Almond oil has a long list of skin benefits, including moisturising, soothing irritation, preventing stretch marks, and possibly even reducing the appearance of dark circles. But what about almond oil for hair? Is it possible that it will benefit our scalp and strands in the same way? And, if that's the case, will it supplant coconut oil as the go-to, all-purpose ingredient in the beauty world?
We spoke with experts Krupa Koestline, Annie Gonzalez, Shab Reslan, and Mariska Nicholson to learn everything there is to know about this hot beauty ingredient, including what it can do for hair and scalp and who it's best for.
Continue reading to learn why almond oil has become the new go-to hair ingredient for people with all hair types.
Benefits of Almond Oil For Hair
It turns out that almond oil has been used in hair care for a long time, long before hair oils became popular. Almond oil is nourishing and moisturising without being overly oily, which is why it is so popular. "Almond oil is nutrient-dense while remaining light in texture," Koestline says. According to the manufacturer, it's high in omega fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids), vitamin E (an antioxidant), squalene, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. It comes as no surprise that it has a long list of hair and scalp benefits:
- Almond oil can help you regain the shine and manageability of a Disney princess if your hair has lost its lustre. "Because it's so high in fatty acids, it really moisturises dry hair," Koestline says. "Almond oil is thick and nourishing, and it can help hydrate overprocessed, dull hair, making it smooth and silky," says Gonzalez.
- Does your hair have a lot of baby hairs that won't go away? Trying to keep your hairstyle sleek in humid weather? Almond oil is fantastic for controlling unruly hair. "People may notice a reduction in frizz and damaged hair when using almond oil as a leave-in treatment," Gonzalez says.
- Almond oil infuses hair with moisture and nutrients, protecting it from damage caused by brushing, heat styling, and colouring. "Well-conditioned hair helps to prevent breakage," Koestline says. Almond oil "helps to prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle."
- Almond oil is good for skin health, especially for irritated scalps, according to Koestline. "Almond oil is also antibacterial," Gonzalez adds, "making it a good scalp treatment for dandruff caused by yeast growth."
- When applied directly to the scalp, almond oil thickens hair and reactivates dormant hair follicles, promoting hair growth. Gonzalez explains, "Almond oil contains a significant amount of biotin, or vitamin B7." "Biotin promotes follicle regrowth and the production of keratin, which can help thicken and grow thinning hair."
Considerations for Different Hair Types
Almond oil is a versatile hair oil that works with a wide range of hair types, including thick, fine, curly, wavy, straight, and natural hair, unlike more intense, heavyweight oils like argan or coconut oil. "It's great for all hair types because it's a very lightweight oil," Koestline says. For the most part, Gonzalez agrees. "Applying almond oil to dead ends will most likely benefit frizzy and unruly hair," she says. "Thin hair can appear greasy or heavy."
Almond Oil for Hair: How to Use It
Almond oil is used as a moisturising ingredient in a variety of hair products, including shampoos, conditioners, masks, scalp scrubs, and styling products. Almond oil is ideal for at-home DIY hair treatments because it is nourishing and affordable (a decent-quality ounce of almond oil costs about 50 cents). (We'll return to those in a minute.)
Although it may be tempting to slather on an almond oil hair mask and leave it on for hours while binge-watching Netflix, don't leave almond oil on your hair for more than a few minutes if you've applied a large amount. "I don't recommend leaving any kind of oil on the hair for an extended period of time because it can harden and coat the hair's cuticles," says Reslan. "Your hair loses its natural lustre and shine when you use too much of any foreign substance on it. Tangling and dullness can occur as a result of this buildup."
Here are some different ways to incorporate almond oil into your hair care routine:
- Use it as a hair oil: Almond oil, according to Nicholson, can instantly add lustre and manageability to hair. To promote shine and smooth flyaways, put a few drops of almond oil in your palms, rub them together to distribute the oil evenly, and then run them down the length of your damp hair.
- Almond oil is a natural, soothing treatment for inflammatory scalp issues like psoriasis, according to Gonzalez. Apply it to the scalp to treat flaky skin. If your scalp is raw and irritated, Reslan recommends mixing almond oil with anti-inflammatory chamomile oil and massaging it into your scalp; if you have dandruff, use lemon oil instead. After that, shampoo.
- "Nothing beats the personal touch of a scalp massage," says Reslan, who points to massage's ability to relieve tension, stimulate hair growth, and promote product penetration. She recommends massaging almond oil into the scalp with an electric massager for a few minutes before rinsing it out in the shower.
- For a wash-out hair treatment, combine it with olive oil: To treat severely damaged or brittle hair caused by heat styling, colouring, or bleaching, Nicholson suggests combing a homemade almond oil-olive oil mixture throughout your hair for "extra lustre and softness."
