Black Seed Oil for Hair Loss: Does it Work?

If you’ve looked into the best oils for hair growth, black seed oil may have come up. Also known as black cumin seed, the seeds of the nigella sativa plant are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and also for their hair health benefits.

However, the science is a little less clear about the efficacy of black seed oil for hair. While a few small-scale studies have found that black seed oil may promote hair growth and address issues like eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff, the research is still relatively sparse.

Below, we’ve explained what black seed oil is and how it may help to treat hair loss. We’ve also looked at the other potential health benefits of black seed oil, including its possible perks as a natural skin care ingredient.

Black seed oil is an oil that’s produced from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a shrub that’s found in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The healing effect of black seed oil has a long history in several types of traditional folk medicine.

Black seeds were famously found inside the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun in Africa. Numerous ancient medical texts also make mention of black seeds possessing curative properties.

The black seeds used to produce black seed oil are also referred to using a variety of different names. These include black cumin, black onion seed, black caraway, black kalonji, kalanji, and nigella seeds.

Today, black seed oil is typically promoted for its potential health benefits. Proponents of black seed oil claim that it may help to prevent certain diseases, aid in weight loss, treat asthma, and prevent or reverse certain forms of hair loss. 

Black seed oil is often promoted as a natural hair loss treatment and an alternative to drugs like minoxidil and finasteride, and it’s typically listed prominently as an active ingredient in modern hair care products designed to prevent shedding and promote hair growth. 

Research has established that black seed oil has several antioxidant effects. Antioxidants can prevent the damage associated with free radicals — compounds that damage hair and skin at the cellular level, which may eventually make your hair fall out.

Black seed oil is also a known antimicrobial substance (a substance that kills bacteria). It also has anti-inflammatory effects, which may make it a useful treatment for certain skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, rashes, dermatitis, and other conditions that can lead to damaged hair and skin.

With that said, high-quality scientific research into the full effects of black seed oil on hair growth or hair loss prevention is limited:

• One study, published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, found that an oil made from a combination of black seeds, henna, coconut, Indian gooseberry, and other ingredients reduced hair loss in men and women ages 17 to 40.

While this study is interesting, black seed oil wasn’t the only active ingredient used in the hair tonic tested. In fact, the oil that was tested used 10 times as much coconut oil as black seed oil, making it difficult to determine which ingredient was responsible for its results.

• A different study published in the International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education in 2014 also looked at the effects of a tonic made from coconut oil and Nigella sativa (black seeds) on hair loss. This clinical trial found that the combination coconut and black seed oil produced a mean hair growth of 2.6cm (about one inch) over the course of four weeks. In comparison, hairs that received no treatment only grew by 1.09cm (approximately 0.43 inches).

However, this study also didn’t test black seed oil on its own — instead, the test solution used a combination of coconut oil and Nigella sativa, or black seeds. Further, the study is extremely tiny, with just three participants. It also makes no mention of the participants’ sex or age, or whether they have any existing medical conditions that may affect their rate of hair growth.

• Finally, a small study carried out in Italy looked at the effects of black seed oil as a treatment for telogen effluvium (TE) — a form of hair loss that can develop due to severe stress, medications, illnesses, hormonal changes, or injuries. This study, which included only 20 participants, found that a topical lotion containing black seed oil was more effective at stimulating hair growth than a non-therapeutic placebo.

However, it’s worth noting that this study group consisted entirely of women, not men with male pattern baldness.

In short, while some very small studies have shown positive findings about the use of nigella sativa seed, we don’t yet know whether black seed oil treats hair loss or promotes hair growth in men. Studies conducted thus far also fail to take into account any side effects of nigella sativa, which may include irritation or allergic reaction for some people.

In addition to being investigated as a natural treatment for hair loss, black seed oil is also being researched as a potential natural treatment for other ailments and medical conditions. Currently, research shows that black seed is associated with several potential health benefits:

• May repair liver damage. Research has found that black seed has a hepato-protective effect, meaning that it may help to protect the liver from harmful substances and repair some forms of damage.

• May improve blood sugar and lipids. Black seed oil may have benefits for blood sugar and blood lipid levels (fatty acids) — factors that play a role in the development of diabetes and heart disease. Over time, this may also help with blood pressure management and other conditions.

