The Benefits of Avocado Oil for Natural Hair
If you’re looking for the best oil for your mane, you might want to check out avocado oil for natural hair. Avocado oil is gaining popularity because of its long-lasting effects on the health of natural curls.
Before you read this article make sure you're NOT making these 10 Natural Hair Mistakes!
Learning about a new oil is exciting. It helps to do your research and get all the information before you try something new on your hair, especially since avocado oil is a bit pricier than the conventional olive and coconut oils.
In this article, you’ll find out the benefits of avocado oil, so you can decide whether to add it to your regimen.
Avocado Oil is Packed with Nutrition for Hair and Scalp
Avocado oil is loaded with oleic fatty acids, vitamins, phytosterols, and minerals. This type of nutrition makes it perfect for any beauty regimen.
It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, C, D, E and K—all of which feed the hair nutrients. Avocado oil also features potassium, lecithin, and chlorophyll which help to prevent aging of the scalp.
It has a creamy texture and the color is slightly green. This oil doesn’t smell as good as coconut oil, but it will probably be better for your complexion because of its monounsaturated content. You might find that avocado oil clogs pores less and causes fewer acne breakouts than coconut oil.
Using Avocado Oil for Length Retention and Hair Growth
Here is how avocado oil can help to give you longer, thicker hair:
Repairs the Scalp. It also contains lecithin which boosts collagen for healthy hair growth. This oil benefits the scalp, especially if you have chemical burns from relaxers or alopecia from wearing tight braids.
Antimicrobial. Avocado oil is known for its antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, making it ideal for protection against microbes. It also has antioxidants to fight free radicals and aging of the hair follicles.
Fights Dandruff and Psoriasis. Avocado oil benefits those with a dry, flaky scalp and it may help to heal psoriasis. Massage it into your scalp 20 minutes before shampooing.
Helps Retain Length. Avocado oil is rich in fatty acids, making it one of the most moisturizing oils for hair. It is creamier than olive oil and you may even find it more suitable for creamy DIY recipes.
Promotes Hair Growth. Avocado oil doesn’t exactly stimulate hair growth, but it does promote it by healing the follicles and creating an excellent environment for growing hair. Use avocado oil as a carrier and pair it with hair growth essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus.
Fights Inflammation of the Scalp. Avocado’s high oleic acid content is scientifically proven to combat inflammation. It also contains lutein and vitamin E, two additional inflammation fighters. Use the oil along with peppermint essential oil and aloe vera to soothe an irritated scalp.
Does Avocado Oil Penetrate the Hair Shaft?
Avocado oil is one of the only ingredients that has molecules small enough to penetrate the hair shaft. This means that it can enter the cuticle and protect the water inside the cortex. Avocado oil will help to seal moisture inside your hair strand if you hydrate with water beforehand.
This highly nutritious oil will feed your hair nutrients and its antioxidant properties will protect it against damage from the sun and other elements.
See below for the best tips on benefiting from this nutritional oil.
How to Use Avocado Oil for Healthy Hair
Here are four of the most popular ways to use avocado oil on your natural hair:
Hot Oil Treatments. One of the amazing things about avocado oil is that it survives high temperatures. In fact, you can even stir fry with it. This oil also stands up well when you heat it and apply it to your strands. Warming the oil first allows the cuticles to open so that the nutrition can reach the shaft. It’s best to heat the oil carefully in a double broiler. Hot avocado oil treatments are especially useful for low porosity types.
Hair Masks. This nutritious oil is the perfect addition to your deep conditioning treatment. Deep conditioning should be done as soon as you notice dryness. Every head of hair is different and there are no exact regimens that fit everyone. However, you can benefit from doing avocado deep condition treatments anywhere from one to four times per month.
LOC Method. Using avocado oil in your hair after you shower is the ideal way to help your hair retain moisture. This oil will help you seal in hydration and will protect the hair shaft from harmful elements like the sun and chlorine. You can also use it as a mid-week refresher by spraying water on your hair, then sealing with the avocado oil. Avocado oil penetrates the hair shaft well, so you’ll want to use it before applying any other oils or creams that may hinder its ability to soak into the shaft. Then apply a heavy or light cream afterward.
Scalp Massage for Hair Growth. Use avocado oil as a carrier for peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils for faster hair growth. Avocado oil will help to repair scalp and follicle damage for thicker and longer hair. Place 5-15 drops of essential oil into 2 tablespoons of avocado oil and then massage the oil into your scalp with your fingertips.
It helps to do the massage while inverted, to allow blood to circulate to your head. Bend at the waist with unlocked knees while you massage for a few minutes three times per week if you have a dry scalp or dandruff. If you have an oily scalp, you may only want to massage with oils once per week, and then wash your hair after 20 minutes. You can always experiment with both methods.
Avocado oil is one of the best ingredients for naturals because it nurtures and protects curly hair. Using it frequently will help you grow longer and thicker hair. Just make sure you hydrate with water before using it for the best results.
What happens if you get the avocado oil on your Snappee Hair Ties made for your natural hair? Snappee hair ties are machine washable and dryer safe so you can simply wash it off!
Now, it’s your turn to discuss. Have you tried avocado for natural hair, and if so, did you like it?