Unlock The Spirulina Benefits for Hair: A Natural Solution for Healthy and Strong Hair

Spirulina is widely praised for the many ways it can improve health; from reducing inflammation, controlling diabetes, lowering cholesterol, and more.

Did you also know that spirulina may be the greatest asset in your beauty regimen? This nutritional powerhouse is growing in popularity and gaining more widespread use in the cosmetic industry for the many benefits it provides to the skin.  But that is just the beginning of its cosmetic use; there are incredible spirulina benefits for hair as well. 

What is Spirulina?

By now, you’ve likely heard the hype about spirulina, and you already know that it is a potent superfood. But just in case you haven’t heard of it, what is spirulina?

Initially used by the Aztecs to promote endurance, spirulina is a nutritionally rich blue-green algae that “rocketed” back into popular fame after it was used by NASA as a source of nutrition for astronauts on space missions. 

How Can Spirulina Benefit My Hair?

Spirulina is a dense source of beneficial nutrients, including many that are known to have a positive impact on hair, skin, and nails, including:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a popular anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to prevent sun damage, promote topical healing, and aid in the proper functioning of the oil glands around hair follicles. 

Vitamin E

This vitamin has been shown in studies to support hair growth, prevent hair loss and thinning, and protect the skin from sun exposure and damage.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B supplementation is a common recommendation for the treatment and prevention of hair loss.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a common ingredient in many cosmetic products used to promote skin health and anti-aging. When it comes to hair, Vitamin C can help to improve the health of your scalp, resulting in a head of thicker, healthier hair.

Zinc

Zinc protects skin from sun damage and can promote new, stronger hair growth. It is also one of the key ingredients used in popular shampoos to prevent and control dandruff on the scalp.

This list isn’t even close to comprehensive- these are only a few of the beauty boosting nutrients that can be found in spirulina! This dense combination of nutrients works together to boost your hair’s appearance by: 

• Promoting healthy oil glands, increasing hair’s hydration and shine 
• Preventing and reversing hair loss by encouraging new hair growth
• Protecting the skin of your scalp from harmful UV rays 
• Fostering a healthy, dandruff free scalp
• Strengthening and thickening hair

How to Use Spirulina On Hair

There are two main ways to use Spirulina to capture these incredible beauty benefits for yourself. The first way is to take it internally. Adding spirulina to your diet has the double benefit of providing additional health benefits to your entire body, beautifying you from the inside out. It can be taken as a pill in tablet or capsule form, or it can be taken as a powder which can be added to smoothies and drinks. 

Alternatively, to receive concentrated beauty benefits right where you want them, it can be applied topically. A quick online search reveals that there are a growing number of spirulina beauty products on the market intended specifically for hair; conditioners, hair masks, and shampoos. 

If you already have a favorite spirulina powder on hand, you could add it to your conditioner in the shower and allow it to sit for 5- 10 minutes before rinsing, or create an easy diy hair treatment using spirulina and healthy ingredients that you likely already have on hand. 

Common Questions about Spirulina

Are there any spirulina benefits for gray hair?

As we age, our hair follicles naturally begin to produce less melanin. Melanin is what gives your hair its color. As these follicles produce less, the hair that grows in them will turn gray and eventually white. 

While there are currently no available studies specifically about spirulina and how it may benefit gray hairs, there is good reason to believe that it may help. While spirulina likely cannot prevent or delay the change or loss of hair color that accompanies aging, it can still offer beautifying and health boosting benefits to gray hairs. 

Because graying hair strands are dryer and thinner than their colored counterparts,  using spirulina on this more fragile hair can improve its health by protecting thin strands and adding moisture and shine to your hair. 

Is spirulina safe?

Yes, so far studies have found that spirulina is  generally safe for consumption by the general population.

However, it is important to make sure that you are growing your spirulina with care, or obtaining it from a reputable source. Some naturally sourced wild spirulina can be contaminated by the environment and contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and freshwater toxins known as microcystins that are prevalent in the area where it is growing.

Additionally,  there is limited research available on spirulina use among pregnant women. While this nutritional food is likely to offer several benefits to expecting moms, it is advisable that you consult your medical provider before supplementing with spirulina during pregnancy. 

Though rare and usually not serious, some people do experience side effects while taking spirulina. Some of the most common ones include:

• Headache
• Digestive disruption
• Muscle aches
• Sleep disturbances

If you are taking any medications, it would also be a good idea to check in with your doctor and make sure that spirulina will not cause any adverse interactions with any of them.

What is a safe dosage of spirulina?

 If taken internally, the recommended spirulina dosage is around 3 grams per day. The amount of spirulina you need to consume to reach that amount will vary depending on whether you are taking your spirulina in the form of a pill, powder, or consuming it fresh. 

For external topical application, there is no documented dosing recommendation and there is no risk of overdose when used this way. If you choose to follow an online recipe or purchase a topical beauty product which contains spirulina, follow the directions on the bottle for the best dosing recommendation and the safest results. 

If using your own powder to add to your beauty routine, don’t overthink it. Add one or two tablespoons to your beauty cream or conditioner, and adjust the amount up or down as needed. 

Time to Get Started! 

We’ve covered what a powerful addition spirulina can be to your personal beauty regimen and for your general health and well-being. Now all that’s left to do is to get started so you can see these results for yourself! 

If you need help choosing a spirulina product that is right for you, here are some helpful recommendations for spirulina powders or pills that can help you narrow down your selection.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to start your journey toward healthier, shinier, and more beautiful hair today!