There have been many substances used to foster the exponential growth of hair including using onion juice on your hair. Most of us will put up with the sticky, the stinky and the greasy things in an effort to see a beautiful mane.
Neem oil has always been the sensible alternative to all the gimmicks in a bottle. After all, it has a 4500-year head start in providing humanity with beautiful hair.
Neem has also known by its botanical name Azadirachta indica and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a medicinal plant with exceptional antiseptic, antifungal and antihistamine qualities. It is characterized by a strong medicinal scent which lingers.
Contents
What is neem good for?
The use of neem for over 4000 years has covered healing ailments, caring for the skin and hair and scenting indigenous scared ground. Similar uses are applied today with regard to neem oil, the oil extracted from the neem plant.
Our uses for neem oil include:
Medicinal
- Treating gastronomical ailments and ulcers
- Application on wounds and bruises
- Eliminating ringworm and cold sores
- Controlling allergic reactions
- Reducing inflammation effectively treating eczema and psoriasis
- Boosting immunity in cancer patients
Beauty based
- Used in cosmetics
- Skin conditioning
- Skin toner
- Moisturizing the skin
Skin care based
- Anti-aging
- Skin tightening
- Repairs antioxidative damage
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- Removes blackheads
- Treats fungal infections
- Fights acne
- Eliminates scars
- Treats eczema and psoriasis
- Makes the skin supple and soft
- Reduces wrinkles and promote collagen production
Hair based
- Eliminate dandruff
- Improve hair texture
- Treat head lice
- Promotes hair growth
- Promotes a healthy scalp
Dental hygiene
- Treats gingivitis
- Promotes healthy teeth and gums
Is neem oil safe for humans?
Simply put: Yes!
Because of phytochemicals Azadirachtin and Triterpenoid, this oil has a bitter taste but that does not make it poisonous. In fact, the two components make the oil medicinal. That would explain the bitter taste.
The color of the oil varies from red, brown-green, yellow-brown, dark-brown, and golden-yellow. This should not shock you and make you wary of the oil. These colors come about as a result of the extraction process.
What are the most important neem products?
Neem powder
Neem powder can be made into a paste with other essential oils and used externally or taken in water, licked in its powdery form or taken as a tablet.
You can buy neem powder or make it at home.
To make your own neem powder:
- Collect neem leaves and sundry them for at least 3 days
- Remove from the sun and let them sit indoors in a shaded area for another 3 days
- Make sure all the leaves are completely dry and have no moisture at all
- Grind in a mortar until they become a fine dust and store in an airtight container
Neem powder can be used to make face masks, scrubs and even to brush teeth when mixed with salty water.
Neem toothpaste
Neem in toothpaste is a popular reason for people to buy certain brands. Neem fights gingivitis, prevents cavities, reduces plaque, keep the mouth immune and give fresh breath.
The parts of the neem plant used in the manufacture of toothpaste are the twigs and the bark.
Neem capsules
Neem capsules are just capsules filled with neem powder. They are the best way to ingest neem because there is no room for the gag reflex to kick in.
The capsule disintegrates within the body releasing all the goodness of the powder into the body.
Neem oil benefits for hair
1. For natural hair
Natural hair needs to be moisturized and hydrated to keep the strands healthy and prevent breakage. Neem oil holds the moisture in the strand and smoothes over the strands so that they are not unruly.
Natural weather factors like humidity and extreme heat can really affect the growth and appearance of natural hair. The nourishing agents of the oil help it to keep your hair shiny, untangled and easy to style.
2. For grey hair
Neem combats the hydrogen peroxide produced by your cells that contributes to the loss of hair color. It is a hair tonic that is rich in antioxidants which keep your hair black for longer.
Apply the oil directly on the scalp as well as on the strands.
Graying caused by aging is not reversible, but that caused by stress or illness is.
3. For hair dandruff
Neem is a natural remedy for dandruff because it promotes a healthy, moisturized scalp. It also maintains the PH of the scalp ensuring dandruff does not have an environment to grow.
Being a powerful antifungal agent it eliminates Candida, the human fungi responsible for the buildup of dandruff.
Dandruff also causes inflammation of the scalp which makes you itch. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties will control the irritation and redness.
4. For natural hair lice treatment
This oil is considered safe and extremely effective in treating head lice. All it takes is an application of the oil on the scalp and leave it overnight. When you wake up in the morning you will notice a visible difference.
Azadirachtin, one of the major components in neem kills insects and parasites. It is directly responsible for killing lice because it attacks their digestive system causing them to starve.
It also has a strong pungent medicinal smell that repels lice. Use it to prevent the lice as well as to treat an existing infestation.
