A Comprehensive Review of Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Hair Oil

Abstract

Herbal formulations always have lesser or no side effects comparatively with synthetic. The aim of present study involves preparation of herbal hair oil using the herbal ingredients like., Amla, Hibiscus, Moringa, Curry leaves, fenugreek seeds, pumpkin seeds, garlic, coconut oil, almond oil, hibiscus, kalonji seeds. Based on the above observations, mixture of crude drugs was prepared in the form of herbal hair oil by boiling method. We have used five formulas using different herbal drugs and all the formulation are showing anti-hair fall property with some of other beneficial activities like anti-dandruff activity, improves blood circulation to the scalp and roots, reduce hair pigmentation, anti-fungal activity, reducing the whitening of the hair. The formulated herbal oil was evaluated by using various parameters such as Organoleptic properties, specific gravity, stability, viscosity, Acid value, pH etc. and the value obtained from it are found to be similar to that of the standard values like there is no sedimentation, no grittiness and shows satisfying organoleptic properties and the results were determined and are reported in this work.

Keywords

Hair oil, Herbs, Natural formulation, Anti hairfall, Anti-dandruff, Hair growth, phytochemicals, organoleptic evaluation, stability study

Introduction

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body[1]. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath salts, butters and many other types of products. A subset of cosmetics is called "make-up," which refers primarily to colored products intended to alter the user’s appearance[2]. Many manufacturers distinguish between decorative cosmetics and care cosmetics[3].

1. In the last three-four decades the use of cosmetics has increased exponentially not only among females but the male population also indulges in their use. Hair dyes, hair oil, creams are as popular with males as with females. Most countries now have laws to control, manufacturing, label, sale etc. of cosmetics in such a way that use of cosmetics harmful to health is prevented[4]. The concept of beauty and cosmetics is as ancient as mankind and civilization. So, they use various beauty products that have herbs to look charming and young. Indian herbs and its significance are popular worldwide[5].

2 . Herbal cosmetics have growing demand in the world market and are an invaluable gift of nature[6]. There are a wide range of herbal cosmetic products to satisfy beauty regime. Adding herbs in cosmetics is very safe for our skin3-5. Herbal hair oils are one of the most well recognized hair treatments. Herbal hair oil not only moisturizes scalp but also reverses dry scalp and dry hair condition[7]. It provides numerous essential nutrients required to maintain normal functions of sebaceous gland and promote natural hair growth[8]. Keeping this point in consideration the present work was undertaken

Objectives:

• Herbal goodness of hair[4,7].
• To identify the best combination of herbs that allows you to deliver maximum effect[5,13].
• To save you the dandruff, split ends and dull hair[6,11].
• Manage frizzy hair[10].
• Enjoyable rubdown for healthful scalp[5,7].
• Fight towards hair fall[12].

Requirements of a herbal hair oil:

• It must be fluently removed on irrigating with water[10].
• It needs to go away the hair-dry, tender, and lustrous with precise manageability an minimum fly down[15].
• It must impart a pleasant smell to the hair[7].
• It should not beget any side effects to the skin or eye[18].

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This polyherbal hair oil is a promising formulation for hair care, given the well-known benefits of the various herbs included. Here are the potential benefits of each ingredient.

Almond  oil:  Almond  oil  is  a  good  source  of  vitamin. E,another   antioxidant   that   nourishes   hair   and  prevents dryness and breakage[11]. It also contains fatty acids that help moisturize the scalp and promote healthy hair growth.Almond oil's biological source is the seeds of almond trees, specifically from the species Prunus dulcis (sweet almond) or Prunus amygdalus[18].

Fenugreek  seeds:  Fenugreek  seeds  are  a  rich  source  of protein and   vitamins,   which   can   help   nourish   and strengthen hair.  They also contain mucilage, a substance that can help moisturize the  hair and scalp[6,7]. The biological source of methi (also known as fenugreek) is the plant Trigonella foenum  graecum. It's an annual plant belonging  to the Leguminosae family[18].

