How Much Almond Oil to Use on Hair

We already know all about the benefits of using almond oil for skin: It's moisturizing, soothes irritation, prevents stretch marks, and may even reduce the appearance of dark circles. But what about almond oil for hair? Can it offer our scalp and strands similar benefits? And if so, will it replace coconut oil as the beauty buff's gold-standard, do-it-all ingredient?

To learn all about this buzzy beauty ingredient—especially what it can do for the hair and scalp and who it's best suited for—we checked in with experts Krupa Koestline, Annie Gonzalez, Shab Reslan, and Mariska Nicholson.

Keep scrolling to learn why almond oil is the new hero ingredient for all hair types.

What Is Almond Oil?

Almond oil is produced by ripe almonds—typically sweet almonds. The oil is extracted by either pressing the nuts, which yield unrefined almond oil or coaxing it out with heat and chemicals, which creates refined almond oil.

Fast Facts

• Type of ingredient: Hydrator
• Main benefits: Conditions and moisturizes dry hair, improves scalp health, and prevents hair breakage
• Who should use it: In general, it's suitable for all hair types but best for dry and/or damaged hair.
• How often can you use it: A few times per week
• Works well with: Other hydrating, plant-derived oils
• Don't use with: There are no known negative reactions with almond oil and other haircare ingredients.

Benefits of Almond Oil for Hair

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As it turns out, almond oil in hair care has been a thing for a while now, long before hair oils started having a moment. That's because almond oil is nourishing and moisturizing without being very, well, oily. "Almond oil is incredibly rich in nutrients but still lightweight in texture," says Koestline. "It's rich in omega fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids), vitamin E (an antioxidant), as well as squalene, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals." No wonder it boasts a number of benefits for the hair and scalp:

• Hydrates dull, dry hair: If your hair has lost its luster, almond oil can help restore Disney-princess-level shine and manageability. "Because it's so rich in fatty acids, it really moisturizes dry hair," Koestline affirms. "Almond oil is thick and nourishing and can assist in moisturizing overprocessed and dull hair, making it smooth and silky," agrees Gonzalez.
• Smoothes hair texture: Dealing with baby hairs that just won't lie down? Trying to keep your hairstyle sleek in humid weather? Almond oil is ideal for calming unruly texture. "People may see a decrease in frizz and damaged hair when applying almond oil as a leave-in treatment," Gonzalez says.
• Strengthens hair: By infusing hair with moisture and nutrients, almond oil protects against routine damage like brushing, heat styling, and coloring. "Well-conditioned hair always helps prevent breakage," Koestline explains. Almond oil "helps improve [hair] against dryness and brittleness."
• Fights inflammatory scalp conditions: Almond oil is awesome for skin health, Koestline advises, especially unhappy scalps. "Almond oil is also antibacterial, making it a great scalp treatment for those suffering from dandruff caused by excess yeast growth," Gonzalez adds.
• Promotes hair growth: When applied directly to the scalp, almond oil bulks up hair and reactivates dormant hair follicles. "Almond oil contains a substantial amount of the vitamin B7, or biotin," Gonzalez explains. "Biotin can help thicken and grow thinning hair, as it assists in follicle regrowth and keratin production."

Hair Type Considerations

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Unlike more intense, heavyweight oils like argan or coconut oil, almond oil is a versatile hair oil that meshes well with most hair types: thick, fine, curly, wavy, straight, and natural. "It's great for all hair types, as it's a very lightweight oil," Koestline says. Gonzalez agrees—mostly. "Frizzy and unruly hair likely will see the most benefit from almond oil being applied to dead ends," she says. "Thin hair may feel weighed down or greasy."

Not sure if almond oil will overwhelm your thin and/or fine hair? Start by applying just a drop or two to your hair's mid-lengths and ends right before you plan to wash; if the effect is too greasy, you won't be stuck with it for long.

How to Use Almond Oil for Hair

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Almond oil is used as a moisturizing ingredient in countless hair products, including shampoos, conditioners, masks, scalp scrubs, and styling products. Because almond oil is so nourishing and inexpensive—decent-quality almond oil costs only about 50 cents an ounce—it's also great to use in DIY hair treatments at home. (We'll get to those in a minute.)

Tempting as it may be to slather on an almond oil hair mask and let it marinate for hours while you binge-watch Netflix, don't allow almond oil to sit 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 a prolonged period, as it can harden and coat the hair's cuticles," says Reslan. "Too much of any foreign substance on your hair removes it from its natural and shiny state. This type of buildup can not only cause dullness but also create tangling."

