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Many natural oils are fantastic for your hair and scalp. Pumpkin seed oil for hair is no exception, and here’s why.
What Is Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair?
Adding pumpkin seed oil to your hair care routine has many added benefits. With vitamins E and K, omega-3s, essential fatty acids, phytosterol, and zinc, pumpkin seed oil is a powerhouse for hair growth and nourishment.
Many hair care products have chemical ingredients that damage hair more than help it. With the turn in body care products to a more natural route, finding what works best for you and your hair type is difficult.
Pumpkin seed oil works well for people with thin hair who want a thicker, fuller head of hair. All of the nutrients packed into pumpkin seed oil promotes collagen production. The more collagen produced, the higher the hair count.
The pumpkin seed oil has all of the benefits listed below:
- Promotes hair growth
- Nourishes follicles
- Moisturizes hair and scalp
- Increases hair thickness
- Promotes collagen production
Pumpkin seed oil promotes hair thickness and growth and nourishes and moisturizes the hair already on your scalp. Pumpkin seed oil is an all-around nourishment to keep your hair shiny and healthy.
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Packed With Nutrients
The pumpkin seed oil has a plethora of vitamins and minerals that strengthen and boost your hair growth. The natural nutrients in pumpkin seed oil make it hard to replace with chemical products that can have long-term damage to your hair.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a common vitamin known to be healthy for hair and skin. It has a natural antioxidant effect that can assist and maintain hair growth. This antioxidant effect may help reduce the oxidative stress and free radicals that cause hair follicle cells to break down.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K helps hair strands regenerate. This regeneration helps grow thicker hair faster and can naturally reverse balding. Without vitamin K, calcium can build up on the scalp and prevent hair growth.
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
Just like fish oil, pumpkin seed oil provides omega-3 essential fatty acids. Your hair utilizes these fatty acids for its essential proteins and nutrients.
It can help prevent hair follicle inflammation that directly contributes to hair loss. Omega-3 essential fatty acids also promote circulation to the scalp. More circulation is beneficial to hair growth and may trigger follicle regeneration.
Read Next: Which Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss?
Phytosterol
Phytosterols are a favorite in the hair care and skin care world. These cholesterol-like molecules soothe and moisturize skin. They can help replenish and restore aging skin, leaving your scalp young and healthy.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral for hair health. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair loss. Without zinc, your body can’t produce the protein needed to build hair. Zinc is a building block of your hair, so it’s essential to have it!
Different Ways to Use Pumpkin Seed Oil

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Pumpkin seed oil is available in many different forms. It’s an ingredient in many natural hair care products, multivitamin supplements, and oils.
Pumpkin Seed Oil Supplements
Pumpkin seed oil supplements are at many health food stores. They are in oil gel capsules, commonly in 1000 mg capsule dosage. The recommended dosage is one to two capsules to support hair and skin health. Taking pumpkin seed oil supplements will nourish your hair from within your body.
Pumpkin Seed Oil (Ingested)
Pumpkin seed oil is in oil as a supplement. Because of its many health benefits, you can find straight pumpkin seed oil sold at health markets. The recommended dosage is one teaspoon to one tablespoon three times per day.
Pumpkin seed oil is also used in cooking. Like olive oil, pumpkin seed oil has a low smoke point, which means it doesn’t do well under high heat. The high heat can change the structure and nutrients of the pumpkin seed oil, making cooking with pumpkin seed oil unreliable.
Pumpkin Seed Oil (Topical)
The final way to use pumpkin seed oil is by putting it on topically. This method is best for when your scalp or hair is physically dry and cracking and you need to get a quick fix.
It’s recommended to use pumpkin seed oil topically first for bad cases, then switch to supplements to maintain your healthy hair. It’s best to apply pumpkin seed oil as a hot oil hair treatment by following the steps below.
- Shampoo your hair like normal without adding any product afterward.
