What effects does cornflower hydrosol have on the hair?

Taking care of one's hair with cornflower hydrosol.

Cornflower hydrosol, extracted from cornflower Centaurea cyanus flowers through hydrodistillation, is highly praised for its fatigue-relieving properties for the eyes and soothing effects on the skin. However, some sources also cite it as an interesting hair care active ingredient. Discover in this article what you need to know about the benefits of cornflower hydrosol for hair.

Published on November 28, 2024, by Marie, Scientific Editor — 6 min of reading

The cornflower hydrolat is believed to have a soothing effect on the scalp.

Several studies are dedicated to examining the impact of cornflower hydrosol on skin inflammation. An experiment was notably carried out on rodents to observe the effects of a water-based cornflower extract on the progression of a skin oedema generated following the topical application of croton oil (40 mg diluted in 10 ml of acetone) on the inner surface of mouse ears. The effects of the cornflower extract on inflammation were compared to those of indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. The aqueous extract of cornflower managed to inhibit the size of the oedema by 52%, compared to 72% for indomethacin.

The aqueous extract of cornflower is believed to possess intriguing anti-inflammatory properties, which are attributed to its flavonoid content. These molecules have the ability to suppress the activity of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6. It can be hypothesised that the soothing effects of cornflower floral water extend to the hair sphere. Although human scientific studies are necessary to confirm this, it is possible that this ingredient could reduce redness, irritation, and itching of the scalp. The use of this ingredient could therefore be beneficial for sensitive or weakened scalps.

The cornflower hydrosol would limit the development of dandruff.

The cornflower hydrosol also reportedly has antibacterial effects that could be beneficial in preventing the onset of dandruff. Indeed, besides the proliferation of the fungus Malassezia, which is primarily responsible for the development of dandruff, some studies have shown that the presence of dandruff can also be induced by a bacterial imbalance and an increase in bacterial populations of Staphylococcus. However, a study conducted on the aqueous extract of cornflower has shown that this ingredient has an antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus similar to that of penicillin. This antibacterial effect would also be due to the presence of flavonoids within the cornflower hydrosol.

The effects of the aqueous extract of cornflower on bacterial cultures of Staphylococcus aureus allow us to formulate the hypothesis of an action of cornflower hydrosol on dandruff. However, this is only a hypothesis as, to date, no direct study has shown that cornflower hydrosol is an active anti-dandruff agent.

The cornflower hydrosol would protect the hair from oxidation.

The cornflower floral water is also reputed for its antioxidant properties, allowing it to mitigate the harmful effects of oxidative stress. A study has specifically looked into measuring the antiradical activity of cornflower hydrosol by gauging its ability to inhibit the DPPH radical. The results showed a reduction in DPPH concentration induced by two mechanisms: by donating a hydrogen atom, which helps stabilise free radicals, and by forming stable complexes with ferric ions, thus limiting the phenomenon of lipid peroxidation.

It is plausible that the antioxidant properties of cornflower hydrosol may also enable it to prevent oxidative stress at the scalp level and thus protect it. Indeed, free radicals have several detrimental effects on the scalp and hair fibres and can weaken the hair follicles and the melanocytes associated with them. Studies have particularly shown that oxidative stress can accelerate hair loss and the onset of white hair. Therefore, providing antioxidants to one's scalp is a good way to prevent these phenomena.

No study has shown that cornflower hydrosol can directly combat hair loss or hair whitening: it has only been demonstrated that this ingredient possesses antioxidant properties.

Can cornflower hydrosol facilitate hair growth?

Beyond its soothing, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, many attribute to the cornflower hydrosol a role in hair growth. However, at present, there is no scientific evidence that cornflower hydrosol would have such an effect. We can only assume that the hair properties of this ingredient would contribute to creating a healthy environment at the scalp level by protecting it from pathogens and external aggressions. This could indirectly promote hair growth. However, once again, no study has so far shown that cornflower floral water could stimulate hair growth.