Jojoba oil is a favorite among natural hair queens. If you watch natural hair tutorials as often as I do, you will find quite a good mention of Jojoba oil as essential natural hair oil.
But you might be wondering;
- What is jojoba oil?
- What are its benefits on natural hair?
- Why can't other naturals seem to get enough of it?
Well, today is your lucky day, I'll be explaining everything you need to know about jojoba oil down to its benefits on natural hair.
What is Jojoba Oil?
Jojoba oil is a liquid wax that is drawn out from the bean seeds of the jojoba plant. The jojoba plant is commonly grown in Arizona, Mexico, and California. In its unrefined state, jojoba oil has a pale yellow color and comes with a slightly nutty aroma. Refined jojoba oil, on the other hand, has a clear look and no odor at all.
Jojoba oil is a common ingredient added to some of your favorite natural hair products. It also serves as a good moisturizing agent in lipsticks, shampoos, face, hand, and body lotions.
Native Americans used jojoba oil to heal sores, cuts, or bruises on the skin. It is considered effective for moisturizing and healing the skin. Jojoba oil contains some nutritional ingredients such as Vitamin A, D, and E, and Antioxidants. This makes it a great addition to your skin or natural hair care routine.
Benefits of Jojoba Oil on Natural Hair
1. Treats dry natural hair
Jojoba oil contains vitamins that are overall good for both the hair and scalp. It helps to seal in moisture, condition and add shine to the hair. When you apply the oil before shampooing it acts as a protective barrier that prevents ingredients like sulfates from stripping your hair of its natural oils.
2. Encourages natural hair growth
The fatty acids and natural alcohol present in the jojoba plant helps to nourish the hair and stimulate hair growth. The jojoba oil has qualities which are identical to the sebum in your scalp, they do the same work of natural oils on your scalp. This ensures that your hair stays healthy and grows to its maximum length. Jojoba oil encourages hair regrowth for people with thinning hair or who are balding.
It also serves as a natural moisturizer that can be used to fill cracks on the surface of the hair cuticle and repair hair damaged by heat or styling.
3. Helps with scalp infections
The antioxidant properties present in jojoba oil helps to fight both bacterial and fungal infections on the scalp which otherwise might hinder hair growth and cause hair damage. Adding a few drops of jojoba oil to your conditioner could be helpful in treating dry scalp, itching scalp, or dandruff.
4. Serves as a great moisturizing agent for natural hair
One of the many reasons why jojoba oil is such a favorite among naturals is the rich nutrients present in them. These nutrients help to moisturize and condition the hair thoroughly by penetrating the outer hair cuticle.
It is essential during wash days, applying the oil before shampooing seals in moisture and prevents sulfate in shampoos from stripping your hair of its natural oils. Jojoba oil could be helpful for people with thin hair which frequently gets weighed down by heavy conditioners.
5. For a clean and healthy scalp
Your scalp produces a natural oil known as sebum. When there's an excess amount of sebum on the scalp, it could harden into wax. And when this happens, this wax can block the hair cuticles and prevent maximum hair growth. Applying a few drops of jojoba oil onto the scalp helps to loosen product buildup on the scalp and unblock the hair cuticles so healthier hair can grow out. A clean and healthy scalp often leads to the growth of healthier, thicker, and longer hair.
6. Helps with heat damage
The constant use of styling tools like curling irons, hair straighteners, or blow dryers can cause heat damage on the hair. The outer cuticle of the hair starts to break open which results in split ends and hair breakage. Jojoba oil doesn't absorb into the hair as other oils, so this quality ensures that it sits on the outer cuticle of each strand and help fill in the gaps. You can also add a few drops of jojoba oil to your heat protectant before application to the hair.
7. May help with hair loss
Jojoba oil can prevent hair loss or thinning hair by opening up the hair follicles which have been clogged up by residue and dirt. It also accumulates around the hair roots and conditions and protects the hair from becoming dry and brittle. Jojoba hair has anti-bacterial properties that protects the hair from bacteria that causes hair thinning and stops new hair growth.
8. Helps to add volume to fine or thin natural hair
For naturals with fine or thin hair, jojoba oil can be applied to add volume to the hair strand and make it appear thick. This is only a temporary fix to add volume and thickness to your twist out or braid out styles.
9. Maintains sebum production on the scalp
Just like jojoba oil helps to dissolve the excess production of sebum on the scalp which has hardened to wax, it can also maintain sebum production on the scalp. The scalp produces sebum to hydrate the hair and keep it healthy. And when it doesn't produce enough sebum, it can lead to dry, brittle hair. In instances when the scalp doesn't produce enough sebum, massaging a few drops of jojoba oil on the scalp regularly will help keep the scalp moisturized.
10. Adds shine and softness to the hair
Jojoba oil is a lightweight oil with moisturizing properties which can add shine to your hair and make it softer and easier to manage. You can add few drops of jojoba oil to your leave-in conditioner or just apply it directly to your hair.
How to use Jojoba Oil on your Natural Hair
There are various ways to add jojoba oil to your natural hair care regimen in order to aid hair growth.
1. Direct Application
Before application, heat up the jojoba oil and allow it to cool. Using 1 tablespoon for short hair or 2 tablespoons for longer hair, apply it to your hair above the scalp and then work your way down to the tips. Allow it to absorb into the hair shafts for about 20 minutes before you can wash it.
2. Hot oil massage
Warm a few spoons of jojoba oil in a bowl of warm water. Apply to the hair and massage it into the scalp with circular motions. Do this for about 5 minutes before shampooing your hair. To achieve optimum growth, mix a few drops of jojoba oil with coconut oil, or olive oil. Apply a few drops and massage into the scalp on a regular basis.
3. Add to natural hair products
Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your favorite natural hair products before use. When buying shampoo or conditioner, look for one which has jojoba oil as one of its natural ingredients.