Avocado Oil For Hair: 6 Benefits & How To Use It In Your Routine

A common hair oil used for boosting shine and strengthening strands is avocado oil. To come, experts explain why this oil is so beneficial and how to use it. 

Before we dive into the how-to methods, let’s chat about why you should use this ingredient in the first place. Below, a few noteworthy benefits—we explain more in detail below, but as an overview here's what you can expect from using avocado oil.

This is why avocado oil is a common ingredient in conditioners as well as leave-in products—it has the ability to soak into the hair, meaning a five minute hair mask with avocado oil will actually help your hair in the long run, rather than simply rinsing off. 

Not to mention, applying avocado oil straight to your ends may help you mask the appearance of splits, while preventing worsening breakage at the same time. 

The reason for this is two-fold: First, avocado oil helps to strengthen and hydrate your hair, meaning it’ll continue gaining length without breaking off early. What’s more, using avocado on the scalp can help nourish that skin, creating a healthy environment for growth. 

While this hydrating ingredient can be nourishing for the scalp when used in moderation, you can’t compare avocado oil’s function on the scalp with ingredients like rosemary oil that have been proven to stimulate hair growth at the follicular level. 

What’s more, Yates notes avocado oil as “A great alternative to silicones which can be too heavy and create an impenetrable barrier which can impact hair health.” 

For lasting antioxidant protection, use a leave in conditioner or hair oil with avocado oil for consistent defense. 

Now that you know why avocado oil is so great for your strands, let’s dive into the many different ways to use it in your hair care routine. 

While you can certainly find avocado oil in pre-formulated masks, leave-ins, and hair oils, you can also make your own recipe. Below, a few ideas. 

Why rosemary? Well, this herb is known for stimulating circulation on the scalp—which, in turn, has the potential to spur hair growth. In fact, a 2015 randomized comparative trial found that rosemary essential oil was just as effective22 as minoxidil (the active ingredient in many commercial hair-growth products) for reversing hair loss caused by androgens—also known as male- or female-pattern baldness—after six months. 

If leave-in treatments just aren’t your thing, opt for a hair mask that can be done in the shower. The first option is to add a squirt of conditioner to your palm and add avocado oil to the mix, apply to your strands, and let it set for five minutes before rinsing. Or, make your own mask. 

For no-fuss benefits, stick with avocado as it is and use it on the lengths of your hair. 

If you have oily roots, skip the scalp leave-ins and oil-based masks and just apply avocado oil to your strands. “For super fine hair, I would use avocado oil on ends predominately and use it sparingly or as needed for extra hair conditioning benefits,” Yates adds. 

Like any plant-based ingredient, you should patch test this ingredient before applying it everywhere. For anyone allergic to avocado in general, skip this ingredient for topical use and opt for jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or argan oil instead. 

If you want shiny hair, consider avocado oil a great sidekick to your mission. Use this ingredient on it’s own as a simple hair oil, mix it into your conditioner, or massage it into your scalp before showering. For more shiny hair tips, check out this story.