If you’re thinking about adding a new oil into your regimen, you might be wondering about jojoba oil benefits for natural hair.
Jojoba oil is popular among naturals because of its properties that mimic the body’s natural sebum production.
This article delivers everything you need to know about jojoba oil for natural hair. If you’re looking to learn more about jojoba oil and its benefits, keep reading.
What is Jojoba Oil
You might have several questions about
, like is jojoba oil a moisturizer, and is jojoba oil comedogenic?Jojoba oil is a liquid produced in the seed of the Simmondsia chinensis plant. It is native to southern Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico.
It is prized for its ability to moisturize skin and hair without clogging the pores. So, yes, jojoba is a moisturizer, and jojoba oil is non-comedogenic.
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Molecular Structure of Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is actually a polyunsaturated liquid wax that has the same molecular structure as human sebum and whale sperm oil.
This oil’s fatty acid profile is impressive. It contains palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, eicosenoic, behenic, erucic, and lignoceric fatty acids.
It has very little scent, but you may smell a slightly nutty aroma.
Jojoba Oil Harvesting & Processing
Jojoba oil comes from Simmondsia chinensis plant seeds and the oil makes up approximately 50% of the jojoba seed by weight.
Jojoba harvesting is heavy labor, and it’s crucial to look for a jojoba source that uses methods that don’t destroy the nutrients of the plant.
Unrefined Jojoba Oil
Look for unrefined jojoba oil when you’re ready to buy. Unrefined means that the oil has not gone through a ton of processing that would ruin the potency of the oil.
It’s best to get cold-pressed organic jojoba oil to maximize the benefits for your hair.
How to Use Jojoba Oil for Hair
Looking for jojoba oil uses? Here is a list:
- Hot Oil Treatment. Using jojoba as an oil treatment is popular because the oil can leave hair soft, smooth, and silky. To do the treatment, heat 1-2 ounces of the oil in a saucepan to warm. Be careful not to make it too hot. Massage the oil through your hair, place a plastic cap on your head, and leave the jojoba on for 15 minutes. Then rinse your hair and style as usual.
- Jojoba Oil for Scalp. Jojoba helps to balance both dry and oily scalps and can help to relieve itchiness and irritation. Spread the oil onto your fingertips and massage your scalp for a few minutes. Then shampoo.
- Jojoba Oil Hair Mask. Jojoba can help to reverse dry hair. An easy way to reverse dry hair is by doing a jojoba oil hair mask. To make a fresh hair mask, mix together 1 small avocado (mashed), 1 egg yolk, and 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil. Then apply to your hair and leave for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the mixture out with cool water and shampoo.
- Jojoba Oil Leave in Conditioner. Looking to leave jojoba in your hair instead of rinsing it out? Make an easy DIY jojoba oil leave in conditioner by adding 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil and 2 tablespoons of your favorite leave-in conditioner to a spray bottle. Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and add a few drops of essential oils.
- Jojoba Oil Shampoo. You can easily create jojoba shampoo by adding 1-2 tablespoons to your favorite bottle. Or you can buy a shampoo with the oil already in it.
This article is mostly for black hair that is type 4 or type 3, but it is worth mentioning that men can also use jojoba as a beard oil.
Jojoba Oil Benefits
Jojoba oil has several benefits, including promoting hair growth by nurturing the scalp. You can use it as a sealant to seal moisture in, and it can lubricate the ends of your natural hair so that your strands will slide apart instead of tangling. This is one of the main reasons I have included jojoba oil within the Butta Butta Cream ingredients.
Jojoba is loaded with vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin C, copper, and zinc. These are all nutrients that your hair loves.
Jojoba Oil for Hair Growth
Jojoba doesn’t have the stimulating features that some of the other oils have (think castor oil and essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus). But it can still promote hair growth and help to stop hair loss by nurturing the scalp, as your own sebum would do.
If you have issues with dry scalp, oily scalp, or skin irritations, you can use jojoba oil along with your more stimulating oils to help heal your skin. For instance, try using it as a carrier oil for essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood to promote natural hair growth.
