Is pumpkin oil good for hair? If you’re seeking a natural method to enhance your hair’s texture and shine, pumpkin seed oil might be an excellent choice. This oil is known to potentially prevent hair loss and promote hair growth, while also managing frizz and flyaways. Over time, it can help maintain your hair’s overall health.
Pumpkin seeds are considered a superfood, packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and protein—all vital for healthy hair.
Fortunately, oil derived from pumpkin seeds (pepitas) offers these benefits in a convenient, easy-to-use form, ensuring that you can access the nourishing properties of pumpkin seeds for your hair care routine.
Is Pumpkin Oil Good for Hair?
Pumpkin seed oil is widely regarded as an effective treatment for hair growth, particularly for hormonal hair loss, such as male or female pattern baldness.
A 2021 study highlighted that pumpkin seed oil could be as effective as minoxidil foam, a well-known hair loss treatment, for addressing female pattern hair loss.
Additionally, earlier research suggests that consuming pumpkin seed oil orally may enhance hair growth in men with alopecia.
Advantages of Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair
People are increasingly incorporating pumpkin seed oil into their haircare routines to maintain healthy locks. Here are some benefits you can experience from using this natural oil in your hair:
Moisturizing Effect on Hair
Pumpkin seed oil is a medium-weight oil with a melting point similar to coconut oil, becoming liquid around 76°F (25°C).
This makes it excellent for moisturizing dry hair. However, use it sparingly to avoid an oily appearance—half a teaspoon is usually enough to treat half a palmful of dry hair.
Enhances Hair Shine
Pumpkin seed oil enhances hair shine due to its high linoleic acid content, an omega-6 fatty acid crucial for hair health. Increasing linoleic acid in your hair can also improve its strength.
Strengthens Hair Strands
The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in pumpkin seed oil strengthen hair. Just two tablespoons of pumpkin seed kernels provide approximately 1.2 milligrams of biotin, a B vitamin that fortifies hair and nails and combats fungal infections.
Additionally, pumpkin seed oil is rich in antioxidants like manganese, zinc, and tryptophan, which protect against cellular damage that can cause hair loss and color changes.
Addresses Hair Damage
The anti-inflammatory fatty acids in pumpkin seed oil, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, help treat hair damage. Zinc, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, also aids in repairing damaged hair.
Offers Hair Coloring Properties
Pumpkin seed oil can enhance hair color due to its array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that combat oxidative damage, which leads to color changes in hair.
Lutein, a common pigment in pumpkin seeds, contributes to hair coloring. The oil’s natural amber hue provides a unique tonal color to hair.
Acts as a Hair Color Mask
Pumpkin seed oil can revamp existing hair colors and even color new growth. Its pigment properties enhance hair colors by treating and highlighting shades.
The nourishing and strengthening effects of the oil allow dye to penetrate deeper and last longer. For the best results, use 100 percent pure pumpkin seed oil with no additives to ensure safety on colored hair.
How Pumpkin Seed Oil Fights Hair Loss
Pumpkin seed oil is packed with essential nutrients like zinc, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for healthy hair. Zinc maintains scalp health and stimulates hair growth, while magnesium strengthens the hair shaft and prevents breakage. Omega-3 fatty acids nourish the scalp and hair follicles, promoting overall hair health and growth.
Research has shown that pumpkin seed oil is effective in reducing hair loss. This is due to an active ingredient called cucurbitin, which blocks the action of 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that causes hair loss. By inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, pumpkin seed oil helps prevent hair loss.
Applying Pumpkin Seed Oil: Methods
There are several methods to use pumpkin seed oil as a natural hair restorative:
Pumpkin Seed Oil Supplements
Pumpkin seed oil supplements typically come in oil gel capsules. Follow the label directions for the specific supplement you purchase. The common dosage is a 1000 mg capsule, and you can take 1 or 2 capsules by mouth after meals, about three times per day.
Straight Pumpkin Seed Oil
You can also consume straight pumpkin seed oil. The recommended dose is 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, taken three times per day. Some supplements come in liquid form specifically for health purposes, so follow the label directions if you choose one of these.
Topical Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil can be applied directly to your scalp for hair benefits. This is best done as a hot oil treatment, ideally once a week or month to avoid making your hair too oily. To make a pumpkin seed hot oil treatment:
- Shampoo your hair as usual, avoiding any product afterward.
- Gently warm the pumpkin seed oil using a double boiler. Test a few drops on the inside of your wrist to ensure the oil isn’t too hot.
- Wet your hair and massage the warm oil into your scalp. The oil should be pleasantly warm, not hot.
- Once applied, wrap your hair and head in a hot towel. Leave the wrap on for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove the towel, then shampoo, condition, and style your hair as usual.
Timeframe for Pumpkin Seed Oil to Stimulate Hair Growth
The timeframe for pumpkin seed oil to stimulate hair growth varies depending on several factors, such as an individual’s hair type and health, the oil’s quality, and the frequency of use.
While there is no definitive answer, some users have reported seeing positive results after using pumpkin seed oil consistently for several months.
Who Benefits from Pumpkin Seed Oil Usage?
Most studies on the benefits of pumpkin seed oil have primarily focused on male participants, making it somewhat challenging to draw definitive conclusions about its effectiveness for women.
However, research suggests that both men and women suffering from hair loss can benefit from using pumpkin seed oil.
- Men: Men experiencing hair loss are likely to see significant benefits from incorporating pumpkin seed oil into their routine. Early studies indicate that it can help reduce hair loss and promote hair growth.
- Women: Although the research is more limited, early studies on female pattern hair loss suggest that women can also benefit from using pumpkin seed oil.
A small percentage of individuals may experience side effects such as sexual or ejaculation dysfunction when taking pumpkin seed oil orally. Topical application may cause scalp irritation in some people.
Conclusion
Is pumpkin oil good for hair? Although further research is necessary to confirm its benefits, pumpkin seed oil is generally considered a safe natural treatment. Results may take several weeks to become apparent.
If you experience any allergic reactions, such as redness or itching at the application site, discontinue use of pumpkin seed oil immediately.
Don’t forget to check out more blogs from Blonde Beauty for additional tips and insights on hair care.
Laureate Professor Clare Collins
Professor Clare Collins is a leading expert in nutrition and dietetics at the School of Health Sciences, part of the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. Her work is changing the way we think about food and health. She grew up as one of nine children and was the first in her family to finish high school and go to college. This background gave her a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for seizing opportunities.
As the Director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Food and Nutrition Program and a recipient of three NHMRC Research Fellowships, Professor Collins is making a big difference in public health. She focuses on helping people who are often overlooked, using new technologies like apps and online programs to improve their nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Professor Collins is well-respected and has been recognized as a Fellow in four major health and science organizations. She leads a diverse team of experts, including dietitians, computer scientists, and engineers, working together on global health projects.
Her achievements are impressive. She has received over $29 million in research funding, published more than 450 papers, and helped 35 PhD and Master’s students complete their degrees. She’s also active in sharing her knowledge with the public. She has developed tools like the Australian Eating Survey and the Healthy Eating Quiz, and she often appears in the media to talk about nutrition.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
- Collins, C. (2019). “The Effect of a Pilot Dietary Intervention on Pain Outcomes in Patients Attending a Tertiary Pain Service.”
- Collins, C. (2022). “Variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors among older adults.”
- Collins, C. (2022). “Evaluation of an online intervention for improving stroke survivors’ health-related quality of life: A randomised controlled trial.”
These articles show Professor Collins’s commitment to understanding how better nutrition can improve health. Her work is important for researchers, doctors, and anyone interested in healthy living.