The global jojoba oil market size was valued at $206 million in 2024 and it is expected to continue to grow [1]. More hair care products are adding this ingredient to their formulation for its many hair health-boosting properties. But can jojoba oil for hair really do everything it is advertised for? And how can you make the most of it?
This article will tell you all you need to know about using jojoba oil for your hair, such as:
Jojoba oil isn’t technically an oil. It’s actually a liquid wax extracted from jojoba plant seeds that grow in arid areas of the U.S., Mexico, India, Israel and South Africa [2]. The main difference between jojoba and other plant oils is that jojoba oil for hair contains no glycerin, which makes it lightweight.
Jojoba oil has traditionally been used as a folk remedy to prevent or treat wounds, skin problems, diabetes, obesity, and other ailments[3].
Today, jojoba oil is widely used in the cosmetics industry. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, emollient and antimicrobial properties make it a great ingredient in products designed to improve skin and hair health. Furthermore, its lightweight and relatively high oxidative stability prevent it from going rancid. This makes it an ideal carrier oil for diluting essential hair growth oils [4].
There is a good reason why you can find jojoba oil for hair on the ingredient lists of so many hair care products. There are quite a few ways in which it can help you get healthier hair. Here are some of jojoba oil’s most important benefits for hair.
The chemical composition of jojoba oil for hair resembles that of human sebum, the oily substance that coats your skin and hair in a hydrating, protective layer. Just like sebum, jojoba oil can coat your strands and scalp, keeping them conditioned and moisturised [5]. However, while excess sebum can make your hair greasy, jojoba oil doesn’t normally have this effect.
Jojoba oil has emollient properties, which can make your hair silky-soft. It can also offer lubrication, smoothing the cuticles and increasing their natural shine [4].
While jojoba oil doesn’t contain as many fatty acids as avocado oil for hair, it does contain some, alongside many other nutrients that help your hair grow beautiful and healthy.
Researchers believe that due to its chemical and nutritional properties, using jojoba oil on your hair can strengthen the fibres, making them less prone to breakage. This is accomplished by reducing protein loss and even providing some UV hair protection [2]. This can help reduce the effects of hair weathering.
Coating your hair strands in jojoba oil keeps them well-lubricated and less prone to tangling and frizz [4]. This makes for fewer knots in your hair, easier brushing, and less wear and tear.
Fewer tangles aren’t only more convenient to work out, but they can also mean less accidental hair breakage, especially for people with dry, brittle hair.
Jojoba oil for hair is naturally rich in antioxidants. These can help reduce the impact of oxidative stress on your follicles, allowing them to grow healthier hair [2][4][6].
The high oxidative stability of this oil also makes it less likely to go off, so it can be stored and used for longer than other hair oils.
Jojoba oil has proven anti-inflammatory properties, as it can block the activity of some of the enzymes that cause inflammation [7][2]. So it can help soothe an irritated scalp and reduce the symptoms of certain conditions, such as scalp psoriasis.
Furthermore, this oil may help soothe pain caused by sunburn when applied to your scalp [2].
There is evidence that jojoba oil may also help prevent and treat hair follicle infections, such as scalp acne and scalp folliculitis. This is partly thanks to its antimicrobial properties [8][6][9], but mostly because it can penetrate the hair follicles and dissolve any sebum deposits that clog them [4].
Jojoba oil can also help repair the skin barrier on your scalp, which can reduce flare-ups of scalp eczema and seborrheic dermatitis [7].
While it was traditionally believed [6] that the benefits presented above also imply that jojoba oil can stimulate your follicles for hair growth or make your hair thicker [8], there is currently no evidence to prove this. It is true that this oil contains hair growth vitamins and other nutrients your follicles need to produce strong, healthy tresses [4][10].
However, at this time, no studies show that using jojoba oil alone can increase hair density or thickness in healthy individuals or even in those with vitamin deficiencies that cause hair loss.
One small animal study [11] conducted in 2014 revealed that jojoba oil slightly outperformed salt water in increasing hair density. However, it was less effective than Minoxidil and peppermint oil for hair. Much more evidence is needed to show whether it may have any impact on human hair growth.
The impact of jojoba oil on hair loss is largely limited to reducing unnecessary hair breakage. Since it can strengthen, moisturise and condition your tresses, as well as offer some (if limited) UV protection, it will reduce structural damage and oxidative stress to the hair fibres. This means they will be less fragile and less likely to break off easily.
While more evidence is needed to prove this, jojoba oil may have some positive effect on hair loss from certain types of alopecia which manifest with inflammation (e.g. scalp psoriasis, mild alopecia areata).
However, there is currently no evidence that jojoba oil plays any role in curbing other common forms of hair loss in humans, such as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
Jojoba oil is quite versatile and can be used to great results in a variety of ways. Here are some of the best:
You can safely use jojoba oil for hair as it is, without needing to dilute or mix it with any other substance. Simply pour a few drops onto your fingers or a wide-toothed comb and spread it evenly from the roots of your hair to its tips. Leave it in for deep conditioning, or wash it off after a minimum of 30 minutes.
