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Cinnamon oil for hair

Have you experienced hair loss? Hair loss affects most people at some point in their lives, whether due to genetics, hormonal changes, stress, or general ageing. It’s never easy, though, and most people end up on a path to find the best hair care products to promote hair growth.

So, what about cinnamon oil? You may already use cinnamon in hot drinks and cooking, but can it help your hair? Find out everything you need to know about the effects of cinnamon oil on the hair right here.

What is Cinnamon Oil?

Cinnamon oil is a type of essential oil that specifically uses cinnamon. Cinnamon comes from the bark of certain tree species, all of which come from the genus Cinnamomum. It has a wide variety of purposes – it’s commonly used in medicine, said to help with things like coughs, inflammation, and heart disease. [1] It’s also often used as a flavouring, making a great addition to coffees, curries, muffins, porridges, and much more.

What About Cinnamon Oil for Hair?

There may also be some benefits of cinnamon oil for hair. Here are a few ways cinnamon oil may be effective on the locks:

Treating hair loss: Cinnamon oil may work as a hair loss treatment. The reason this works is that the cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon can boost blood flow to the scalp, which helps to stimulate hair growth as the blood brings necessary nutrients to the hair follicles, thus treating hair loss in those whose follicles are dormant or dying. On top of that, cinnamon oil has anti inflammatory properties, which can help heal hair follicles and boost growth.

Reducing Dandruff: Some studies show cinnamon has antifungal properties, which can help reduce dandruff when used topically. This is backed up by a study [2] that looked into the chemical characterisation and antifungal activity of Cinnamomum verum. However, more research is necessary to say definitively whether it can remove dandruff from the scalp.

Dyeing Hair: Cinnamon oil might change the colour of your hair. Some people use it to adjust their hair colour slightly – for example, adding a reddish tint to either blonde or brunette hair. However, there is no substantial evidence to prove this actually works.

Should You Use Cinnamon Oil for Hair Growth?cinnamon oil for hair growth

 

When looking at cinnamon oil’s effects on hair growth, it can seem almost too good to be true – can a natural oil do so much? It’s undoubtedly one of the more exciting benefits of cinnamon oil.

The truth is there is not yet enough proof to say that cinnamon oil will definitely lead to improved hair density or thickness, or that it will regrow thinning/balding areas.

However, cinnamon oil does have healing properties that could help, with the main benefits of cinnamon oil for hair being that it is an anti inflammatory that can boost blood flow to the scalp. So, many people find it worth using.

Side Effects of Using Cinnamon Oil

Let’s move away from the benefits of cinnamon oil for hair for a moment and consider the side effects. These are a mix of mild and more serious side effects that can occur:

Skin Irritation: Some people find that cinnamon oil can irritate their skin, causing rashes, redness, dryness, and even burning.

Diarrhoea and/or Vomiting: Consuming too much cinnamon oil – or cinnamon oil that is too strong – can lead to stomach upset such as diarrhoea and vomiting.

Allergic Reaction: Those who are allergic to cinnamon will experience a reaction to cinnamon oil. The worst case of this is anaphylaxis, which is very serious and requires immediate medical attention.

The good news is there’s no evidence that cinnamon oil hair loss is a thing, so don’t worry about losing more hair if you try it out.

Tips for Using Cinnamon Oil for Hair Growth

Do you want to try cinnamon oil for hair? You may be wondering how to use it. Here are some tips for getting it right.

Perform a Patch Test First

It’s always worth performing a patch test on your skin before using any new topical product, including cinnamon oil. To do this, dilute some of the oil with a carrier oil, and then apply it to the inner forearm, cover it with a plaster or some wrap, and leave for 24 hours. Afterward, check the area for any signs of irritation. If there is none, you are likely fine to use the cinnamon oil on your scalp and hair.