Moringa  leaves:  Moringa  leaves  are  a  rich  source of vitamins,   minerals,   and   antioxidants,   which   can   help nourish  and  protect  hair[10].  They  also  contain  antibacterial and  antifungal  properties, which  can  help  prevent  scalp problemslike dandruff. The biological source of Moringa is Moringa oleifera Lam, tree belonging to the Moringaceae family[18].

Amla:  Amla,  also  known  as  Indian  gooseberry,  is  a  rich source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect hair from damage and promotes hair growth[6,7]. It also contains tannins,  which  can  strengthen  hair  follicles  and  prevent hair loss.The biological source of amla is the fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, scientifically known as Phyllanthus emblica L. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn., belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family[18].

Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are a good  sourc of zinc, magnesium, and iron, which are all essential nutrients for healthy  hair growth.  They  also  contain  antioxidants  that can help protect hair from damage[6,10].Pumpkin seeds originate from plants of the genus Cucurbita, which belong to the family Cucurbitaceae. Common species that produce these seeds are Cucurbita maxima and other plants in the gourd family[18].

Betel leaves:  Betel  leaves  have  anti-inflammatory  and antibacterial properties, which can help soothe an irritated scalp and prevent scalp infections[11]. The biological source of betel leaves is the. Betelvine plant, scientifically known as Piper betle. It is a perennial,evergreen creeper from the family Piperaceae[18,25].

Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers are a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants, which can help nourish and protect hair[11]. They also   contain   anthocyanins,   which   may   help   prevent premature greying[10,13]. The biological source of the common hibiscus is the flowering plant Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, from the genus Hibiscus and family Malvaceae[18,22].

Kalonji  seeds:  Kalonji  seeds,  also  known  as  black  cumin seeds, have anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, which can help soothe an irritated scalp and prevent scalp infections. They may also help promote hair growth[13]. Kalonji seeds originate from the biological source, the Nigellasativa plant, an annual flowering plant belonging to the Ranunculacea (buttercup) family[25,28].

Garlic:   Garlic   has   anti-inflammatory   and   antibacterial properties, which  can  help  soothe  an  irritated  scalp  and prevent  scalp infections[13].  It  may  also  help  promote  hair growth. Garlic: Health benefits and usesThe biological source of garlic is the ripe bulb of the plant Allium sativum, which belongs to the Amary llidaceae family[25].

Curry  leaves:  Curry  leaves  have  anti-inflammatory  and antioxidant  properties, which can help soothe an irritated scalp and protect hair from damage[17].They may also help,promote hair growth. The biological source of curry leaves is the plant Murraya koenigii, also known as the curry tree. It belongs to the Rutaceae family[18,22]

Coconut oil: Coconut oil is a popular hair oil, that is known for  its  moisturizing  properties. It  can  help  penetrate the hair shaft and provide deep conditioning[13]. Coconut oil's biological source is the mature kernel of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, a member of the palm family (Arecaceae)[22,18]. The dried kernel, known as copra, is processed to extract the oil, which is rich in medium-chain fatty acids like lauric acid[21].

Flavouring agent: The addition of a flavouring  agent can help make the hair oil more pleasant to use[10]. So  overall  this  polyherbal  hair  oil  has  the  potential  to provide a range of benefits for hair care, including:

• Preventing hair loss[17].
• Nourishing and strengthening hair[22].
• Moisturizing the scalp and hair[13].
• Soothing an irritated scalp[25].
• Reducing dandruff[22].
• Protecting hair from damage[15].

Collection of plant part: For the preparation of herbal hair oil various plant materials were collectedviz.,amla,almondoil,tilloil,fenugreekseeds,moringaleaves,pumpkinseeds,betalleaves,hibiscus,shankapuspi,garlic ,cator oil, coconut oil  from the Medicinal Plant Garden of rai university ahemdabad Gujrat India and was properly authenticated in the Department of Pharmacognosy[29].