It can be difficult to coat your hair with sebum when you have natural hair because your natural oils can’t travel down the tiny coils. Jojoba oil will serve to protect the hair shaft on natural hair, just as sebum would. This can help retain the length you’ve worked hard to grow.
How Does Jojoba Oil Compare to the Other Oils?
- Argan Oil Vs. Jojoba Oil. Both benefit the hair in different ways. Argan oil is rich in natural phenols that help with natural hair growth, but jojoba oil closely mimics sebum and can lead to better length retention.
- Jojoba Oil Vs. Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is known for softening the hair and for defending natural hair against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Jojoba oil won’t clog pores, but coconut oil might, especially if you don’t dilute it within a blend.
- Jojoba Oil Vs. Almond Oil. Almonds are a beauty food because of their oil, so it makes sense to use the oil topically. Both oils are excellent for natural hair. Try mixing them together to make your own blend.
- Castor Oil Vs. Jojoba Oil. Castor oil is powerful and known to heal and protect the skin and hair. Castor oil also penetrates deeply to promote hair growth. Jojoba oil protects and seals, but it does not penetrate the hair shaft.
- Grapeseed Oil Vs. Jojoba Oil. Grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that you can use on natural hair for shine and manageability. Grapeseed oil is much cheaper than jojoba and it may contain more vitamin E. However, jojoba mimics the skin’s natural oils better, and has a high content of iodine.
- Jojoba Oil Vs. Rosehip Oil. Rosehip oil is dryer than jojoba oil, so it will not give as much slip to natural hair. However, it can be a great anti-aging oil for rejuvenating the scalp.
- Jojoba Oil Vs. Vitamin E Oil. Vitamin E contains alpha tocopherol, which has antioxidant properties. Jojoba oil contains vitamin E, so you’re already covered if you want a vitamin E dose for your natural hair.
- Jojoba Oil Vs. Olive Oil. Both jojoba and olive oil are non-comedogenic, so they will not clog your scalp’s pores. Jojoba oil is going to be better at mimicking your skin’s natural oils than olive oil. However, olive oil is cheaper, and you probably already have some sitting in your kitchen, so it will make a good jojoba oil substitute.
- Hemp Seed oil Vs. Jojoba Oil. Hemp seed oil is much higher in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids than jojoba oil so it is going to help repair skin and follicle cells on the scalp better. Jojoba oil helps with length retention but won’t stimulate the scalp like hemp seed oil can.
- Jojoba Butter Vs. Jojoba Oil. Jojoba butter is thicker than jojoba oil. If you prefer to use heavier products in your hair, try the butter. If you want to keep it light, stick with the oil.
- Jojoba Esters Vs. Jojoba Oil. You can use jojoba esters in your homemade cosmetics, possibly without having to use any other waxes. Waxes are excellent for emulsifying your DIY products and giving them a nice, creamy texture. You can use the oil in cosmetics too, but it will be more oily than creamy, and it may not mix as well with your other ingredients.
Best Jojoba Oil
Wondering where to buy jojoba oil? You can always find ready-made hair products that contain jojoba oil, but it’s probably more economical to buy a bottle of pure jojoba oil and add it to your favorite conditioners and leave-ins.
You can find jojoba oil at any health food store or online at Amazon. Here are a couple of favorites:
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- Made in the USA - Absorbs into the skin with no...
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- Apply externally to ankles, arms, backs, chests,...
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- FOR SKIN, HAIR, AND BODY/NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED:...
- GMP Quality Assured: NPA A-rated GMP certification...
- GMP Quality Assured: NPA A-rated GMP certification...
- Packaged in the USA by a family owned and operated...
Side Effects of Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is safe to apply topically for most people, but you should never take it internally because it can cause heart problems.
If you’re considering getting a bulk container of jojoba or you have a bottle that’s been sitting on the shelf for a while, you might ask, does jojoba oil expire?
The good news is that jojoba oil can last a very long time, it’s best to discard after 3 years. This will ensure the benefits of the oil have not deteriorated.
What are your favorite jojoba oil benefits for 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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