By Kathi Valeii 

Published on October 10, 2023

 Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD

Vitamin E skin benefits are well-known. However, some people use vitamin E in their hair. The possible health benefits of vitamin E oil for hair include preventing hair loss, improving overall scalp health, increasing shine, and reducing breakage.

This article explains why people use vitamin E for hair, how to apply it, other ways to get the benefits, and who should avoid it for hair.

Vladdeep / Getty Images

Why Do People Use Vitamin E Oil for Their Hair?

There is limited research supporting vitamin E hair benefits. Even so, people use it for several reasons.

Prevent Hair Loss

Research on vitamin E for hair loss is conflicting. One study found that vitamin E supplementation increased the number of hair strands in participants with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss) compared to placebo (an inactive substance given to people in a control group in studies).¹ Researchers believe the antioxidant nature of vitamin E helps reduce oxidative stress in the scalp.

However, another review evaluating the role of vitamins, including vitamin E, in hair loss found no evidence to support treating hair loss with vitamin E.² While some studies in the review found lower vitamin E levels in those with alopecia than in healthy controls, others found no statistical difference in vitamin E levels between the two.

Promote Scalp Health

According to research, topical application of vitamin E oil has been found to have the following benefits on the scalp:³

• Prevent premature aging

• Expand the capillaries

• Increase blood flow

Evidence is limited when it comes to oral supplementation. Studies have found a link between lower vitamin E levels and certain skin conditions that can also affect the scalp.

Lower vitamin E levels were found in people with vitiligo (skin pigmentation loss), psoriasis (autoimmune skin disease), atopic dermatitis (eczema), and acne when compared to the controls.⁴

Increase Shine and Reduce Breakage

While not exclusive to vitamin E oil, oils, in general, are important in protecting hair from damage. Research has found that applying oil to your hair enhances lubrication of the hair shaft and prevents breakage.⁵

 The Biology, Structure, and Function of Hair

How to Apply Vitamin E Oil to Your Hair

Your hair should be naturally dry before applying oil directly to your hair and scalp. Adding oil can enhance the shine and provide moisture.⁶ To apply vitamin E oil to your hair, follow these steps:

• Rub a small amount of oil into your palms.

• Starting at the scalp and moving down to the tips, work the vitamin E oil directly to dry hair.

• Let the oil sit on your hair for 20 to 30 minutes.

• Wash the oil from your hair with shampoo.

• Rinse thoroughly.

If your hair and scalp are oily, you may want to avoid oiling near the scalp. Instead, start around mid-strand and work down to the tips.

Finding Reputable Vitamin E Oil

Some people may have a reaction from vitamin E oil, including itching and rash.⁷ While predicting whether you could react to the oil is hard, it's good to take precautions, such as:

• Look for products from reputable brands that you trust.

• Choose a supplement tested by a trusted third party, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab.com, or NSF.org (when possible). 

• Use a product with a short slit of ingredients containing vitamin E and an unscented carrier oil.

Other Ways to Get Vitamin E for Hair Benefits

Oil isn't the only way to reap the benefits of vitamin E for your hair. Vitamin E can also be found in foods and supplements. Excellent food sources of vitamin E include:⁸

• Wheat germ oil

• Sunflower seeds

• Almonds

• Sunflower oil

• Safflower oil

• Hazelnuts

• Peanut butter

• Spinach

• Broccoli

Vitamin E also comes in supplement form. Most provide more than 67 milligrams (mg) of vitamin E, significantly more than adults' recommended daily allowance of 15 mg.⁸

Should Anyone Not Use Vitamin E Oil on Their Hair?

If your hair looks greasy after applying vitamin E oil, you've likely used too much of it. Since everyone's hair differs, you may have to experiment with how much and how often you use vitamin E oil.

Most of the trouble with vitamin E comes from taking it internally. Too much vitamin E, like too much of almost anything, is not good for you. Fortunately, quantities found in food sources are generally safe, so most people don't need to worry about getting too much vitamin E from food sources.

However, if you take vitamin E supplements, it's possible to get too much. Excess vitamin E has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, bleeding, and prostate cancer. In addition, vitamin E can interact with some medications, including:⁸

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or antiplatelet medications, such as Jantoven (warfarin)

• Other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, selenium, and beta-carotene

• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy

If you take any medications, talk to a healthcare provider before taking vitamin E supplements to be sure it's safe for you.

Summary

While research is limited, many people use vitamin E oil for their hair to prevent hair loss and improve overall hair and scalp health. Instead of applying oil directly to your hair, you can also find vitamin E in plenty of food sources and supplements.

Avoid taking too much vitamin E, which can be toxic in large doses. It can also interfere with how some medications work, especially blood thinners, other antioxidants, and cancer treatments. For these reasons, it's best to discuss using vitamin E with a healthcare professional.