Black seed oil is sourced from the black seed plant grown in India or Turkey. It’s placed in the classification of essential oils and can be used for a wide range of health and beauty conditions. It has often been called “the cure for everything but death” by naturopathic specialists.
It’s important to not get this oil mixed up with other types of plants that produce black seeds. Black seed oil is often called kalonji or nigella, which can help you to differentiate the correct one you need for your beauty care. The oil is sourced from seeds grown by the Nigella Sativa species of plant. This plant features tall stalks with elongated white petals that spread below a central stamen that is full of seeds.
The black seed oil is cold-pressed from the seeds that are contained within the flowers. This oil has many medicinal uses. We know it’s been used for over 2000 years and has even been discovered in King Tut’s tomb.
There has been some scientific evidence that black seeds can give a boost to the body’s immune system and lessen the severity of allergic reactions. Tests have proven that it can temporarily lower high blood pressure and help regulate LDL cholesterol in the body. The black seed oil can be of particular use to improve the texture of hair, as well as aid in preventing hair loss, and even help in preventing premature greying.
Other Names for Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil has been called many different names, depending on which part of the world you live in. People may get confused, as there are different plants that produce other spices—cumin, coriander, and caraway— so the key in buying the correct black seed oil lies in the addition of an adjective before the noun. If you see any of the following names, note that they have all been sourced from the same plant, and if you are purchasing black seed or kalonji oil, check that it is from the Nigella Sativa species of plants.
- Kalonji
- Nigella sativa
- Black caraway
- Nigella
- Black cumin
- Roman coriander
What is Contained in Kalonji Seed Oil?
Many people want to understand how certain types of oils can provide healing properties to hair and skin. They rely on a direct application to the scalp, where the hair follicles are located. Here, the oil can penetrate deep into the follicles and can aid in encouraging the growth of hair, reversing hair loss, as well as encouraging hair to retain its pigment cells, rather than losing pigment and turning grey.
Nigella Sativa oil contains many beneficial compounds for the human body, such as conjugated linoleic acid which acts as an anti-oxidant; thymoquinone another antioxidant, melanin which acts as an insect or parasite repellant, nigellone an alkaloid good for combatting bacteria or fungi, and transanethole which is also an anti-fungal. Black seeds also contain nigellone and thymoquinone, which are also antihistamines.
How Can Black Seed Oil Improve Your Hair?
Black seed oil is a natural emollient, so it will soften and smooth thick coarse hair. It can also soften scalp conditions that are dry and produce flakes, such as dandruff.
Black seed oil is considered an adjuvant. This means that it can be combined with other ingredients—such as natural oils and essential oils— for additional benefits in preventing hair loss, slowing down the production of premature grey hair, and generally making your hair softer and more manageable. Other suitable oils to mix with kalonji oil include lavender, peppermint, lemon, and rosemary.
In order to obtain the maximum healing benefits, you should source black seed oil that is 100%, unrefined, and cold-pressed.
How Kalonji Oil Can Prevent Hair Loss
Often many hair conditions that cause the hair to fall out are due to inflammatory conditions. These may be due to disease, bacteria, fungus, and any of a variety of conditions. The black seed oil works as an anti-inflammatory, and many of the compounds it contains can aid in controlling infections, such as bacterial, viral, and fungal. It’s even beneficial for lice, mites, or parasitic infections.
In order to prevent hair loss, massage a half teaspoon of oil on the specific thinning regions of your scalp. Ideally, do this at bedtime. You may wish to cover your pillow with a towel. Wash your hair normally in the morning. Keep repeating each night until you see significant hair growth. After your hair has grown in more fully, continue doing your nightly treatments once every three nights.
How Kalonji Can Benefit Grey Hair
Kalonji can also benefit grey hair. This works by encouraging the hair cells that are responsible for the production of pigment to continue growing naturally. If the pigment cells die, the hair strand from that one follicle will grow grey. Prevention is easier to attempt than trying to reverse this aging process, but some success has been found in encouraging pigment cells to grow again.
The process is the same as when managing hair loss. Simply massage some oil into the roots of your scalp where your hair has been turning prematurely grey. Leave it overnight, then wash your hair normally in the morning. Repeat this process every night. Give yourself a break on the weekend if you wish.
Best Kalonji Oil Hair Recipe
You can simply rub the kalonji oil into your scalp or hair, but if you wish to maximize its benefits you can make a soothing and relaxing kalonji hair oil mask. A hair mask can be used to simply soften and smooth your hair, or to provide medicinal qualities. It can be used to decrease hair loss or to prevent hair from prematurely greying. In some instances, it will help you to reverse greying hair.
A restorative kalonji oil hair mask doesn’t need to be hard to use either. The following kalonji hair recipe is simple to make and can be easily applied to your hair.
