How to Use CBD for Healthier Hair

Now world-renowned as a health and beauty powerhouse, CBD is making waves and catching people’s attention yet again for its remarkable effects on hair. From creating a healthy shine and texture to using CBD for hair loss, dandruff, and the treatment of other persistent scalp problems, CBD shampoos, conditioners, and serums are making a significant difference on the heads of people throughout the world. Read on to discover the amazing potential benefits of CBD hair treatments.

What Types of Hair Products Contain CBD?

While there is evidence suggesting that applying simple CBD oil or hemp seed oil to your hair can achieve substantial scalp benefits, this can be a messy and sometimes expensive process. Here’s where easy-use CBD shampoo, conditioners, and other hair treatments come in. High-grade CBD and hemp seed oil hair products give your hair all of the benefits of these oils without the mess and expense of coating your head in pure CBD or hemp seed oil. It’s important to note that while many CBD hair products are hemp-derived, not all hemp oil hair products contain CBD.

Users can experience the benefits of CBD and hemp in most types of any type of haircare and styling products, including:

• Shampoos
• Conditioners
• Oils, serums, detanglers, masks, pomades, and other leave-in treatments
• Beard oils and balms

Who Should Use Cannabis Haircare Products?

Nearly anyone with hair will likely benefit from CBD conditioners and other haircare products. CBD and hemp oils can add a vibrant shine and softness to already healthy hair, and create vast improvements in the natural texture and appearance of dry, frizzy, coarse, or curly hair. Even people with oily hair may be surprised by their success with CBD hair products, as CBD appears to have an impressive balancing effect on the oils naturally produced by the scalp.

Can Kids Use CBD or Hemp Hair Products?

Hemp hair products contain no THC whatsoever and are generally considered safe to use on children’s hair (provided they contain no other harsh ingredients). CBD haircare products made with CBD isolate likewise do not contain any THC. However, without conclusive evidence that CBD itself is safe for children, it’s wise to consult a pediatric health care professional before using CBD hair products on kids. Full-spectrum CBD shampoos and other products may contain trace amounts of THC, so it is advisable to skip these completely for children’s hair.

What Are the Benefits of CBD Hair Products?

The dermal layers of the scalp and hair follicles themselves are home to a significant number of endocannabinoid receptors. These receptors readily absorb cannabinoids (chemical compounds found in cannabis, including CBD), making it easy to soak up the benefits of CBD directly at the root, so to speak.

Strengthens, Protects, and Improves Hair’s Appearance

CBD oil contains 21 amino acids, which are what the body uses to build proteins – including hair itself. In addition to these amino acids helping hair grow strong and healthy and even maintaining its natural color, CBD oil’s fatty acids are also highly moisturizing, helping to seal the cuticle, protecting it from damage caused by heated hair tools, chemicals, or even water. CBD’s remarkable antioxidant properties may also provide a layer of protection for your hair and scalp from environmental free radicals.

Scalp and Skin Health

CBD is anti-inflammatory, making it an excellent agent for soothing itchy scalp ailments. CBD’s other scalp health superpower is its adaptogenic effect on sebum production. Sebum is an oil naturally produced by the scalp. When sebum production is too low, you can end up with dry hair and an itchy scalp, and when it’s too high you can end up with uncomfortable skin conditions and/or oily hair. CBD has been shown to help regulate sebum production, contributing to a healthy level of balance that may impart significant improvements in a number of scalp issues.

What are the Benefits of Hemp Oil for Hair?

Protects

The biggest hemp seed oil hair benefit is its potential as a protectant from environmental damage. Unfortunately, styling hair while it’s wet, using heated styling tools, and even the chemicals in most hair styling products can make hair more porous and susceptible to breakage and damage. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in hemp oil readily coat the hair shaft, creating an effective shield against these types of damage. Hemp oil is also rich in vitamin E, further protecting hair by promoting its elasticity and durability.

Adds Moisture and Shine

Hemp seed oil can work wonders on the appearance of coarse, curly, or frizzy hair. An added bonus of hemp seed oil’s coating of the hair shaft is a beautiful, healthy luster. Hemp oil also helps lock in moisture.

Treating Scalp Issues With CBD

Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Some studies suggest a correlation between marijuana use and accelerated hair loss, but interestingly enough, one of cannabis’s compounds may also reverse this particular effect. Inflammation is a common contributor to hair loss (alopecia), but the good news is that CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory and easily absorbed directly by hair follicles. Remarkable regrowth of hair has been seen in study groups of people directly applying CBD to their scalp over a six-month period – with men (frequent sufferers of accelerated hair loss) seeing the most success. CBD has also been shown to promote restful sleep and reduce stress and anxiety levels, all of which may also contribute to healthy hair growth.

