Avocado Oil For Hair: 6 Potential Benefits And How To Use It

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.

Know Your Ingredient: Avocado Oil

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.

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  XA kind of dietary fat with a single unsaturated carbon bond that is liquid at room temperature. like oleic acidⁱ  XA 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  XChemicals, either man-made or natural, which counteract oxidation and may stop or delay various types of cell damage. and anti-inflammatoryⁱ  XThe 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.

Trivia

Cold pressed oils are those oils that have been obtained at room temperature (around 27 degrees Celsius) and not been subjected to temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius at any point during the process of extraction.

There are many types of avocado oil available on the market for consumers today. Check them out in the next section.

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  XA 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.

Quick Tip

You can use avocado oil as a hair serum substitute. Simply apply a few drops of avocado oil to damp hair from mid-length to the tips and style it as you please.

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

What You Need:

• 3-5 tablespoons avocado oil
• 3-5 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
• Glass jar
• Saucepan
• Warm towel

Steps:

1. Boil water in a saucepan.
2. 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.
3. Place the glass jar with the oil in hot water for one or two minutes.
4. Cool it and do a temperature check before applying it to your hair.
5. Gently massage the oil into clean hair and wrap it with a warm towel.
6. Wait for about 20 minutes.
7. Rinse your hair with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
8. Let your hair air dry.

How To Use Avocado Oil For Scalp Massage

Massaging the scalp with avocado oil moisturizes the hair and treats dry, flaky scalp. It also helps prevent dandruff. Here’s what you need to do:

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. Avocado oil has excellent lubricating properties. The oil can be used as a leave-in conditioner. Apply it to detangle your hair.
4. 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

What You Need

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon of avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey

How To Make An Avocado Hair Mask:

1. Whisk the egg yolk and avocado oil together until you get a smooth mixture.
2. Add one tablespoon of honey to it.
3. Combine the ingredients.
4. Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair from the roots to the tips.
5. Cover your hair with a shower cap.
6. Leave it on for about 30 minutes.
7. Rinse hair thoroughly with cool water and a mild sulfate-free shampoo.
8. 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.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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  XA 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.

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Dr. Shruti ChavanMBBS

Dr. Shruti Chavan is a consulting dermatologist at Dr.Sheth's Skin and Hair Clinic since 6 years. She is a co-committee member of CDSI (Cosmetic dermatologist Society of India). She is highly skilled in non-surgical facial skin rejuvenation and face lift by the use of injection treatments and lasers.   Dr. Chavan is well-versed with dermatological and aesthetic procedures. Her special...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru. Her passion for writing and editing and her background in psychology help her create content that...more

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Krati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches. She has also worked with a number of high-profile beauty brands on a freelance basis to upscale their businesses. Krati...more