These Are the Benefits of Vitamin E Oil for Hair

By: Sophie O'Kelly | Sep 07, 2022

Slathering oil through dry hair isn't exactly a new concept. Whether you warm up the oil or apply it cool, many believe a good oil treatment can help boost hair health and revive brittle locks. Over recent months (and after many skincare experts recommended it to promote healthy skin), the oil of choice has been vitamin E.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that boasts antioxidant properties, making it a great reparative agent to potentially help healthy and damaged hair. But what makes vitamin E oil different from other hair oils? And what hair types will reap the benefits? VEGAMOUR spoke to the experts to uncover the truth — plus, find out what products you really should be using to encourage gorgeous, shiny, healthy hair.

What Is Vitamin E Oil?

Vitamin E has been a popular skincare choice since the 1950s. It's used to help protect the body's cells and reduce the negative impact of free radicals with its natural antioxidant effects. Vitamin E oil for hair has become a fast favorite over the past few years because of its accessibility and versatility — it's an excellent choice for anyone entering the world of hair oil for the first time. Renowned surgeon and medical head Dr. Harikiran Chekuri explained, "Vitamin E oil is a naturally occurring nutrient that is derived from vegetable oils. It is a thick yellowish liquid that is known to have many benefits when applied topically to the skin or hair."

Shop: VEGAMOUR's Hair Wellness Collection

Benefits of Vitamin E

Besides being a popular skincare ingredient, early research suggests that vitamin E oils can help improve scalp and hair health. "Vitamin E oil is known to be beneficial for the hair and scalp due to its ability to deeply moisturize and protect the hair from damage," Chekuro said, "Vitamin E oil can help to repair damaged hair, split ends and tame frizzy hair. In addition, vitamin E oil can also help to stimulate hair growth."

Vitamin E oil for hair can be applied topically to the scalp. It's also found in several food sources and is an essential component of a healthy diet.

Here are the top benefits that vitamin E oil can potentially offer.

Healthy Hair Follicles

If you're not regularly nurturing and clearing your scalp of debris, you could be blocking healthy hair growth and encouraging a dry scalp. Poor scalp health is linked to reduced hair strength and less gorgeous shine. Vitamin E oil can help reduce oxidative stress in the scalp because it's an antioxidant. It works to preserve the protective lipid layer and helps prevent healthy hair follicle cells from breaking down, which could lead to hair breakage at best and thinning hair or even hair loss at worse.

Possible Hair Growth

The antioxidant benefits of vitamin E oil can possibly improve hair growth by creating a healthy environment for the hair to grow. One trial found that vitamin E supplements can help turn things around for people suffering from hair loss by reducing lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in the scalp. However, more research must take place before vitamin E becomes a bona fide hair vitamin known for promoting growth.

Prevent and Restore Dry, Damaged, Depleted Hair

Nutrition and beauty expert Nina Wawryszuk explained, "Sun exposure and environmental toxins cause damage to our locks. This results in premature graying of the hair, dryness, discoloration and even hair fall. Using hot tools that overheat our strands can result in brittleness and breakage. Vitamin E can help prevent these issues." Hair can look dull, frizzy and even gray when damaged, and the protective layer is impaired. Strands can lose their shine, but thankfully a topical vitamin E product can work to replace the protective layer and encourage shine.

Our GRO AGELESS Anti-Gray Hair Serum is a revolutionary new plant-based product that reduces the appearance of gray on new hair growth.

It also helps renew color and shine and soothes the skin leaving the scalp nourished. The unique formula contains a powerhouse vitamin blend of B3, B5, B6 and E, which work together to help reduce the appearance of graying hair. In addition, caffeine counteracts the damage caused by oxidative stress while nourishing the scalp and hair follicles, peptides boost and help renew hair color and glycoproteins gently diminish gray hairs and enhance shine. With consistent, daily use, you can realize shinier, healthier, more vibrant hair in as soon as 90 days!

Help Soothe the Skin

Along with other symptoms,dry and irritated skin can signify a vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E is essential for healthy skin because it creates a protective barrier on the skin's surface. It's unclear whether topical vitamin E can balance out the skin's natural oil, but adding vitamin E to a carrier oil, such as marula oil, can help keep the scalp moisturized.

Also: 12 Ways to Use Marula Oil in Your Beauty Routine

Are There Potential Side Effects to Using Vitamin E Oil on Hair?

There are plenty of benefits of using vitamin E oil on hair, but you might also experience adverse side effects if care isn't taken. Applying just a few drops of undiluted vitamin E directly onto the skin could cause an irritating rash or skin complaint. The solution is to add the vitamin E oil to a carrier oil, such as marula oil, before applying it to your scalp or skin.

What About Vitamin E Supplements?

Additionally, a balanced diet will usually give your body all the necessary vitamin E, so before you take vitamin E-specific supplements, always consult a doctor first. Too much vitamin E has been known to cause:

Muscle weakness
Fatigue
Increased risk of bleeding, especially in those taking anticoagulants
Increased risk of thyroid cancer
Nausea
Diarrhea

Also: How to Identify the Best Hair Supplements

Natural Vitamin E Sources

As mentioned previously, a healthy, balanced diet will likely provide your body with enough vitamin E. Here are some vitamin E-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet if you're not already doing so:

Leafy greens
Nuts
Olive oil
Sunflower oil
Healthy breakfast cereals
Avocado
Red sweet pepper
Mango
Kiwi fruit

The Final Word

Vitamin E oil is a good hair hydrator and can potentially help keep hair follicles healthy by boosting scalp health as long as you take care when applying it. Some research suggests vitamin E might even support hair growth, but more research is needed to confirm that theory.

Adding vitamin E supplements to your diet is usually not necessary, as your diet likely provides enough vitamin E on its own. Before adding supplements to your diet, always consult your doctor for advice.

To ensure your hair remains glossy, vibrant and soft from root to tip, combine a balanced diet with healthy daily habits, such as actively reducing stress and getting enough quality sleep. Also, make a point to choose natural hair wellness products and supplements made with an abundance of minerals and vitamins to maximize the potential of your glossy locks!