Skim through

What it does: soothing, antioxidant, emollient, perfuming

Also called: black cumin oil, nigella sativa seed oil

The science

The black seeds that are pressed for black seed oil come from Nigella Sativa, a small flowering plant found in Southwest Asia, Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe. The seed has a pretty complex chemical composition because it contains both fixed and volatile oil. It is known to be antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic. 

The fixed oil from black seeds is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Linoleic acid is generally found to be at 50% or more, and oleic acid at 20%. The volatile oil from black seeds contains thymoquinone, which gives the seeds antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as other therapeutic properties.

Benefits for your hair

Soothes the scalp

The anti-inflammatory properties of black seed oil help soothe the scalp and get rid of inflammation, flakiness and dandruff.

Stimulates hair growth

Thymoquinone - a powerful antihistamine - in black seed oil can help improve hair growth and reduce hair fall. 

Softens hair

Black seed oil is known to strengthen, soften and condition the hair due to the fatty acid content in the seeds. 

TLDR

Black seed oil is known to be antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It soothes the scalp, softens and conditions the hair, and can help with hair growth.