Why Flaxseed Oil Is Not a Good Choice for Your Hair: A Look at Its Comedogenic Scale and Follicle Health
- Admin
- Dec 7, 2024
- 5 min read
Flaxseed oil, commonly known as linseed oil, is a traditional wood finish that enhances the natural beauty of wood while providing protection. It’s derived from pressed flax seeds and is valued for its ability to penetrate wood fibers, enriching color and grain patterns.
Types of Linseed Oil:
• Raw Linseed Oil: This is pure flaxseed oil that dries slowly, often taking weeks to fully cure. It’s less commonly used due to its prolonged drying time.
• Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO): Despite the name, it’s not boiled but treated with drying agents to accelerate curing, making it more practical for wood finishing.
Application and Benefits:
Applying linseed oil is straightforward: use a brush or cloth to apply a thin coat along the wood grain, let it penetrate for 10 to 20 minutes, then wipe off any excess. Multiple coats are typically needed for optimal protection and appearance. This finish enhances the wood’s natural color, providing a warm, amber tone and highlighting the grain.
Considerations:
• Drying Time: Raw linseed oil has a slow drying time, which can be impractical for some projects. Boiled linseed oil dries faster but contains chemical additives.
• Durability: Linseed oil offers moderate protection against moisture and wear. For surfaces subject to heavy use, additional protective finishes may be necessary.
• Food Safety: Raw, food-grade linseed oil (flaxseed oil) is safe for items like cutting boards. However, boiled linseed oil is not recommended for surfaces in contact with food due to added chemicals.
Flaxseed Gel for Wood Finishing:
There is limited information on using flaxseed gel as a wood finish. Traditional wood finishing relies on oils rather than gels, as oils penetrate wood fibers effectively. Flaxseed gel, typically used in hair care, may not provide the same benefits and could result in an uneven or sticky finish.
In summary, linseed oil is a time-honored choice for wood finishing, offering aesthetic enhancement and basic protection. Selecting the appropriate type and understanding its properties will help achieve the desired outcome for your woodworking projects.
Flaxseed oil has long been praised for its health benefits and even used in some natural hair care routines.
However, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s beneficial for every purpose.
Flaxseed oil, while great for finishing wood or providing dietary omega-3s, can cause significant damage to your hair—especially for those with low porosity hair or sensitive scalps.
One often overlooked issue is the oil’s comedogenic rating and how its sealing properties can block follicles and cuticles over time, leading to buildup, breakage, and even hair loss. Let’s dive into why flaxseed oil is not ideal for hair care and how its properties can harm your scalp and strands.
What Is the Comedogenic Scale?
The comedogenic scale measures how likely an ingredient is to clog pores, which is crucial for both skin and scalp health. Ratings range from 0 (non-comedogenic) to 5 (highly comedogenic):
• 0-1: Does not clog pores.
• 2-3: May clog pores for some individuals.
• 4-5: Highly likely to clog pores.
Flaxseed oil falls around a 4-5 on the comedogenic scale, making it highly pore-clogging. While this might not seem relevant for hair care at first glance, remember that your scalp is skin, and clogged follicles on the scalp can have long-term consequences for hair growth and health.
How Flaxseed Oil Blocks Hair Follicles
When applied to the hair and scalp, flaxseed oil’s thick, sealing properties can:
1. Clog Follicles
• Hair follicles are the openings in your scalp where strands grow. If these follicles are blocked by a heavy, pore-clogging oil like flaxseed oil, it can lead to:
• Folliculitis: Inflammation or infection of the follicle.
• Slowed Hair Growth: A blocked follicle cannot support healthy growth.
• Hair Thinning or Loss: Chronic follicle blockage can cause permanent damage over time.
2. Create a Suffocating Barrier
Flaxseed oil’s sealing properties are excellent for wood but detrimental for the scalp. It creates a heavy, impermeable layer over the scalp and hair shaft, suffocating the follicles and reducing airflow. This can result in:
• Inflammation: A suffocated follicle becomes irritated and swollen.