Here are some ways to play around with almond oil in your hair care routine:

• Use it as a hair oil: According to Nicholson, almond oil can add luster and manageability to hair in mere seconds. Place a couple of drops of almond oil into your palms, rub them together to distribute the oil evenly, then run them down the length of your damp hair "to promote shine and smooth flyaways."
• Apply it to the scalp to treat flaky skin: Almond oil is a natural, soothing treatment for inflammatory scalp issues like psoriasis, Gonzalez says. If your scalp feels raw and irritated, try mixing almond oil with some anti-inflammatory chamomile oil and working the mixture into your scalp, Reslan suggests; if dandruff is your bugaboo, mix in lemon oil instead. Shampoo afterward.
• Use it for a relaxing scalp massage: "Nothing beats the personal touch of a scalp massage," Reslan says, noting massage's ability to relieve tension, stimulate hair growth, and encourage penetration of hair care products. She recommends working almond oil into the scalp with an electric massager for a few minutes before washing it out in the shower.
• Combine it with olive oil for a wash-out hair treatment: To treat severely damaged or brittle hair damaged by heat styling, coloring, or bleaching, Nicholson advises combing a homemade almond oil-olive oil mixture throughout your hair for "extra luster and softness:"

Ingredients:

• 1 part almond oil
• 1 part olive oil

Directions:

1. Apply the mixture from roots to ends with a wide-tooth comb.
2. Allow it to sit for several minutes.
3. Rinse out the oils, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

• Make a hair mask with avocado: Fresh out of deep conditioner and feeling the frizz? Nicholson suggests stirring together almond oil and avocado for a moisturizing hair mask:

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1–2 tablespoons almond oil

Directions:

1. Using a fork, thoroughly mash the fruit of the avocado.
2. Add the almond oil to the avocado; mix well.
3. Apply the mixture to dry or damp hair and leave on for several minutes.
4. Rinse out the mask, and shampoo and condition hair as usual.

The Best Products with Almond Oil

Carol's Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner $12

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Carol's Daughter has created a line of hair products that those with natural hair—or any hair texture for that matter—adore, and for good reason. Take this lightweight leave-in, for instance. With its hydrating blend of oils and butters, it's what we reach for when we're looking to revitalize overly processed and damaged locks. Nothing else will cut it.

Rossano Ferretti Parma Prodigio Regenerating Potion $59

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Don't be frightened by the price tag, a little bit of this "clean" treatment will go a long way. Not only does it offer all of the benefits of almond oil (think: heat protection and high-octane shine), but its lightweight formula brings out the best of a fine and/or thin mane, even helping to make it appear fuller.

Aveeno Almond Oil Blend Oil Mist $7

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We love mists. They're just so darn refreshing, after all. And while post-flight face mists are our jam, so too are hair mists to save our thirst-stricken strands. This oil-based mist by Aveeno uses oats, almond oil, and avocado oil, to hydrate tresses—dry, thick, coarse, and curly, especially—for a frizz-free finish. Simply spray and go.

L'Occitane Almond Shampoo with Almond Oil $20

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Cleansing with this almond shampoo by L'Occitane will have you feeling très chic. Not to mention, it's probably one of the easiest and mess-free ways to incorporate almond oil into your hair care routine. Apply, lather, rinse, and repeat for silky-smooth strands.

Pura D'Or Organic Sweet Almond Oil $15

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If DIY hair remedies are more your speed, then you can't go wrong with having pure almond oil in your hair care arsenal. "Almond oil is often used as a carrier oil because it has shown ability to help increase permeability of other ingredients," Koestline explains. And if thinning hair is a concern, try combining it with rosemary oil via a stimulating scalp massage.

FAQ

• Is almond oil or coconut oil better for hair?

  It depends. Almond oil is a great lightweight oil for all hair types and textures while coconut oil works best for those with thick, coarse, or curly hair. If your hair leans toward being thin, fine, or oily, you might want to opt for almond oil over coconut oil.

• Are there any side effects to using almond oil on hair?

  Using almond oil on your hair typically doesn't come with any side effects; however, if you plan on heat styling your hair, avoid using almond oil beforehand. Heat applied directly to almond oil can increase its temperature and can lead to burns.

• Is almond oil good for sensitive scalps?

  Yes, almond oil is gentle and soothing on skin. It has even been shown to help alleviate scalp irration and/or inflammation.

How Much Almond Oil to Use on Hair

Source: https://www.byrdie.com/almond-oil-for-hair

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