Mustard often gets featured in DIY hair mask recipes, but the link, other than "it's full of nutrients and fatty omega acids" isn't that obvious. We shed some light on the prominence of mustard in hair care industry, which in case of mustard oil – spans millennia of Ayurvedic medicine.
Whether believer in the latter or not, mustard may hold one of the keys in promoting hair growth and here is why.
Nutritional composition of mustard
There are different types of mustard: black (Brassica Nigra), brown (Brassica Juncea) and white/yellow (Brassica Hirta or Brassica Alba). Black and brown mustard seeds have more heat and pungency and yellow/white mustard tends to have milder taste.
As pretty much anything that comes from plants and nature, mustard is naturally packed with vitamins and micro-nutrients. Its seeds are an excellent source of magnesium, iron, calcium and vitamin B6 amongst others.
Magnesium and hair growth
Due to the nature of magnesium, specifically it is easily absorbed through sweat glands and hair follicles. Not only being a key nutrient promoting bone health, Magnesium also dissolves scalp calcium deposits known as “calcification of hair follicles”.
Those deposits can be a result of hair product build up, using hard water common to urban areas, DHT, oils and dead skin. Magnesium from mustard helps dissolve those deposits which opens up the hair follicle freeing it up for hair growth.
Mustard and blood flow
Indian Ayurvedic medicine has featured mustard oil for centuries, as “Sarson Ka Tel”, an ailment for various diseases and health conditions. This tale came to a relative end, as while mustard oil has been marked safe for external uses, it should not be consumed internally.
You can still derive its benefits from a topical, or external, application. Applying mustard or mustard oil on its own or as part of a hair mask can help promote blood flow and circulation – key element in your hair growth process.
And, as a final touch, as you're looking for nature-based solutions to help promote hair growth, it is worth adding Rosemary oil and Peppermint oil into your hair care routine.
Both oils are known contenders to minoxidil that will help you get on the way to growing your dream, healthy hair.
Sources:
The mineralization of hair follicle tissue (1)
Mustard, Wikipedia (2)
Blood Vessels Hold Key To Thicker Hair Growth (3)
