Avocado oil is a natural and versatile ingredient that can benefit your hair, from nourishing dry and damaged strands to promoting healthy growth.
As one of the best therapeutic oils for dry or damaged hair, avocado oil is extremely rich in nutrients that can transform any hair type.
Let’s review the many benefits of this unique oil and discuss how to incorporate it into your hair care routine.
Avocado Oil Benefits For Hair
There are many avocado oil benefits for hair and skin. Using this healthy oil can:
- Adds moisture
- Boosts shine
- Prevents frizz and split ends
- Nourishes scalp
- Aids hair growth
5 Amazing Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Hair
Adds Moisture
About 60% of the essential oils found in avocado oil are monounsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids are also found in coconut oil and are excellent at penetrating the outer layer of hair strands, creating a protective seal that prevents moisture from escaping.
Avocado oil is also lightweight and quickly absorbs into the hair shaft, so it can moisturize your hair without leaving an oily residue like coconut oil often does.
Boosts Shine
Dullness in hair is attributed to damaged hair cuticles. The cuticle is the hair’s protective layer, comprised of overlapping cells called scales.
Cuticle scales typically point downward, creating a smooth surface on the hair strand that resists tangling. However, dry and damaged cuticle scales may lift off the shaft, creating a rough and dull appearance.
The nourishing effect of the essential fatty acids and minerals found in avocado oil can mask and seal cuticle cells, restoring the appearance of lustrous locks.
Fights Frizz And Split Ends
Frizzy hair and split ends directly result from breakage associated with damaged hair.
Avocado oil is known for its high antioxidant[1] content. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by numerous factors, including pollutants, stress, and ultraviolet rays.
Combined with its moisturizing fatty acids, the antioxidants in avocado oil can help protect and strengthen hair shafts so you experience less hair breakage.
Nourishes Scalp
Thanks to its high lipid and vitamin E content, avocado oil is perfect[2] for soothing a dry and flaky scalp.
Massaging avocado oil into your scalp also delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants to this area. These antioxidants fight inflammation which can resolve scalp itch. They also boost collagen production and protect your scalp from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Maintaining a healthy scalp is crucial to growing healthy and beautiful hair.
Aids Hair Growth
Wondering how to make avocado oil for hair growth work? Like all plant oils, avocado oil doesn’t directly encourage hair growth but does so indirectly through its beneficial effects on scalp health.
A scalp massage using avocado oil can stimulate blood flow to this area, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles, creating an ideal environment for healthy hair growth.
The anti-inflammatory properties of avocado oil won’t create new hair follicles but can help unblock existing hair follicles. This opens up opportunities for more hair growth.
Furthermore, many people use avocado for hair growth because it is rich in biotin, a vitamin linked to boosting the growth of hair and nails. However, despite its popularity, research is mixed on biotin’s ability to promote hair growth.
There is some evidence,[3] however, that biotin may prevent hair loss in people who are deficient in this nutrient. Incorporating biotin into your diet from legumes, seeds, nuts, egg yolks, sweet potato, and avocados can ensure you get enough biotin to support your overall health.
Is Avocado Oil Good For Hair?
Absolutely! Whether you include this nourishing oil in your diet or use it directly on your hair and scalp, avocado oil is an excellent option for protecting and restoring hair.
Avocado oil[4] is extracted from the pulp of avocado fruit through various methods, which result in a nutrient-rich oil packed with:
- Monounsaturated fats.
- Oleic acid.
- Antioxidants.
- Biotin.
- Vitamin A.
- Vitamin E.
- Vitamin D.
These nutrients can help smooth, strengthen, and repair your hair.
Risks & Warnings
Avocado oil is safe for most people and beneficial for all hair types; however, people with avocado allergies or particularly sensitive skin should avoid using this product.
Additionally, while avocado oil is great for a dry and flaky scalp, you should not use it to treat dandruff. Dandruff feeds off the lipids on your scalp, and avocado oil is high in lipids, making this issue worse. Speak with a healthcare professional for a better dandruff treatment plan.
How To Use Avocado Oil For Hair?
Avocado oil is a versatile and natural hair oil full of essential oils that can significantly improve overall hair health. The simplest way to use pure avocado oil for hair repair is to add it to your existing hair treatment products.
For more benefits, follow the step-by-step instructions below, which outline some of the most effective ways to use this nourishing oil. Choose the options that best match your hair needs.
Styling Product
Avocado oil is lightweight and easily absorbed into your hair, making it ideal as a styling product.
Apply a small amount of avocado oil to your fingertips and run your fingers through the bottom half of your hair, focusing on the ends. Doing this will tame frizz, prevent breakage, and smooth the overall appearance of your hair.
Heat Protectant
With its protective antioxidant compounds and high smoke point, avocado oil is an excellent addition to a do-it-yourself heat protectant treatment. Here’s how to make this at home to protect hair.
