First off, what is fish oil? This is not a silly question! Drugs.com says, “Fish oil capsules contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in oils from certain types of fish, vegetables, and other plant sources. These fatty acids are not made by the body and must be consumed in the diet.” Fish oil comes from the tissues of fatty fish like herring, mackerel, swordfish, salmon, anchovies, and trout.
A 2009 article in Dermatoendocrinology claims that the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil can greatly improve your hair’s health and density, along with decreasing hair loss and restoring overall hair cycle balance. If you’re looking for a new oil to try in your quest for hair growth and long, strong hair, fish oil may be your match. Fish oil is a type of Omega-3, which Livestrong says can act to make your hair shinier, stronger, and reduces skin dryness that can often lead to an itchy scalp or dandruff.
If you’re looking for a new oil to try in your quest for hair growth and long, strong hair, fish oil may be your match
You may not have been seeking out Omega-3 in your hair before, but the good news is they are not hard to find and you may already have some in your current product lineup. Hair product manufacturers are listening to the consumer demand for healthy oils and creating products that bring the Omega-3 to your hair and scalp, like Ouidad Omega-3 Replenishing Hair Treatment and Carol’s Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie.
The obvious way to get a healthy dose of fish oil is to eat fish a couple of times per week, but if you are looking for new ways to work this oil into your regimen then here are two simple recipes.
Fish oil & olive oil mix for hair
If you’re game to try applying fish oil straight to your hair, the easiest way is to create a fish oil and olive oil mix. Mix fish oil in its liquid form, such as Nature’s Answer Liquid Omega-3 Deep Sea Fish Oil, and mix it with olive oil. Apply this mixture to your scalp for nourishment and to reduce your rate of hair loss.
Sabrina’s daily smoothie
If you are on the green smoothie kick like me then you may enjoy adding your fish oil or Omega-3 to your smoothie. I am not one for measuring so I just throw the following ingredients into my small blender and blend away!
- Coconut water
- Frozen kale
- Frozen spinach
- Frozen fruit (some berry mix some citrus mix)
- Flax seeds or fish oil capsules (pierced and squeezed into blender)
- Uncooked oatmeal
- Honey to sweeten (and cover the kale bitterness)
The great thing about creating a smoothie is you can add what you want. I alternate between the flax seeds and fish oil because they both have an abundance of Omega-3.
What about the smell?
Health Resource Report says that the trick to eliminating the odor is to keep everything cold, including the fish oil, because cold tends to decrease the flavor profile of foods. Now, most are turned off by the smell of fish oil (believe me, it does not smell nice) but there are brands that do not have the offensive odor like Nature’s Bounty Odorless Fish Oil 1200mg, which is just a softgel.
How do you incorporate fish oil in your hair regimen? Softgel, topical, or in a smoothie?
