Many people are waking up to the fact that hemp oil (also known as hemp seed oil) is one of nature’s best kept secret to a healthy scalp and beautiful, shiny hair. Yes, there are a lot of natural oils out there that do great wonders for your hair and scalp; hemp oil is one of them, and it is a clear favourite to many people.
Pressed from hemp seeds, hemp oil has a slightly nutty flavour and has a clear, greenish colour. It has been used for centuries for dual purposes; as a beauty staple and as a natural health remedy.
Hemp oil: Not the same as CBD oil
There is so much hype about CBD oil right now, and this hype is leading to a lot of confusion. So many people are confusing hemp oil for CBD oil, and it is important that you understand the difference between these two oils from the get go.
Yes, both of them are made from hemp. However, they are made from different parts of the hemp shrub. Hemp is a specific type of cannabis plant that has an abundance of cannabidiol and has a very low THC content. Hemp oil is manufactured from the seeds of the hemp, using a cold-press extraction method. On the other hand, CBD oil is derived using high-tech extraction techniques, and the entire hemp plant is used - stems, leaves, seeds and all.
At the end of the day, hemp oil will have a dark green colour while CBD oil usually has a light golden to dark brown colour.
CBD oil naturally contains very high levels of CBD and other naturally occurring organic compounds, known as phytocannabinoids and terpenes. On the other hand, hemp oil, while containing trace amounts of THC, is a very poor source of CBD. If you drink it, you will not fail a drug test or get high, as you probably would if you drank CBD oil.
And the use of these products are widely different. Hemp oil is used to manufacture beauty products or cooking, while CBD oil is used recreationally or to treat certain medical issues (as is becoming more rampant today).
So why use hemp oil for hair?
The very secret of hemp oil lies in its composition. It has a high concentration of essential nutrients that are ideal for scalp and hair health, as well as Gamma Linolenic Acid, Stearidonic acid, and Oleic acid, all great for skin and scalp health. In addition, hemp oil has a high dose of important fatty acids.
The composition of hemp oil thus ensures that it has the following benefits for your hair and scalp:
It fuels hair growth:
Blessed with an abundance of omega 3, 6 and 9 (all fatty acids), hemp oil is one of the fastest and surest way to help your hair grow faster. To use it to fuel hair growth, massage your scalp with the oil to promote blood circulation. This will not only relax you, but also stimulate your scalp and encourage hair growth.
It is a great moisturiser:
If you have dry, limp hair, it could be that you wash your hair too often thus stripping it of its natural oils. It could also be that there is low humidity in the air or that you are using too much of hair products that contain alcohol or other drying ingredients. One of the ways to get back your hair into great shape is to use hemp oil to restore moisturisation. It will help your hair restore a healthy, shiny appearance, and when you continue to use it, it will prevent your hair from drying out in the future.
A great calm for itchy scalps:
Let’s face it; there is no healthy hair without a foundation of a healthy scalp. Meanwhile, most shampoos have sulfates and detergents within them that may irritate persons with sensitive scalps, leading to dry, tight or itchy scalp. Due to the high vitamin E and antioxidant content (it is rich in phytosterols) of hemp oil, it can help to soothe your aggravated scalp and repair it. So make sure to massage some hemp oil into your scalp if it feels red and flaky.
A wonderful hair strengthener:
If you have coarse hair, you probably deal a whole lot with hair breakage. The same goes for people who have colour-treated hair. In any of these cases, the natural lipids found in hemp oil strengthen the hair strands, and ultimately leaves you with healthier, stronger hair. Hemp oil goes into the weak points of weakened hair, filling in those points with lipid-rich fatty acids and lineoleic, and thereby strengthens the hair.
More benefits:
It has been found that hemp oil has a way of stopping your hair from absorbing too much water and prevents hair breakage by reducing the combing force of wet hair. As you use it to lubricate your hair, it also helps to prevent the penetration of some harmful substances into hair follicles. All these ultimately contribute to healthy hair.
Final thoughts
Most of us worry about the health of our scalp, and we often buy products claiming to increase hair and scalp health, whether these products are naturally procured and artificially made.
As hemp has been found to be one of the safest natural compounds that not only alleviates scalp inflammation but also cleanses and moisturises your hair, why wouldn’t you incorporate such an ingredient into your hair care routine?
Believe me; you won’t regret it.
So go ahead. Try hemp oil today.