Top 9 Benefits Of Carrot For Your Hair

Has your hair stopped growing? If you’ve been trying to increase the length of your locks for a while but failing, try carrots.

While daily consumption of carrots for better health is a known fact, the use of this nutritious root vegetable as a hair care ingredient can give you long, healthy tresses in a matter of months.

Read on to know how carrot/carrot oil benefits your hair and the best ways to use it to promote hair growth.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“Grinjana - Carrot balances Vata, Kapha, and Rakta-Pitta. It is a strong antioxidant, thus, preventing hair aging, while the antimicrobial properties of carrot seed oil improve scalp health. The hair grows longer and thicker with the use of carrots. Even modern research confirms its astounding hair growth benefits.’’

-Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• Are Carrots Good For Your Hair?
• Carrot Benefits For Hair
• How To Use Carrots For Hair Growth?
• Which Hair Type Could Carrot Oil Benefit The Most?
• How Often Should You Use Carrot Oil In Hair?

Are Carrots Good For Your Hair?

Whether you eat or apply, carrots immensely benefit your hair. Being one of the main food sources of vitamin A (beta-carotene) and others like vitamin B, C, E, and K, makes it an excellent hair growth promoter.

Both as a vegetable and oil, carrots can be included in your regular hair care routine. Also, it has antioxidant [1], anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. Thus, it helps prevent hair loss, strengthen the hair shaft, protect it from sun damage while keeping your scalp healthy and nourished.

Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, says, “Grinjana - Carrot balances Vata, Kapha, and Rakta-Pitta. Carrot seed oil is rich in Vitamin A, Carotol, and Daucol. It is a strong antioxidant, thus, preventing hair aging, while the antimicrobial properties of carrot seed oil improve scalp health. The hair grows longer and thicker with the use of carrots. Even modern research confirms its astounding hair growth benefits."

The three main products extracted from carrots that are widely used by the cosmeceutical industry are:

1. Carrot Oil

It is made by processing a carrier oil with carrot. Carrot oil can be easily made at home and used as a regular carrier oil, infused with the goodness of carrots.

2. Carrot Seed Oil

Carrot seed oil is extracted by cold pressing the seeds of the wild carrot plant (Daucus carota L.), a progenitor of the domestic carrot. This seed oil is exceptionally good for both skin and hair, due to the presence of various essential fatty acids. And, it is used in a variety of skincare products.

3. Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Carrot seed essential oil [2] is made by steam distillation of the wild carrot seeds. The main constituents of the carrot seed essential oil are sesquiterpenes caryophyllene and carotol along with 46 other plant compounds.

It is known for its various medicinal properties. And, it can be added to skincare products after dilution with a carrier oil.

Essential oils are also made from carrot leaves and roots. These oils are used to treat various skin, hair, and health conditions.

Carrot Benefits For Hair

1. Promotes Hair Growth

Vital growth-promoting vitamins such as vitamin A and biotin in carrots, accelerate keratin production. Further, vitamin C and E in carrots act as powerful antioxidants that keep the hair shaft stronger.

These vitamins also improve blood circulation for better nutritional absorption. Thus, including carrots in your regular hair care regime can ensure thick, long tresses in a matter of months.

2. Prevents Hair Loss

Quick transition of hair from the anagen (hair growth phase) to the telogen phase (resting phase) is generally observed in people with conditions like alopecia areata and telogen effluvium. And, application of carrot extracts and carrot oil can prevent this premature transition of hair.

“Daucus carota extract promotes hair growth by inducing the anagen phase (growth phase of hair). The histomorphometric analysis data indicated that when applied topically in gel form, an earlier anagen phase and prolonged mature anagen phase were seen, when compared to those treated with 1% minoxidil. Results also revealed an increase in both the numbers and size of hair follicles in the extract-treated group,” adds Dr. Zeel.

Carrot contains two predominant bio-compounds known as carotenoids and anthocyanins, along with bioactive polyacetylenes, biotin, folate, and vitamin C. These compounds facilitate growth and prevent hair loss caused by increased DHT levels. Also, they help in treating hair loss caused by certain medications or chemotherapy.

3. Prevents Scalp Infections

The oil extracted from carrot shows effective resistance against various bacteria and fungi due to the presence of carotol, lycopene [3], caffeic acid, polyacetylenes, and anthocyanins. According to studies, the falcarinol type bioactive polyacetylene present in carrots, displays powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. These plant compounds significantly inhibit microbial activities and can prevent various scalp infections such as scalp acne, ringworm, and folliculitis.

4. Regulates Oily Scalp Conditions

Raw carrot juice has an astringent nature that is especially helpful for oily scalp conditions. Its sebum-regulating abilities prevent excess oil production on the scalp. Thus, it helps prevent clogging of your pores, which block the nutrition from externally applied hair care products from reaching your hair roots.

5. Treats Dandruff

The anti-inflammatory properties of carrots and carrot seed oil help to regulate dandruff conditions. Its antifungal abilities, mainly due to the presence of anthocyanins [4] and carotol [5], prevent the proliferation of Malassezia globosa, a fungus responsible for causing dandruff on your scalp. Carrots also control oil secretions, which further aid the management of dandruff.

6. Improves Hair Texture

Vitamin A, E, palmitic acid, and oleic acid (in cold-pressed carrot seed oil) are known for their ability to condition and soften hair texture. Using carrot oil, carrot juice, or hair care products with carrot extracts can give you frizz-free, smooth, silky tresses without spending thousands on salon services.