- Combine one tablespoon of avocado oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle and shake vigorously.
- Lightly spray this mixture onto slightly damp strands.
- Wait a few minutes for the hair oil to set before using hot tools to complete styling.
Pre-Shampoo Treatment
If you’re fighting dry hair problems, consider applying avocado oil as a pre-shampoo treatment. Shampoo can strip hair of moisture as it cleanses. The pre-shampoo process adds a protective layer to your hair, which can prevent damage from overdrying. The result is soft and manageable hair.
- Divide dry hair into sections and comb out any tangles.
- Liberally apply avocado oil to each section, saturating each strand.
- Leave avocado oil to soak in your hair for 30 minutes before washing and conditioning your hair.
- Incorporate this step into your routine as often as needed to provide the desired results.
Hair Mask
Hair masks are similar to pre-shampoo treatments but are usually a little more heavy-duty. They typically combine different oils and proteins that aim to restore strength, moisture, and shine to your locks. Here’s how to make an avocado hair mask at home.
- Combine one tablespoon of avocado oil with one tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil and a few drops of peppermint oil or tea tree oil in a bowl.
- Whisk in one egg yolk.
- Gently massage into dry hair and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes in a warm towel.
- Rinse hair and condition as usual.
Leave-In Conditioner
Use a leave-in conditioner or hot oil treatment after your regular shampoo and conditioning process to add moisture back to your strands. As a restorative hair oil, avocado oil can be used as a deep moisturizing treatment for freshly washed and brittle hair.
Work a nickel-sized amount of avocado oil into damp hair and let it set before styling.
Dietary Oil
Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best ways to improve hair health. Eating avocado oil or fresh avocados provides your body with monounsaturated fats, oleic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin D. These are all nutrients that fight hair loss and nourish hair strands from the inside out.
Its neutral taste and high smoke point make it more useful in cooking applications than many other vegetable oils. Below are just a few ideas for adding avocado oil to your meals.
- Use avocado oil instead of olive or coconut oil when sauteeing, roasting, or searing foods.
- Blend avocado with spices to make a healthy marinade for meats and vegetables.
- Whisk avocado oil with fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and maple syrup for a simple homemade salad dressing.
Other Tips For Healthy Hair
Beyond the benefits of avocado oil, there are more steps you can take to improve the health of your hair, including
- Don’t wash too often. Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils and cause it to become dry and brittle, especially if you use hot water. Limit how often you wash your hair to keep your hair healthy, aiming for no more than two or three times a week. If you have an oily scalp, you can use a dry chemical-free shampoo to help absorb excess oil and keep your hair looking fresh.
- Protect your hair from heat. You can damage your hair by using hot tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers. To prevent damage, always use a heat-protectant product before using these tools. You may also want to consider allowing your hair to air dry a few times per week.
- Wear a hat. Sun exposure can cause damage to your hair and scalp, leading to dryness, brittleness, and even sunburn. To protect your hair and scalp from the sun, wear a hat when you are outdoors for extended periods.
- Swap your pillowcase. Cotton pillowcases can cause friction and tangle your hair while you sleep, leading to breakage and split ends. Switch to a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction and keep your hair smooth and healthy.
The Bottom Line
Avocado oil provides numerous benefits to the health and quality of your hair that few oils can match. Whether you’re looking to use avocado oil for hair loss prevention or repair damage to existing hair, this oil delivers the essential oil and nutrients you need to get the desired results.
Beyond hair care, avocado consumption can boost overall health when incorporated into a well-balanced diet. In turn, a healthy diet protects hair and can improve hair health.
Due to its versatility and minimal side effects, using avocado oil hair treatments or cooking oil can improve most hair types and help you achieve your best hair day every day.
+ 4 Sources
- Deep Jyoti Bhuyan, Alsherbiny, M.A., Perera, S., Low, M., Basu, A., Okram Abemsana Devi, Mridula Saikia Barooah, Chun Guang Li and Papoutsis, K. (2019). The Odyssey of Bioactive Compounds in Avocado (Persea americana) and their Health Benefits. Antioxidants, [online] 8(10), pp.426–426. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8100426.
- Tzu Kai Lin, Zhong, L. and Juan Luis Santiago (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, [online] 19(1), pp.70–70. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19010070.
- Ozan Sen and Ahmet Gökhan Türkçapar (2021). Hair Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy and Effect of Biotin Supplements. Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques, [online] 31(3), pp.296–300. doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/lap.2020.0468.
- Flores, M., Saravia, C., Vergara, C.E., Ávila, F., Valdés, H. and Ortiz-Viedma, J. (2019). Avocado Oil: Characteristics, Properties, and Applications. Molecules, [online] 24(11), pp.2172–2172. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112172.