4 Ways To Use Fenugreek Seeds For Healthy Natural Hair
This post contains affiliate links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.
Fenugreek seeds, also called methi seeds, have a multitude of medicinal properties along with being a prominent spice in many cultural dishes. For starters, fenugreek seeds are packed with protein for strengthening strands, mucilage for moisturizing and soothing the scalp while detangling the hair, and most importantly nicotinic acid which may minimize hair shedding while soothing scalp issues. Fenugreek seeds are also anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal which is beneficial for soothing a dry irritated scalp as well as high in iron.
These little seeds are a win win for natural hair care and can be used in various ways. I’ve used fenugreek seeds in my beauty regimen on and off for years. Today I wanted to share four easy ways you can incorporate fenugreek in your hair regimen to promote healthy hair growth.
1. Fenugreek & Flaxseed Hair Gel
If you love using flaxseed gel, you will love this simple recipe too. Flaxseed gel is great for moisturizing and styling curly hair so adding fenugreek to the gel only makes it 10x better. For a Fenugreek & Flaxseed Hair Gel boil two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds and two tablespoons of flax seeds in three cups of water. Stir frequently. You will see the mucilage form from the seeds as the water become thicker. Once the mucilage turns a slightly yellow shade it is time to strain. This usually occurs after about 10-15 minutes of boiling. Once strained and cooled you now have a strengthening and moisturizing hair styler that also aids detangling the hair.
2. Fenugreek Hair Spritz
You can easily make a simple moisture and detangling spritz with fenugreek seeds just like you would any herbal tea. Add one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds to one cup of boiled water. Once cooled allow the seeds to infuse further in the refrigerator overnight. I like to use a jar with a lid that I can seal during this process. In the morning strain and pour this infusion into a clean spray bottle. You can use the Fenugreek Hair Spritz as a base layer for moisturizing then sealing your hair with an oil/butter, or by itself for conditioning and strengthening the hair.
3. Fenugreek Hair Oil
To make a fenugreek hair oil add three tablespoons of fenugreek seeds to one cup of any high-heat cooking oil to a small sauce pan and gently heat the oil on the stove on a low temperature for 20 minutes to help infuse the oil. Stir the seeds frequently. Allow the oil to cool. Once the oil has cooled, store the oil and seeds in a jar for 1-2 weeks to continue infusing the oil, then strain. The longer you leave this infusion the more potent the oil with be.
High-heat cooking oils are best if you are going to heat the oil because they are least prone to oxidation in heat and very stable oils. You can use coconut oil, sunflower oil, and sesame oil. If your favorite hair oil is more fragile in heat, try doing a solar oil infusion instead which I share more about here. I personally love the scent of fenugreek infused coconut oil. It has a very sweet herbal scent.
4. Fenugreek Hair Cleanser
In the series No More Chemical Hair Care, I shared how you can mix three herbal powders to create an awesome 100% hair wash that will cleanse and condition your hair in one step, is easy to travel with, and so simple to make. Fenugreek seed powder can be mixed with clays, aritha, and other ingredients to make this simple hair wash. You can learn all the details on how to make a fenugreek hair cleanser in No More Chemical Hair Care--Herbal Hair Cleansers.
In the fall and winter months our hair needs a bit more pampering. Just adding one additional hair treatment to your usual hair regimen can make a huge difference. I actually enjoy oiling my hair a bit heavier during the cooler months.
How do you tweak your hair regimen this time of year?
Image by Dawn Michelle