Top 9 Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Your Hair

Are you looking for a natural solution for your dry, damaged hair? Frequent usage of avocado oil can quickly repair hair damage and give you lustrous tresses.

High in vitamin E and potent antioxidants, avocado oil is often considered to be a super ingredient in hair care. It is added to various hair masks, oils and conditioners for its ability to stimulate hair growth, treat alopecia, delay graying and prevent sun damage.

Read on to know the best benefits of avocado oil for your hair and how to use it according to your hair type.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“Avocado, although not traditionally Indian, is successfully nativized on the Indian subcontinent. Its action can be kapha promoting and pitta and vata balancing. Hair that is dry, rough, frizzy and dull, would benefit from the use of avocados.”

Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor Of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• Ayurvedic View Of Avocado Oil
• Types Of Avocado Oil
• Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Hair
• How To Use Avocado Oil For Hair
• Side Effects Of Avocado Oil On Hair
• Frequently Asked Questions On Avocado Oil For Hair

Ayurvedic View Of Avocado Oil

As avocados are not native to India, there is no mention of the benefits of avocado oil in the ancient Ayurvedic texts. However, the oil’s powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and moisturizing properties have received the attention of modern Ayurvedic practitioners.

According to the science of Ayurveda, one’s overall health is determined by the fine balance of doshas or life energies. Aggravation of any of these doshas can have a direct impact on your hair health. Excess vata causes dryness, hair thinning and breakage. High pitta levels can lead to inflammation on the scalp and a rise in kapha can cause oily scalp and dandruff problems.

Avocado oil’s thick, creamy texture helps foster good kapha and balance the vata dosha. Its cooling, anti-inflammatory nature soothes your scalp and stabilizes the pitta dosha. Avocado oil is rich in tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin A, C, D and K, essential unsaturated fatty acids [1] and natural antioxidants, making it a holistic solution for various hair conditions.

As per Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, “Avocado, although not traditionally Indian, is successfully nativized on the Indian subcontinent. We even have our name for it, Butter fruit or Venna pandu. Its action can be kapha promoting and pitta and vata balancing. Hair that is dry, rough, frizzy and dull would benefit from the use of avocados.”

Types Of Avocado Oil

While there are different varieties of avocados, the oil extracted from the Hass variety of avocado is considered one of the best. There are mainly 3 types of avocado oil depending on the quality of the fruit and the method of extraction.

1. Extra Virgin Avocado Oil

This type of oil is cold-pressed from the highest quality [2] of avocados. Due to the presence of the natural pigment chlorophyll, extra-virgin avocado oil has a dark greenish color. The oil retains all the essential antioxidants and other nutrients found in the fruit. This makes extra-virgin avocado oil highly nutritious and gives it a unique butter-like, earthy taste.

2. Virgin Avocado Oil

Virgin avocado oil is also unrefined and is slightly lesser in quality when compared to extra-virgin avocado oil.

3. Refined Avocado Oil

The refining process removes the chlorophyll pigment and gives the oil a pale yellow color. Refined avocado oil also loses some of its antioxidant value but has a longer shelf life and is thus more easily available in the market.

Benefits Of Avocado Oil For Hair

1. Strengthens And Improves Hair Growth

Avocado oil is rich in alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamins B6 and D. These three vital nutrients foster hair health. Vitamin D regulates keratinocyte (cells that form the hair cortex) proliferation, thus promoting hair growth.

Vitamin E helps restore damaged hair and repair the protective lipid layer. Vitamin B6 [3] has the unique function of breaking down proteins and enhancing the supply of amino acids to your hair.

2. Reduces Dandruff

Seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the scalp that causes redness, scaly lesions and dandruff on the scalp.

Avocado oil has anti-inflammatory properties mainly owing to the presence of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and other phyto-compounds such as beta-sitosterol [4]. These help to treat dandruff caused by seborrheic dermatitis.

3. Prevents Alopecia

Alopecia areata is a condition suspected to be caused by immune dysfunction. Here healthy hair follicles are mistakenly targeted by the immune system, causing diffuse or complete hair loss. Vitamin D in avocado oil has an immunoregulatory effect [5] along with an ability to stimulate keratinocyte differentiation [6].

According to research, treatment with fatty acids, which are abundant in avocado oil, can improve conditions in patients experiencing alopecia. Further, vitamin E in the form of tocopherol and tocotrienol [7] in avocado oil act as potent antioxidants and effectively lower the rate of hair loss in the treatment of alopecia.

4. Regulates Optimum Blood Flow To The Scalp

Research conducted in 2007 established the connection between hypertension (high blood pressure) and androgenetic alopecia in men. Massaging your scalp with avocado oil can help maintain optimum blood flow to your follicles due to the presence of vitamin E. According to studies, the antioxidant nature of vitamin E helps reduce mild conditions of hypertension.

5. Treats Scalp Inflammation

Avocado oil contains almost 71% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) [8] that possess potent anti-inflammatory properties. Whilst the research on their exact anti-inflammatory mechanism is less, an increase of MUFA levels in the body leads to a decrease in inflammatory conditions. Thus, avocado oil is a perfect home remedy for folliculitis, scalp psoriasis, ringworm and other conditions that may lead to hair loss in the affected areas.

