Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is butter that has been cooked to remove any remnants of water. The fat and protein compounds of the butter are left once it has been heated above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Spices and other ingredients can be used to add different flavors to ghee. Ghee is commonly made from cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, and buffalo’s milk.

Ghee originated in India, and it is traditionally used in Indian recipes. It also has healing properties, according to the Ayurvedic medicinal tradition. In some small animal trials, ghee has been shown to demonstrate promise as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredient.

Anecdotal evidence claims that ghee can be used to make your hair grow, to add thickness to your hair, and to condition your scalp. There isn’t much in medical literature to prove that this is true, but there is still reason to believe that ghee can be used for hair health based on what we know about it.

This article will cover all of ghee’s possible benefits for hair, as well as other ways ghee might improve your health.

There has not been enough research to fully prove or disprove various claims that people make about using ghee on their hair. But we do have information about what ghee contains, which can be helpful in sorting out the truth when it comes to figuring out how ghee helps hair.

Does ghee make hair softer?

Applying ghee topically to your hair and scalp might make hair softer. Because it’s made from butter, ghee contains active antioxidant compounds. These compounds can combat toxins that make your hair feel heavy and cause frizz. Ghee is also rich in vitamins, such as vitamin E and vitamin A, that are known to condition hair.

Does ghee make hair thicker?

Since ghee is so rich in vitamins and proteins, applying it to your hair may help it to feel like it has more volume. Whether your hair strands are growing in thicker would be hard to know, but hair that is healthier is easier to style and may appear to have more volume simply because the strands of healthy hair are stronger. There have been no clinical studies to prove that ghee can make your hair thicker.

Does ghee make scalp healthier?

Ghee contains high amounts of vitamin E, which is used to condition skin, and scalp. For that reason, vitamin E is an active ingredient in many anti-aging skincare and hair products.

Ghee has an oil-like consistency, which means applying it to your hair can seal moisture into your scalp. Applying ghee to your scalp may help your scalp to feel smoother and less irritated, resulting in fewer flakes, less oil, and more vibrant-looking hair. Keep in mind that there have been no large-scale studies conducted to see if ghee can make your scalp healthier or treat conditions of the scalp.

Does ghee increase hair growth?

It would be nice if ghee was a miracle ingredient that could grow hair in places where hair has been lost, or if it could make your hair grow faster. There is no evidence to suggest that ghee can make your hair grow quicker.

However, keep in mind that hair that is healthier has stronger strands, which means less hair loss. The longer you can keep each individual hair strand, the longer your hair may look, which can create the illusion that your hair is growing more quickly even when it’s not.

Ghee is an all-natural product, which means that it’s often safer to use ghee on your scalp and hair than many commercial ingredients and synthetic compounds. But that doesn’t mean that putting ghee on your hair doesn’t carry risk of potential side effects.

If you apply ghee to your hair and scalp, you may notice:

After applying ghee to your hair, you should not attempt to use heat to style your strands. Like any type of oil, ghee can heat your hair strands and actually burn your hair if it becomes too hot.

Also be aware that ghee contains no lactose. It’s been removed through the distillation process. That means that even if you have a dairy sensitivity, you may be able to use ghee on your hair. This can vary from case to case, so make sure you treat a patch-test on your scalp before doing a big application of ghee to your entire head.

To get the benefits of using ghee on your hair, some people recommend using ghee as a hair mask.

How to use ghee as a topical hair treatment

Using ghee as a hair mask is pretty simple. You can heat a few tablespoons of ghee for 10 seconds or less in the microwave, or simply rub your hands together with ghee between your palms to warm it up. Apply the ghee directly to your hair, making sure to coat your scalp and any split ends that you have.

You can leave ghee on your hair for 1 to 2 hours to start, and leave it on for longer the next time if you like the results. To keep things from getting too slippery, wear a shower cap over your hair while the ghee sets in.

Once you have finished with the treatment, wash your hair with shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Can you consume ghee orally to benefit your hair?

A diet that’s rich in healthy fats and fatty acids can mean that your hair looks better in the long run. Adding ghee to your diet is a delicious alternative to butter. But eating ghee as a supplement is unlikely to create a marked difference in the way that your hair looks.

Can you leave ghee on hair overnight?

There isn’t data to suggest that leaving ghee on your hair could be bad for you. But you should keep in mind the hair type you have and its tendency to retain oil before you try an overnight hair mask that contains ghee. Try using ghee as a leave-in treatment for 2 hours or so to test how your hair reacts before you leave ghee on your hair overnight.

Ghee does have other health benefits that are not related to your hair. It:

  • contains saturated fats that may reduce inflammation
  • has antioxidants that may help your body fight free radicals
  • is free of lactose and casein, which can trigger sensitivities and allergies

People who swear by ghee as a cooking ingredient and as a medicinal product claim anecdotal evidence proves that ghee does many things. Those things may be true, but there lacks a huge body of evidence that has been conducted to prove these claims at this point in time.

We don’t have enough clinical evidence to suggest that ghee is an effective treatment for your hair. We do know that ghee contains vitamins and protein compounds that can benefit your health in other ways. Those same vitamins and compounds may have protective properties when it comes to your hair. For most people, it’s safe to give ghee a try and see what happens.