- Massage warm oil into wet hair and your scalp. Be sure the oil is just warm and not hot. Don’t burn yourself!
- Wrap your hair in a hot towel and let the pumpkin seed oil sit for at least 20 minutes.
- Shampoo and condition your hair and finish your hair as usual.
Promotes Hair Growth
The pumpkin seed oil promotes hair growth in many different ways. It’s a fantastic all-around hair and skin health promoter. It moisturizes and nourishes from the outside while providing essential nutrients from the inside.
Nourishes Follicles
Pumpkin seed oil provides essential nutrients to hair follicles as they break the skin and grow. Unsaturated fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids are provided by pumpkin seed oil.
These oils help the hair follicles grow strong. The pumpkin seed oil also prevents scalp calcification. Scalp calcification is when calcium buildup in the skin pores on your scalp prevents the hair follicles from growing.
They’re not strong enough and can’t break through the tough calcium. With pumpkin seed oil, the calcium can’t build up, allowing the follicles to grow.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The high amounts of antioxidant compounds in pumpkin seed oil, including polyphenols and carotenoids, provide anti-inflammatory properties. With less inflammation, pumpkin seed oil helps reduce free radical damage and irritation to the scalp. With less irritation and damage, more healthy hair can grow.
Promotes Collagen Production
Pumpkin seed oil is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production. Collagen is essential to healthy skin and hair for its ability to make skin retain elasticity and firmness. For hair, collagen is an essential building block.
Your body can use the amino acids in the collagen to build the protein that your hair is made from. Along with building the proteins themselves, collagen can strengthen the skin that your hair roots are growing into.
Collagen can also prevent hair follicle damage. The less damage to the small follicles, the more healthy hair will grow. Collagen has also been studied in the role it has to prevent graying. Overall, it’s an essential protein for growing new hair and maintaining old hair.
Provides Essential Nutrients
All the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients pumpkin seed oil provides your hair with will promote hair growth. If your skin isn’t healthy, your body is going to focus on rebuilding that, not producing more hair.
If you provide your body with the essential nutrients to maintain a healthy core, the hair follicles can begin to grow. You must keep up that healthy core for those follicles to grow strong and produce a full head of hair.
Frequently Asked Questions

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With so many natural hair care products out there, it’s okay to have some questions. Other people have questions, too! Check out some of the most common questions about pumpkin seed oil for hair.
Is pumpkin seed oil good for hair growth?
The rich amounts of unsaturated fatty acids in pumpkin seed oil, specifically oleic and linoleic acid, and vitamin E, all have the potential to aid in hair growth.
Is pumpkin seed oil a natural DHT blocker?
Pumpkin seed oil is scientifically proven to be a natural DHT blocker. Along with blocking DHT, pumpkin seed oil delivers essential nutrients to the scalp and stimulates the hair follicles. Pumpkin seed oil initially targets the catagen and telogen phases of the growth cycle and minimizes shedding.
Does pumpkin seed oil help female hair loss?
Yes, pumpkin seed oil does help female hair loss. a study by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that Cucurbita pepo L. (the oil in pumpkin seeds) has a large amount of nutritional and medicinal properties. These properties can help increase hair growth and decrease shaft diversity.
Can pumpkin seed oil be applied to the scalp?
Yes, pumpkin seed oil can be applied to the scalp. Topical pumpkin seed oil is used as a hot oil hair treatment. Heat the pumpkin seed oil so it’s warm, and rub it into wet hair. Let it soak into your hair and scalp for at least 20 minutes before rinsing.
How often should you apply pumpkin seed oil to your scalp and hair?
Because it’s an oil, pumpkin seed oil needs to be added sparingly to your hair and scalp. Once per week or month is the recommended usage of topical pumpkin seed oil.
Should You Use Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair?
Pumpkin seed oil is a natural hair care product. It provides the essential nutrients and moisturization to promote hair growth and leave you with a healthier, thicker head of hair!