Saffron has been used in cooking for hundreds of years, but it is now becoming a popular ingredient in haircare products. But what are the actual benefits of saffron for hair and why should you choose this over ingredients? Here’s what I found.
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Where Does Saffron Come From?
Saffron is a spice and it is made from the stigmas of the plant Crocus Sativus. It has mainly been cultivated in Asia for centuries and you’d usually associate it with foods and beverages.
But saffron has also been used in perfumes and dyes as the threads of the spice are yellow and fine.
The color deposits easily, hence saffron can turn any dish a yellow or orange color and ground saffron turns red or red-orange.
Recent scientific studies have found that the main properties of saffron are carotenoids, crocetin, kaempferol, and crocin.
All these are important bioactive compounds our bodies do not synthesize well on their own.
So, not only is ingesting saffron ideal but so is putting it on your skin and hair.
How Do You Use Saffron In Hair?
There are a few ways you can incorporate saffron into your haircare routine. Such as:
Leave-In Treatment
- Add a few strands of saffron to a cup of hot boiling water.
- Let it cool and then mix in with your favorite leave-in conditioner.
- Leave on for at least 15 minutes.
- Rinse off.
- Dry your hair.
For Hair Growth
- Mix a few strands of saffron to milk and add some licorice roots.
- Apply to all of your hair and leave for 15 minutes.
- Rinse off.
- Use shampoo and conditioner as usual.
- Dry hair.
Store-Bought Products
If you want to add saffron into your daily routine in an easy way, try the Joon Saffron Hair Elixir trio.
This treatment is made up of shampoo, conditioner, and a saffron elixir and will make your hair softer, more manageable, and smell great.
12 Benefits Of Saffron For Hair
1. Sun And Heat Protectant
The moisturizing properties and unique compounds found in saffron protect the hair from sun damage caused by UVB and UVA rays.
In fact, using saffron on your hair provides enough antioxidants to prevent free radicals from invading your strands.
This means it’s excellent for applying before heading out to the beach for the day.
Studies show that saffron can even offer better sunscreen protection than commercial products. This means it can help prevent sunburn and redness caused by overexposure to the sun and heat.
Speaking of heat, saffron can also help protect against the heat of styling tools.
Applying a little saffron to your locks before using hair straighteners, curling irons, and hot rollers will go a long way to safeguard your strands from heat damage.
2. Lightening And Brightening
Because saffron is a classic natural dye, it has the capacity to brighten and lighten the hair.
In this context, it reveals the hair’s natural beauty. It won’t actually change hair color unless the natural tone is light. However, it gives clarity to each cuticle.
3. Anti-Aging Effects
While the effects of saffron on the skin have amazing benefits in fighting fine lines and wrinkles, this also translates to hair.
Because it has the powerful ability to stave off oxidative stress, it can also help reduce and prevent gray hair.
4. Has A Great Scent
Saffron has long been an ingredient in the perfume and fragrance industry.
So, adding saffron to your hair will make it smell wonderful with long-lasting effects that can repel things like cigarette smoke and other environmental odors.
Its aromatic woodiness with a hint of sweetness makes it ideal for any gender.
5. Reduces Redness, Pain, And Inflammation
The analgesic, or pain-relieving, effects of saffron are all-encompassing.
Any redness, swelling, or itching from skin conditions, like eczema on the scalp, will benefit greatly from regular applications of saffron.
It’s soothing, and relieving, and provides a cooling effect on inflammations.
Interesting Fact: The famous last Queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, used saffron as a staple in her daily beauty regimen. She used it on her skin and hair to maintain a youthful and beautiful appearance.
Plus, it helped heal the scalp from the classic thick, dark, and unbearably itchy animal hair wigs ancient Egyptians wore.
6. May Prevent Hair Loss
The healing and restorative constituents contained within saffron mean it may help prevent hair loss.
Since it has the ability to strengthen hair shafts at the roots, saffron can help retain soft and healthy hair.
This ability is mostly due to how saffron helps increase blood flow by introducing necessary oxygen to the entire head of hair, including the scalp.
7. Restores Shine And Body to Lifeless, Dull Hair
Aside from all the wonderful phytochemical constituents that saffron possesses, it has its own oil.
It restores glossiness and the body to dull, lifeless hair as a result of aging, sun damage, or heat styling.
This means women who overuse irons, hair dye and other chemical treatments will benefit from regular use of saffron.
It’s also a great way to prevent damage before using heat or chemical treatments on your hair.
8. Offers a Smoother And Sleeker Appearance
Saffron’s high oil content gives hair a sleek and smooth feel and appearance.
Plus, it lasts all day long and doesn’t give hair an oily or slick effect like coconut oil does, for example.
It helps subdue the difficulties associated with curly, coarse hair too. This translates to manageable hair and fewer bad hair days.
9. Stimulates Hair Growth
Saffron heals and repairs the follicles, roots, and cuticles of each hair shaft. Then, the natural oils of the hair sync with the properties of saffron, which increases and stimulates hair growth.
But, if your purpose is for growing hair, you should combine saffron with other growth promoters like vitamin C and licorice root.
10. Locks Moisture into Every Strand
Regular use of saffron on the hair will retain moisture from tip to root. The glossiness it provides means moisture stays inside and hydrates the entire strand.
Adding a dab of leave-in treatment on clean, towel-dry hair will trap the moisture down to the core.
Repeated applications will create a strong and solid barrier against a host of environmental factors that can sap hair of moisture and result in damage.
Pollution and chemical exposure are two of the biggest ones.
11. Prevents Split Ends
Because of the softening and moisture-locking capabilities that saffron offers, it can also help prevent split ends. However, this will only be effective with prolonged use starting immediately after a haircut.
It will not stop split ends when you notice them forming, however.
12. Absorbs Quickly
Even though saffron is naturally oily, it absorbs quickly and soaks into the entire shaft with great ease.
Because of this, its healing and restorative capabilities begin right away. Results are noticeable within minutes. However, severe damage will take time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best and most cost-effective way is to look into the Korean beauty market. Many of these niche cosmetics manufacturers incorporate saffron into many hair formulations such as blended oils, mousses, shampoos, conditioners, and split-end treatments.
I you make DIY blends of hair products yourself, you won’t need more than a few saffron strands in any given mixture. Anything more than ¼ teaspoon can present some issues for daily use but it will be okay once a week.
Just by handling hair care products containing saffron, there are a plethora of other benefits. Saffron is a classic anti-depressant, helping to replenish deficiencies in serotonin. It can also fight off Alzheimer’s disease, improve memory and boost eyesight along with having anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties.
References
Traditional and Modern Uses of Saffron (Crocus Sativus)
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/6/4/63/htm
Does Saffron Have Antisolar and Moisturizing Effects?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3862060/
The effects of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents on nervous system: A review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4599112/
Saffron and natural carotenoids: Biochemical activities and anti-tumor effects
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24269582/
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