Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
In this article, I’ve listed out the ways you can use sunflower oil for hair and the benefits of using this oil. Also learn how to use sunflower oil for hair.
Sunflower oil is oil which is both refined and cold-pressed oil and has been used over the years in cooking.
But over time, the usage of sunflower oil for the skin and hair has become extremely common because of its many benefits.
While oils like coconut oil, almond and olive oil are very commonly heard of when it comes to their benefits for the hair, this lesser known oil, sunflower oil, has recently been gaining popularity.
So check out what all the hype is about using sunflower oil on your hair, its benefits and what are the best ways you can use it on your hair.
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Benefits of sunflower oil for the hair
Sunflower oil for the hair is usually obtained by cold-pressing the dried seeds of the sunflower plant, to extract this light golden coloured oil.
This oil is very versatile in its uses. It is known to be non-comedogenic in nature and is often used as a carrier oil for the hair as it has many benefits for hair, a few of which I’ve explained below. Check it out!
1. Can help promote better hair growth
There are many times when we use comedogenic oils for our hair and they clog our pores/hair follicles on the scalp. This can be a major reason for reduced hair growth.
Another reason I love using sunflower oil on my head is that is is non-comedogenic. This means that the oil won’t clog your pores.
It will help stimulate better blood circulation in the scalp when massaged in which in turn increases oxygen and nutrients reaching the hair follicle better, giving rise to new hair growth.
2. Helps keep the hair moisturized
When the hair isn’t sufficiently moisturized, then there can be a lot of hair damage that can take place because the hair becomes dry and leads to frizz, hair breakage and split ends.
Sunflower oil contains linoleic acid that will help keep the hair hydrated and sufficiently moisturized because it is a natural emollient.
While the oleic acid can help reduce the water loss from the hair strands, in turn it can also retain moisture in the hair and prevent it from drying out easily.
3. Doesn’t make the hair greasy
One of the common reasons many people avoid oiling their hair, especially if they already have the oily hair type, is because it makes the hair become more oily and looks greasy.
But with sunflower oil, you will not have this problem because it is a lightweight oil and therefore can be used without making the hair greasy, so it will not stand dull and limp.
4. Renews hair luster and shine
Sunflower oil contains a high amount of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can help prevent oxidative stress on the hair.
It can help repair damaged hair and promote a better hair shine, bringing back any lost luster.
Sunflower oil can also improve hair texture and make the hair feel soft and smooth. This is because it contains stearic and palmitic acid.
5. Helps promote better scalp health
A lot of people suffer from scalp conditions, especially dandruff. Sunflower oil is one that works well on any skin type and therefore can help promote better scalp health.
The anti-inflammatory properties in sunflower oil can help prevent scalp conditions from getting aggravated by soothing the skin and an irritated scalp.
6. Keeps hair frizziness at bay
When the hair gets dry, it can result in hair frizziness. But when the hair is well moisturized, it can coat the hair strand and reduce hair frizziness to a large extent.
Using sunflower oil on your hair can help keep the hair well-moisturized. It makes the hair smoother, softer and much easier to maintain. Thus, there will be reduced tangles, hair breakage and frizz.
How do you use sunflower oil for your hair?
· To get rid of frizz: Take a few drops of sunflower oil in your palms. Rub them together and gently apply it all over your hair. It will not make your hair look greasy, but will help give your hair a smoother and non-frizzy finish.
· To promote hair growth: You can apply a generous amount of sunflower oil all over your scalp and hair and massage it in gently in circular motions, using your fingertips. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off with shampoo and conditioner.
· To enhance hair conditioning: If you haven’t used sunflower oil on your hair before shampooing it, then you can add a few drops of sunflower oil into a little conditioner, apply it on your hair and then rinse it off with plain water.
· Add it into your hair mask: Most deep conditioning masks like the avocado mask, egg mask, honey mask, coconut milk mask, rice mask, banana hair mask etc, require you to add a carrier oil of your choice. You can choose to use sunflower oil in your hair mask.