Formulation Of Hair Oil :Accurately Weigh all of the fresh and dried herbs and leaf powder  precisely[15].  Equally  combine  coconut  oil, almonds oil, curry leaves, fenugreek seeds, moringa leaves, garlic  cloves,   pumpkin   seeds,       hibiscus, kalonji seeds, amla, Boil until the curry   leaves   get   a   deep   brown   colour[18,22].   The   entire preparation  was  filtered  through  muslin  fabric  following the colour change. Ultimately, a tiny quantity of flavouring was  mixed  into  the  oil  before  it  was  put  into  an  amber-colouredbottle[29].

Table 1: Formulation of herbal hair oil [31].

S.NO	Ingredients	Quantity (%)
1	Amla	1%
2	Almond oil	2%
3	Fenugreek seeds	2%
4	Moringa leaves	4%
5	Pumpkin seeds	2%
6	Hibiscus	1%
7	Kalonji seeds	1%
8	Garlic	4%
9	Curry leaves	1%
10	Coconut oil
11	Flavouring agent	Q.S

Evaluation of herbal hair oil:

1.Organoleptic properties: [17,15,25]

• Colour: detected by naked eyes
• Sensitivity: applied to the skin and exposed to the sunlight for 5 min to check for any irritation over skin
• Grittiness: rubbed to the skin and observed
• Sedimentation: keep the whole preparation aside for overnight and check for sedimentation

2.PH Determination: Take a ph paper and dip into the  formulated hair oil and check for the colour change[17].

3.Acid Value : 10 ml of oil was added with 25ml of ethanol and 25ml of ether. Phenolphthalein was added as indicator and titrated with 0.1M Potassium hydroxide solution n = Number of ml of 0.1M KOH w = Wt. of oil[15].

4.specific gravity: Specific gravity of the prepared oil was determined using specific gravity bottle[13].

5.Stability Study: It is performed by keeping the prepared herbal hair oil in a closed container at cooled and dry place[27].

RESULT:

Colour	Greenish brown
Sensitivity	No irritation
Grittiness	Smooth
Sedimentation	No sedimentation
Acid value	4.5
Specific gravity	0.789

CONCLUSION:

Herbal hair oils represent a safe, effective, and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic hair care formulations. They combine the benefits of traditional medicinal plants with modern formulation techniques, offering nourishment to the scalp, prevention of hair fall, and promotion of healthy hair growth. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and conditioning properties of herbal ingredients make these oils suitable for long-term use without harmful side effects. However, to ensure consistent results, standardization and quality control of herbal raw materials are essential.

Key Challenges Include:

1.Maintaining stability of active ingredients against oxidation,

2.temperature, and light.

3.Developing standardized extraction and formulation methods for reproducible quality.

4.Conducting clinical validation to support claims of hair growth and scalp health.

Final Recommendations:

For researchers, formulators, and students working on herbal hair oils, the following points are suggested:

1.Focus on Stability: Use innovative approaches such as nanoemulsions or natural preservatives to improve shelf life and prevent rancidity.

2.Standardize Ingredients: Develop reliable methods to ensure consistent phytochemical content and purity of plant extracts.

3.Expand Research: Explore lesser-known herbs with traditional claims of hair care benefits, such as hibiscus, bhringraj, amla, and fenugreek.

4.Conduct Clinical Studies: Move from lab-scale evaluations to controlled studies assessing hair growth rate, scalp condition, and consumer acceptability.

5.Adopt Green Formulation Technologies: Emphasize eco-friendly extraction, biodegradable packaging, and sustainable sourcing of raw materials.

6.Leverage Innovation: Combine herbal actives with modern delivery systems (like liposomes or gels) for improved absorption and efficacy.

The development of herbal hair oil formulations provides a promising bridge between traditional Ayurvedic wisdom and modern cosmetic science. With rising demand for natural, safe, and ethical hair care solutions, such formulations can play a key role in the cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Future success will depend on maintaining scientific validation, product standardization, and sustainability, ensuring that herbal hair oils remain both effective and consumer-trusted.

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