Do you apply jojoba oil to wet or dry hair?

Jojoba Oil - Benefits & Ways To Use

C hances are you’ve come across jojoba oil in at least one of your hair products. The natural oil is a popular ingredient because of its numerous properties that are universally beneficial for hair health. While it’s common to find it in the list of ingredients in your favorite natural haircare products, it can also be found in prestige brand products. Since jojoba oil seems so ubiquitous in the world of haircare, we were curious to learn more about the specific benefits, and how jojoba oil should best be used to tame and nourish our locks.

Enter our haircare experts. We asked, they answered, filling us in on all the reasons that can make jojoba oil a saving grace for tired strands that need a restorative boost of moisture and nutrients. And, they shared how to best use jojoba oil, no matter what your hair woes and haircare desires may be.

JOJOBA OIL

TYPE OF INGREDIENT: Hydrator.

MAIN BENEFITS: Soothes the scalp, repairs breakage, controls dandruff.

WHO SHOULD USE IT: In general, jojoba oil will moisturize and nourish all types of hair, but it's particularly effective for curly and textured hair.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU USE IT: It’s safe to use several times per day.

WORKS WELL WITH: Moisturizing oils like argan, coconut, and moringa.

DON’T USE WITH: No contraindications.

MEET THE EXPERT

• Sally-Kate Duboux is a wedding hairstylist and wig specialist, and the owner of Hair by Duboux.

• Ghanima Abdullah is a cosmetologist and hair expert for The Right Hairstyles Magazine.

Looking to improve your hair health? Keep reading for nine of the ways using jojoba oil for hair can be a transformative step in your haircare routine.

Benefits Of Jojoba Oil For Hair

Jojoba “oil” is a bit of a misnomer, since it is actually a wax ester, not an oil. Abdullah says this difference is what imparts some of its useful properties. She said another benefit is that jojoba oil washes out easily, so if it doesn’t go well, you’re not left with a semi-permanent disaster by any means.

• It can moisturize hair from the inside out: “It’s light, impermeable, and sits on the surface of the hair shaft. Because of this, it’s perfect for sealing in moisture when your hair and scalp are still damp after washing,” she explains. “Other oils like coconut, hemp, or argan penetrate the hair shaft and provide conditioning from within. As a wax ester, jojoba sits on the outer surface to help protect the hair from dryness and breakage.” She does note, however, that because of this, if you want more of a deep conditioning, it’s best to choose a product that contains jojoba along with more conditioning oils.
• It can promote thickness: “Jojoba oil is rich in many vitamins and minerals that promote not only healthy hair, but skin and nails,” says Duboux. “This versatile oil contains B vitamins and C and E, as well as copper and zinc, making it a natural cheerleader for strengthening our locks, promoting thickness and regrowth, and aiding in preventing hair loss.”

To boost the health of your hair, apply the oil to wet or damp hair, leave to absorb for up to thirty minutes, and follow with your shampoo and conditioner.

