What is jojoba oil?
Jojoba oil is an oil-like paste extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant.
The jojoba plant is a tree native to the southwestern United States. It grows in the arid regions of Arizona, southern California, and Mexico.
Manufacturers began adding fats to the diet in the 1970s. It is incredibly flexible, and its use is very extensive. One of its most famous purposes is cosmetics. It is found in various hair, skin, and nail products.
Today, it is very possible to find jojoba oil in beauty and hair care products of many kinds.
Why do some people use jojoba oil on their hair?
Jojoba oil has an oily texture, so it can be used as a moisturizer. It can also be added to hair conditioners to give you extra protection from dryness, breakage, and split ends.
The oil can also soften the scalp and can be a remedy for dandruff.
Jojoba is rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish the hair, including vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin E, copper, and zinc.
Because it strengthens the hair, it is thought that jojoba oil can prevent hair loss and promote thinning hair. The idea of this is that the oil softens the hair follicles, which prevents dryness leading to hair loss.
What is the study of jojoba hair oil?
There are many claims about jojoba oil and what you can do for your hair. Some are accurate and supported by research, while others may be a bit far-fetched.
The use of Jojoba as a moisturizer for hair and skin is its main benefit, with recent dermatological reviews confirming this. Recent patents also include it as a basic ingredient in many shampoos and conditioners, opposing its inclusion as an important microemulsion in hair care products. Microemulsions help to carry the active ingredients into the product. Other common microemulsions are bex, carnauba wax, or esparto grass wax.
For this reason, jojoba oil can prevent hair loss and strengthen your locks. It may also help treat dandruff, dry scalp, and itchy skin, and it can be used as an antiseptic and moisturizer.
The reputation of oil as a direct cause of hair growth, on the other hand, is not supported by research. A recent study of A reliable source that tested jojoba oil for hair growth found that it was less effective than minoxidil (Rogaine) and peppermint essential oil.
For this reason, jojoba oil should not be relied upon as a treatment for pattern baldness (male or female), alopecia, or other hair loss problems. Still, it can be an excellent product for promoting strong, silky, and shiny hair.
How do you use it?
There are many ways to add jojoba oil to your hair care program.
- Apply directly. Preheat the oil in advance to make it easier to use. You can do this in a clean pot on a stove or in a safe microwave oven. Use about 1 tbsp. short hair and 2 tbsp. long hair. Brush the hair over the head, and apply it evenly on the hair tips. Leave on for about 20 minutes, then shampoo, condition, and wash off.
Avoid direct application to the skin to avoid clogged scalp pores. If you apply dry scalp or dandruff, add very little to the skin (about 1-2 drops).
- Add to products. Put a few drops of jojoba oil (about 3–5 drops) on your favorite shampoo doll or warmer before using it.
- Buy the products it contains. Just buy a shampoo or conditioner that includes jojoba oil as one of its natural ingredients. This is one of the easiest ways to find and use it.
What should I know before using it?
Is jojoba oil completely safe to use? The 1992 scientific safety review shows that there is very little to worry about. Although this study was completed two decades ago, product safety information is changing slightly.
Animal studies in the review have shown that overuse can cause hyperemia (hypertension) and thus heart damage. However, this was due to doses taken within the study, and not performed on humans. In experiments on both humans and animals for skin sensitivity, a few cases of allergies were identified.
Thus, allergies to jojoba oil are rare, and the use of topical oils (especially for hair) is considered to be very safe. The use of oils in terms of hair care topics is also considered safe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
However, be careful. Although sensitivity to jojoba may not be well studied or well known – and recent safety reviews have not been updated for more than two decades – it is wise to decide if you are sensitive first, so that you are safe.
If you use direct jojoba oil and add it to products, do not rush to start. Keep track of the prices you get from your hair care products. Follow the dosages and instructions closely, and no problems should occur.
Takeaway
Jojoba oil can be a great addition to your hair care plan. It improves the action of repairing your hair, leaving it with better power, shine, and control.
However, jojoba oil is not yet known to stimulate hair growth or prevent hair loss.
On the other hand, jojoba oil is probably the most effective treatment for dry scalp and scalp problems. And it is rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish the hair over time.
Jojoba oil has a reputation for safety, too. Allergic reactions are rare, and you can use them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding once you have decided not to be allergic.