6. Prevents Free Radical Hair Damage

A major connection between oxidative stress[9], premature hair graying and hair loss has been established time and again. A rise in free radicals can damage hair cells, lipids and proteins. Avocado oil is known for its high content of antioxidants such as tocopherol, sitosterol, campesterol [10] and others. These, along with vitamin C, help fight oxidative stress and hair issues related to it.

7. Prevents Premature Greying

Cold-pressed, unprocessed avocado oil contains the natural pigment chlorophyll which gives it a beautiful greenish color. Chlorophyll [11] has multiple hair benefits that include the ability to delay the appearance of gray hair. It stimulates the production of melanin in melanocytes present in your hair follicles, thus preserving your natural hair color.

8. Protects High Porosity Hair

Though the porosity of your hair is genetically determined, factors such as heat styling, sun exposure and chemical treatments can increase it. In such cases, the uppermost cuticle layer remains slightly raised, causing moisture to escape easily. This makes high porosity hair more susceptible to damage.

Hot oil treatment with avocado oil is especially beneficial for damaged hair. Its high content of fatty acids and vitamin E can nourish, repair and help to lock moisture into the hair shaft, preventing chances of split ends and breakage.

9. Protects Hair From Sun Damage

Excess sun exposure can make your hair dry, dull and damaged. Avocado oil is known for its UV ray protective abilities. The presence of tocopherol, carotenoid and fatty acids enables this fruit oil to act as a UV ray filter [12] for your hair.

Vedix Tip:

For use on oily scalp, you can dilute avocado oil with a lighter carrier oil such as safflower or jojoba. This will allow the oil to spread easily and prevent the clogging of your follicles.

How To Use Avocado Oil For Hair

A. In Hair Mask

1. To repair dry, frizzy, damaged hair, mash a ripened, deseeded avocado and add ½ to 1 tablespoon of avocado oil to it. To this add ½ tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Mix all ingredients and apply through the length of your hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash off. Use 2-3 times a week for soft, shiny hair.

2. To prepare an avocado oil hair growth mask, mix 1 tablespoon each of brahmi and amla powders. To this add 2 tablespoons of pure avocado oil and 1 tablespoon of bhringraj oil. Mix well and apply onto your scalp and hair. Leave it on for an hour and wash off.

3. For an anti-dandruff hair mask, add 1 tablespoon each of cold-pressed avocado and coconut oil. To this add ½ tablespoon each of lemon juice, hibiscus and neem powders. Mix well and apply on your scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour and wash off with lukewarm water.

Important Note:

Apart from the mentioned recipes, you can add a few drops of avocado oil to any hair mask for extra nourishment.

B. As Hair Oil

To enhance hair growth with avocado oil, add 2-3 drops each of lavender and rosemary essential oil to 10-15 ml of cold-pressed avocado oil. Massage onto your scalp and through the length of your hair. Leave it on for an hour or overnight and wash off. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

C. As Hair Conditioner

Soak 1-2 tablespoons of methi overnight in ½ cup of water. Sieve and extract the methi jal and store it in a spray bottle. Add ⅓ tablespoon of pure avocado oil and 1 ½ tablespoon of aloe vera gel to it. Use this as a hair conditioner for smooth, shiny locks. The conditioner can also act as a detangler.

D. As Hot Oil Treatment

For a hot oil treatment for dry hair, take pure, extra-virgin avocado oil in a steel/ glass jar and immerse it in hot water. Wait till the oil heats up. Now take a sufficient amount into the palm of your hand and gently massage onto your scalp and hair. Wrap a warm moist towel for better absorption of the oil. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off.

You may also add your choice of carrier or essential oil with the avocado oil depending on your hair type and requirement.

Side Effects Of Avocado Oil On Hair

Avocado oil is highly nourishing and is rarely known to cause side effects upon topical application on the scalp. However, it is quite dense and comedogenic. Thus, it may increase oiliness when applied to an oily scalp and may clog your pores.

Frequently Asked Questions On Avocado Oil For Hair

1. How Long Should You Leave Avocado Oil In Your Hair?

Avocado oil can be left overnight for treating extremely dry and damaged hair. It is safe to leave a small amount of avocado oil on your hair even when you are out in the sun to minimize UV ray damage. However, for normal to oily scalp, leave it on for an hour and wash off.

2. Can You Drink A Tablespoon Of Avocado Oil?

Avocado oil is used for culinary purposes and is thus safe for consumption.

3. How Often Should You Put Avocado Oil In Your Hair?

You can use avocado oil 2-3 times a week on your hair or add it to your hair mask and use it once a week.

4.What Type Of Avocado Oil Is Good For Hair?

Extra virgin avocado oil is always a better choice for topical application. Its high antioxidant content makes it a perfect remedy for various hair conditions. While selecting your avocado oil, also look for the word ‘pure’. This ensures that the oil is not diluted with other vegetable oils.

The Last Word

With myriad hair benefits, avocado oil can be a valuable addition to your hair care routine. With more research proving its efficacy in fighting dandruff, reducing scalp inflammation, initiating new hair growth and preventing alopecia, this fruit oil can transform your hair in a matter of days. However, always check for allergies beforehand and use it in moderation according to your dosha levels and Prakriti (body constitution) for best results.