Simple Ingredients for Kalonji Hair Recipe
Collect together the following ingredients and supplies to help make your hair look and feel better. This recipe is enough to make for an entire month, based on a once-a-day usage.
- 1 tablespoon kalonji oil.
- 2 tablespoons organic olive oil.
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil.
- Dark glass bottle with lid or cap. Reuse a glass bottle but be sure to wash it out thoroughly.
- Clean towel for hair.
- Plastic cap.
Simple Method for Making Restorative Hair Mask
It’s really simple to prepare the ingredients and make them ready for your first Kalonji oil hair treatment mask.
- Begin by measuring out the kalonji oil and the olive oil and pour the oils into your glass bottle.
- Tap your one drop of peppermint oil into the bottle.
- Twist the cap on top.
- Give the bottle a good shake to get everything evenly mixed up.
How to Use Your Restorative Kalonji Hair Mask
To begin using your kalonji oil hair mask pour out a few drops of oil from the bottle and rub it into your hair. If you’re using it to simply make your hair softer, smooth it along the ends of your hair. If you’re using it to stop hair loss and increase hair growth, or to reverse grey hair growth, simply rub it onto the affected regions of your scalp.
No matter the purpose of using your Kalonji hair mask, wait twenty minutes after application to your scalp. You may wish to cover your head with a plastic shower cap if you’re worried the oil may drip on your clothing or the floor. Some people enjoy applying their masks in the bathtub where cleanup is simpler.
After twenty minutes, wash your hair with shampoo. Let your hair dry normally.
Cautions When Using Black Seed Oil
There are a few precautions when using kalonji oil that you may wish to take into consideration before using it.
- Our recommended purposes are for external hair or skin treatment. While black seed oil can be safely consumed by most people, you should do further research if you intend on consuming it internally, as it’s not recommended for younger children, pregnant women, or people with diabetes.
- Use only a small amount. If you pour too much on your scalp, it could make washing your hair extremely difficult, and counterproductive if you must wash it two or three times to remove all the oil.
- If you suffer from allergies, test a few drops on your inner wrist. You can discern an allergic reaction if the oil causes a red rash or hives after usage. Discontinue use and try one of the many other oils on the market today if you do experience a bad reaction to the kalonji oil.
- Be careful not to spill your oil on your good clothes. It can be difficult to wash out. Wear your old T-shirt or pajamas. If you decide to sleep on your hair mask treatment, place a towel on your bed first so that the oil doesn’t stain your pillowcase or sheets.
- Be sure to store your black seed oil in a glass bottle and screw the cap on tightly in order for it to maintain its freshness.
- If you find that the black seed oil isn’t working for you, ensure that you’re following the directions. Keep using your black seed oil until you’ve used up the entire bottle. At that point, evaluate its effectiveness, then decide if you wish to order a second bottle.
Other Beauty Benefits of Black Seed Oil
There are many other external beauty benefits to try with your black seed oil.
- Use it to get rid of acne. It contains compounds that act as an anti-bacterial, which will help to quickly heal the pimples on your face or skin. Rub a small amount of oil into your skin at bedtime to aid in healing this skin condition. The oil will also help to naturally balance your skin, as your skin’s oil glands tend to overproduce the oil when it thinks your skin is dry.
- Help to ease headache. Add a drop of peppermint and massage it on your forehead and temples, as well as any tense spots on your skull. This will help you to give you a boost of energy to complete your daily tasks.
- Use the oil as a facial moisturizer. Simply rub a few drops onto your face twice a day. You may also use it around the eyes, as the kalonji oil contains only oil derived from black seeds and not any sort of scent or fragrance that could sting your eyes. You can also use it to smooth out any lines or wrinkles.
- For dry or cracked skin conditions. If you have dry or cracked elbows, knees, or feet, rub the oil onto these regions. Apply at bedtime, and if you’re applying to feet, cover with a clean pair of socks to lock in moisture the entire night. The kalonji oil is also suitable for use on itchy scaly skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, as it can soothe dryness.
- The oil can also be used as a dry cuticle treatment. You can warm up a bit of the oil and soak your fingertips in it for ten minutes. After that time, massage the oil thoroughly into your fingertips. If you wear nail polish, you’ll want to do this step the day before you change your polish.
Try Black Seed Oil to Improve Your Hair Today
Kalonji oil has a light smell reminiscent of black pepper that is fairly pleasant to use on your hair or skin. When essential oils are added to it, it can extend its benefits for face, hair, and body. The oil isn’t as heavy as coconut oil and is perfect for people who don’t like the smell of olive or castor oil. If you decide to use it as part of your beauty treatment in the mornings or evenings, be sure to follow the directions, as you’ll experience greater success, resulting in smoother, fuller hair with fewer grey strands.