Nutrients In Sunflower Oil: Why You Should Use It For Hair
Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that are very essential to promote good hair health and improve hair quality, giving it a renewed luster and shine.
Along with vitamin E, sunflower oil contains around 59% of linoleic acid, 30% of oleic acid, 6% of stearic acid and 5% of palmitic acid.
So, check out how vitamin E and the different types of fatty acids present in sunflower oil can benefit your hair.
1. Linoleic acid:
Our hair is always exposed and tends to get dry often due to various reasons like the use of heat styling tools, exposure to sunlight, loss of natural oils when it’s washed etc.
Sunflower oil contains linoleic acid that can help repair dry hair and prevent hair damage as it has natural emollient properties that can help keep the hair hydrated.
Linoleic acid is a good sealant for open hair cuticles and it can also help provide super nourishment to the hair roots.
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2. Vitamin E:
Vitamin E works as an antioxidant for the hair as it can protect the hair from free radical damage and can also help keep your hair damage free.
Our hair succumbs to problems like hair loss, lost luster and scalp conditions. When you use sunflower oil, since the vitamin E content in sunflower oil is high, it can help treat and prevent all these hair problems.
3. Oleic acid:
Oleic acid is very helpful for those with dry and porous hair types in particular. This is because people with porous hair tend to lose a lot of water and the oleic acid in sunflower oil can help control this water loss from the hair strands.
Also in general, oleic acid can help the sunflower oil penetrate easily into the hair strands and nourish the hair while also making it soft and smooth.
4. Stearic acid:
Even though sunflower oil contains a small amount of stearic acid, it helps coat the hair strands with sufficient moisture, over time, improving hair luster and giving each hair strand a sheen.
It helps keep the hair moisturized, without making the hair feel greasy. It gives the hair a shine, without weighing the hair down.
5. Palmitic acid:
Similar to stearic acid, sunflower oil contains just a small amount of palmitic acid as well. But even that small amount of palmitic acid in sunflower oil can help the hair in terms of how easily the oil can flow over each hair strand.
It helps make the hair feel soft, without making it look oily or feel greasy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about sunflower oil for hair
1. Is sunflower oil non-comedogenic on hair?
Non-comedogenic oils are those oils that do not clog the pores on the skin/scalp. These oils are usually suitable for use on all skin types.
So using a non-comedogenic oil will help moisturize and hydrate the hair without clogging the hair follicles.
2. What does lightweight sunflower oil mean and can I use it on hair?
Oils come in two types, light and heavy oils. Lightweight oils are those that are very airy and light.
Whenever lightweight oils are used on the hair, they can penetrate into the hair strand easily, as compared to heavy oils, without making the hair become greasy and limp.
So for those who already have a greasy hair type or low porosity hair, using a lightweight hair oil is always a great option.
3. Is sunflower oil a carrier oil for hair?
Oils come in two types – carrier oils and essential oils. Carrier oils can also be called base oils, because essential oils are diluted with these carrier oils before being used. While carrier oils can be used directly, essential oils always require to be diluted before use as they are very potent.
4. Do I need to patch test sunflower oil before using it on my hair?
Yes, even though sunflower oil is known to be suitable for all skin types, if you a first time user, do a patch test on your skin or on a small portion of your scalp (preferably at the back of your head near the neck area) and leave it on overnight, to check for any allergic reactions.
5. Can I use sunflower oil as a heat protectant?
No, sunflower oil cannot be used as a heat protectant before the use of heat styling tools as it can cause damage to the hair shaft.
The final takeaway
Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E and has a high content of various fatty acids which are very nourishing to the hair.
This oil can help promote better hair growth while also improving the luster and shine of your hair without making it look greasy or weighed down.
It is non-comedogenic in nature and works very well as a carrier oil. So if you use this oil on your hair, you can be rest assured of the best results!
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