Almond Oil for Hair: Benefits & Uses for Healthier Hair

Posted by Karanvir Singh on May 17th, 2021

Is Almond Oil good for natural hair?

Almond oil is packed with nutrients such as Vitamins E, Biotin, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Flavonoids, making it a great oil for natural hair. The high levels of vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids nourish and moisturize the hair thus making it strong.

Almond oil softens the hair making it easy to manage due to its emollient properties. This is a great property for Afro-textured hair such as 4C hair as it makes detangling much easier. 

Almond oil is among the several oils that can be used on natural 4C hair either by blending it with other oils, using it as a hot oil treatment or as an ingredient in DIY natural hair care remedies.

What is Almond Oil?

Almond oil is an extract that comes from pressing Almond nuts. Research has shown that it is an effective emollient and therefore commonly used in skin and anti-aging products. Not only is Almond oil great for the skin, it has also become very popular in the hair care industry.

The origin of the Almond tree can be traced to Iran and surrounding countries. The Almond tree can now be found in several parts of the world as it began to spread in ancient times along shores of the Mediterranean and into the rest of the world.

Almonds are brown oval-shaped nuts that have a wide array of uses. From making food more flavorful and crunchier to adding that extra kick to your smoothies, brownies, or cakes.

There are two types of Almond Oil: (i) Sweet Almond Oil and (ii) Bitter Almond Oil.

Sweet Almond Oil is extracted from the edible Sweet Almond tree variety. Almonds from this tree are sweet and considered safe to be consumed. The sweet Almonds are good for the overall health as well as for use on the skin and hair.

Bitter Almond Oil has a strong aroma and best used in aromatherapy blends. This type of Almond oil is extracted from the bitter Almonds that are short and broader. The bitter almonds are however not considered safe for eating hence not commercially available in several markets.

Nutritional value of Almond Oil

Almonds are packed with nutrients such as amino acids, fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins (vitamins E, Biotin), minerals (Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium) and phytonutrients (flavonoids, plant sterols, phenolic acid).

In many ancient cultures, almonds were popular for their wealth of nutrients and their healing properties. In the recent past there has been an increase in the cosmetic use of almond oil.

This is because of the discovery of its amazing benefits on hair and skin health. Being packed with nutrients makes it a powerful agent in the improvement of the shine and hair strength hence its use in hair products.

Benefits of Almond Oil on Hair

1. Nourishment and hydration

Almond oil is a power pack of nutrients which help in nourishing natural hair. With high levels of Vitamin E, omega-rich fatty acids, and minerals such as phosphorus and magnesium, almond oil is worth the hype.

Incorporating almond oil into your natural hair care regimen will leave your strands looking lustrous and well hydrated.

For this reason almond oil is a perfect choice to use on damaged tresses. The fatty acids in the almond oil will give your hair a great sheen.

2. Softening hair

For those who struggle with managing the hair, almond oil is a great choice for you. Due to its emollient properties, almond oil can easily transform your hair into a softer more manageable mane.

This is a great property to take advantage of if your hair tends to tangle up easily.

It is a great oil to blend with other oils to give your hair slip when you are preparing from washing and detangling. Use this oil on natural 4C hair and it’ll work great.

Once you start using this oil in your natural your hair care routine, you will notice that you can easily pass through the comb and style as desired.

3. Strengthens and repairs damaged hair

Almond oil is rich in vitamin B7 or Biotin which makes it wonderful oil for hair strengthening. It is also packed with other nutrients such as minerals and lipids which play a role in nourishing the hair and ensuring that it remains healthy and strong. In addition, Almond oil may protect the hair from sun damage with a natural SPF 5, a fact that further contributes to making hair strong.

Almond Oil also has anti-bacterial properties which help in keeping dandruff problems at bay.

Almond oil’s lubricating property is another plus. A study on Brazilian nut oils with oleic and linoleic acids showed improvements in hair strength, after hair was treatment with small amounts of the oil.

4. Hair tonic

Almond oil is known as a natural hair tonic that strengthens hair strands and protects it from damage. Almond oil contains vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that helps to combat free radicals that lead to hair damage, and thus promote hair growth.

5. Treatment of scalp conditions

Almond oil is jam packed with numerous nutrients that are beneficial for your health. This oil has immunity boosting and anti-inflammatory properties which make it useful in the treatment of scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis.

For centuries, Almond oil has been used to treat dry skin as well as scarring. It is able to soothe irritated skin and is therefore suitable for the scalp.

How to use Almond Oil on natural hair

1. Directly apply Almond Oil to the scalp and hair

Almond oil is considered one of the light oils that can easily penetrate into your hair follicles. It can therefore be applied directly to your hair by rubbing small amounts into your palms and then massaging it into your scalp.

This should be left on for some time before washing it off. Alternatively, the oil can be used after cleansing in order to lock in the moisture.

If you’re looking to soothe your scalp, it is best to massage the oil directly into the scalp. On the other hand, if you’re looking to make your hair softer and easily manageable, pay special attention to the ends of your hair, and leave the oil on after styling it.

2. As a Hair Mask and in oil blends

Almond oil is full of vitamins and minerals which make it a wonderful hair mask. For this reason, the oil can be used as an ingredient for a conditioning hair mask.

You can add Almond oil to your DIY conditioning mask, store bought conditioners or even in your shampoo to give them some power boost.

A simple DIY conditioning mask you can try is to add Almond oil to your egg or Avocado DY conditioner. This will result in a mask that is full of hydrating properties. The hair will also benefit from the nutrients that Almond oil contains.

Almond oil also works well when blended with other oils to make a much more potent oil mix. Oils that blend well with Almond include: Amla Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor oil and Mustard Oil. 

When making a blend, mix the oils of your choice together, warm the mixture gently for a few minutes and massage into the scalp while warm. Leave on for at least 1 hour before shampooing. You can also leave it overnight to be rinsed off the next day. 

One of the brands that I like for coconut oil and castor oil is Rey naturals. You can check them out!

3. Use Almond Oil as a supplement

Some people prefer to take almond oil as an oral supplement. It can be in a capsule or liquid form.

Taking almond oil supplements gives you a dose of nutrients that could improve not only your hair but your overall health.

Using almond oil is beneficial to your hair. While the oil is generally safe to use, if you develop allergic reactions you should immediately stop using the oil and seek medical help. Always do a patch test on your skin before going full blown on any hair products and this includes Almond Oil.