Curious about macadamia nut oil for natural hair? If you’re thinking about trying out a new oil on your kinks, you might be overwhelmed as to which one to get. Many vital oils can be used for skin and hair care, and some of them actively improve the way your hair looks and feels.
Every head of hair is different. It’s a good idea to experiment with all of the oils to see which ones work the best on your hair. However, making that initial purchase is always a little scary, especially since
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Sometimes the economical olive oil and
don’t work the way you want them to, and you need to seek alternatives. Or maybe you’re just interested in trying some of the more exotic oils to see if they work even better to control frizz and define your curl pattern.This post focuses on macadamia nut oil and its benefits for natural hair. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know all about the oil so you can decide whether to purchase it for your natural hair care needs.
Benefits of Macadamia Nut Oil for the Hair and Body
Macadamia nut oil has several advantages for the hair and body. It takes on characteristics of oils like coconut, olive, and jojoba, making it one of the most versatile oils in your cabinet. It’s health benefits for the heart, and the rest of the body is substantial. It’s one of the only oils that you can use for cooking over high heat, and it is chock-full of antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Macadamia nut oil contains a unique anti-aging ingredient, palmitic acid, which promotes the production of sebum. As we age, our body’s production of this fatty acid slows. Macadamia nut oil helps to replenish this omega-7 fatty acid, giving you healthier follicles and hair. This healthy oil also contains potassium, calcium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iron, thiamine, selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin A.
Macadamia nut oil can help your hair and scalp by:
- Penetrating the Hair Shaft. It can be challenging to find an oil which sinks into the shaft and doesn’t only sit on the hair strand. Like coconut, macadamia is quickly absorbed for optimum nourishment.
- Reducing Frizz. If you have kinky or curly hair, you’re probably on the constant lookout for products that tame frizz.
- Softening and Conditioning Hair. Because of its ability to penetrate, macadamia is an excellent softener and useful if you have curly or coarse hair.
- Protecting the Hair Strand. Macadamia nut oil works to seal and guard the strand from harsh elements like friction and sun rays. It’s ideal for layering onto your mane after hydration.
- Adding Shine. This nut oil adds a healthy shine to the strand without feeling too greasy. It gives natural hair a lustrous and juicy look.
- Mimicking Sebum. Macadamia is like jojoba oil, in that it mimics the scalp’s natural oils. This is especially useful to naturals because the tiny coils make it difficult for your body’s protective oils to coat the hair.
- Treating Dry Scalp. Macadamia nuts are 19% palmitic acid. This type of fatty acid is known to nourish hair follicles by promoting healthy production of sebum.
How to Use Macadamia Nut Oil
Macadamia nut oil has many uses. You can add it to a deep conditioner for extra nourishment or use it as a layer in the LOC method to seal and protect. You can also add it to a leave-in conditioner, regular shampoo, or conditioner to strengthen them.
Experiment with how much your hair likes the oil before adding it to all of your store-bought products. It could be that you only need to add a little, or you may decide to only use it as a sealant. This oil will help to lock in hydration, so be sure to use it after applying water on wash day or after a mid-week refresher.
Its penetrating properties will soften and protect your hair however you try using it. The oil has a long shelf-life compared to other nut oils, but you’ll want to skip this oil if you have a nut allergy.
You might be wondering how this exotic oil smells. Some natural queens love the pure scent, and others find it to be too much like a cooking oil. If the fragrance is too strong for you, try adding only a little to a deep conditioner so you can mask the scent.
Macadamia Nut Oil Vs. Coconut Oil
Are you down to your last bit of coconut oil, and are thinking about trying macadamia nut instead? The two oils are quite similar in that they both nourish and penetrate the hair shaft. These oils are useful because they soften and condition the hair, instead of sealing only. Coating the hair is vital for protection, but if you want also to nourish the hair, both oils will quickly become your favorites.
However, some find that coconut oil’s ability to penetrate also leads to clogged pores and acne breakouts. This makes using coconut oil on the hair a problem, since the hair may end up touching the face or rubbing onto a pillow. If coconut oil gives you acne, you may want to try macadamia nut oil instead.
The composition of the oils differs too. Coconut oil is rich in capric, caprylic, and lauric acid, making it antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. Macadamia oil is rich in palmitic acid, but it is also antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.
The good news is that you don’t have to choose one over the other. Use both for optimum benefits for scalp and hair health.
Macadamia Nut Oil Vs. Moroccan Oil
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If you’re comparing the pricing of macadamia oil vs.
, is probably the most expensive out of the two. Both oils work to repair hair, but our favorite is the macadamia, which penetrates the hair shaft. There is no evidence of argan’s ability to reach the shaft, but it is beneficial as a coating oil. You’ll love the way both oils add a healthy shine to your hair.Macadamia Nut oil vs. Flaxseed Oil
are praised by naturals for their fatty acid content, and they make a fantastic hair gel. However, it is possible to apply the oil to the hair and scalp too.Many women claim that it helps hair growth and treats alopecia when they apply the oil directly to the scalp or consume the oil orally. The oil is high in omega-3, which strengthens and protects both the follicles and hair. Omega-3 helps hair follicles produce hair. Macadamia nuts have little or no omega-3. Instead, it is high in omega-7, which has anti-aging properties.
It’s questionable whether flaxseed penetrates the hair shaft, so if you’re looking to reach through the cuticles, you should opt for macadamia or coconut. Both oils are great for adding shine and protecting the strand. They’re also both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and are ideal for treating scalp conditions.
Where to Buy Macadamia Nut Oil
Macadamia nut oil can be hard to find. You can try your local health food store, but online is usually the cheapest and easiest. Amazon has a great deal on a small bottle of
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Are you looking to purchase a macadamia hair mask?
is the most popular one, and they make a and too.Now it’s your turn to discuss. Have you tried macadamia nut oil on your natural hair?
Hey Curl Friend, I’m Patrina Haupt the creator and author of Natural Hair Queen. I hope you find my healthy hair care tips helpful in your hair journey. Healthy hair care practices are definitely, what helped me to achieve waist length hair.
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