Pomegranate Seed Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows

Pomegranate seed oil is promoted for hair health, but we found no study of the oil on hair. The nearest research is a review of plant oils on skin, a lab study that found pomegranate seed oil reduced skin-cell proliferation, and an animal study of pomegranate leaf extract.

I LOVE MY HAIR NOW

FullyVital hair serum and hair vitamins made tremendous improvements in my hair. I truly love my hair now.

Dorit S.,

Shop Hair Products 

Key Takeaways

• We found no human or animal study of pomegranate seed oil on hair.
• A review of topical plant oils, including pomegranate seed oil, focused on skin barrier repair and anti-inflammatory effects.
• In a lab study of skin cells, pomegranate seed oil and its main fatty acid, punicic acid, had a significant negative impact on keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
• Pomegranate leaf extract, not seed oil, moved hair follicles from rest to growth in about 45% of treated mice.

What Is Pomegranate Seed Oil?

Pomegranate seed oil is pressed from the seeds of Punica granatum. Its main fatty acid is punicic acid.

Our Best Sellers

Hair Growth Serum

$44.25

Shop Serum

Anti-Gray Serum

$44.25

Shop Serum

Does Pomegranate Seed Oil Help Hair?

Not shown. Claims about moisture, circulation and growth aren't backed by hair studies we could find.

Using Pomegranate Seed Oil Sensibly

• Patch test first. Any plant oil can irritate or cause an allergic reaction.
• Don't expect it to grow hair. Use it, if at all, as a cosmetic oil.
• See a doctor for hair loss that is sudden, patchy or persistent.

Our Best Sellers

Hair Vitamins

$44.25

Shop Vitamins

Anti-Gray Vitamins

$44.25

Shop Vitamins

What The Research Shows

Plant Oils On Skin

A review covering topical plant oils, including pomegranate seed oil, looked at their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on skin, wound healing and repair of the skin barrier. It was about skin, not the scalp or hair (Lin et al., 2017).

Skin Cells In The Lab

A lab study tested oils and fatty acids on human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Oils rich in linoleic acid promoted proliferation, while punicic acid and pomegranate seed oil had a significant negative impact. The oils did not meaningfully change the closure rate of an artificial wound gap (Poljšak et al., 2025). The authors framed this as relevant to skin repair, and it was in vitro.

Pomegranate Leaf In Mice

Researchers applied alcoholic and aqueous extracts of pomegranate leaves to shaved mice. Transition from rest to growth (telogen to anagen) was seen in about 45% and 27% of animals with the two extracts, against 51% with minoxidil. The alcoholic extract also showed antidandruff activity against fungal strains in lab tests (Bhinge et al., 2021). This was leaf extract in mice, not seed oil in people.

See also: Wheat Germ Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows · Vitamin F (Linoleic Acid) for Hair: What the Research Shows

Comparing oils? See our guide to rosemary oil for hair growth, the oil with the most research behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pomegranate seed oil grow hair?

We found no study showing that.

Is it good for moisture?

The skin review covers skin barrier effects. We found no hair moisture trial.

Can I use it on my scalp?

We found no scalp study. Patch test first and stop if irritated.

References

1. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017. PubMed
2. Poljšak N, Glavač NK, Ravnikar M, et al. Influence of vegetable oils and their constituents on in vitro human keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation and migration. Sci Rep. 2025. PubMed
3. Bhinge SD, Bhutkar MA, Randive DS, et al. Screening of hair growth promoting activity of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) leaves extracts and its potential to exhibit antidandruff and anti-lice effect. Heliyon. 2021. PubMed