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Losing a few hair strands every day while combing is pretty normal. Hair loss generally occurs when new hair doesn’t replace the hair that falls off. So, if you see more hair on your hand, shoulders, and clothes than your scalp, it’s time to take action to prevent baldness. And for this, you can very well take the help of sunflower oil.
There are many factors that affect hair loss. It could be genetic factors or the overall aging process, and at times, those heavy duty chemical treatments. Men and women who cross their 30s and 40s might notice a mild physiological thinning of hair.
According to experts, protein deficiency and hormonal changes during pregnancy, puberty and menopause can cause hair loss. Childbirth involves extreme stress on the body that can trigger extreme hair loss. Moreover, hair loss caused by your genetic makeup is called androgenetic alopecia, and it’s a natural process.
Chemotherapeutic drugs, antidepressants, arthritis and high blood pressure drugs can also lead to loss of hair. And if you’re someone who goes for frequent heat styling and other damaging styling techniques, such as bleaching, perming, curling and straightening might land themselves in trouble. Oh, and let’s not forget the usage of harmful hair care products and harsh chemicals present in hair care products like shampoos.
Sunflower oil is extracted from sunflower seeds, and it contains vitamins and minerals that have many beneficial properties for your hair. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help to treat signs of scalp inflammation like redness, flaking, irritation, and bumps. It also retains moisture in the hair, and is a natural solution to combat dryness and frizziness.
Furthermore, it reduces the chances of split ends and makes hair softer. It also contains gamma alpha-linolenic acid (GLA) that can help you to get rid of hair fall and baldness.
“Sunflower oil has oleic acid present in it, which can stop hair breakage and help the hair grow faster. It has many anti-inflammatory properties which can help to calm dandruff and relieve an itchy scalp,” suggests Dr Nivedita Dadu, dermatologist, founder & chairman of Dadu Medical Centre.
Here’s the DIY recipe for sunflower oil, shared by Dr Dadu.
Here’s what she says, “The process of making sunflower oil at home is quite simple. It is a simple extraction process that uses the expeller pressed method. As part of this method, sunflower seeds are crushed and then pressed, while adding a little amount of water to expel the oil in the crushed or ground sunflower seeds. There is another method to make sunflower oil at home. For that, you need sunflower oilseeds, roasting pan, strainer, and a heat-resistant & freezer-safe container.”
She continues, “Take sunflower oilseeds in a blender and grind it, until it reaches a fine consistency; place it in the roasting pan. Next,roast the oilseeds at 300 degrees fahrenheit, stirring every five minutes for 20 minutes. When the oil is extracted, let it cool for a few minutes and then pour through a strainer into the heat- resistant and freezer-safe container. Store these two oil containers in the refrigerator.”
You can massage your scalp with sunflower oil to moisturize the hair and scalp. The right way to apply it is to warm two to three tablespoons of sunflower oil, and apply thoroughly to the scalp and hair. Leave it on for 45 minutes. After that, wash your hair as usual. Then, pour a drop or two of sunflower oil onto the palm. Rub your palms together to spread the oil and gently rub your palms over the hair. There is no specific time to use it, but it is better to use it at night.
Sunflower oil is generally safe. But in some cases, it may lead to serious allergic reactions. So, it’s always important to perform a patch test on the elbow or the back of the neck to check for any adverse effects, before applying it to your scalp.
“People who experience any kind of redness, inflammation, rashes, bumps, etc should consult a dermatologist, before using it. Using a lot of sunflower oil can make the hair appear greasy, so always rinse the excess oil. Do not heat style the hair after applying the oil, since it can burn and damage the hair shaft,” concludes Dr Dadu.
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