Adding a few drops of jojoba oil to your regular shampoo can seal in moisture and stop your hair drying out. This can also make it silkier and easier to detangle.
When added to a leave-in conditioner, jojoba oil may help strengthen your hair fibres and prevent some of the oxidative stress caused by exposure to the elements.
Jojoba oil can be used alongside a variety of other ingredients to help you treat and repair damaged hair at home. Here is a recipe for a deep conditioning mask that can give you a good scalp and hair detox.
Jojoba, coconut and honey deep conditioning mask
Ingredients:
Instructions:
If your scalp hurts when you move your hair, or it is dry, itchy, inflamed or irritated, try a jojoba oil scalp treatment.
Heat up 1-2 tablespoons of jojoba oil to a comfortable temperature, then use a pipette or your fingers to apply it to different areas of your scalp. Massage the oil in gently in a circular motion (be sure to check the oil temperature on your wrist before using it on your scalp). Leave it on overnight for the best results.
Jojoba oil can help relieve pain and inflammation, and may alleviate the symptoms of your scalp acne, psoriasis, folliculitis, dandruff or eczema.
If you enjoy using essential oils for hair growth, jojoba oil is one of the best carrier oil options. Here are some of the best, evidence-based hair growth oils that you can dilute in jojoba oil for increased hair health and fullness:
When diluting essential oils, aim for a 2% concentration (e.g. 2 ml essential oil, 98 ml carrier oil). Never exceed a 10% concentration without a trichologist’s recommendation.
To achieve this, add 2 drops of your chosen essential oil to 98 drops (approximately a teaspoon) of jojoba oil. For a higher concentration, add one drop of essential oil and omit one drop of carrier oil (e.g. mixing 3 drops of essential oil with 97 drops of jojoba oil will yield a 3% concentration).
Since this oil is light and does not normally clog your hair follicles or cause scalp irritation, it is safe to leave on overnight. This can help provide deep conditioning, especially if you have dry hair that feels like straw.
However, if your hair is already on the greasy side, you may want to consider washing any oil out with shampoo after a couple of hours.
There are very few known side effects of using jojoba oil on your hair and scalp. Any side effects are mostly limited to the few people who have a sensitivity to this substance. These users may develop an allergic reaction, although this oil is considered hypoallergenic [6]. So it’s best to test the oil on a small patch of skin before applying it to your entire scalp.
No other notable side effects have been reported in studies, as jojoba oil is well tolerated by human skin, due to its chemical resemblance to sebum.
When it comes to drawbacks, while this hair oil is generally lightweight, it may leave a greasy residue [6] if applied in large quantities or to already oily hair.
If your hair is dry or normal, feel free to use jojoba oil daily. It is light and does not normally cause buildup on your scalp or greasiness in your hair.
However, if your hair is oily, you may want to restrict your usage to once every 1-2 weeks. When you do use it, it is best to wash it out of your hair with shampoo after 30 minutes to 2 hours.
All hair types can benefit from using jojoba oil, as it has many helpful properties that can increase your hair health. It is light enough to be used by people with fine type 1A hair without losing volume, or by people with type 2A hair or type 3A hair without disrupting their wave/curl definition.
However, if you have a curly hair type (such as Afro hair) you have the most to gain from using jojoba oil on their tresses. That is because your hair may be more prone to frizzing, tangling and breakage and requires frequent moisturising.
Jojoba oil is potent enough to condition, strengthen and nourish curls, but light enough to be used alongside other hair oils or styling products.
If you want to get fuller, healthier hair but are unsure what treatment to use, our experienced hair doctors are here to help. Book a consultation today at your most convenient hair transplant clinic location. Our experts will be happy to examine your hair and scalp and provide you with personalised advice and recommendations, based on your specific hair needs.
Our team can also detect the first signs of hair thinning and balding, making sure any developing alopecia is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Pattern baldness — the most common type of hair loss — is progressive, so addressing it early on increases your chances of regaining your full head of hair without needing a hair transplant.
No, there is currently no evidence that jojoba oil lowers the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your scalp. If you are looking for a natural DHT blocker, you may want to try saw palmetto for hair or rosemary oil.
Jojoba oil works just as well when applied to wet or dry hair, as it is not soluble in water [4]. However, using it on wet hair may help seal in the water and achieve better hydration. So applying it on your damp hair after a shower may be the best option.
Excessive sunlight is not good for your hair, as it can dry it out and damage its structure. While jojoba oil can provide some moderate UV protection, it is likely not enough to protect your hair and scalp from harmful solar radiation.
The best thing you can do is to cover your head with a large-brimmed hat or a scarf when going out in hot weather. This will help prevent summer hair loss and protect exposed areas of your scalp from sunburns and skin cancer.
Due to its high oxidative stability, jojoba oil has a longer shelf-life than other plant oils: it can normally be used for about 5 years before it goes rancid. Storing it in a cool (10°C), dark place can increase its lifespan, while improper storage at high temperatures may decrease it.
If you want to know if your jojoba oil has gone bad, try sniffing it and looking at its colour. Fresh oil has a faint, nutty scent and a light-gold hue. Expired oil smells unpleasant and has a darker shade.
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