What Can Macadamia Oil Do For Your Hair?

Even if you're not overly concerned about the health of your hair, you've probably looked in the mirror once or twice and wondered about the benefits of oil for your mane. Maybe you have a niece or mother who uses it on their hair every weekend and can't stop talking about the benefits, or perhaps you were inspired by a TV commercial promoting hair oil. 

Whatever the inspiration, your intrigue is justified. Oiling your hair has numerous benefits, and not using it might just be one of the ways in which you're ruining your hair. The simple practice of massaging the rich liquid onto your scalp and coating your tresses with its sweet smell can lock in moisture and give you great-looking hair.

Your hair is more than just a part of you that sits atop your head. It's a source of confidence for many, and having limp and lackluster locks might tell the world you're not doing too well. Among the myriad oils touted as being beneficial for hair health, macadamia oil is believed to be one of the very best, according to Hairfinity. So, what can it do for your hair?

You're probably familiar with the irritation and embarrassment of having to deal with a dry and itchy scalp. Our scalps produce a decent amount of sebum, and an excess of this can result in a greasy appearance and white, flaky dandruff. Incidentally, macadamia oil is known to be beneficial for controlling oil production, per Byrdie. Packed with oleic acid, macadamia oil works by preventing the scalp from producing too much sebum. Not only that, but it also keeps bacterial production to a minimum, according to New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman. 

If those benefits weren't enough to win you over, the oleic acid in macadamia oil also acts as a softening, regenerating, and anti-inflammatory agent on your scalp. Meanwhile, palmitoleic acid, a helpful substance present in both sebum and macadamia oil, helps your scalp retain moisture. Together, these elements work to keep your scalp in tip-top shape.

There's nothing worse than thinking you've tamed your mane before an important event only to show up looking like you've stuck your finger in an electrical socket. Frizzy hair can be a result of weather, hair damage, and over-styling, among other reasons. However, regardless of the cause, most people want to solve the issue once it crops up.

Steve Waldman of Hair Cuttery Family of Brands tells Healthline that there is a fundamental difference between a healthy cuticle and one that's damaged. "When examined under a microscope, a healthy cuticle lays down smooth, like the scales of a fish," he says, adding that a damaged one starts to look like a pine cone. 

If you have curly hair that is a beast to tame or a mane you simply want to have a smoother appearance, macadamia oil might just be your answer. It's an oil that works for any hair type. The moisture it provides can tame frizziness and make stands much more manageable. 

Hair breakage results from weak or damaged hair strands, and it can really get you down. Collagen is an important element in having strong and healthy hair, and macadamia oil promotes collagen production with its high fatty acid content. In addition to creating a stronger mane, increasing collagen production has the added benefit of creating a thicker, fuller head of hair. Since collagen production naturally slows down as we age, anything we can do to increase it will be helpful. And while it's not a miracle product, macadamia oil can boost overall collagen levels, leading to a much healthier scalp and hair follicles. 

Plus, did you know that macadamia oil has the same properties as vegetable oils, making it easier to penetrate your hair follicles than mineral oils? That means you get more of the benefits and less of the product goes to waste sitting on the surface of your hair. This can lead to stronger hair over time.

Macadamia oil comes packed with lots of nutritious ingredients including magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, and copper. For example, magnesium can improve scalp circulation while iron helps oxygen make its way to your cells, including those that affect hair health. Not only that, but a study investigating the properties and benefits of nut oils published in the Journal of Oleo Science reported that macadamia oil has a high amount of essential fatty acids that can be beneficial for your scalp. 

Meanwhile, the vitamin E in macadamia oil gives the hair a glossy sheen for an overall vibrant look. It also encourages follicular activity, which is good news. "Vitamin E has been shown to increase capillary circulation in the scalp, thereby helping to increase hair growth," aesthetic dermatologist Dr. Kiran Sethi tells Vogue.

Sun damage is a serious concern for many, and you're mistaken if you think that it's only your skin you have to worry about. As dermatologist Wilma Bergfeld tells the Cleveland Clinic, exposure to the sun can damage hair cuticles, eventually leading to "discoloration, dry and brittle strands, broken or split ends, thinning and frizziness."

Macadamia oil contains ingredients that offer UV protection. Following the best hair trends often means you're putting your hair through styling that involves heat and chemicals, and this can result in damage in the long run. Macadamia oil offers protection from styling-related damage as well, reports Hairfinity. What a relief!

The humble macadamia nut truly does offer a lot for your locks, so the next time you find yourself wondering about the benefits of oiling your hair, you could try applying macadamia oil and see how you like the results.