Dandruff and Dry Scalp

Dandruff is a relatively common scalp condition, characterized by itching, irritation, and unsightly white flakes on the scalp, which then often fall to the shoulders. Typically caused by overactive sebum production and the resulting overgrowth of yeast on the scalp, CBD’s effects on sebum regulation and its antimicrobial properties may drastically reduce the likelihood of dandruff and scalp infections. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can also significantly soothe the discomfort of those dry, itchy, flaky patches on the scalp.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis (also known as cradle cap) is another condition associated with the overproduction of sebum and a resulting overgrowth of yeast on the scalp. This uncomfortable condition can cause itching, dandruff, redness, or lesions on the scalp. CBD’s sebum-regulating properties may provide the same type of relief from seborrheic dermatitis as it does for those suffering from dandruff.

Psoriasis and Eczema

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition characterized by rapid overgrowth of skin cells, resulting in thick, red, itchy, scaly patches on the skin. Psoriasis frequently occurs on the scalp and can be not only incredibly uncomfortable but can contribute to insecurities about one’s appearance. CBD can soothe the itching, pain, and inflammation associated with this uncomfortable and often unsightly condition. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a similar condition, also typically presenting as itchy red patches on the skin, associated with inflammation, and often attributed to allergens or autoimmune issues. CBD oil appears to also provide significant relief from and reduction of eczema symptoms.

Ingrown Hairs and Razor Burn (Beards)

Men who maintain a beard often deal with painful ingrown hairs and unsightly razor burn. CBD beard oil not only protects facial hair from environmental damage and lends a soft and healthy feel but can also have a powerfully soothing effect on the skin underneath.

How to Find the Best Hemp & CBD Haircare Products

Hemp vs. CBD

It’s important to recognize that hemp seed oil and hemp-derived CBD are not the same ingredients. While both can have impressive effects on hair’s texture and shine, people seeking relief from dandruff, hair loss, psoriasis, and other scalp issues will be better served by the anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties of products containing CBD. In fact, most hemp hair products will not contain any significant amount of CBD at all.

Opt for hemp products if you are simply looking to achieve the appearance of your hair, and protect it from environmental damage. If you are hoping to balance out sebum levels, combat hair loss, or treat scalp or jawline skin issues, CBD hair products are the way to go.

Full-Spectrum CBD vs. CBD Isolate

From an efficacy standpoint, products made with full-spectrum CBD are optimal. Full-spectrum CBD is a whole-plant extract, allowing the vast multitude of cannabis’s synergistic plant compounds to work together. However, if you are regularly subjected to hair follicle drug testing (or simply wish to avoid any chance of trace exposure to THC), products made with CBD isolate may be the safer choice. While full-spectrum CBD extracts contain less than .03% THC (an amount too small to have any effect on most individuals), CBD isolate is the only way to achieve CBD’s benefits while completely avoiding THC.

High-Grade Ingredients

It goes without saying that ingredient quality makes a huge difference in the products you put on your hair (or beard). Hemp plants are notorious bio-accumulators, absorbing nearly any substance that makes its way into their soil. Look for products made with hemp sourced from organic farms and grown without pesticides wherever possible. Likewise, any other botanicals in the product should also be from clean, organic sources. Third-party laboratory testing for purity and potency ensures you’ll always know exactly what’s in the products you put on your scalp and hair.

Hair Goals

Look for hemp or CBD hair products tailored to the style goals you have for your own individual head (or face) of hair. If you’re unsure, consult an experienced professional hairstylist’s advice first. Likewise, check with a dermatologist if your CBD hair goals include the treatment of scalp problems. And of course, as with any cosmetic product, always carefully follow the instructions for use.

Positive Reviews

Look for hair products backed by positive reviews from people who have actually tried them out. With so many companies eager to jump into the expanding hemp and CBD markets, there are many products out there that contain some hemp or CBD but deliver mediocre results. While finding the perfect CBD or hemp shampoo for your hair may take a bit of trial and error, you’ll save yourself significant time and money by starting with brands and products with a fanbase of satisfied users. We’ve included a list below of the CBD and hemp hair products we like and brands we trust.

Our Favorite Hemp & CBD Haircare Brands