Homemade Black Seed (Kalonji) Hair Oil: Kick-Start Hair Growth and Thickness
Have you ever misplaced your keys?
I was ready to go out the other day, and I couldnโt find my house keys. I was already late and not seeing the keys in the usual drawer made me very upset. I searched every possible place, and it was nowhere.
As I was walking round and round the house, hopelessly, something clinked.ย Thatโs when it dawned on me that I had put the keys in the jacket pocket thinking it would save me time. But clearly, I forgot about it and that caused me delay and a bit of frustration.
You see, many a time the solution lies right in our pocket, and we spend too much time looking for it in all wrong places.
Likewise, if you have been looking at the wrong places to find a remedy to regrow your lost hair, it will yield no results. But despair not, not yet, thereโs a super effective solution that will repair and heal the follicles and kick-start hair growth on your scalp. And that effective solution is: black seed hair oil.
Before we see how to use black seed oil for hair growth, letโs have a look at these โno ordinaryโ seeds.
Yes, Itโs True, Black Seeds Are Incredible Healers
They have a reputation to treat variety of ailments such as asthma, diabetes, rheumatism, skin disorders, indigestion as well as to boost immune system and general well-being.
No guess required, black seeds are called black seeds because they are black in colour. Since these seeds are popular in many cultures, they go by different namesโฆ
- kalonji seeds
- onion seeds
- black cumin
- black caraway
- fennel flower
- shuneiz
- hei zhong cao
- The botanical name is Nigella sativa
Native to Middle East, Asia, North Africa and Southern Europe, black seeds have a really long history of use. They have been found in the tomb of Egyptian king Tutankhamen, to assist him in โafterlifeโ.
You will find their mention is in holy books and ancient medicinal texts.
The Bible describes it as the โcurative black cuminโ. In Islamic literature, it is regarded as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine. And its many uses have earned Black Seeds the Arabic praise โHabbatul barakahโ, meaning โThe Seed of blessingโ.
But black seeds have also piqued the interest of modern researchers. There a great number of studies on it. From diabetes to heart conditions to hair loss, black seeds have been found to be useful in a wide range of conditions. So while you can consume these tiny seeds to get a healthier body, you can also use them for healthier hair. These seeds work fantastic for hair growth.
Black Seeds can Kick-Start Growth in Bald Patches
This is not easy, is it?
You must have tried and tried and tried zillions of remedies, but in vain. And then I am telling you some seeds can do the impossible. Actually they can, they have the backing of โGodsโ and โKingsโ.
But since we live in day and age of science, we need more than what is written in ancient texts โ a real proof.
And I am happy to say thereโs โscience backing tooโ. The star ingredient of the black seed is thymoquinone (TQ) โ it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic and antifungal properties. And all these properties โtogetherโ work to clear the hair damaging chemicals in the hair follicles.
Oneย Italian studyย found increased hair growth with black seed oil. Twenty women with diffuse hair loss (or telogen effluvium) participated in the study. Ten women applied a lotion containing black seed oil, and the other ten applied the placebo lotion every day for three months. At the end of the study, 70% of participants in the black seed oil group showed significant improvement in hair density and thickness. (Whereas in the placebo group, only 20% showed some improvement in hair growth, and 50% of participants had worsening hair loss).
Thereโs also good news for those who suffer from male/female pattern baldness (also called androgenic alopecia). The TQ in black seeds has the ability to inhibit prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) synthesis. And why does that matter? Well, PGD2 is a culprit in pattern hair loss as it can bind to the hair follicles and cause them to shrink. And thus, resulting in hair getting thinner and thinner until it stops growing at all.
Okay, so if this natural remedy has got your attention and admiration, hereโs how to make the black seed oil.
Making Black Seed (Kalonji) Hair Oil is Simple and Easy
But before I share with you my recipe, which has been passed down to me โ no, not from great-grandmother โ but from my mother-in-law and to her by her mother, I want to tell you that thereโs an easy way out.
You can simply buy the cold pressed black seed oil and apply on your scalp. But I have tried this and it has not helped me. So I have then taken a little less simple route.
For this, we need more than black seeds. Because we are talking about growing hair back on bald areas, we need extra boost to support the growth process. So we are going to add:
Fenugreek seeds, also known as methi seeds, they are an age old remedy for hair loss
Coconut oil is a nourishing plant oil which prevents protein loss from hair.
