Chickpeas for Hair Loss: Everything You Need to Know

As we get older, thinning tresses are just one of the things we start to be a little more concerned about. While decreases in hormones tend to make our strands fall out faster, there are measures you can take to reduce — if not eliminate — the issue. As it turns out, you can use chickpeas for hair loss (also known as garbanzo beans) by eating them and also using them as a topical beauty treatment!

Chickpeas for Hair Loss — Why (and How) It Works

Chickpeas aren’t just a great addition to your favorite salads. Turns out, they’re loaded with nutrients that are actually essential for healthy hair.

Chickpeas contain high amounts of nutrients like protein, manganese, folate, and zinc, which can all benefit hair growth. Not having enough protein in your diet can lead to weak, thinning strands, so eating more chickpeas in your diet can help fight the problem from the inside out. Similarly, nutritional deficiencies in both manganese and zinc have been associated with hair loss and conditions like alopecia. Getting more manganese and folate in your diet may also help prevent premature graying!

Besides eating chickpeas for hair loss, they may also fight the problem if used topically. Chickpeas — or chickpea flour also called “besan” or gram flour — has been used in Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, as a beauty treatment for luscious locks for many years.

Ayurvedic experts claim that using a mask made of chickpeas can strengthen your hair follicles, reduce scalp buildup, and make strands thicker and shinier. Additionally, the protein in chickpeas can nourish hair by providing a protective layer over your strands and preventing breakage. Manganese and zinc may also aid cell renewal on the scalp, leading to thicker, healthier hair.

To make your own hair mask with chickpeas, mix three tablespoons of gram flour with three tablespoons of yogurt or melted coconut oil, and apply the paste on your hair from root to tip, saturating your roots and ends the most.

When I don’t have gram flour on hand, I like to simply mash 1/4 cup of canned chickpeas and mix it with two tablespoons of yogurt or coconut oil. Allow the mixture to sit. on your hair for at least 30 minutes, then wash as usual. For best results, use this mask twice a week.

Here’s to beautiful, healthy hair!