Fenugreek and Sesame in a Modern Hair Ritual
In FAYNAN's Botanical Hair Ritual Oil, fenugreek is not added as a pure oil: its seeds are infused in sesame oil, and that infused oil joins the blend. Fenugreek brings its warm, earthy character; sesame is the carrier that holds it. It is an old way of drawing a plant into an oil, still used across the Middle East and South Asia today.
Fenugreek, hilba
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), known in Arabic as hilba, is a small plant of the pea family whose hard, golden seeds are familiar in Middle Eastern kitchens. Its scent is instantly recognizable: warm, earthy and a little like maple. Soaked, the seeds turn soft and slippery, which is one reason they have a long place in regional hair-care customs.
Sesame, the carrier
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) has been pressed across the region since antiquity; its paste, tahini, is on almost every Levantine table. In our blend, sesame oil is the carrier: the oil in which fenugreek, and also Sidr, are steeped.
What an infusion is
An infusion is simple. The botanical rests in a carrier oil for a period of time, and the oil gradually takes on some of its character. The plant material is then strained out. Both are part of the result, which is why we always name them together: fenugreek infused in sesame oil.
Infusion or pure oil?
| Infused oil | Pure seed oil | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is made | A botanical steeped in a carrier oil, then strained | Pressed from one seed alone |
| What it contains | The carrier oil, plus the character of the botanical | One ingredient |
| How it is labeled | Both named: fenugreek infused in sesame oil | One name, such as date seed oil |
| At FAYNAN | Fenugreek and Sidr, in the Botanical Hair Ritual Oil | Our Pure Botanicals |
In the Botanical Hair Ritual Oil
The fenugreek and Sidr infusions join wild pistachio (butm), black seed, jojoba, olive and rosemary in a pre-wash oil for hair and scalp:
- Apply a few drops to dry hair and scalp, section by section.
- Leave for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Shampoo thoroughly, before adding much water.
Hair feels softer, with a natural-looking shine. For the full method, read How to Use a Pre-Wash Hair Oil.
Good to know
- Because sesame is the carrier, the Botanical Hair Ritual Oil is not for anyone with a sesame allergy. It also contains wild pistachio (a tree nut).
- Fenugreek belongs to the pea family. If you have a legume allergy, check with a healthcare professional before use.
- Test on a small area of skin before first use, keep away from the eyes, and stop using it if irritation occurs. Our patch test guide shows how.
Discover more
Read about Sidr, the other botanical infused in sesame, see the Fenugreek and Sesame entries in our Botanical Library, or see The Ritual for the steps before shampooing.