Grapeseed Oil On Hair: Benefits & Ways To Use It Effectively 2023

You might have already heard about the delicious benefits^[1] of using grapeseed oil for sauteing, pan-frying, stir-frying, and baking. If you’re knowledgeable about mindfulness and other relaxation practices, you might already have found a home in your medicine cabinet for grapeseed oil as a valued aromatherapy or massage oil! And as a wonderfully organic alternative to chemical toners and makeup removers on your skin, it is a favorite across the world!

But grapeseed oil on hair? Yes, you heard that right! This popular cold-pressed product really can add luster and shine to your mane. That’s why be taking a look at what rapeseed oil is and how, exactly, it can benefit your hair. 

You’ll discover exactly how to integrate it into your hair care routine, and we’ll share any side effects you might need to know. Finally, we’ll also be covering our top tips for hair growth and explaining why this versatile, premium-quality little oil might just be the best investment you make today!

This article covers where grapeseed oil comes from, its benefits for hair, and how to use it as part of our hair care routine. We also cover potential side effects you might need to be mindful of and share our other go-to tips concerning keeping hair shiny and healthy.

What Is Grapeseed Oil?

So let’s begin with an overview of what grapeseed oil is! 

The cold-pressed oil of Vitis vinifera L. seeds is extracted directly from the humble grape^[2] as a by-product of the grape juice and wine-making process and remains a favorite of the nutritive and cosmetic industries. This is primarily due to the phenols in these Vitis vinifera L. seeds, which provide wide-ranging anti-inflammatory,^[3] antimicrobial,^[4] antiulcer, and anticancer^[5]-based health properties. The phenols’ antioxidant and free radical scavenging abilities within grapeseed oil also possess an impressive protective effect^[6] that is superior to other nutrients like vitamin C and β-carotene. 

For these reasons, grape seeds are considered a cheap source of high-quality antioxidants. They also contain 40% fiber, 16% oil, 11% proteins, and 7% phenols (such as tannins) alongside essential fatty acids and flavonoids. The sum total of these benefits is an oil bountiful in highly-concentrated, healthful properties. 

But is grapeseed oil also good for your hair as a hair oil or conditioning treatment?

Benefits Of Grapeseed Oil For Hair

That’s a great question. The answer is yes! Let’s break down the key benefits of grapeseed oil for your hair. We’ll cover hair glossiness and shine, hair growth and scalp health, alopecia prevention, and the prevention of lice infestation.

Hair Glossiness And Shine

Let’s look at a recent 2023 study^[7] comparing the effects of different oils on hair quality. Noting the constant exposure to — and hair damage caused by — daily pollutants, sunlight, and harsh chemical styling products, the study found that grapeseed oil achieved not only the highest gloss but also the best improvements in tensile strength and hair fracture across all hair types. Better still? These results applied to natural (unprocessed) hair, damaged hair, and dyed hair!

A Powerful Antioxidant

Hair Growth And Scalp Health

Due to its high polyphenolic content, grapeseed oil possesses powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, it makes a great choice for scalp health. It also acts as an effective carrier oil^[8] for azithromycin oleogel, used to successfully treat skin wounds and infections like acne. It also provides beneficial anti-aging properties,^[9] helping to ward off age-related hair degradation.

May Fight Alopecia

Hair loss and baldness affects many women and men and can be debilitating, affecting our self-worth and confidence. However, grapeseed oil is rich in procyanidin oligomers,^[10] which have been found in studies to provide an effective and promising natural treatment for alopecia. That’s why grapeseed oil for hair loss might offer an effective therapy that can help you restore thinner hair to its former glory.

Fights Back Against Lice

Anyone with little kids will know the scourge of these tiny pests! But it turns out that grapeseed oil might well become an effective ally in this skin-crawling fight. That’s because the lipophilic support of grapeseed oil plays a vital role in a highly effective lotion compound^[8] that has been observed to eliminate hair lice infestation in an impressive 15 minutes! – while also completely inhibiting further egg hatching.

A Natural Choice

Organic And Natural 

Grapeseed oil is completely natural, organic, and high in beneficial bioactive compounds.^[11] Its wide-ranging healthful properties subsequently render it an ingredient with great potential application^[11] in the cosmetic (as well as food and pharmaceutical) industry. 

