• Home
  • Turmeric Benefits for Hair

Turmeric Benefits for Hair

 

The popularity of turmeric seems unstoppable. This may be, in part, because there are so many claims about how it can do everything from helping to cure minor ailments to transforming the body and mind. There are so many uses for turmeric that include using it in food and drink, help with weight management, or taking a turmeric supplement to potentially benefit from the concentrated extracts that include curcumin, antioxidants, and much more.

But have you heard the one about turmeric and hair?

One of the latest claims about turmeric is that is can both aid in hair growth or help to remove hair and keep it from regrowing.

It sounds questionable that it can do these two things depending on what the user desires. So what’s the answer? Will it regrow hair or does it help to remove hair?

The only thing left to do is look at both claims and find out how people are using turmeric for both purposes.

Be warned that your mileage may vary. Before slathering your hair with something unknown, consider trying a small area somewhere nobody can see and test the effect.

Turmeric for Hair Growth

 

According to research, turmeric works to help prevent hair loss because it contains chemical factors that help to inhibit type 2 5A-reductase enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the same hormone linked to androgenetic hair loss, a genetic condition that manifests through the loss of hair.

Researchers suggest that using turmeric would, therefore, help to prevent hair loss due to genetic factors and may also help to stabilize and support other systems of the body responsible for hair growth.

However, when compared to the pharmaceutical drug finasteride, hair loss and new hair growth was less with turmeric. The only advantage to using turmeric might be lesser side effects reported with its regular use both internally and externally.

There are two ways that you might benefit from taking turmeric. The first is that you use turmeric in your food as a spice or take it in supplement form. The second is that you make a turmeric paste and apply it to your hair.

If you are interested in the paste option, try this recipe from LittleDIY.com, which uses turmeric and coconut.

What you’ll need:

  • 5 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil
  • 5 drops rosemary essential oil
 

How you’ll make it:

  • Add turmeric to bowl and mix with coconut oil
  • Add rosemary oil and mix well
 

Directions for use:

  • Apply the mix to your scalp online and let sit for 15 minutes
  • Rinse
  • Shampoo with your regular shampoo
  • Rinse again and use the turmeric each time you wash your hair
 

Warnings:

  • Turmeric is a bright orange and will stain clothing and even light colored hair
  • Don’t use on an inflamed scalp
  • Patch test before use
 

Turmeric for Hair Removal

 

Nobody seems entirely sure how turmeric helps to remove hair. There appear to be two primary methods for how it might work. The first is by causing hair to thin become less noticeable. The second is that it helps to remove the hair at the roots through a gentle scrubbing action.

Both methods seem to rely on the idea that the Indian people have used this method successfully for years. It is purported that in women during menstrual cycles or other estrogenic spikes, hair growth can increase and the compounds in turmeric help to offset or reduce estrogenic activity in the skin.

There seems to be a lack of scientific research supporting this claim but people still try it. So follow the below recipe if you are curious about its effectiveness.

What you’ll need:

  • ½ cup cold milk
  • ½ cup gram flour
  • 2 tbsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp salt
 

How you’ll make it:

  • Combine everything and mix until the paste is smooth
  • Add more turmeric until you have the right consistency
 

Directions for use:

  • Rub paste in circular motion through unwanted hair
  • Continue rubbing for up to 10 minutes or until the paste dries
  • Rinse paste with warm water and dry area
  • Repeat once a week
 

Now What?

 

Don’t expect these suggestions to work overnight. Regularly application of any mixture or use of turmeric supplements and spice may not give you results for months, if ever.

If you have hair you want to remove there are proven techniques that have given people go results. If hair loss is a concern, you might not want to wait around to see if turmeric will solve your issues. You have plenty of treatment and prevention options available and are worth looking into right now.