All of us are aware of the fact that vegetable oils are beneficial for your skin and hair as they are loaded with vital nutrients which are required for maintaining healthy, beautiful skin and hair. When we talk about vegetable oil, the first thing that comes to our mind is coconut oil. Other common varieties of vegetable oils included olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and almond oil.
But the lesser-known among vegetable oils for the beauty benefits is sunflower seed oil. You might have known sunflower oil as the cooking oil which is often found in your kitchen cabinet. But have you ever given a thought as to why sunflower oil is the most preferred vegetable cooking oil as compared to other cooking oils? The reason being sunflower oil is packed with the incredible properties of nature which is beneficial for your health including your skin and hair. Keep reading to know more about the beneficial properties of sunflower oil and how it can be used to make your hair healthy.
What is Sunflower Seed Oil?
Sunflower Oil is extracted from the seeds of the sunflower plant. Sunflower oil is extracted from the commonly found Helianthus annuus. This pale yellow coloured oil has got a subtle flavour. Sunflower Oil that is commonly available in the market is refined, but the best thing about it is that sunflower oil still retains all its magnificent properties which are considered vital for your health and beauty.
Sunflower Oil has 2 types of essential fatty acids- MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) and PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid). Sunflower Oil is mostly used as a cooking agent and because of its emollient property, it is also used in cosmetic products. Sunflower Oil is low in saturated fat, high in unsaturated fat, packed with the goodness of Vitamin E and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties due to which it is considered to be highly beneficial for skincare and hair care. Apart from this, sunflower oil is cholesterol-free, which makes it a healthy choice for cooking.
Varieties of Sunflower Oil
Sunflower Oil is often graded according to its quality and concentration of fatty acid. Based on this, sunflower oil is of 4 types
- High Linoleic – 69% Linoleic Acid
- High Oleic- 82% Oleic Acid
- Mid-Oleic- 65% Oleic Acid
- High Stearic with High Oleic- 18% Stearic Acid with 72% Oleic Acid.
Sunflower Oil is considered to be a rich source of Vitamin A, E and K, polyphenols, squalene and terpenoids. The unique combination of essential nutrients works towards improving the quality and texture of your hair.
Benefits of Sunflower Oil For Hair
We talk extensively about the beauty benefits of coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil and often tend to overlook the incredible nourishing and moisturizing properties of Sunflower Oil. Sunflower Oil is also equipped with the same health and beauty benefits as other vegetable and plant oil. It is the storehouse of Vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids which nourish, moisturize and replenish your hair. Let’s scroll down to explore the beauty benefits of sunflower oil
1. Improves Scalp Health
A healthy scalp is crucial in having healthy hair. If your scalp is free of dryness, infection and other scalp conditions then your hair will grow healthy and there will be fewer chances of hair breakage, hair loss. Sunflower Oil helps to maintain a healthy scalp by nourishing and moisturizing the scalp from deep within. Sunflower Oil is packed with the goodness of Vitamin A and E which helps to keep your scalp hydrated and fights the bacteria responsible for product buildup, thus maintaining a healthy scalp.
Also Read : Benefits of Vitamin A (Infographic)
2. Tames Your Frizzy Mane
Sunflower Oil is known for its moisturizing property which helps to make your hair more manageable and effectively tames your frizzy mane. This oil is quite lightweight due to which it is non-greasy and does not weigh down your tresses.
3. Stimulates Hair Growth
Sunflower Oil is loaded with the goodness of oleic acid which is considered to be beneficial in preventing hair breakage and stimulate hair growth. Sunflower Oil is enriched with nutrients such as Vitamins, Minerals and Essential fatty acids which are vital for the growth of your hair.
4. Acts As An Emollient
Sunflower Oil is a lipophilic, non-polar solvent which retains the water content and seals the moisture in the hair cuticle. Being lightweight in nature, Sunflower Oil is able to penetrate deep into the layers of your hair shaft and hair follicle, keeping your strands and scalp hydrated.
5. Prevents Hair Thinning
The gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) which is present in Sunflower Oil is known to prevent breakage and hair loss. Sunflower Oil is known to be rich in antioxidants which help fight free radicals which is responsible for causing hair loss and thinning by damaging the hair strands. These antioxidants protect your hair, preventing hair fall.
Also Read : Here's A Guide To Help Understand If You Have Fine Hair Or Thin Hair
Whenever you are using Sunflower Oil on your skin or hair, go for the organic cold-pressed Sunflower Oil to reap its maximum beauty benefits.
Uses of Sunflower Oil
Sunflower Oil is loaded with incredible beauty benefits because it is a rich source of Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, ceramides, squalene, polyphenols and terpenoids. It is rich in antioxidants which fight free radicals responsible for dull, damaged and brittle hair. Its anti-inflammatory property is beneficial in treating various scalp conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic eczema. Thanks to its non-comedogenic nature which makes it an incredible oil to be used in skincare and haircare regime. Sunflower Oil can be used as a carrier oil, alternatively, it can be blended with other natural oils to nourish and replenish your strands. Let’s know more about how to include Sunflower Oil in your daily hair care regime
1. Sunflower Infused Hair Care Products
You can use hair care products with Sunflower Oil infused in them, to enjoy the benefits of Sunflower Oil. Many hair oils, shampoos and conditioners are available in the market which has the goodness of sunflower oil. This Oil is usually blended with other vital nutrients to provided nourishment and replenishment to your hair.
2. DIY Sunflower Oil Nourishing Mask
This is a simple DIY mask which nourishes and replenishes your scalp, hair and helps you get rid of all your hair woes.
Ingredients
- Sunflower Oil – 1/3 cup
- Apple Cider Vinegar- 1 cup
- Rosemary Oil- 8 drops
- Lemon Juice- 2 tablespoons
Also Read : 7 Health Benefits of Rosemary Oil (Infographic)
Method
- Take all the above-mentioned ingredients in a clean glass container and mix well.
- Apply this mixture on a clean, washed hair. Apply it when your hair is still damp.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.
Result
You have a clean scalp, well-nourished, shiny and healthy hair.
Hair Benefits
- Apple Cider Vinegar is known to gently clean your scalp and hair by removing the product debris from the scalp and hair.
- Rosemary Oil has a soothing effect on your scalp and helps dilate the blood vessels so as to facilitate the delivery of essential nutrients to the hair follicle.
- Lemon Juice is packed with the goodness of Vitamin C and antioxidants which helps to replenish the scalp and each strand of your hair.
Side Effects
Sunflower Oil is generally considered to be safe and does not have any side effects for the majority of people. People with hypersensitive skin may sometimes experience any allergic reaction or mild irritation. Hence, it is always recommended that you do a patch test by applying some quantity of the oil on the inside of your wrist and check for any allergic reaction after 24 hours. People with chronic medical ailments should seek doctor’s advice before using Sunflower Oil. Sunflower Oil is considered to be safe for topical applications in pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Sunflower Oil is considered to be beneficial for your hair and scalp because of its incredible properties. Regular application of this oil can help to control various scalp and hair conditions, resulting in thick, lustrous and healthy hair. For topical application, always use organic cold-pressed Sunflower Oil as it is considered to strengthen your hair and has proved to be quite effective in treating hair loss, hair breakage.
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