Highly esteemed by ancient civilizations thousands of years of ago, Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as Date Palm Tree, is cultivated not just for its sweet fruit, but also for its practical uses. The Date fruits are a staple food in the Middle East. The leaves are used to weave ropes and baskets, while the trunk is used for building homes. Because of these incredible uses, the locals refer to it as the Tree of Life.

But its uses don’t end there. The seeds are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to our hair, skin, and overall health. This prompted many beauty brands, particularly hair care, to incorporate date seed oil in their formulations in place of some vegetable oils.

Creates a Healthy Scalp Environment

For healthy hair to thrive, it needs to have the ideal environment. And we don’t have to look far. The scalp is where the hair gets its nutrition, so it should always be in top condition to support proper hair growth.

Date oil contains generous amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats that provide nourishment to the scalp. Apart from that, date oil is also rich in lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid that contains antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. This helps create an optimal environment for hair growth by removing dandruff and acne.¹

Thickens Hair

Thinning hair is not as scary as it seems. In fact, it’s a normal part of aging. But why does it happen?

Hair loss is caused by many factors. But here’s the basic idea: When our cells do not generate enough energy, all our organs – including our hair follicles – will start to age. As a result, hair growth will slow down and shedding will soon begin. When this happens, you will need vitamin B2 and amino acids to prevent it from getting worse.

Date oil has high amino acid and riboflavin (vitamin B2) content that can effectively curb hair loss. Amino acid is essential in producing keratin, the protein responsible for strengthening the follicles and increasing hair elasticity. Riboflavin, on the other hand, plays a major role in energy production and restoring cellular function and development.

Prevents Premature Greying

Dates are high in many vitamins that help protect against pigment loss. Two of which are Copper and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which help stimulate pigment production.

Our hair color is determined by the amount of melanin in the strands. As we age, our body produces lesser melanin, turning our hair grey. While we cannot reverse aging, we can encourage our body to produce enough melanin by eating food and using products that are naturally rich in Copper and pantothenic acid, such as Oway Hcolor.

Fights Free Radicals

Dates are rich in bioactive non-nutrients called phytochemicals, that function as antioxidants.² In fact, dates have been reported to be the second highest antioxidant fruit consumed in China.³

Date oil contains many classes of bioactive components, and one of them is carotenoids. It is a well-known antioxidant that helps strengthen the hair by protecting it from free radicals.

Moisturizes Hair

Apart from preventing dandruff and scalp acne, date oil is also widely used for its moisturizing benefits. The Omega-6 and Omega-9 fatty acids contained in the oil helps control water loss so the hair’s moisture is kept intact and the cuticles sealed.

To revive dry, brittle hair, we recommend using hair care products made with date oil, like Momentum Rejuvenate Cleansing Shampoo and Conditioner for men.

Sources:

¹ Nakatsuji, T. (2009). Antimicrobial Property of Lauric Acid Against Propionibacterium acnes: Its Therapeutic Potential for Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2772209/

² Mohan Jain, S. et al. Health Benefits of date palm: phytochemicals and their functions. Available: https://tuhat.helsinki.fi/portal/files/33464248/Jain._Health_benefits.pdf

³Manickavasagan, A. et al. (2012). Dates: Production, Processing, Food, and Medicinal Values. Publisher: CRC Press in Boca Raton, FL.