How To Use Avocado Oil For Soft Smooth Hair
Nature has always been our trusted ally in our quest for beautiful hair and skin. One of nature's best gifts when it comes to achieving luscious, smooth hair is avocado. If you only think of avocado in terms of yummy guacamole, then it's time to reconsider. According to MedicineNet, avocado is a fantastic source of nutrients to help nourish the hair and protect our scalp. For example, essential vitamins B6, E, D, and A help moisturize the hair, thus protecting your locks from breakage and helping you battle hair dryness.
An added layer of hair protection is found in the fruit's "proteins, amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, copper and iron," which can "help hair grow faster," MedicineNet notes. Moreover, avocado has anti-inflammatory properties, so when used on the scalp, it helps reduce inflammation and combat dryness, thus minimizing pesky dandruff's appearance.
It certainly looks like avocado presents itself as a miraculous elixir for achieving healthy, bouncy, and irresistibly soft hair. Given that avocado has so many benefits for the hair, perhaps it's time to add it to your hair care routine in the form of an oil, provided that you follow the right steps to achieve optimal results.
Pick the right avocado oil
Picking the right avocado oil is paramount. While several options are available, not all of them will work as well in improving your hair's appearance. To get the most nutrients possible out of your avocado oil, cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline tells Real Simple that you should seek pure avocado oil — which is the "least refined and will have the most intact nutrient profile."
In a YouTube video, vlogger and DIY hair care pro Doro Cubillo gives some useful tips on how to tell whether avocado oil is pure or refined, stating that you should look at the bottle to see if it is labeled as "unrefined, pure, or virgin." These products have a green color, "meaning that all the ingredients and antioxidants are still present in the oil," Cubillo explains. On the other hand, processed avocado oil will be labeled as "refined" and will have a yellowish – almost clear – color.
Alternatively, you can opt for avocado oil specifically tailored for hair usage, enriched with a blend of hair-nourishing ingredients. Tatum Neill, creative director of Elevate Hair and Aveda Arts and Sciences Institutes, recommends incorporating hair products predominantly featuring avocado oil as a key component, complemented by a range of other beneficial hair care ingredients (via Real Simple).
Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo
It is important to wash your hair before you apply the oil. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo ensures that dirt and residue are removed from the scalp and hair. "In a way, it's like a hair detox," dermatologist and founder of SEEN Haircare, Iris Rubin, tells Byrdie. And it will do just that: Detox your hair and prep it for the ensuing avocado oil treatment.
While it feels intuitive to dry hair following a thorough wash, you might want to avoid doing so during your oil hair-pampering regimen. "This is typically an ideal time for the hair to absorb moisture," Giuseppe Aragona, general practitioner and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, tells Beachbody. You may, of course, remove excess water with a microfiber towel (to banish frizz from your hair), but for optimal results, your hair should be damp when applying oil treatments.
During this step, diligently detangle your hair with a wide-tooth brush or a comb since knots and tangles can hinder the smooth application of the oil and will make it harder to cover the entire hair strand with the product.
Optional: Place the oil in a bowl to warm it up
While you can use the avocado oil at room temperature, for maximum results, you may want to heat it up before application. If you are wondering why heating the oil is a good idea, hairstylist Malaika Frazier gives the answer: "When you apply the hot oil from scalp to the ends, the strands are are able to absorb the oils and nutrients At least 30 to 40 percent more than they would with a normal, dry application without any heat" (per Well + Good).
For this step, pick a microwave-safe bowl and pour the oil in. The quantity of the oil you use will depend on the thickness and length of your hair, but around an ounce should be enough. Warm the oil for 30 seconds and carefully remove the bowl from the microwave.
If a microwave isn't available, you can gently heat the oil using a bain-marie method. Simply place a pot with water on the stove and position a heat-resistant bowl containing the oil within it, creating a makeshift double boiler. Allow the water to come to a boil, effectively warming up the oil in the process.
Section the hair and apply the oil
If you warmed up your avocado oil, start by checking the oil's temperature by carefully dipping your fingertip into it. Ensure that the oil is comfortably warm and won't cause any discomfort or burn your scalp and palms. Next, separate your hair into manageable strands to ensure that you don't leave behind any part of your hair during the application.
To apply the oil, gently pour a little quantity into your palms and rub them together to evenly distribute it. Pick one strand at a time and begin your way from the roots, coating each hair as you work your way outwards towards the ends of your hair. Pay extra attention to the ends, as they tend to be more brittle and prone to breakage due to being drier. Consequently, apply a little extra oil to these ends for added nourishment and protection.
Repeat the process until all hair has been thoroughly coated with the avocado oil.
Pin your hair up and wrap it
Once you have thoroughly applied the avocado oil to your hair and scalp, you'll want to pin it up out of the way to avoid loose oily strands from touching your clothing and furniture. From there, you can add an extra step in the process to enhance the absorption and effectiveness of the treatment and help the avocado oil work its magic.
Hair pro Doro Cubillo says in a YouTube video that wrapping your hair after oiling it is "the most important secret" of oiling your hair. While you can use a shower cap, Cabillo uses cling wrap for added efficiency. The plastic cap "has a steamer effect" and seals the natural heat from your scalp, "helping [the oils] to penetrate much faster and absorb much better."
For added insulation, you can wrap a microfiber towel around it. (This also helps prevent any stains on your clothes from potential oil leakage!) Cubillo leaves the avocado oil on her hair overnight, but this is not necessary — unless, of course, you want to! Healthline suggests leaving the oil on the hair for 20 minutes.
Rinse and wash with shampoo and conditioner
After you've allowed the oil to deeply nourish your locks and the moisturizing ingredients to penetrate your scalp, proceed with rinsing the product with cold water. Rodney Cutler, professional hairstylist and ambassador for Redken, tells Shape, "Rinsing your hair with cold water will help smooth and close the cuticle," thus sealing the nutrients inside.
Of course, just water will not get rid of all the oil residue, so to prevent your hair from looking greasy after drying, you need to wash it with a shampoo. For optimal results and to ensure that all oil has been removed, choose a clarifying shampoo rather than your normal one. While rinsing should be done with cold water, shampooing can be carried out with warm water. You may need to shampoo twice to remove all the oil from your tresses, so be patient during this process.
Once your locks are completely free of oil, you can use a conditioner and call it a day. No need to worry about any specific conditioner type; you may use any one suited for your hair type and hair needs. Apply a conditioner and comb your hair with a wet-hair comb (you should try to keep a comb handy in the shower to seamlessly detangle your locks). Thoroughly rinse your hair and voilà! Avocado oil treatment is completed for soft, smooth hair!