Make Your Own

It’s super easy to make your own cinnamon oil! All you need is olive oil and cinnamon sticks. Place olive oil into a pan with some cinnamon sticks, and then gently heat. To store, place the oil with the sticks into a jar to use whenever you need to.

Dilute Cinnamon Oil

Diluted cinnamon oil for hair loss

It’s typically best to dilute essential oils such as cinnamon oil, as this helps you avoid irritation. Cinnamon oil can be diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil, and olive oil – all of which have their own beneficial properties to nourish your locks!

Use a Cinnamon Oil Hair Mask

What about nourishing your strands even further? Hair masks are amazing for the hair, giving it that boost of moisture it needs most. You can use a cinnamon oil hair mask to benefit from this hydration while also receiving the benefits of cinnamon oil for hair. There are several good cinnamon hair masks available that include other hair-boosting ingredients, so consider purchasing one of those and using it once a week for at least fifteen minutes at a time.

What Else is Cinnamon Oil Good For?

While the cinnamon oil hair benefits are pretty extensive, there’s also no denying that this sweet-smelling oil has other types of uses:

As an Antifungal Treatment: Some people use cinnamon oil to treat fungal infections. It’s a natural and cheap remedy.

To Improve the Skin: As well as boosting hair growth, cinnamon oil can also rejuvenate the skin, giving it more elasticity.

To Level Blood Sugar: Cinamon oil has often been used to improve blood sugar levels when consumed.

As Aromatherapy: You have likely noticed that cinnamon smells wonderful. Due to this warm, sweet smell, it is often used in aromatherapy as a way to relax.

What if Cinnamon Oil for Hair Growth Doesn’t Work?

What happens if the benefits of cinnamon oil for hair growth do not work on you? With how little research there is into this, it wouldn’t be wholly surprising.

Not all hope is lost though. First, consider how long you have been using the cinnamon oil. To experience the benefits of cinnamon oil for hair growth, you will need to have used it for at least three months, as it takes a while for new hairs to grow through! You can always use a hair track app to monitor improvement. If you have not seen any change after six months, it is time to look at another hair restoration solution.

Other Hair Loss Solutions

There are many other hair loss solutions that can help you regrow your locks. Cinnamon oil is a nice, natural method that may help some people restore hair density and thickness, but it won’t work for all, and it’s typically better to try a scientifically proven method, anyway. Here are some other treatments.

Minoxidil: A hair loss medication available over the counter to both men and women. It works by boosting blood flow to the scalp, and there’s been substantial evidence to prove its effectiveness when treating androgenetic alopecia.

Finasteride: Another hair loss medication, but this one is just for men (assigned at birth). It works by blocking DHT, a male hormone that contributes to male pattern baldness.

Low-Level Laser Therapy: A clinical treatment you can try is low-level laser therapy. It works by stimulating the hair follicles, essentially waking the dormant ones up so they can start growing hairs once more.

laser light therapy for hair

PRP Injections: PRP, standing for platelet rich plasma, is a type of therapy that uses blood. It takes a patient’s blood and uses it for a healing treatment, in this case, on the scalp.

Hair Transplant: A good hair transplant can transform your look completely. The FUE method is the best one out there, as it uses small, precise equipment to transplant healthy hair follicles to the recipient area. The results are incredible and natural and last a lifetime. It’s a more expensive option than others on this list, but many people find it worth it due to its longevity.

In Summary

As you can see, there are some benefits of cinnamon oil for hair, so purchasing a bottle of cinnamon bark essential oil may be a good idea. However, do not expect miracles, there is not a lot of evidence pointing toward cinnamon oil’s hair-growing effects.

If you have experienced hair loss and are looking for a real solution, a hair transplant might be the best path for you. To learn more, get in touch with our expert team or head to our patients gallery, where you can see the incredible effects of our procedures on past patients.

Sources:

  1. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cinnamon#:~:text=Cinnamon%20was%20thought%20to%20help,allergic%20rhinitis%20(hay%20fever).
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0975357513000679
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