Log onto the internet and you’ll come across a dazzlingly long list of hair growth myths. From those that say that plucking grey hair will produce more to others that say that cutting hair will make it grow faster, you don’t really know what to believe!
Among the many ingredients that are said to promote hair growth, cinnamon is one of them. But it carries its fair share of myths, so it’s important to weed them out of the facts. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at the top myths surrounding cinnamon for hair growth and sharing the truth.
Myth 1: Cinnamon makes hair grow super-fast
Hair follicles need blood and nutrients to help hair grow. Cinnamon has properties that can increase blood circulation, so it has the potential to promote hair growth. But it’s a myth that you’ll see results in just a few days. In fact, hair grows a total of about 6 inches in a year so no matter how much cinnamon or other products you use, expect to see a visible difference in hair growth within 3 to 4 weeks – and not days!
Myth 2: Cinnamon can cure scalp acne
People with scalp acne know just how uncomfortable it can be. It itches and pains and can be embarrassing to see. The same goes for acne on the face.
Cinnamon is often used to treat facial acne as it contains anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s assumed that it also works for scalp acne. But the two are different. Acne in general is caused by the blockage of hair follicles but in the case of the scalp, the culprit is usually the build-up of products like shampoo, styling gel, hairspray, etc. Hence, scalp acne needs a more focused treatment and cinnamon alone won’t do much good. If you do suffer from an itchy scalp or head lice, cinnamon can help soothe and treat them.
Myth 3: Cinnamon can prevent hair loss
Hair loss is caused by a number of things such as stress, infection, hormonal imbalance, age, heredity, chemotherapy, and using too many hair products. As we’ve mentioned, cinnamon can promote hair growth but it can’t prevent hair loss. The only way is to address the cause of the loss.
For instance, if it’s stress-related, learning to manage stress may reverse it. If it’s due to chemotherapy, it will regrow once treatment ends. If it’s heredity, there’s nothing much that can be done. If it’s hormone-related, remedying the imbalance may solve it. The bottom line is that you can use cinnamon-based products to encourage hair growth but you’ll also need to tackle whatever is causing your hair loss.
Myth 4: Cinnamon can change your hair color
Similar to how henna reddens hair, cinnamon is wrongly believed to change your hair color. What it actually does is gradually lighten it. If you regularly use cinnamon on your hair, you may notice that it becomes lighter in time. Of course, this depends on how dark your hair color is to begin with. If it’s black, you probably won’t notice much of a change but it’s fairly light, you may see a difference. Again, it will take a while to show.
Myth 5: Cinnamon can prevent hair breakage
Because cinnamon has the ability to encourage hair growth, it’s mistakenly believed that it can also reduce hair breakage. But this is due to a range of causes like poor diet, over-washing, over-processing, using rubber bands, dryness and even stress. So, no amount of cinnamon will prevent hair breakage if you’re guilty of these. It will only work when you change your habits to being gentle with your hair, letting it air dry, processing it to a minimum, eating a balanced diet, and learning to manage stress.
If you’re interested in adding cinnamon to your hair care routine, there are two forms you can use: powder and oil.
How to use cinnamon powder
This option lets you make a hair mask. Start by grinding a cinnamon stick to make 1 tablespoon of powder or use a pre-ground product. Mix it with 1 tablespoon of honey and a few drops of coconut oil. Apply the product to your scalp using a brush and make sure it’s completely coated. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and wash it with a moisturizing shampoo.
How to use cinnamon essential oil
Warm a quarter cup of coconut oil and add 5 drops of cinnamon essential oil. Mix it well and massage it into your scalp. Apply it to the length of your hair too, thoroughly coating every bit. Leave it on for 15 minutes to half an hour and wash it with warm water and a moisturizing shampoo. Note: If you have an oily scalp, substitute the coconut oil with honey.
Cinnamon oil can be a great addition to the health of your hair. But like all products, you can’t expect it to work miracles. At the end of the day, healthy hair is a product of a healthy lifestyle!