Castor oil has amazing ricinoleic acid that can propel hair growth
So letโs get making, measure out:
- 1 tablespoon black seeds
- 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
- 200 ml coconut oil
- 50 ml castor oil
- Glass bottle
Once you have all the ingredients, its matter of minutes, and the oil will be ready. But not to apply, but to shake-shake, till itโs ready to apply.
First, grind both the seeds: black and fenugreek in a grinder to powder. It takes like 40 seconds to do this. Then, place the powdered seeds in a glass jar/bottle and add the coconut and castor oil and stir. All this took maybe less than 2 minutes.
So, two seeds, two oils and one glass bottle and your oil is ready, but not to use. Next you place the glass bottle on a windowsill that gets most sunlight. And leave it for 2 to 3 weeks. If your question is 2 or 3 or 3 or 2, which is best, I would say 3.
Itโs because 3 is what I have tried and it worked for me, you can experiment with 1 or 2. While the oil is sitting on the sunny windowsill, donโt let it just sit there, every two days give it a stir so that the oils and seeds marinate together. After 3 weeks just strain the oil and apply, you know where.
And what about the smell?
This oil smells good. When I was putting everything together I was not very sure, as the black seeds and fenugreek seeds have a pungent and currish smell. But once the oil is ready, the oil looks blackish but smells coconuty and sweet and fragrant. I donโt know whatever happened to the pungent smell. But the final product is fragrant and that is what matters.
Also, what matters is you need to apply it once or twice a week to get results.
Massage the homemade black seeds oil on your scalp and let it soak in to work its magic. I like to keep it overnight, but if you do not like to sleep with oily head, then at least an hour is good amount of time.
And wash. Either with a SLS-free shampoo. Or with a homemade shampoo, such as egg or mud or shikakai reetha. Also, if you are desperately trying to stop hair loss, I have an entire article on homemade anti-hair loss shampoos that you can use to wash the oil out. Imagine black seeds oil and anti-hair loss shampoo: thatโs a double whammy on hair loss!
Where to Buy Black seed?
You will find them in most Indian food stores, or many supermarkets stock them, or you can also easily buy them from amazon online.
Also, you can get fenugreek seeds from Indian store, healthy food store or buy from amazon online.
Coconut oil or castor oil are found everywhere: supermarkets, health stores and of course online.
Before you gather ingredients to make the black seed oil, here are some mistakes you must avoid:
- Always buy cold pressed and unrefined coconut and castor oil. This is because refining can strip the oil of antioxidants and other phytonutrients, while heat extraction can render it unstable. So virgin oils are the best for hair and health.
- If you think itโs convenient, you can buy ground black seeds and fenugreek seeds. But donโt keep them in your cabinets for too long as they can go rancid fast.
- And lastly, if where you live is cold, and the coconut oil is solid at room temperature, itโs okay. Coconut oil is buttery and soft, use a fork or spoon and mix. And when you have to strain towards the end, melt it by placing it in warm water and filter the black seed oil out.
There are thousands of people benefiting from black seed oil.
It feels so therapeutic on the scalp, and just like the research studies have found it to increase hair density and thickness, many people have seen thicker hair growth and lesser hair loss. I can vouch it has done the same for me. I hope it will help you grow healthy and glossy hair.
Thatโs it on how to make black seed oil, letโs recap quickly:
- Black seeds have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help heal and repair hair follicles. And thus help regrow hair on bald areas.
- To make the oil, you need 4 ingredients: black seeds, fenugreek seeds, coconut oil and castor oil.
- The making time is less than 5 minutes. But the oil needs about 3 weeks to marinate by the sunny windowsill and get infused with black seeds.
- Apply once or twice a week to boost and augment hair growth.
If you have been looking in all the wrong places to find the remedy for hair loss and bald patches, donโt waste any more time. You now have the super-powerful recipe of black seed oil to grow hair of your dreams.
Black Seed Hair Mask:ย While you let the oil infuse for 3 weeks, why not get started with black seed mask in the first place, no waiting time, straight route to gorgeous hair.
Do you use black seed oil for hair growth? How has it helped you? Please share in the comment box belowโฆ
