On the heels of the skincare-over-makeup movement, the next frontier is scalp as skin and styling hair without the damage of heat tools. Enter: hair oils. While they can be an intimidating terrain to navigate, each oil has its own chemical properties and subsequently its own benefits. Vitamin E oil is an excellent first venture into the hair oil territory, as it is already a well-known antioxidant and part of a well-balanced diet. Long respected for its ability to protect and maintain youthful skin, vitamin E oil has recently gained popularity for its potential ability to transform scalp health and smooth dry, frizzy hair. 

Is vitamin E oil the remedy for your dry or thinning hair?

Benefits of Vitamin E oil for Hair

Taking advantage of vitamin E oil for hair can include consuming vitamin E oil rich foods, applying vitamin E oil to the scalp and hair, and taking oral supplements. Vitamin E is found in many whole foods, such as leafy greens, olive oil, nuts, and seeds. There are a number of vitamin E oil hair products on the market if you don't want to create your own hair solution. You can also purchase dropper vials of vitamin E oil for hair or cut open oral capsules to use the oil directly on the hair and scalp. 

The benefits of vitamin E oil for hair can include:

Vasodilation and vasoconstriction properties: “[Vitamin E oil] has been shown to increase blood supply to the scalp,” Sperling says. Increased blood supply encourages hair growth.1

Scalp Rejuvenation: Vitamin E oil provides conditioning to the scalp itself, as it “increases moisture to skin and helps those with dry, flaky scalps,” Sperling says. The potent antioxidants may help to create a healthy scalp environment.

Hair Growth: Friese explains the benefits of blood supply to the scalp include hair growth, saying “The antioxidant properties of vitamin E oil reduces cell damage and improves hair growth. Vitamin E may help create a healthy scalp environment because it stimulates the capillaries, which increases the blood flow to the scalp and encourages hair growth.”

Prevents hair loss: Another benefit of vitamin E oil for hair can be the prevention of breaking down existing hair follicles. “Vitamin E has natural antioxidant effects that may assist with maintaining hair growth. These antioxidant properties can help reduce the amount of oxidative stress and free radicals that may cause the hair follicle cells to break down,” Friese says.

 Increases hair shine: According to our experts, one of the immediate benefits of vitamin E oil for hair is the boost of shine it brings to your locks. The moisture vitamin E oil brings to the scalp and hair helps maintain that post-salon shine.

Enhancing hair strength: Vitamin E oil may strengthen your existing hair follicles. Friese mentions that hair may feel stronger as “It may also help prevent hair breakage and split ends.” Sperling adds that vitamin E oil for hair “protects it from damage.”

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