Avocado Oil For Hair: 6 Potential Benefits And How To Use It
Learn the multiple uses of this nourishing oil to achieve a shiny and healthy mane.
Are you looking for a hair oil that promotes hair growth without being greasy and heavy? Check out avocado oil. This hair oil is derived from the versatile avocado fruit. It has a light texture, high penetration property, and is packed with essential nutrients.
Avocado contains vital minerals, vitamins, and fats your hair needs. Its oil helps moisturize the hair, reduces dandruff, promotes hair growth, protects the hair from damage, and imparts shine. In this article, we have discussed the potential benefits of using avocado oil for hair, its methods of usage and the oil’s possible risks. Scroll down for more information.
What Is It?
A yellowish liquid containing fats, extracted from the pulp of avocados.
What Are Its Benefits?
It moisturizes, detangles, and protects your hair from damage while reducing dandruff.
Who Can Use It?
It can be used by all to treat hair damage, hair fall, and dandruff.
How Often?
You can apply it for an hour once every week for the best results.
Caution
Avoid if you experience any discomfort on your skin or if you are allergic to latex.
In This Article
What Is Avocado Oil?
Avocado (Persea gratissima) oil is a cold-pressed nutrient-rich natural oil primarily used for cooking and cosmetics applications. It is derived from avocado, the only fatty fruit rich in monounsaturated fatty acidsi A kind of dietary fat with a single unsaturated carbon bond that is liquid at room temperature. like oleic acidi A naturally occurring fatty acid frequently used to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. . The oil’s rapid penetrating properties can help boost hair health. It also is rich in vitamins E and D and possesses antioxidanti Chemicals, either man-made or natural, which counteract oxidation and may stop or delay various types of cell damage. and anti-inflammatoryi The property of a substance or ingredient that lowers signs of inflammation, including physical pain, swelling, and redness in the body. properties. These characteristics of the oil make it ideal for boosting hair health.
There are many types of avocado oil available on the market for consumers today. Check them out in the next section.
Key Takeaways
- Avocado oil is rich in mono-unsaturated fats and thus moisturizes the hair.
- With a high penetration capacity, it can work into the hair shaft as well as treat dry scalp and dandruff.
- Avocado oil is an effective heat protectant. You can use it with essential oils for hair massages to have healthy and shiny hair.
- Mixing egg yolk, avocado oil, and honey, you can prepare a deep-conditioning hair mask.
Types Of Avocado Oil
Based on the extraction process, the different types of avocado oil are as follows:
- Virgin Avocado Oil: This type is derived from ripe avocados without using heat or chemicals. It is used in hair conditioning, skin care, and aromatherapy products and salad dressings for its buttery taste.
- Refined Avocado Oil: This type is filtered to remove impurities. It has a neutral taste as the extracting process removes its natural flavor. It has a high smoking point, making it suitable for deep frying.
- Cold-Pressed Avocado Oil: It is extracted using crushed avocados at low temperatures. It is often considered a high-quality oil and used in cosmetics as well as cooking.
Avocado oil may improve your hair health in various ways. Find out how in the next section.
6 Potential Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Hair
Avocado oil helps promote overall hair health with its wide range of nutritional properties. It can improve moisture levels, hair growth, and hair shine.
1. Moisturizes Hair
Dry hair can eventually cause breakage. You can minimize this problem by applying avocado oil, which is rich in fats that provide essential moisture to the hair. Most oils have a thick consistency and are heavy; they cannot easily penetrate the hair shaft. But avocado oil contains monounsaturated fats and oleic acid, which help it penetrate the hair shaft easily and moisturize your hair.
Generally, shampoos and other hair products strip the scalp of its natural oils (also known as sebum) (1). This may make your hair strands brittle. But avocado oil, with its excellent hydrating properties, can resolve this problem. The vitamins B and E in avocado oil can help strengthen the hair (2), (3). The oil also contains monounsaturated fats (4). These fats help strengthen each hair shaft from the inside out. They may also prevent hair breakage.
Avocado oil can also protect the hair from environmental stressors and pollution. You can add this oil to your favorite leave-in conditioner and enjoy its moisturizing benefits.
