Beets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you are thinking about ways to improve your hair health, but maybe they should be.
This vibrant red root vegetable (an incredible superfood) has a slightly sweet and subtle earthy flavor, and, it turns out, is packed with hair follicle nourishing vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and antioxidants.
Yes. You can transform your hair from the inside out by drinking beet juice and eating beets, but the beautiful beetroot also offers incredible benefits for hair health when applied directly to the hair. Because beets contain powerful carotenoids (boosting blood circulation) and nourishing vitamins and minerals, beets are a marvelous natural remedy for improving hair health and hair growth.
Did you know that you can also use red beets to color your hair red? That gorgeous (and sometimes annoying) crimson pigment that stains its way to your dinner table provides a dye-free and natural way to give your hair an extra boost of red.
Below, we will cover 6 ways that eating or applying beets to your hair can boost your healthy hair game!
HOW TO BOOST YOUR HAIR HEALTH AND GROWTH WITH BEETS
1. BEETS INCREASE CIRCULATION TO YOUR HAIR FOLLICLES
Beets are full of all-natural molecules called nitrates. These nitrates get converted into nitric oxide (NO) in your body. “NO” has the effects of helping your vessels dilate to allow for more blood circulation and better blood flow. This is good news for your hair, as when your scalp circulation is top-notch, those hair-producing follicles are being thoroughly bathed in oxygen and nutrient-dense blood flow.
Ultimately, adequate blood flow to your follicles can lead to thicker, healthier, and faster-growing strands as compared to a lackluster circulation. Fun fact: one of the most popular hair loss medications, Minoxidil, also functions by increasing the blood flow to the scalp, making beets something of a food-based Minoxidil mimic.
2. BEETS GIVE YOUR HAIR AN ANTIOXIDANT BOOST
Beets have a significantly high level of antioxidants, and these antioxidants can help scavenge and extinguish cell-damaging free radicals throughout your body -- including your hair follicles. Hair follicles can accumulate damage over time, so any antioxidant boost to help preserve them functioning at their peak can contribute to the long-term health of your hair.
With beets, a big antioxidant boost comes from a group of antioxidants called betalains, which contribute to the vegetable’s bright red color. Aside from general free-radical scavenging, these antioxidants are purported to have health benefits including a reduced risk of cancers of the colon and digesting tract.
3. BEETS OFFER DANDRUFF RELIEF
Some claim that applying a beet solution to the scalp may help soothe the itchiness of dandruff and help remove the white flakes that come along with the condition.
What to Do: This beet solution is made by chopping a beet into chunks and then boiling beet chunks in water for 30 minutes to soften and infuse the beet juice into the water. The water is then strained and used to apply to the scalp (once it has cooled, of course). This beet solution can be left on for a few hours or slept in overnight to help with dandruff. Note: beet juice is a bright red color and may stain objects, so be sure to protect linens and surfaces from contact or wear clothing you don’t mind being turned red.
This dandruff home remedy may not work for everyone, but considering that there are no downsides to trying it out, give this a try for your dandruff.
4. BEETS PROVIDE A NATURAL HAIR “DYE” FOR A HEALTHY RED TINT
A fun application for beetroot may be to swap out your hair-damaging normal red hair dye for a beet-based hue. Beet juice may be used as a temporary red tint to your hair in lieu of normal hair dye which can lead to damage, breakage, and dryness of your strands.
What to Do: You can make this beet juice hair-dye by juicing some beets, and then mixing the beet juice with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil. Apply this oil and beet mixture to your hair liberally and wrap your hair in a plastic head wrap to let it sit for at least 1 hour. After rinsing, you may find that your hair has a new cool-red tint that may last for a few weeks.
For more incredible DIY hair-dye recipes, directions, and before/after pictures, check out Pink Fortitude’s How to Make All-Natural Red Hair Dye.
5. BEETS CONTAIN NUMEROUS HAIR-HEALTHY VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Beets contain a significant number of hair-healthy vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Magnesium, Folate, and Potassium. These vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, are needed by the hair follicles to produce the healthiest strands they can while maximizing their growth rates. If you have a deficiency in one or more of these vitamins and minerals, your hair health may suffer.
6. BEETS ADD EXTRA HYDRATION AND SHINE FOR DRY HAIR
Besides reducing dandruff and offering itchy scalp relief, the beetroot is a root vegetable that contains a lot of moisture, perfect for adding some extra hydration when used as a natural hair mask.
What to Do: To make a hair mask, use leftover water from boiled beets (after it’s cooled down), fresh juice from 1-2 beets, or beet puree from canned beets (or ready-to-eat beets) combined with a tbsp or two of coconut oil. Massage into hair and let set for 15 minutes (longer if you want the natural dye). Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Eating a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables (and hopefully, beets) may help to ensure that you are giving your follicles what they need every day to produce beautiful and healthy hair. Did you know that beets are great for the skin too? Check out Beautiful Skin with Beautiful Beets for DIY ideas using beets for healthy skin.
Meet the Author
Jill Barat is a Doctor of Pharmacy with a unique background in specialty pharmacy, innovative compounding products, supplements, and integrative medicine with a passion for helping patients live their best lives.
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