Avocado Oil is the latest ingredient to make waves in the curly hair care scene. That’s right—turns out this tasty fruit is good for more than just guac & topping your toast. Avocado Oil is packed with hair-pampering compounds like minerals, vitamins & essential fatty acids.1
Wondering exactly how to use Avocado Oil for hair? You’ve come to the right place.
We’re taking a closer look at what makes Avocado Oil so good for curly hair, along with ways to incorporate it into your haircare routine. Whether you're looking to switch up your curly haircare products or just want to learn more about this popular ingredient, we’ve got the scoop. Read on to discover all of the amazing benefits that this healthy fat has to offer for your luscious locs.
What Is Avocado Oil?
Avocado Oil is extracted from the creamy flesh of avocados via cold pressing. It’s a light oil with many health benefits:
- It’s high in Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid & other good-for-you fatty acids that can support heart health.
- It’s packed with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, D & E that can protect against free radical damage.
- Avocado Oil has been shown to help with skin barrier repair, which could make it a good choice for supporting scalp health.1
Used in masks, conditioners & styling products, avocado oil can make for an excellent choice when searching for an ultra-nourishing hydration treatment for curly hair. It can also be applied to hair on its own. When used regularly, avocado oil may prevent damage, add shine & help curls & coils hold their shape.
What Are the Benefits of Avocado Oil for Hair?
It’s clear that avocado oil has benefits for your overall health. But is avocado oil good for hair? Short answer: Yes. Avocado oil is not only brimming with nutrients that can nourish & moisturize the scalp & hair, but it’s also highly absorbable.
Some oils simply coat the hair shaft. Avocado Oil, on the other hand, penetrates the hair shaft. This means it may be able to fill gaps in the cuticle & protect hair from absorbing too much water (hygral fatigue).2
Other avocado oil benefits for hair include:
- Provides vitamins – Avocado Oil contains Vitamins A, C, D & E, as well as potassium & omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients can help nourish the scalp & follicles. They may also help to protect hair & skin from damage caused by free radicals.
- Reinforces the hair shaft – The Oleic Acid & other fatty acids in Avocado Oil can strengthen the cuticle by locking in moisture, keeping hair hydrated longer. Over time, this can prevent split ends & natural hair breakage.
- Protects against environmental damage – The fatty acids in Avocado Oil can also help to protect hair strands by forming a barrier against UV radiation, pollution & heat.
Why Use Avocado Oil in Hair Product Formulas?
Avocado Oil can help protect hair by strengthening & sealing the hair shaft.2 Incorporating a little extra oil in your haircare routine can be helpful for strengthening the cuticles of your curly & coily strands.
Avocado oil can be applied directly to hair like any other oil. However, it may work even better alongside other hair-strengthening ingredients, like coconut oil that has been shown to bond to hair proteins.2
Look for products like PATTERN’s Hydrating Mist or Intensive Conditioner that incorporate avocado oil along with other highly absorbable oils like Coconut & Safflower to help even low porosity hair take in moisture effectively.
What Can You Expect When Using Products With Avocado Oil?
Thanks to its high absorbability combined with its vitamin, antioxidant & fatty acid content, Avocado Oil can:
- Add shine & strength to natural hair textures
- Prevent split ends & natural hair breakage
- Support hair growth due to its natural Biotin content
- Help with scalp & skin problems like itching, dryness & flaking1
Can You Apply Avocado Oil Directly to Curls?
Yes, Avocado Oil can be applied to curls without worrying about heavy buildup. It’s one of the lighter Vegetable Oils, & its monounsaturated fat content means it can actually penetrate the hair shaft instead of coating it.2
Here are two easy ways to use avocado oil for natural hair at home:
- For shine & smoothing – Warm a few drops of oil by rubbing it in your palms. Then lightly glaze the oil over your curls in a thin, even layer. Avocado Oil absorbs into the hair quickly & doesn’t form a thick film around the cuticle, so you may need to reapply more frequently than with heavier oils.
- For scalp health – To enjoy the skin-repairing antioxidant benefits of Avocado Oil, try giving yourself a scalp massage in the shower. Gently rub about a teaspoon of Avocado Oil into your scalp & around the roots of your hair.
Are There Side Effects of Using Avocado Oil on Hair?
As with any oil, too much can leave your hair feeling coated or heavy. However, avocado oil is a lightweight oil that’s quickly absorbed, so it doesn’t tend to weigh hair down. If you do feel a bit of buildup, it can easily be removed with a gentle shampoo on your next wash day.
Lastly, if you’re allergic to avocado, it’s best to avoid the oil in your hair care products. Although it’s not highly likely, it is possible to absorb enough oil through the scalp to have an allergic reaction.
For Bold, Beautiful Curls, Kinks & Coils—Think PATTERN
So, is avocado oil good for your hair? We’d say the answer is a resounding yes. Its strengthening & moisturizing benefits can help you achieve defined curls all while preventing breakage, whether your curl pattern is 3B, 4C or anywhere in between.
If you’re ready to juice your hair care routine with naturally hydrating & strengthening ingredients like avocado oil, PATTERN has what you’re looking for.
Every PATTERN product is packed with healthy, curl-boosting goodness with ingredients such as avocado oil, shea butter, safflower oil & acacia flower extract and without the bad stuff such as SLS, SLES, & parabens. At PATTERN, we celebrate your hair as much as you do.
Sources:
- Lin, Tzu-Kai et al. “Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,1 70. 27 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
- Gavazzoni Dias, Maria Fernanda Reis. “Hair cosmetics: an overview.” International journal of trichology vol. 7,1 (2015): 2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