• Reduced Nutrient Absorption: The scalp cannot take in nutrients from water or hydrating treatments, weakening the hair at the root.
Flaxseed Oil’s Effect on Low Porosity Hair
Low porosity hair has tightly packed cuticles that naturally resist moisture and product penetration. Flaxseed oil exacerbates this issue in several ways:
1. Heavy Buildup
• Because flaxseed oil is highly comedogenic, it doesn’t wash out easily, even with shampoo.
For those practicing “team natural” routines—avoiding shampoos and using apple cider vinegar or co-washes—this oil can linger for weeks, forming a heavy barrier on the hair cuticle.
• Over time, this buildup makes the hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage, as moisture and nutrients cannot penetrate the strand.
2. Sealing Cuticles
• Flaxseed oil acts like a sealant, similar to how it works on wood. For low porosity hair, this creates a protein-like effect, where the hair becomes stiff, hard, and prone to snapping.
• With repeated use, the hair’s natural flexibility and resilience are lost, leading to weathering—a form of hair strand erosion caused by external damage and buildup.
Why Flaxseed Oil Works for Wood but Not Hair
The properties that make flaxseed oil perfect for finishing wood are exactly what make it harmful for hair:
• On Wood: Flaxseed oil penetrates the pores of the wood, hardens, and forms a protective, durable seal.
• On Hair: The oil creates a similar seal on the hair cuticle and scalp, but instead of protecting, it blocks moisture and air, leading to buildup and long-term damage.
The Connection Between the Scalp and Hair Health
Your scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. When products clog the pores and follicles, it disrupts the natural growth cycle. Here’s what happens:
1. Blocked Follicles:
• Flaxseed oil’s high comedogenic rating causes a layer of buildup over the scalp.
• Blocked follicles can’t push out sebum (natural oils), leading to irritation and inflammation.
2. Hair Weakening:
• Without proper follicle function, strands grow weaker and thinner over time.
• Chronic blockage can lead to permanent follicle damage, slowing growth or even causing balding in extreme cases.
3. Reduced Hydration:
• The scalp and hair shaft cannot absorb water or lightweight treatments due to the thick barrier created by flaxseed oil.
How to Avoid Damage
If you’ve been using flaxseed oil or other heavy oils in your hair care routine, it’s important to take proactive steps to prevent further harm.
1. Switch to Lightweight Oils
Avoid oils with high comedogenic ratings. Instead, opt for lightweight oils that are more scalp-friendly and easily absorbed, such as:
• Argan oil: A non-comedogenic oil that moisturizes without buildup.
• Jojoba oil: Closely mimics the scalp’s natural sebum, reducing irritation.
• Grapeseed oil: Lightweight and nourishing, ideal for low porosity hair.
2. Clarify Regularly
To remove buildup from heavy oils like flaxseed oil, use a clarifying shampoo every 2-4 weeks. This is especially important if you co-wash or avoid traditional shampoos.
3. Focus on Scalp Health
Healthy hair starts with a clean, well-nourished scalp. Use water-based treatments or scalp scrubs to remove residue and encourage proper follicle function.
4. Hydration Over Coating
Instead of sealing your hair with heavy oils, focus on hydrating it with:
These penetrate the strand and promote softness without adding buildup.
Conclusion
While flaxseed oil might seem like a natural, nutrient-rich solution for hair care, its heavy, sealing properties and high comedogenic rating make it a poor choice—especially for those with low porosity hair or natural routines that avoid strong shampoos. Over time, flaxseed oil can block hair follicles, cause inflammation, and create a suffocating layer over your strands, leading to dryness, breakage, and even hair thinning.
For healthy, nourished hair, prioritize lightweight oils and hydrating products that work with your hair type rather than against it. Your hair—and your scalp—will thank you.
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