrients to the hair follicles, thus enhancing the strength of the hair from the roots.
* Conditions It Deeply
When it comes to moisturizing and conditioning dry and frizzy hair naturally, mustard oil is a proven solution. Being a great source of high-quality alpha fatty acids, it works as a deep conditioner for hair. It seals moisture in hair strands, thus making them stronger and healthier for better and faster growth.
* Reduces DandruffThe mustard essential oil has great antifungal (3) and antibacterial (4) properties, which help in relieving the dry, itchy scalp. It also makes the scalp healthy by preventing or reducing dandruff caused by yeast, acne, or pimples. As a result, the hair grows quickly.
* Keeps Scalp Infections AwayThe high fatty acid content of mustard also helps in curing the inflammation of the scalp while its antifungal and antibacterial properties keep infections at bay. Using it as a scalp treatment may put a stop to your chronic hair loss problem and stimulate the growth of your hair to a great extent.
3 Simple Mustard Oil Masks for Hair GrowthMustard oil is best used with other natural hair-friendly ingredients for the growth of hair. Below we have listed some of the hair masks prepared with mustard oil that can help keep your tresses long, shiny, and flowing:
* Mustard Oil with Yogurt and Egg
Make a smooth paste by mixing one teaspoon of mustard oil with two tablespoons of yogurt and a whisked egg. Apply it thoroughly to your hair and let it dry for 30 minutes. Now, wash it off well with a mild shampoo. Try using this mask twice a week to get the best results.
* Mustard Oil with Black TeaThe blend of black tea and mustard oil works wonders for treating dandruff and stimulating hair growth. Massage your scalp well with this mask and leave it on for at least half an hour. Then, wash it off properly with a shampoo that suits your hair. Use it at least thrice every week to get noticeable results within a few months.
* Mustard Oil with Coconut OilIf you have extremely brittle and dry hair, sometimes it is better to indulge in this nourishing and moisturizing hair mask that combines the goodness of both mustard oil and coconut oil. Take equal quantity of both the oils in a bowl, mix them well, and apply the mixture to the hair. Rinse it off with a shampoo after half an hour. Also, make sure that you repeat it at least once every week.