How Sweet Almond Nourishes the Hair — From Smoothness to Slip and Health

Almond oil is well-known for its skincare benefits—but its moisturizing, soothing properties aren't just for the body. When used as a haircare ingredient, sweet almond oil has the capacity to increase smoothness, slip, and overall hair health. (Not to mention, it's the main ingredient in our favorite DIY head massage.) Keep reading to learn more about what sweet almond oil does for hair, with tips from a cosmetic chemist, a board-certified dermatologist, a trichologist, and an oil expert.

What Is Sweet Almond Oil?

Almond oil is produced by ripe almonds—typically sweet almonds. The oil is extracted by either pressing the nuts, which yield unrefined almond oil, or coaxing it out with heat and chemicals, which creates refined almond oil.

While refined almond oil can tolerate high heat, and is therefore used in cooking, unrefined almond oil is where the nutrients are at. The oil is packed with nourishing vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E (which can support scalp health) and magnesium (which promotes hair growth.)

Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Almond oil is nourishing and moisturizing without being very, well, oily. "Almond oil is incredibly rich in nutrients but still lightweight in texture," says cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline. "It's rich in omega fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids), vitamin E (an antioxidant), as well as squalene, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals." No wonder it has so many benefits for the hair and scalp:

• Hydrates dull, dry hair: If your hair has lost its luster, almond oil can help restore Disney-princess-level shine and slip. "Because it's so rich in fatty acids, it really moisturizes dry hair," Koestline affirms. "Almond oil is thick and nourishing and can assist in moisturizing overprocessed and dull hair, making it smooth and silky," agrees dermatologist Annie Gonzalez.
• Smoothes hair texture: Dealing with baby hairs that just won't lie down? Trying to keep your hairstyle sleek in humid weather? Almond oil is ideal for calming pesky flyaways. "People may see a decrease in frizz and damaged hair when applying almond oil as a leave-in treatment," Gonzalez adds.
• Strengthens hair: By infusing hair with moisture and nutrients, almond oil protects against routine damage caused by brushing, heat styling, and coloring. "Well-conditioned hair always helps prevent breakage," Koestline explains. Almond oil "helps improve [hair] against dryness and brittleness."
• Fights inflammatory scalp conditions: Almond oil is awesome for skin health, Koestline advises, and that extends to the top of the head. "Almond oil is also antibacterial, making it a great scalp treatment for those suffering from dandruff caused by excess yeast growth," Gonzalez emphasizes.
• Promotes hair growth: When applied directly to the scalp, almond oil bulks up hair and reactivates dormant hair follicles. "Almond oil contains a substantial amount of the vitamin B7, or biotin," Gonzalez explains. "Biotin can help thicken and grow thinning hair, as it assists in follicle regrowth and keratin production."

Hair Type Considerations

Unlike more intense, heavyweight oils like argan or coconut oil, almond oil is a versatile ingredient that meshes well with thick, fine, curly, wavy, straight, and natural hair types. "It's great for all hair types, as it's a very lightweight oil," Koestline says. Gonzalez agrees—mostly. "Frizzy and unruly hair likely will see the most benefit from almond oil being applied to dead ends," she says. "Thin hair may feel weighed down or greasy."

How to Use Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Almond oil is used as a moisturizing ingredient in countless hair products, including shampoos, conditioners, masks, scalp scrubs, and styling products. Because almond oil is so nourishing and inexpensive—decent-quality almond oil costs only about 50 cents an ounce—it's also great to use in DIY hair treatments at home. (We'll get to those in a minute.)

Tempting as it may be to slather on an almond oil hair mask and let it marinate for hours while you binge-watch Netflix, don't allow almond oil to sit on your hair for more than a few minutes. "I don't recommend leaving any kind of oil on the hair for a prolonged period, as it can harden and coat the hair's cuticles," says trichologist Shab Reslan. "Too much of any foreign substance on your hair removes it from its natural and shiny state. This type of buildup can not only cause dullness but also create tangling."

Here are some ways to play around with sweet almond oil in your hair care routine:

• Use it as a hair oil: According to oil expert Mariska Nicholson, almond oil can add luster and manageability to hair in mere seconds. Place a couple of drops of sweet almond oil into your palms, rub them together to distribute the oil evenly, then run your palms down the length of your damp hair. This will "promote shine and smooth flyaways."
• Apply it to the scalp to treat flaky skin: Almond oil is a natural, soothing treatment for inflammatory scalp issues like psoriasis, Gonzalez says. If your scalp feels raw and irritated, Reslan suggests, try mixing almond oil with some anti-inflammatory chamomile oil and working the mixture into your scalp. If dandruff is an issue, mix in lemon oil instead. Shampoo afterward.
• Use it for a relaxing scalp massage: "Nothing beats the personal touch of a scalp massage," Reslan says, noting massage's ability to relieve tension, stimulate hair growth, and encourage penetration of hair care products. She recommends working almond oil into the scalp with an electric massager for a few minutes before washing it out in the shower.
• Combine it with olive oil for a wash-out hair treatment: To treat severely brittle hair damaged by heat styling, coloring, or bleaching, Nicholson advises combing a homemade almond oil-olive oil mixture throughout your hair for "extra luster and softness:"

DIY Almond Oil Hair Masks

Olive Oil + Almond Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 part almond oil
• 1 part olive oil

Directions:

1. Apply the mixture from roots to ends with a wide-tooth comb.
2. Allow it to sit for several minutes.
3. Rinse out the oils, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

• Make a hair mask with avocado: Fresh out of deep conditioner and feeling the frizz? Nicholson suggests stirring together almond oil and avocado for a moisturizing hair mask:

Avocado + Almond Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1–2 tablespoons almond oil

Directions:

1. Using a fork, thoroughly mash the fruit of the avocado.
2. Add the almond oil to the avocado; mix well.
3. Apply the mixture to dry or damp hair and leave on for several minutes.
4. Rinse out the mask, and shampoo and condition hair as usual.