Sesame oil to combat the onset of white hair?

The emergence of white hair, also known as canities, is a natural phenomenon associated with the gradual decrease in melanin production by melanocytes, as well as a reduction in the number of melanocytes. The process of white hair appearing typically begins around the age of 35. However, we are not all equal when it comes to canities. Some people see their hair turn white as early as 20, while others retain their natural colour past 50. Several factors can play a role in the age at which white hair appears, the most common being genetics, oxidative stress, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic stress.

Often extracted by cold pressing from seeds of the same name, the sesame oil has an interesting biochemical composition that gives it the majority of its cosmetic properties. Despite its interesting effects when applied to hair, the sesame oil cannot act on white hair to repigment it. However, it may potentially have a preventative action to slow down the whitening of the fibres.

Sesame oil contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals by donating electrons. This anti-free-radical activity is relevant when it comes to combating the appearance of graying hair. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress plays a role in hair whitening, as free radicals disrupt melanogenesis and the differentiation of melanoblasts, the precursor cells of melanocytes.

Furthermore, a study has focused on the action of sesamin, found in sesame oil, on melanogenesis. As a reminder, melanin, which is responsible for hair pigmentation, is synthesised from tyrosine under the action of the enzyme tyrosinase. Sesamin acts at this stage of melanogenesis by stimulating the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signalling pathway. This increases the activity of tyrosinase and stimulates the production of melanin. Sesamin may also induce an increase in the levels of mRNA coding for tyrosinase. Therefore, it is possible that this molecule could help combat the onset of white hair. However, it is not possible to draw the same conclusion with sesame oil, as the study did not focus on the botanical extract itself. Moreover, the concentration of sesamin in sesame oil may be too low to have the same properties.

The key takeaway : There are reasons to believe that sesame oil could slow down greying. However, in the absence of clinical trials, it is currently impossible to confirm this.