Unless you nodded off in science class, you’ve probably heard of tocopherol, the fancy word for Vitamin E. Vitamin E, a fat soluble antioxidant, is mixed in carrier oils to create nourishing topical oils. These oils have miraculous claims for skin and hair, and people are left questioning- miracle or marketing? Can putting Vitamin E on your hair overnight do wonders or is it just another DIY fairy tale?
The Science Behind Vitamin E
Fat-soluble antioxidants go by the name Vitamin E, explains researcher Maret G. Traber. These compounds each have their own unique activity profile.
She's saying Vitamin E isn't just one thing - it refers to several fat-soluble compounds. These work by shielding cells, hair, and bodily tissues thanks to their ability to neutralise harmful molecules. Each of these compounds shares this protective role.
Turns out vitamin E isn't only tocopherol, like school lessons claimed. It actually includes two families; tocotrienols join the mix, too. There are four types of each: alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. These parts differ slightly but belong together.
What your body uses best is alpha tocopherol. When oxygen meets free radicals, trouble starts, and vitamin E steps in to block those harmful chain reactions. Cells stay safer because of it.
When out of balance, certain atoms hold a lone electron. These are free radicals. Ready to react at any moment, they grab electrons from nearby molecules, often harming cells in the process. When that happens, vitamin E steps in, giving up one of its own electrons to calm the unstable particle down.
Vitamin E and Hair: What’s Their Relationship?
Healthy hair comes from a healthy scalp. It’s lustrous, soft, elastic and strong, with flat lying cuticles that result in a smooth texture and absence of frizz and flyaways.
Dry hair, on the other hand, is dull, rough, and everything contrary to healthy hair.
Lifted hair cuticles, oxidative damage from heat styling, sun exposure and pollution, loss of sebum and dry scalp, are the common causes of compromised and dry hair. They have to be dealt with before a substance is said to be truly hair friendly.
Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties make it useful in protecting hair from environmental and oxidative damage. Extracted from nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, pure Vitamin E is highly concentrated, thick, and sticky.
With such high viscosity, applying evenly on your skin or hair is very difficult, so it’s packaged in capsules or diluted with carrier oils and sold.
Vitamin E Oil vs Vitamin E Capsule
When most people hear of Vitamin E oil or capsules, they assume it’s a bottle or capsule filled with pure Vitamin E. They’re wrong, and if you think the same, you are too.
Vitamin E Oil is a blend of Vitamin E and carrier oils such as sunflower, argan, or coconut oil. Simply put, it’s an oil-based product enriched with Vitamin E.
It’s mainly produced as a topical oil for the skin and hair; it’s less concentrated than the oil in the capsule, yet effective in doing its job.
The capsule on the other hand, is a plant based or gelatin shell that encases a smaller, yet more concentrated Vitamin E oil.
These capsules are originally made for oral consumption, but since their shells are permeable, and the oils can be retrieved from them without damage, it’s not surprising that they are used directly on the skin or hair.
So, if you purchase a pack of Vitamin E capsules, you’ve got two options to choose from—oral or topical routes—or both.
Because the capsules contain more concentrated oils, most people say using Vitamin E capsules are better and more effective for applying on the hair, but that’s not totally true.
Yes, the capsules deliver more Vitamin E in less oil, but more isn’t always better. Using such can lead to scalp buildup, greasiness or irritation in sensitive scalps.
The more ideal approach to usage is; Vitamin E oils, being lightweight, should be used if you have a sensitive scalp or you want to use Vitamin E as a daily or regular treatment, while the capsules should be used for very dry hair length (not scalp), and for persons who want to add Vitamin E as an occasional hair treatment product.
You can dilute the oil from Vitamin E capsules in carrier oils if you want to use it as a regular oiling product.
Is There a Difference in Applying Vitamin E on Hair in Daytime vs Leaving It Overnight?
There’s no short answer to this.
Vitamin E on hair doesn’t act as an antioxidant only, but a moisture sealing agent. In addition to fighting lipid oxidation in the hair caused by pollutants, sun exposure, and heat styling, it acts as an occlusive by coating your hair fibre and cuticles, reducing moisture loss and sealing hair moisture.
When vitamin oil is applied during the day, it adds shine and helps in frizz control almost instantly. During the day, the sun’s up, and dust and other pollutants are in the air. The oil helps to temporarily protect your hair from these, as they can cause oxidation.
The limitation to this is that the oil can wear off if the weather is too hot, and you may need to reapply. Now, while reapplying at intervals, your hair may become heavily oiled, which attracts dust and makes your hair look greasy.
Leaving Vitamin E oil in hair overnight offers minimal environmental exposure. This allows the oil to remain undisturbed on the hair for an extended period. Wrapped in a silk or satin bonnet, the hair is protected from friction while the oil coats the hair fibres for 6 to 8 hours.
This extended contact time allows Vitamin E to act as an occlusive for longer, helping seal in existing moisture and smooth the hair cuticle. When washed out the following morning, hair often appears softer with noticeably reduced frizz. For this reason, Vitamin E is best used overnight as a pre-wash nourishment treatment rather than a daytime leave-in.
However, Vitamin E on hair overnight side effects include scalp buildup, clogged hair follicles or itchiness, particularly if applied heavily or directly to the scalp. It is generally not recommended for individuals with oily scalps or dandruff-prone scalps, as prolonged occlusion may worsen these conditions.
Vitamin E on Hair Overnight, the UAE and Your Hair: Final Takeaways
The UAE’s hot, desert-like climate and hard water stress hair, break down its proteins and lipids, and leave your hair dry, frizzy, or dull.
Improvement in smooth texture, shine and glossy appearance, and soft hair texture restoration are a few benefits of applying Vitamin E capsule on hair overnight.For an easy, everyday solution, GK Hair’s Argan Oil Serum enriched with Vitamin E and argan oil, helps maintain smooth, glossy hair while protecting it from environmental stress throughout the day!