7. Prevents Breakage And Split Ends

Carrots contain vital nutrients and essential fatty acids that contribute to hair health. Adding a carrot to a hair mask or massaging your hair with carrot oil, repairs the hair damaged from heat and pollution, strengthens the hair shaft, and prevents the occurrence of split ends. With a low chance of breakage, your hair grows faster.

8. Improves Follicle Health

Carrot oil prevents the drying of hair follicles, which generally happens with aging. Miniaturization of follicles causes hair thinning and eventually hair loss. Frequent massages with oil or products of carrot extracts supply your follicles with vitamins and minerals, essential for improved hair growth.

9. Prevents Premature Graying

Oxidative stress [6] is usually the primary cause of premature hair graying and hair fall. Carrot and its oils are considered a superfood for the hair due to their high antioxidant content. Beta-carotene, vitamin E, C, caffeic acid [7], flavonoids, and anthocyanins help scavenge the reactive oxygen species and reduce the oxidative stress effects on the hair.

Vedix Tip: Applying a hair pack made from carrot juice and aloe vera gel can reduce frizz, split ends, and breakage.

How To Use Carrots For Hair Growth?

Both carrot oil and the vegetable can be applied to hair to enhance health. Some simple carrot packs that can battle common hair issues are suggested below:

A. Carrot For Hair Growth

1. DIY Herbal Carrot Oil

There are two ways to make a growth-promoting carrot hair oil:

Grate 2 carrots. Soak the grated carrots in mildly heated olive/ grapeseed oil. Add 1-2 teaspoons of powdered fenugreek [8], curry leaves, and amla to it. Pour it into an airtight jar and store it away from direct sunlight. Let the ingredients soak for a minimum of 4-5 days, before straining and using the oil.

Heat 250 ml coconut or sesame oil and add 2 grated carrots, 1-2 teaspoons of methi seeds, and 10 to 15 neem leaves to it. Let it simmer in low heat for 5 to 10 minutes till the oil changes color. Now, cool the oil to room temperature and strain the oil out of the carrots. Store it in a pump bottle. Apply it on your scalp and hair 2-3 times a week.

2. Carrot Oil, Bhringraj, Brahmi, Triphala

Mix bhringraj, brahmi and triphala powders in equal parts and add 2 tablespoons of carrot oil to it. Apply this pack on your scalp and through the length of your hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat 2-3 times a week for improved hair growth.

2. Carrot Seed Oil, Curry Leaves, Moringa And Gunja Seeds

Mix 1-2 teaspoons of curry leaf, moringa, and purified gunja seed powders in a bowl. Add a tablespoon of cold-pressed carrot seed oil to this. Mix well and apply it to the scalp and hair. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water. Repeat a few times a week.

3. Carrot And Onion Juice Growth Serum

Blend 2 carrots and 3 red onions to extract the juice. Store the juice in a spray or pump bottle and apply it directly to your scalp. Massage gently and leave it on for an hour before washing off. Apply regularly 2 times a day.

B. Carrot For Dry Hair And Split Ends

1. Carrot, Egg, Avocado And Honey Hair Mask

Blend a red carrot, 1 ripe banana, and 1 ripe avocado. Add a tablespoon of honey to it and mix well. Apply it through the length of your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes to half an hour before washing off.

2. Carrot, Aloe Vera And Tulsi Hair Mask

Extract the juice of 2 carrots. Add aloe vera gel and 10 to 15 young tulsi leaves to it. Blend the ingredients well and apply the pack to clean hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off.

C. Carrot For Dandruff

1. Carrot, Hibiscus, Amla, Ashwagandha Herbal Pack

This is a power-packed herbal hair pack for treating dandruff. Blend 2 carrots into a paste and add 1 teaspoon each of hibiscus, amla, and ashwagandha powders to it. Add a little water to adjust consistency. Apply it on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 1 hour and wash off with lukewarm water.

2. Carrot, Haritaki, Neem And Methi Hair Pack

You can either extract the juice of 2 red carrots or blend them to a paste. Add 1 teaspoon of haritaki, neem, and methi powders each to it. Also, add a few drops of coconut oil to make a paste. Apply it on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for an hour before washing it off with lukewarm water.

Which Hair Type Could Carrot Oil Benefit The Most?

According to Ayurveda, one’s hair type is determined by dominance of doshas in the body. There are 3 doshas and thus 3 main types of hair - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. However, in certain Prakritis (body constitution), two doshas may dominate, resulting in Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha hair types.

Carrot is described as a ‘Kapha Vata Hara’, meaning it can balance both the Kapha and Vata Doshas. This makes carrot especially beneficial for the Vata, Kapha, and Vata-Kapha/ Kapha-Vata hair types.

Thus, carrot oil should be included in dry, combination, and oily hair regimes. While it can keep dry hair nourished, it can also regulate excess sebum secretions in oily and combination hair.

How Often Should You Use Carrot Oil In Hair?

If you have prepared your carrot oil with a light carrier oil such as olive or grapeseed, using it daily will help your hair grow faster. However, carrot oil made with heavy carrier oils such as coconut may make your scalp greasy if used regularly. In such cases, around 2 to 3 times a week will be beneficial.

The Last Word

Carrot is a superfood for your tresses that can increase your natural hair growth rate. With a high content of essential vitamins, minerals, and active bio-compounds, carrots and carrot oils are suitable for most hair types. So, if environmental damage, dryness, dandruff, scalp conditions, and hair loss are your main concerns, then go ahead and include this nutrition-dense vegetable in your regular hair routine for beautiful, long, lustrous tresses.

At Vedix, we customize an Ayurvedic hair care regimen with the best-suited ingredients for your hair type.