The virtues of eating eggs for diet benefits have long been expounded and for good reason! But these fabulous ingredients pack in quite a punch when it comes to beauty benefits of eggs for hair! Eggs are versatile ingredients, which can be used by themselves, or in conjunction with other ingredients to deliver optimum benefits when consumed, or applied topically on hair or skin. While they have a reputation for being smelly and messy, it’s worth the effort to use them, simply because this single ingredient can solve all your hair problems in a jiffy! Let’s take a look at what eggs contain, how you need to use them effectively, and why they can be a handy addition to your dressing table.

Raw eggs are truly nature’s gift to haircare! This superfood is apt for all hair types, and both the egg white and the yolk come replete with benefits. The egg yolks are particularly nutrient-dense and come packed with biotin, vitamins A, D, E, K and folate. Egg yolks also contain lecithin. An egg contains a whopping 8.3g of protein! Half the egg’s protein is in the white, and the other half is in the yolk. The egg white also contains selenium, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous. In addition, eggs on the whole offer iron, copper and zinc, as well as a host of B Vitamins, which are the most essential for hair health! Vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) are good for hair flexibility, strength and overall wellness. Biotin or Vitamin B7 is especially essential for hair growth, while folic acid deficiency could cause premature greying. If the eggs are grass-fed or free-range, you’ll also have a substance rich in omega 3 fatty acids. That’s a whole lot of nutrients – all important for a host of hair care benefits, and all found in one little egg.

Pro tip: Eggs contain over twenty vital nutrients, which are important for hair care.

The yolk comes with natural fats, and offers moisturising benefits in the most natural way, without harmful artificial creams, chemicals or parabens getting in the way. In that sense, it is more potent than the egg white, since it contains more nutrients. However, the whites cannot be ignored entirely. They contain bacteria-eating enzymes, which keep the scalp fresh and clean, and also remove unwanted oil and grease. It is important to use both the egg white and the egg yolk to keep your hair healthy, but how you do it depends largely on your hair type. For normal hair, use the entire egg – whites and yolks blended. If you’ve got oily hair, use the egg whites on your scalp, and the yolk at the ends of the hair for preventing split-ends. You can use an egg mask with the entire egg not more often than once a week. For dry and brittle hair, focus on using the yolks as much as possible. Use the egg white just once a week on your scalp for a good cleanse and detox.

Pro tip: Use the yolks and the whites depending on your hair type.

Eggs are good for replenishing the hair’s protein content. How does it do this? Visible hair, as we all know, is made up of dead cells. Hair growth happens under the scalp, in the hair follicle. When new hair cells are formed, older dead cells are pushed up – and that’s why hair grows. Hair is, in fact, made up of a protein called keratin. In fact, the entire human body is fully made up of protein, in that its entire structure is protein. All the protein we eat is broken down to amino acids, which are used by the liver to create different proteins. So, under the scalp area, there are millions of hair follicles which create keratin from the amino acids we get in food. Hair growth happens in these cells and that is how hair is formed. So protein is literally vital to hold together every strand of hair! If you’re getting inadequate amounts of this in your diet, chances are you’ll be suffering from weak, brittle and limp hair, which falls off. Applying an egg mask twice or thrice a week, as well as consuming a diet with eggs, will ensure you get an adequate dose of protein to keep your keratin levels intact and your hair in shipshape.

Pro tip: Replenish keratin levels naturally by applying eggs topically and following a diet with at least two eggs a day.

Can I use egg as a shampoo?

While eggs are the most popular and effective as hair masques or when included in your diet, you can also use your egg with your regular shampoo. Since it is not a complete cleanser in itself, you will need to beat it up well in a bowl and add an equal quantity of your regular shampoo. Use this to wash your hair. Remember though, always rinse with tepid or cool water, so that the eggs don’t start to cook at any point in time! For more news on how to shampoo your hair with eggs, watch this video.