• May help to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Human studies have found that thymoquinone, a terpene found in black seeds, could be a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

• May help to treat asthma and other conditions. Some research suggests that black seed oil’s relaxant effects may help to treat asthma, hypertension, and certain digestive and urinary or genital disorders.

• May promote weight loss. One placebo-controlled trial involving diabetic women found that black seed oil produced a small reduction in weight and body mass over a 12-week period.

It’s important to note that research into black seed oil’s potential health benefits is still in its early stages, with few large-scale, reliable studies available. Much of the research into black seed oil’s effects involves animal studies or small human studies with a limited number of participants.

Because of this, it’s important not to consider black seed oil as a replacement for FDA-approved, science-based medications. 

While there’s no official medical recommendation for how to use this hair oil as part of your hair care routine, online forums and experts generally suggest that you can add nigella sativa oil to various hair products or apply it on its own.

You can mix black seed oil into hair masks, styling compounds, shampoos, conditioners, and other products. Or, you might apply it directly to your scalp to make use of the antifungal and antioxidant properties of this natural remedy. You could also look for existing product formulations that include black seed oil as a carrier oil or ingredient in their own recipe.

Or, you could skip the black seed oil, and instead focus on proven hair treatment options — more on those next up.

While a dermatologist may suggest rosemary essential oil or a hydration product to deal with some itchy scalp conditions or signs of hair loss, more typically, they’ll only recommend natural remedies in cases where proven treatments won’t work or have already failed.

Currently, the most effective treatment options for male pattern baldness are medications like finasteride and minoxidil. These medications target hair loss from different angles to slow or stop your hair loss and, in some cases, promote hair regrowth in areas with thinning. 

Finasteride

Finasteride is a prescription hair loss medication that works by stopping your body from producing a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.

DHT is the primary hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. If you are genetically prone to male pattern baldness, DHT can bind to receptors in your scalp and gradually cause your hair follicles to stop producing new hairs.

This process usually happens in a pattern, resulting in the classic M-shaped receding hairline or balding on the crown that’s common with male hair loss. 

By reducing your DHT levels, finasteride can slow down or stop hair loss. Many men also notice an increase in hair growth in areas affected by thinning, such as the crown or hairline. It usually takes three to four months to see results from finasteride. 

Because finasteride is a prescription medication, you’ll need to talk to a healthcare provider to purchase and take it. We offer finasteride online, following a consultation with a physician who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a topical hair loss medication. It comes as a liquid solution or foam and needs to be applied directly to the areas of your scalp that are affected by hair loss. 

Unlike finasteride, minoxidil doesn’t reduce DHT levels. Instead, it stimulates blood flow to your scalp and causes your hair follicles to go from a resting state into the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair growth cycle. 

Your hair follicles need time to respond to minoxidil and start growing, meaning it usually takes about six months for minoxidil to work. 

Minoxidil is an over-the-counter medication. We offer minoxidil online, either on its own or alongside finasteride and other science-based products for treating and preventing hair loss in our Hair Power Pack. 

Other Options for Treating Hair Loss

In addition to finasteride and minoxidil, several other products and procedures are available to treat hair loss beyond the not-yet-proven black seed oil for hair loss. These include:

• Hair loss prevention shampoo. Shampoos that contain ketoconazole or saw palmetto may help to block DHT in your scalp and reduce hair loss. Our Thick Fix Shampoo uses saw palmetto to reduce buildup and promote thick, healthy hair.

• Hair restoration surgery. If you have severe hair loss, surgical procedures like hair transplant surgery can restore hair and add volume to your hairline, crown, or other areas with noticeable thinning. 

Right now, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to confidently say that black seed oil improves hair growth or prevents hair loss due to male pattern baldness. 

Here’s what science actually shows, when you look below the surface of the headlines:

• Although a few studies have found that black seed oil may have hair-related benefits, none of these studies are very comprehensive.

• Many of the existing studies use combinations of black seed oil and other ingredients, making it difficult to know which ingredients are effective and which aren’t.

• While black seed oil could be one effective way to address some skin and hair issues, there are more effective, proven treatments to try if you’re seeing signs of hair loss.

If you’re losing your hair and want to take action, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider about science-based treatment options, such as finasteride and minoxidil. 

You can also learn more about proven, science-based treatments for hair loss in our complete guide to male pattern baldness.