Mustard Oil Can Help With Dandruff—Here's How

While it may sound like a favorite condiment at first, mustard oil is actually beneficial in the beauty world. Extracted by pressing mustard seeds, Ayurvedic medicine has used mustard oil to treat various issues, including hair and scalp problems. So, how exactly can mustard be good for your hair? We tapped dermatologists and trichologists to learn more about this yellow oil.

What Is Mustard Oil?

Extracted from the seed of the mustard plant, mustard oil can come in a pressed form for cooking, or used as an essential oil for topical purposes. The essential oil is touted as a haircare solution for everything from dandruff to hair loss. "Mustard seed oil generally comes from plants out of India, China, Canada, and England and has been used for many years as a hair application," says dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD.

Benefits of Mustard Oil for Hair

It turns out that mustard oil may, in fact, have some benefits for both the hair and scalp.

• Reduces inflammation on the scalp: "Mustard oil is rich in fatty acids, such as omega 3s and 6s, various minerals including calcium, iron, and zinc, which can provide essential nutrients and act as anti-inflammatories," says Chwalek.
• Has high antioxidant properties: Mustard oil also contains antioxidants such as vitamin B and E, both of which can be useful in preventing free-radical damage to hair. "Being very high in natural vitamin E, [mustard oil] has some level of hydration associated with its use—this makes it a suitable choice for those who have damaged and dry hair and for those looking for additional moisture," says Nazarian.
• Has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties:This makes mustard oil a potentially good option to address issues such as dandruff and seborrhea, says Chwalek. In addition, the mustard seed also has anti-parasitic effects, which make it effective against a particular type of mite found on the scalp, notes William Gaunitz is a certified trichologist, who has studied and worked with mustard oil extensively. Nazarian adds that these properties make it "more difficult for certain fungi and yeast and bacteria to damage hair and scalp."
• May help promote hair growth: Chwalek notes that one study of a topical herbal oil (which used mustard oil as the base) found it to be effective against dandruff and good for reducing hair shedding. There are several ways it may do this: First, there are the previously mentioned anti-inflammatory properties, which may help prevent inflammation-induced hair loss. Secondly, Chwalek says that certain compounds in mustard may affect particular receptors in the hair follicle that play a role in controlling hair growth.
• Can kill mites: According to Gaunitz, for some people, hair loss can be caused by a parasite known as demodex folliculorum, one of two types of demodex mites that live on human skin. He adds that mustard seed can kill these mites, however, a caveat is that Demodex folliculorum feed on oil; as such, Gaunitz advises against using mustard oil on the scalp and instead says that tinctures made with ground mustard powder are a much better option.
• Improves overall appearance of the hair: While all of these benefits are primarily centered around mustard oil's effects on the scalp, because it is so rich in fatty acids, it can also help smooth split ends and make your hair shinier, says Chwalek.

Hair Type Considerations

Mustard oil can be used for all hair types, but perhaps not all skin types. All the experts we spoke with agree that it can be extremely irritating—we're talking redness, stinging, and even burning, thanks to skin-irritating compounds such as erucic acid and allyl thiocyanate, explains Chwalek. A patch test to ensure your skin doesn't react negatively is a must before you slather it all over your scalp; those with sensitive skin should proceed with extreme caution.

Similarly, it's often recommended to combine mustard oils with other nourishing oils like baobab to try to minimize the likelihood of irritation. "Baobab is a skin-nourishing carrier oil that helps soften dry skin and penetrates very well into the skin," Emmanuel says. "It is used [to treat] other scalp disorders such as psoriasis and has a great amount of essential fatty acids."

How to Use Mustard Oil for Hair

While it's a mainstay in Ayurveda, it's worth noting that it isn't FDA-approved for oral consumption in the U.S. because it can contain a high concentration of toxic erucic acid. However, people can use the oil topically on the scalp and hair, adds Chwalek, who adds that while there is some science to back up the benefits of mustard oil, there are no studies verifying the best way to use it. "Generally speaking, you could do treatments weekly or monthly," she says. Though again she notes that this is based on anecdotal, rather than scientific, evidence. Regardless of your chosen application, make sure you do that patch test first and follow up with a thorough shampoo.

• Use as a scalp massage: For quick use, take about a teaspoon of mustard oil and massage it into your scalp for about five minutes immediately before shampooing.
• Try an in-shower treatment: Alternately, to up the ante, you can apply the same amount onto the scalp, then pop on a shower cap and let it sit for about 30 minutes, she says. The shower cap will trap heat and may help the oil penetrate better. If you're going to do the latter, it's a good idea to combine the mustard oil with another oil; coconut is one good option, particularly if your hair is extremely dry, which may help minimize the likelihood of the mustard oil irritating your scalp and give you additional benefits from the secondary oil.
• Create a tincture: Gaunitz says that the best way to reap the topical benefits of mustard is to create a tincture (concentrated extract) with ground mustard seed powder, rather than using it in oil form. (He also adds that it's very challenging to find pure, high-quality mustard oil and that many of the products on the market cut it with all kinds of vegetable oils that can ultimately counteract the benefits of the mustard). He suggests combining 1/4 teaspoon with two ounces of water for a topical application, though underscores that this needs to be done with caution given the likelihood of irritation.

The Final Takeaway

In short, the tiny but mighty mustard seed is filled with a variety of potentially good-for-you hair and skin nutrients. Mustard oil can be very beneficial for those experiencing a dry scalp and hair loss. According to Nazarian, there are not a lot of cons to using mustard seed oil, other than perhaps knowing there are "other oils that do a similar, if not more effective job, in some of those categories such as coconut and amla oil," she says.