Wheat Germ Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows

Wheat germ oil is a vitamin-E-rich plant oil used in skin care. We found no study of it on hair growth, thickness or the scalp. The research is on its composition, on wound healing in rats, and on anti-inflammatory activity in test tubes.

Here's what the oil contains, what those studies show, and why the hair claims you may see are unproven.

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Key Takeaways

• Wheat germ oil contains vitamin E, B vitamins, squalene and unsaturated fatty acids.
• In a comparison of plant oils, wheat germ oil was among the highest in tocopherols (vitamin E) and the richest source of plastochromanol-8.
• In rats, a 20% wheat germ oil ointment reduced wound size by 90% within three weeks.
• We found no study of wheat germ oil for hair.

What Is Wheat Germ Oil?

Wheat germ oil is a by-product of flour milling. It's a common cosmetic ingredient.

Does Wheat Germ Oil Help Hair?

The case for hair rests on its nutrients, not on hair studies. It's a vitamin-E-rich oil, but no research shows it grows hair or reduces shedding.

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Using Wheat Germ Oil

• As a conditioner: a cosmetic oil, patch test first.
• For hair growth: don't expect it, since it has not been tested.
• Allergies: if you have a wheat allergy, ask your doctor first.

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What The Research Shows

Wound Healing In Rats

Wheat germ oil is described as containing vitamin E, B-complex, squalene and unsaturated fatty acids. In rats with back wounds, 10% and 20% wheat germ oil creams and ointments were stable over 60 days and wound size shrank in a dose-dependent way. Within three weeks, the 20% ointment reduced wound size diameter by 90% (Zakaria et al., 2021). This was an animal study of wounds, not hair.

Vitamin E Content

In a comparison of plant oils, the highest tocopherol contents were in pomegranate, wheat germ and raspberry seed oils, and wheat germ oil was the richest source of plastochromanol-8 (Trela & Szymańska, 2019).

Composition And Anti-Inflammatory Activity In The Lab

Researchers compared wheat germ oil extracted three ways. Policosanol, tocopherol and phytosterol contents depended on the extraction method, and the cold-pressed oil, with the most octacosanol, beta-sitosterol and alpha-linolenic acid, had the strongest inhibitory activity against proteinase and cyclooxygenase 1 in test-tube assays (Harrabi et al., 2021).

Raspberry seed oil is another plant oil we have reviewed; see raspberry seed oil.

See also: Pomegranate Seed Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows · Flaxseed and Lignans 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 wheat germ oil help hair growth?

We found no study showing that it does.

What is in wheat germ oil?

Vitamin E, B-complex vitamins, squalene and unsaturated fatty acids, with the exact content depending on how the oil is extracted.

Is wheat germ oil safe?

Patch test any new product. Ask your doctor first if you have a wheat allergy, are pregnant or have a skin condition.

References

1. Zakaria R, J Musa R, Faraj J, et al. Evaluation of the Wheat Germ Oil Topical Formulations for Wound Healing Activity in Rats. Pak J Biol Sci. 2021. PubMed
2. Trela A, Szymańska R. Less widespread plant oils as a good source of vitamin E. Food Chem. 2019. PubMed
3. Harrabi S, Ferchichi A, Fellah H, et al. Chemical Composition and in vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity of Wheat Germ Oil Depending on the Extraction Procedure. J Oleo Sci. 2021. PubMed