The benefits of carrot macerate on hair.

The carrot oil macerate is often appreciated for its natural orange colour, which comes from its high content of beta-carotene and other carotenoids. There is thus a widespread belief that carrot oil could give hair a brighter and more radiant appearance. Therefore, it is sometimes said that, on light or blonde hair, its application could bring slightly golden or coppery highlights, although subtle and temporary. On brown or red hair, the carrot macerate could revive the intensity of the colour and bring warm highlights to the hair.

However, these effects remain highly subjective and have not been the subject of any study. Moreover, the carrot macerate, due to its oily texture, may leave a greasy finish on the hair, particularly on fine hair. Diluting it in a hydrosol could be an alternative, but this might dilute the colour of the macerate and therefore limit its potential effect on hair shine.

While carrot macerate is less well-known than calendula for its soothing properties, it also contains flavonoids and oleic acid, two compounds renowned for their anti-inflammatory activity. Flavonoids work by inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), while oleic acid contributes to the reduction of inflammatory reactions by modulating the lipid mediators of inflammation. Therefore, carrot macerate could help to soothe scalp discomforts, such as redness, irritation or feelings of tightness. It can be used alone or in combination with other soothing oils or hydrosols such as calendula or chamomile.

Although the efficacy of carrot macerate in soothing the scalp is less documented than that of other plant extracts, it could offer a complementary approach to caring for sensitive scalps.

Dandruff is the result of an imbalance in the scalp, often involving an overgrowth of the fungus Malassezia and bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, microorganisms naturally present on the skin, often coupled with excessive sebum production and/or too rapid cell renewal. While carrot macerate is not recognised for having antifungal, sebostatic or keratolytic properties, it does however have antibacterial activity that could be interesting in combating dandruff.

Indeed, according to a study conducted on carrot extract diluted in DMSO, an organic solvent, this ingredient appears to be capable of effectively inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. A circular inhibition zone of 11.20 ± 0.5 mm was measured, compared to 21.00 ± 0.5 mm for chloramphenicol, a bacteriostatic antibiotic used as a control. As a reminder, the larger the circular inhibition zone, the more sensitive the bacteria is to the tested compound. It would thus seem that the carrot extract used possesses a relatively effective antibacterial activity. However, it is difficult to assert that this is also the case for the carrot oil macerate, obtained by maceration in a vegetable oil, as its composition could be different. If this antibacterial effect were confirmed, it could play a role against dandruff, in connection with the proliferation of bacteria of the Staphylococcus genus.

To date, no scientific study has been conducted on the use of carrot macerate as an anti-dandruff treatment, although some evidence suggests that it could be effective in this area.

Like all oil macerates, carrot macerate inherits the properties of the vegetable oil used as a base. For your information, sunflower oils, sesame and jojoba are often used to create the maceration. More specifically, it is the fatty acids in the vegetable oil that give the carrot macerate a nourishing and protective power. Notably, linoleic acid, an omega-6, and oleic acid, an omega-9, contribute to strengthening the protective hydrolipidic film that coats the hair. Furthermore, the phytosterols found in the carrot macerate have a good affinity with the hair fibre and help to smooth the cuticle.

Even though the carrot macerate is not a moisturiser in the strictest sense, as it does not contain water, its lipid-replenishing action could help dry and damaged hair regain suppleness.