Turmeric for Hair Growth & Its Additional Benefits

The History of Turmeric

Turmeric may be the star of the latest health and wellness trend, but the spice has been around for a long time. In fact, many South Asian countries may scoff at the idea of it being a newfound sensation.

Turmeric is massively popular in Indian and Middle Eastern culture, including food, cosmetics, and medicine. Because of turmeric’s natural anti-swelling properties, it’s been used to help address many health issues. 

The use of turmeric has traditionally been treated as herbal or alternative medicine by Western doctors. That’s started to change in recent years as more studies have proven turmeric’s ability to help inhibit the growth of potentially dangerous skin conditions. It can help prevent carcinogenesis by stopping mutation and detoxifying carcinogens. In other words, it’s one of the most powerful natural remedies we have.

The Five Main Benefits of Turmeric for Scalp Health

Now that we’ve covered all that turmeric can do, let’s focus specifically on our area of specialty: scalp and hair care.

Research is underway on how turmeric can help improve scalp health, and there are encouraging pieces of science that indicate it can go a long way in helping to stimulate healthy hair growth.

Reducing Hair Loss

Bear with us, we’re going to get a little nerdy on the chemistry here. Much of turmeric’s potent power comes from ​​curcumin, a biologically active polyphenolic compound found within the turmeric.

Among other benefits, curcumin is known to prevent the overgrowth of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Many consider DHT to contribute to hair loss in both men and women. Interestingly, when we, especially men, first encounter the DHT hormone in our system, it alerts the body to go through puberty. It says now is the time to grow body hair and increase muscle mass.

However, later on in life, the same hormone links up to hair follicles on our scalps and tells them it’s time to shrink up. Suddenly, we’re experiencing hair loss.

Early studies have shown that curcumin can block the action of the enzyme that produces DHT, effectively lowering its prevalence in our bodies. The science suggests that less DHT may mean less hair loss.

Stimulating Hair Growth

Interestingly, turmeric may not only help reduce the risk of hair loss, it has also been tied to the production of new hair, making it a unique two-for-one solution for a full head of healthy hair.

There’s evidence that the curcumin found inside turmeric may help inspire the development of new blood vessels. An increase of blood flow to the skin of the scalp can be helpful to the growth of new healthy hair. 

Circulation is vital to the production of healthy skin and the regeneration of hair follicles. There’s no other way to say it; healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.

The same principle of increased circulation associated with hair growth makes scalp brushes an effective tool in promoting a healthy looking head of hair. All that exfoliation helps bring new blood to the area under the surface, which is imperative for healthy hair growth.

Soothing Redness and Swelling of the Scalp

Redness and swelling are the telltale sign of so many health issues. Skin and hair care is no exception. Swollen and irritated patches of your scalp cannot and will not produce smooth, strong, and healthy-looking hair.

What’s more, it also makes for an uncomfortable experience. Anyone who has ever experienced scalp discomfort knows what we’re talking about. It’s not fun.

As we mentioned above, turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe redness and swelling associated with scalp discomfort and many other health issues. And, if you have a rash or open wound, turmeric may even help induce quicker healing.

Promoting Scalp Health

Protecting The Scalp from Environmental Stressors

How To Incorporate Turmeric Into Your Hair Care Routine

You might be already reaching for your spice cabinet by now. We can’t blame you given all the benefits of turmeric.

Before you start sprinkling it in everything you eat or go making a DIY hair mask, we have a couple of tips for getting the most out of this special spice.

It’s actually quite difficult for our bodies to fully absorb turmeric and its components. Curcumin is considered to have limited bioavailability because it has low solubility in water.

Long story short, turmeric needs to be eaten alongside something else that makes it easier for our bodies to process the spice and reap its benefits. One such helper is fat. Curcumin binds to fat cells from foods like coconut oil or full-fat dairy. If you’re taking a turmeric supplement, try pairing it with a meal that will help the spice go a little bit further in your gut.

Many hair care products and scalp supplements contain turmeric in their formulas. With the many benefits linked to this ingredient, it was important to include in our Daily Scalp Essential. Packed with some of the best plant-based ingredients Mother Earth has to offer including turmeric, ashwagandha root, and adaptogenic mushrooms.

Remember to have fun with your hair care journey, while also maintaining a comprehensive hair care routine that removes unhealthy buildup, gets your microbiome back in balance, and promotes a healthy scalp. Jupiter's line of scalp healthy hair care products provide just that. Learn more about which products best suit your hair and scalp here.