2. Effectively Detangles Hair
Dry and fine hair can form knots easily. Weather conditions can also leave your hair in knots. Avocado oil has lubricating properties and can be used as an alternative to conditioner. The vitamins B and E and the fats in avocado oil help condition and smoothen the hair strands. This oil acts as a detangling agent.
You can apply a small amount of the oil to your hair to preserve moisture and prevent breakage. You can then comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb (or your fingers) to remove the tangles.
3. Reduces Dandruff
Color treatments, detergent shampoos, and certain medical conditions can make your scalp dry and flaky. This scalp condition may lead to dandruff (5), (6). The monounsaturated fats like oleic acid have a quick-penetrating formula (7). Massaging some avocado oil into your scalp before washing it may help reduce dandruff.
Scalps that are too dry or too oily can cause dandruff. Frequently oiling your scalp is a good starting point to prevent dry scalp. The topical application of a natural oil, like that of avocado, can help improve scalp health.
4. Promotes Hair Growth
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the nutrient-rich avocado oil can help boost hair health and growth. Avocado oil, when used along with essential oils of peppermint or rosemary, can reduce hair loss and promote natural hair growth. Both the essential oils have been found to boost hair health (8), (9). Massaging avocado oil into your scalp may help increase blood circulation to the scalp. This could stimulate thehair folliclesi A tube-like structure that surrounds the root of each hair strand in the top two layers of the skin. and unclog any blocked hair follicles that lead to hair growth.
Avocado oil also contains vitamin D (10). This nutrient can help in the generation of new hair follicles. However, research is limited in this regard. Simply massage a small amount of avocado oil into your scalp. Do this every couple of weeks.
5. Protects Hair From Damage
Avocado oil can coat the hair with fatty acid-rich moisture and protect it from damage. Common causes of hair damage include exposure to the sun, rough styling techniques, and hot hair tools, such as blow dryers or straighteners. Applying avocado oil to the hair right before using hair styling tools can minimize heat damage.
Avocado oil contains vitamin E that can reverse sun damage. It also prevents hair breakage (11), (12). The hair strands can easily break if they are always dry and brittle. To mitigate this issue, you can coat your hair with a thin layer of avocado oil.
6. Boosts Hair Shine
Avocado oil can help impart shine to your hair and enhance all your hairstyles. You can dispense a small amount of the oil into your hands, rub your hands together, and apply it to your hair.
Avocado oil is a powerhouse of all the essential nutrients and vitamins that your hair needs. In the following section, we will look at how you can use the oil to enjoy its hair benefits.
How To Use Avocado Oil For Hair?
Avocado oil gets absorbed easily. It does not leave a greasy film on your scalp. If you use too much of the oil on your hair, you can wash it out thoroughly with a chemical-free shampoo.
How To Use Avocado Oil As A Hot Oil Treatment
There are many benefits of hot oil treatment for hair, including strengthening hair and preventing dandruff. Avocado oil makes for a great hot oil treatment for hair if you want to restore moisture and add shine.
What You Need:
- 3-5 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3-5 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
- Glass jar
- Saucepan
- Warm towel
Steps
:
- Boil water in a saucepan.
- Depending on the length of your hair, use avocado oil and extra virgin coconut oil in equal parts (3 to 5 tablespoons each). Combine them in a glass jar.
- Place the glass jar with the oil in hot water for one or two minutes.
- Cool it and do a temperature check before applying it to your hair.
- Gently massage the oil into clean hair and wrap it with a warm towel.
- Wait for about 20 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
- Let your hair air dry.
How To Use Avocado Oil For Scalp Massage
with avocado oil moisturizes the hair and treats dry, flaky scalp. It also helps prevent dandruff. Here’s what you need to do:
- Massage pure avocado oil into your scalp. It promotes blood circulation, offers hair hydration, strengthens the hair roots, moisturizes the scalp, and encourages overall hair growth.
- Use avocado oil as a carrier for essential oils (add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oils like lavender or tea tree oil).
- Avocado oil has excellent lubricating properties. The oil can be used as a leave-in conditioner. Apply it to detangle your hair.
- Twist your hair with avocado oil to preserve moisture and prevent breakage.
