Black Sesame Seed Extract (Sesamum Indicum)

Q: How do I use sesame indicum extract in my routine?

For concentrated topical delivery, apply To The Root® , our daily scalp serum , in the morning and Good Night, Grey™ , our overnight scalp serum , before bed. Both are powered by the Mela-9® Complex and deliver black sesame seed extract directly to the scalp, where it can support the follicle environment around the clock. Pair with Not Today, Grey® , our daily OTC supplement, to add systemic support from within and give the extract the best opportunity to work at every level.

A nutrient-dense botanical shown to nourish the scalp, support circulation, and deliver antioxidant protection for stronger, healthier-looking hair.

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Black Sesame Seed Extract (Sesamum Indicum)

Black Sesame Seed Extract at a Glance

What it is: A seed-derived extract from Sesamum indicum, one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, prized in traditional medicine for its dense concentration of fatty acids, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds
What it does: Nourishes the scalp and hair follicle, supports microcirculation, and provides antioxidant protection to help maintain a healthy hair growth environment
Found in: Every topical Arey formula and Not Today, Grey®, our daily supplement

What Is Black Sesame Seed Extract?

Sesamum indicum, the black sesame plant, is one of the oldest cultivated crops in recorded history. Its seeds have been used in traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic, and East Asian medicine for thousands of years, particularly for their association with healthy, dark hair and longevity. Black sesame is distinct from white sesame in its higher concentration of anthocyanins, the pigment-related antioxidants that give the seeds their deep color and contribute to their studied benefits for hair pigmentation.

The seed extract concentrates the most bioactive components of the seed: sesamin and sesamolin, two lignans with potent antioxidant properties; oleic and linoleic fatty acids that nourish and condition; and a rich polyphenol profile that supports scalp health from the outside in and the inside out.

At Arey, black sesame seed extract is the only ingredient that spans our entire product ecosystem, included in every topical formula we make and in Not Today, Grey®, our daily OTC supplement.

The Science Behind Black Sesame Seed Extract

Black sesame seed extract works through several complementary mechanisms that together support a healthier scalp and hair environment.

Its lignan compounds, sesamin and sesamolin, are well-studied antioxidants that help neutralize free radical damage at the scalp and follicle level. Free radical accumulation is a known driver of oxidative stress in the follicle, which contributes to both hair thinning and premature greying. By reducing this burden, black sesame creates a more stable environment for the other actives in the Mela-9® Complex to work.

Research has also pointed to black sesame's role in supporting microcirculation. Improved blood flow to the scalp means better nutrient and oxygen delivery to the dermal papilla, which is foundational to an active hair growth cycle. Historically, black sesame's association with hair pigmentation has been attributed to its anthocyanin content and its potential influence on melanin-related pathways, an area of ongoing research interest.

When taken orally, as in Not Today, Grey®, black sesame delivers its bioactive compounds systemically, supporting the follicle from within in a way that complements topical application.

Black Sesame Seed Extract Benefits

Delivers antioxidant protection to reduce oxidative stress at the follicle level
Supports scalp microcirculation for improved nutrient delivery to the dermal papilla
Nourishes the scalp environment topically and systemically for healthier-looking hair over time

Why Arey Uses Black Sesame Seed Extract

Black sesame has one of the longest track records of any ingredient associated with hair health. Its use in traditional medicine spans thousands of years and multiple cultures, all converging on the same set of benefits: nourished scalp, supported circulation, healthier and darker-looking hair. Modern research is catching up to that reputation, with studies increasingly validating its antioxidant, circulatory, and pigmentation-related mechanisms.

It is the only ingredient in the Arey lineup present in every single anti-grey hair product we make, topical and ingestible. That is not a coincidence. Black sesame's ability to support the scalp environment both inside and out made it an anchor for the full system, complementing the more targeted actives in the Mela-9® Complex from every angle. Apply To The Root® in the morning and Good Night, Grey™ at night for concentrated topical delivery, and let Not Today, Grey® support the process from within.

Found in These Arey Formulas

Good Night, Grey®

Overnight scalp serum

Not Today, Grey™

Daily supplement

To The Root® Scalp Serum

Daily scalp serum

Wash Shampoo

Pigment-safe shampoo

Shop Mela-9® Complex

Black Sesame Seed Extract FAQs

Should you eat black sesame or apply it topically for hair?

Both, and the research supports doing each for different reasons. Taken orally, black sesame seed extract delivers its bioactive compounds systemically, supporting the follicle environment from within and providing nutrients that topical application cannot replicate. Applied topically, it works directly on the scalp to reduce oxidative stress, support circulation, and nourish the follicle environment from the outside. At Arey, we use black sesame seed extract in both Not Today, Grey®, our daily OTC grey hair supplement, and every topical formula we make, because the two delivery methods work better together than either does alone.

Is black sesame oil good for hair and scalp?

Black sesame oil and black sesame seed extract share a similar fatty acid profile, including oleic and linoleic acids that condition and nourish, but the extract form used in Arey's formulas is concentrated for its full bioactive profile rather than its oil content alone. The extract delivers sesamin, sesamolin, anthocyanins, and polyphenolic antioxidants alongside the conditioning fatty acids, making it more targeted for scalp health and follicle support than the oil in isolation. For daily use, the extract form in a leave-on serum like To The Root® or Good Night, Grey™ is more effective than applying oil directly to the scalp.

How does sesame indicum seed extract support scalp circulation?

Research on black sesame points to its role in supporting microvascular circulation, the small-scale blood flow that delivers oxygen and nutrients directly to the hair follicle via the dermal papilla. Its antioxidant compounds reduce oxidative stress in the vascular environment, and its fatty acid content supports the integrity of the scalp tissue through which those vessels run. Better circulation means a more nourished, more active follicle, which is foundational to both hair growth and pigmentation.

How do I use sesame indicum extract in my routine?

For concentrated topical delivery, apply To The Root®, our daily scalp serum, in the morning and Good Night, Grey™, our overnight scalp serum, before bed. Both are powered by the Mela-9® Complex and deliver black sesame seed extract directly to the scalp, where it can support the follicle environment around the clock. Pair with Not Today, Grey®, our daily OTC supplement, to add systemic support from within and give the extract the best opportunity to work at every level.

How long does sesame extract take to support hair health?

Because black sesame seed extract works at the level of the hair follicle and growth cycle, visible results take time. Most people begin noticing improvements in scalp health, hair texture, and overall hair quality within 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use across both topical and ingestible formats. Arey recommends using To The Root®, Good Night, Grey™, and Not Today, Grey® together for a minimum of 90 days to allow black sesame seed extract and the full Mela-9® Complex to work at their best.

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