Almond oil for hair

Hair is very important for both women and men. Everybody wants to have nice, healthy, shiny hair, but today that is not very easy to keep it that way. Human hair is exposed to all sorts of harmful factors, coming from the environment or from the products and cosmetic treatments used on hair. Dietary habits and lifestyle choices also play an important role.

Without proper care, the hair can become dry, brittle, dull, messy or tangled. Luckily there are some nature’s own remedies that can make the hair beautiful and healthy again, and one of the best is almond oil.

About almond oil

Almond is a tree that is native to Middle East, but today it is cultivated worldwide, wherever the climate permits it. Almonds are often considered to be nuts, but in fact they are drupes, fleshy indehiscent fruits.

Almonds are 49% oil, precisely oleic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid. Almond oil can be obtained from any variety of almonds, and sweet almond oil that is used the most is obtained from the kernel of sweet almond.

This oil has many purposes, and it is widely used in cosmetics as a skin emollient. It can also be used to improve the quality of hair.

Almond oil for hair

There are three basic types of fats and fatty acids found in almond oil, one of them being oleic acid, which is an omega-9 fat. Oleic acid comprises of approximately 78% of almond oil. This oil also contains polyunsaturated essential fatty acids of omega-6 type. There are also small amounts of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.

Because of this combination of fats, almond oil is very beneficial for the hair and it is highly recommended by both health and beauty experts. It nourishes and softens the hair, at the same time making is stronger and less prone to breaking.

Almond oil is also a great cleansing agent. If applied to the skin a few hours before shampooing, it will collect dust and other particles from the hair, which will then be rinsed off along with the oil.

This oil is also beneficial for the scalp. It nourishes it and moisturizes it, which helps against dandruff and itching associated with dry scalp issues.

It can be applied to the ends of the hair to repair them and to prevent splitting. Since it makes the hair smooth and subtle, almond oil is beneficial for both straight and curly or wavy hair, preventing frizz and dangling.

The best way to use almond oil is to apply it directly to the hair, from the roots to the ends, and on the scalp too, before shampooing.