Can Chia Seed Oil Help You Grow Your Hair Faster?

Can Chia Seed Oil Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

Millions of people in the United States experience hair loss, and many turn to supplements, shampoos, and other over-the-counter products for help. The latest approach involves rubbing chia seed oil into the scalp in the hopes that it will stimulate the hair follicles.

Chia seed oil is a plant-based oil that is rich in fatty acids, including omega-3, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, according to Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

And as a food, chia seeds are great, said Jason Hou, PharmD, coordinator of the Herb Information Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "Chia seed is a super food because of how nutrition-packed it naturally comes."

Adding chia seeds to your diet can help prevent cell damage, promote regular bowel movements, and prevent constipation. They may also benefit people with high blood pressure, and some research has suggested eating chia seeds may mitigate the risk of heart disease.

Whether or not chia seed oil works for hair growth remains to be seen, but experts agree it’s likely safe to try.

Can Chia Seed Oil Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

It’s difficult to say exactly how chia seed oil may affect your hair when applied to the scalp.

"The only study that examined this was a study of 30 patients who were treated with a mixture of ingredients, one of which was chia seed extract, who showed hair growth," said Lipner. "However, there was no control group to compare to, and we don’t know which of the ingredients may have caused the hair growth."

That said, it’s not totally out of the realm of possibility. "If hair loss is due to dietary inadequacies or nutritional deficiencies, then proper nutrition and supplementation may supply hair follicles with necessary components for maintaining hair health and growth," Hou said.

But chia seed oil alone can’t address things like stress-induced hormone imbalances, aging, and various types of alopecia, Hou added.

We don’t have evidence to support the idea that chia seed oil promotes blood flow to hair follicles and nourishes the scalp, Lipner said. "However, it can moisturize the scalp and could be considered for someone who has a dry scalp."

Should You Try Chia Seed Oil for Hair Growth?

Generally, it’s a good idea to run it by your doctor before trying new treatments on your scalp—prescription or over-the-counter. This is especially true if you’ve been treated for conditions that affect the scalp in the past. "Never assume what seems natural is always safe," Hou said.

But applying chia seed oil to your scalp likely won’t hurt you, whether you’re doing so to combat dryness or testing it out to see if it may make your hair grow faster. "Unless you are severely allergic to the ingredients of the chia seed oil, the risk for safety concern is low to none," Hou said.

Lipner recommended testing it first by using a dime-sized amount on the arm overnight. That way, you’ll know you won’t have a skin reaction on your whole scalp.

If you decide to try chia seed oil for hair growth, remember to manage your expectations, Hou said. "Have a desired effect in mind, and try it for a short period, three months, and see if you reach the desired result."

What This Means For You

Some people are rubbing chia seed oil into their scalp to promote hair growth. Experts say we don’t yet know if it helps hair grow faster or thicker, but it could help with certain issues like dry scalp. Unless you are allergic to chia seeds, trying the trend is probably safe.