5. For hair growth promoting
Neem oil is widely respected for promoting hair growth. It accelerates the growth of hair by strengthening the hair follicles and encouraging the cells around the follicle.
Healthy hair can be compromised by stress and medication and neem oil restores moisture and bounce back to the hair strands. It utilizes its numerous, powerful antioxidants to protect the hair from free radicals.
Regularly applying the oil will result in thick, strong and luxurious hair.
6. As a hair conditioner
As a hair conditioner neem provides the hair with several fatty acids including linoleic, oleic and stearic acid which condition the scalp and the hair strands as well.
It infuses the hair with moisture and nourishes dry hair strands giving them a smooth silky texture.
It can be used for regular and deep conditioning. For deep conditioning, which should be done at least once every two weeks, massage the oil into your scalp and hair and cover your head with a hot towel for at least minutes.
Wash and moisturize and enjoy healthy hair.
7. For eczema symptoms relieving
During the process of conditioning your scalp with neem oil, the oil also tackles underlying issues like eczema of the scalp. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities help to manage the condition effectively.
Neem can provide the very same properties as the popular cortisone cream that is used for treating eczema provides. The only difference is that neem oil is all natural.
8. To improve hair texture
Neem oil will help the hair remain healthy, silky and shiny even as it stimulates the growth of newer healthier shafts.
Using neem oil allows the hair to become untangled and moisturized which makes it bounce and style better.
9. For frizzy hair treatment
Washed hair will become frizzy while moist and even when dry.
What if we told you that neem oil will untangle the strands before you actually wash the hair with your shampoo?
You can apply the oil to the hair before washing it or mix it with the shampoo and rinse it off gently. Leave the oil in the hair for a few minutes before the rinse.
10. To remove split ends
Split ends are very visible contrary to popular belief that you can hide them. Not only do they ruin the appearance of your hair, they destroy the hair shaft.
The oil improves the appearance of split ends and the antioxidants present in it help strengthen the hair shaft preventing further splitting.
It also gently repairs the hair from the root and keeps it manageable.
You have to trim the split ends in order to let the oil work with newer, unsplited hair.
11. As hair masque
Making a mask for your hair is a great way to impart the benefits of neem oil to your hair. A hair mask allows your hair to soak in the antioxidative, moisturizing, hydrating, nourishing and healing properties of the oil together with those of your choice of carrier oil.
You can choose to use it for a few hours under the drier and wash it off or sleep with the mask on.
In addition to the neem oil, adding neem powder to the mask gives it a double bill of power.
12. For pre-shampoo treatment
Treating hair with neem oil before shampooing is a great way to lock in the moisture and nourish your scalp even as you keep your hair clean.
Just like the hair mask, you have the option of sleeping with the treatment on your head or washing it off after a short period.
To give the treatment a twist you can add egg yolk for a concurrent protein treatment (you can’t sleep with the treatment in this case).
How to use neem oil for hair?
Recipe 1
Ingredients
- 20 drops of neem oil
- Coconut oil
- 10 drops of lavender oil
Mix all the ingredients and apply to your hair every night before bed. Let the blend sleep on your head with your hair tightly wrapped. In the morning, rinse your hair thoroughly and style.
Recipe 2
Ingredients
- 1 tbs of neem oil
- 6-8 drops of frankincense oil
- 3 tbs of avocado oil
- 1 tbs of vitamin E oil
Mix the ingredients together and apply on your scalp. Place a hot towel on your head (not hot enough to burn) and cover your head with a shower cap.
Leave the cap in place for 45-60 minutes before rinsing your hair with warm water and no shampoo.
Apply some neem oil and wrap up your hair for bed. In the morning wash your hair with a mild shampoo and style.
Recipe 3
Ingredients
- 1 tbs of neem oil
- 3 tbs of shea butter
This is a great way to moisturize your hair when you are at home all day.
Just apply the mixture and leave it in your wrapped up hair. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo in the evening and let it air dry.
Things to consider when using neem oil for hair
- Neem has a very strong medicinal scent so make sure you blend it with something sweet smelling like lavender or lemon balm to mask the scent
- It is not safe to ingest neem oil
- Use on a small patch of your skin before using it. Neem can cause irritation depending on how it was extracted. In addition, always dilute it before use
- Keep neem oil away from sunlight and heat because heat destroys the powerful components of the oil
Conclusion
It is the pride of every man and woman to have a luxurious mane of hair. Good hair portends good health, confidence and in some spheres even success.
Neem oil has everything you need to keep your hair healthy and nourished.
Spread the secret around!
We could all use a head of beautiful hair even if just for an additional boost to our self-esteem!
Image credits: Pixabay.com, Unsplash.com and Amazon.com