While repeated use of hair products (designed to make the hair look shinier or thicker) can degrade the hair, grapeseed oil benefits it the more that you use it. That makes it an excellent long-term hair care choice.

Widely Available, Cost-effective Choice

Grapeseed oil is available in stores and online at a competitive price, meaning that you can integrate it effectively into your hair care routine, even on a budget!

Everyone loves a good hair day. But sadly, hair loss affects^[12] around 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States alone. Even if we aren’t already experiencing hair loss, flyaway hair, split ends, frizz, and graying hair pollution, and other irritants^[13] can diminish our shine. 

The great news is that grapeseed oil offers an excellent balm for the daily stresses faced by our overworked hair follicles. The next question? How exactly should you use it for more luscious, thicker, and healthier-looking hair?

How To Use Grapeseed Oil For Hair Growth

The great news is that grapeseed oil suits all hair types. Here’s how we recommend you use grapeseed oil on your hair for an instant, natural boost! 

First, choose it as leave-in treatment once or twice a week. During a well-earned Netflix and chill session, apply a few drops to your regular conditioner, ensuring you massage it from tip to end and onto your scalp. After 30 minutes, wash your hair with your regular shampoo. The high vitamin E^[14] and linoleic acid content will help hair follicles and cuticles to stay hydrated and will help to promote healthy hair growth, too. 

Second, why not add a little glamour to your regular shampoo or conditioner, even if you’re short on time? Simply add a few drops of grapeseed oil and follow your normal hair care routine. You should notice a little extra shine afterward! That’s because grapeseed oil contains many follicle-friendly^[14] phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids.

Finally, it can offer a great protective quality^[15] to the styling process. Simply add a few drops to dry hair, smoothing it through the bottom couple of inches of your hair after you’ve styled and coiffed. That’ll smooth away any static and flyaway hairs to give your hair an elegant, smooth appearance (perfect for fine hair and dry or brittle hair).

Side Effects

Reportedly, there are some side effects^[16] that may occur with the use of grapeseed oil, including vomiting, nausea and sickness, muscle pain, headaches, and a dry mouth. 

If you are taking medications of any kind, it is best to ask your doctor before using grapeseed oil. This is particularly true^[16] if you are using antidepressants, asthma, heart or blood pressure medication, or prescription treatments for mental illness or anxiety.

Other Tips To Make Hair Grow

Here are our top tips for healthy hair:

1. Make sure you’re eating the right nutrients with a diet high in superfoods and rich in vitamin and mineral-packet nutrients. A diet high in vitamin C and iron^[17] is recommended for individuals who experience iron deficiency-related hair loss. Vitamins C, B, and A, and the minerals zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and calcium, all play a valuable role in maintaining the quality of our hair.^[18]
2. Consider engaging with a Food and Drug Administration-approved medication if you’re worried about hair loss, as there are some great products out there to try.  There are many products for hair care that can offer some help — and hope.
3. Don’t over-style. Even daily shampooing, alongside styling, can cause degradation^[19] to the hair and interrupt healthy hair growth. Going au naturel isn’t just great for our confidence but also for our hair health!
4. Sedentary lifestyles may contribute to hair aging,^[20] including premature graying. That’s why strapping on your sneakers and heading to the park for a brisk walk may just offer a great (and free!) way of supporting healthy hair, as well as escaping pollution that can affect the luster of our hair.

The Bottom Line

Since the dawn of mankind, hair has always played a vital role^[19] in women’s fashion. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs illustrated the erotic symbolism of hair, while the Romans viewed it as a visual representation of class, elegance, and style. It remains in the present day a vital source of our identity and self-esteem, with modern society associating thick hair with virility and youth. 

But regardless of the symbolism^[21] that hair most powerfully evokes in you, one truth remains firm; we should treat it with the love and respect that it deserves! 

We’ve learned from this article that grapeseed oil offers an excellent, highly-concentrated source of nutrients and health benefits for your hair, scalp, and skin routine. Maybe today is the perfect day to try it out as part of your hair care routine for a little extra kick, vivacity, and shine!

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