How To Use Avocado Oil As A Deep Conditioning Treatment With Hair Mask
Avocado oil makes an awesome base for deep conditioning when mixed with a hair mask. It serves as a recipe for the best avocado hair masks; you can try more DIY avocado hair masks to add moisture and shine.
What You Need
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon of avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon of honey
How To Make An Avocado Hair Mask:
- Whisk the egg yolk and avocado oil together until you get a smooth mixture.
- Add one tablespoon of honey to it.
- Combine the ingredients.
- Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair from the roots to the tips.
- Cover your hair with a shower cap.
- Leave it on for about 30 minutes.
- Rinse hair thoroughly with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
- Let your hair air dry. You can follow this as a hair treatment once every fortnight.
You can follow this as a hair treatment once every , this can be used once a fortnight if needed.
Angie, a mom blogger, shared that she uses avocado oil with butter for her daughter Serenity’s hair. In one of her blog posts, she states, “The treatment certainly helped with the tangles and made Serenity’s hair so manageable and soft.” However, she mentions that rinsing it out from the hair can be time-consuming, adding, “I would probably only do this type of treatment on wash days though (i).”
Avocado oil can be a wonderful addition to your hair care arsenal. But it also may cause certain adverse reactions, and it is important to know them before you make a purchase.
Risks And Warnings
Avocado (or the oil) is generally safe for use for most people. But those allergic to latex may develop avocado allergies (13). Using avocado oil may also cause side effects, even if you are not consuming it. If you experience redness or discomfort on the skin, stop using the oil.
Do a patch test on your skin before using avocado oil.
Infographic: Top 5 Hair Benefits Of Avocado Oil
While avocado has always been a trusted component in Mexican cuisines, this superfood has made its way into the hair care industry as well. If you aren’t aware of how it can help improve your overall hair condition, check out the infographic below and learn about the top 5 hair benefits of avocado oil.
Conclusion
Avocado oil is a versatile hair oil with many benefits. It has high penetrating power and is suitable for almost all hair types. From moisturizing the hair to reducing hair damage, this hair oil offers multiple benefits to improve the overall hair health. Choosing the right avocado oil (cold-pressed and natural) for your hair type will help you reap its benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can avocado oil make hair dry?
No. On the contrary, avocado oil is rich in fatty acids and minerals that are essential for moisturization and found in many beauty products. It can help repair dry and damaged hair.
Which is better for hair: coconut oil or avocado oil?
Both oils have amazing benefits for hair care. However, avocado oil is light, so it is suitable for hair of all textures. Coconut oil is heavy and may not suit fine and oily hair.
Can you apply avocado oil directly to the scalp?
Yes. You can directly apply avocado oil directly to the scalp to massage it. This will unclog the hair follicles and help in blood circulation to stimulate hair growth.
Which is better for hair: almond oil or avocado oil?
Both oils have many benefits for the hair. Therefore, it boils down to your preference and needs. Avocado oil has more monounsaturatedi A type of oil or fat that is healthier than trans fats and saturated fats and is present in fruits like olives and avocados. fats, so it penetrates the scalp deeply to unclog the follicles and boost growth. It also helps in hair nourishment and hair repair. But it can also cause irritation for sensitive skin. Almond oil has more nutritional benefits than avocado and is gentle on sensitive skin, but those with nut allergies must avoid it.
Is avocado oil or grapeseed oil better for hair?
Both avocado oil and grapeseed oil offer unique benefits. Avocado oil is a natural oil that is great for nourishing and moisturizing dry, brittle, frizzy hair. Grapeseed oil is a lightweight carrier oil that complements other essential oils and prevents moisture loss.
Illustration: Avocado Oil For Hair: 6 Potential Benefits And How To Use It
Learn how to make a DIY avocado hair mask for healthy, shiny hair. Get all the tips and tricks to make your hair look naturally beautiful. Scroll down to watch the video.
Personal Experience: Source
StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Butter and avocado oil hair treatment
http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2012/01/butter-and-avocado-oil-hair-treatment.html
References
Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/ - The odyssey of bioactive compounds in avocado (Persea americana) and their health benefits
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