When you think of avocados, you might think of trendy green-topped toast or your go-to guacamole and chips. But did you know that using avocado oil for hair can do a lot for your scalp and strands?
To reap all the hair oiling benefits, choosing the right hair oil is key. Luckily, avocado oil is an expert-approved option for most hair types and textures, with some individuals claiming it leads to longer, stronger, healthier hair.
Below, experts explain if avocado oil helps hair grow, the best ways to use it, who should skip it and more.
Does avocado oil help with hair growth?
While there is no concrete, clinical evidence that using avocado oil on the scalp or strands promotes hair growth, it may have some indirect benefits that assist with length. “A healthy scalp can promote healthier hair growth, and nourished hair is more resilient against breakage,” explains dermatologist Dr Geeta Yadav.
Trichologist Kerry E. Yates says that daily scalp massages, a proper shampoo/condition routine, and a balanced diet are the best ways to ensure “proper follicle fitness” and promote hair growth.
Benefits of avocado oil for hair
“Avocado oil can be good for the hair and scalp, particularly if either or both are very dry,” Dr Yadav explains. “Avocado is a naturally nourishing oil due to its high concentrations of fatty acids, specifically oleic, linolenic and linoleic acids, which help prevent transepidermal water loss in the scalp as well as shield against dehydration of the hair, making hair shinier, softer and less brittle.”
Dr Yadav adds that avocado oil is also naturally rich in vitamins (including vitamins A, C, E, K and multiple forms of vitamin B), which help defend against free radical damage.
Below, experts break down the main benefits of avocado oil for the hair and scalp:
Nourishes the scalp
Thanks to the fatty acids and vitamins naturally found in avocado oil, Dr Yadav says the oil offers anti-inflammatory properties, “which can help soothe irritation and support a healthier scalp environment in which hair can grow.”
Adds shine
“Avocado oil helps to smooth the cuticle down and create instant light reflection even for the most damaged of hair,” Yates explains, adding that it’s a great alternative to products containing silicones that “can be too heavy and create an impenetrable barrier,” which may negatively impact hair health.
Helps reduce breakage
The moisturising, emollient properties of avocado oil also help improve the “suppleness and overall condition” of the hair, Yates says. “The more pliable the hair the less breakage and split ends.”
Boosts hydration
Yates echos Dr Yadav’s explanation of the overall hydrating benefits of avocado oil for the scalp and hair. She says it works well in a hair-slugging routine (a method referring to slathering your hair and scalp with an occlusive product to trap hydration and moisture). “Avocado oil can also work nicely to create a barrier after a steam service to help balance moisture within the hair,” Yates adds.
How to use avocado oil for hair
When using avocado oil for hair you can opt for a product formulated with the ingredient—which Dr Yadav says may be the more “cosmetically elegant” and user-friendly option—or you can create a DIY hair mask with pure avocado oil.
For a DIY approach, Yates suggests mixing avocado oil with your favourite hair mask, applying it to the entirety of your hair, and covering it with a shower cap to trap body heat and help with absorption. After letting it sit for as long as the hair mask directions suggest, rinse and style as usual.
Alternatively, you can apply the oil directly to your hair. Due to how rich it is, Yates and Dr Yadav suggest using it as a treatment oil rather than a styling oil, meaning you’ll apply it to the hair and let it sit for as long as you’d like before rinsing it out and shampooing.
Who can use avocado oil on their hair?
Oils in general “are good for all hair types and textures,” Yates explains. She notes that limiting their use to the mid-lengths and ends should help avoid any issues with weighing down the hair.
Since it is a very rich and emollient oil, Dr Yadav says it may be better suited for those with thicker, coarser hair.
Who should avoid adding avocado oil to their hair?
For the most part, anybody can use avocado oil on their hair, but Dr Yadav notes that since it is a heavier oil, “it may be too rich for those with finer or low-porosity hair.” She adds that it is also “fairly high on the comedogenicity scale, meaning it could congest the skin”, so those with acne-prone or oily skin types may want to exercise caution.
Side effects of using avocado oil for hair
The main side effects Dr Yadav warns of are those having to do with allergic reactions. “Avocado allergies are uncommon, but they do exist, and anyone with an avocado allergy as well as those with allergies to bananas, kiwis, and even latex (due to cross-reactivity) should not use avocado oil,” she cautions.
Yates also notes that using oil of any kind on the hair “can negatively impact hair volume” and suggests limiting usage if you have very fine hair. She also warns avocado oil users to limit how much they use on the scalp, as overuse may cause clogged hair follicles and even hair loss when used for long periods of time.
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