• It can nourish hard-to-reach areas of curls: “Chemically, jojoba oil has almost the exact same structure as human sebum. This makes it ideal for dry hair and curly hair,” says Abdullah. “With curly textures, it’s difficult for nourishing sebum to make it midshaft—much less to the ends of your hair. So jojoba oil can fill in for sebum in these cases.”
• It can reduce frizz: If you tend to have a lot of flyaways and frizz, jojoba oil may tame your locks. Because it does a good job sealing in moisture, jojoba oil can minimize frizz. “Frizz is basically your hair’s way of searching out moisture from the environment, since it’s not getting it any other way,” notes Abdullah. “This is why sealing in moisture can be such an important step in your haircare routine—especially if you’re prone to frizz.”
• It can maintain your scalp's natural balance: “Due to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, jojoba oil can help restore the scalp’s natural moisture and pH balance without upsetting the sebaceous glands,” says Duboux. In other words, jojoba oil will not cause your scalp to produce more or less of its own oil, so you can expect it to moisturize your hair without leaving it overly greasy.
• It can control dandruff: Jojoba oil can be a great place to start for anyone looking for a natural dandruff solution. Duboux says this is largely due to its ability to restore the scalp’s natural pH balance. Abdullah adds that it helps regulate oil production by sending a message to the hair follicles that there is enough moisture on the scalp. “This can help lessen greasy dandruff flakes that result partially from excessive oil on the scalp,” she explains. And the research backs this up. A study involving those with mild to moderate dandruff showed close to a 50% reduction in their flaking after applying jojoba oil to the scalp twice a day for two weeks.1
• It can encourage hair growth: According to Duboux, “Jojoba oil not only moisturizes the hair, but [also] dissolves the dirt and buildup on our scalps, helping to nourish the hair follicles further, promoting healthy growth.” Abdullah adds that part of this scalp-cleansing effect of jojoba oil is due to its ability to dissolve sebum deposits, which may be blocking follicles. As they become unblocked, it eases new hair growth.
• It can repair damage from heat and styling: Breakage and split ends happen when our hair has become damaged and brittle. For example, studies have concluded that the heat generated from styling tools like curling irons and blow dryers cause the outer cuticle of the hair to crack. These fractures are the source of split ends and result in hair that is prone to breakage.2 And, we can probably all attest to the fact that hair damaged from heat is difficult to work with. Abdullah says jojoba oil can minimize this seemingly inevitable issue, stating, “The fact that jojoba oil seals in moisture and mimics the scalp’s sebum from root to tip means less breakage overall.” Jojoba oil does not penetrate as deeply as other oils, so it will sit on the outer cuticle of each strand and may help fill in the cracks.

Add a few drops of jojoba to your leave-in moisturizer or heat protectant to combat fluffiness and frizz.

• It can impart a nice shine: ”Although jojoba oil is a wax ester, it’s a pretty shiny one, and it imparts a beautiful sheen to the hair,” says Abdullah. And who doesn’t love that?

Hair Types Considerations

Our experts say that jojoba oil is beneficial for all hair types, but how you use it might differ depending on the type of hair you have. If you have finer or lighter colored hair, you’ll want to use less. “The oil may be too weighty, giving the appearance of grease buildup,” explains Duboux. “Those with thicker, curly, kinky, or coily hair types, can afford to go with a touch more.”

Jojoba oil is generally safe and doesn’t typically cause significant reactions. Duboux says mild reactions in the form of skin irritations such as redness, itchy scalp, and a rash may occur. “If irritation or discomfort occurs and worsens through use, discontinue immediately,” she advises. “The more severe reactions [occur] when it’s ingested.” 

Abdullah’s advice? “Every head is different. Do a patch test first if you are prone to allergies.” She says that even though jojoba oil is very light, if you’re not accustomed to using oils in your hair, you should start with just a little.

How to Use Jojoba Oil for Hair

• Use it a sealant: Before. you shampoo your hair, add a few drops to your fingers and run them through your hair to coat the strands from root to tip. When you go to shampoo, the jojoba oil will help create a seal that prevents ingredients like sulfates from stripping your hair of its natural oils.
• Revitalize your scalp: To combat dandruff and sebum buildup, massage a few drops into your scalp and allow it to soak in for 30 minutes. Then rinse your hair or shampoo it.
• Boost your conditioner: Jojoba oil can provide substantial moisture to the hair shaft at a time when the hair follicles are at their most permeable. “Try first adding a few drops to your conditioner or hair mask when you’re about to apply it. If you notice more shine, but would like to see more benefits, add two or three drops to your hair and scalp after cleansing and conditioning, while your hair is still damp,” suggests Abdullah. “That’s about all fine hair can take. If your hair is more coarse or curly, there really isn’t so much of a limit on how much you can use—it depends on personal preference.”

Shop Our Fave Products With Jojoba Oil

Eager to try out this ultimate hair healer yourself? Check out some of our favorite products that contain this natural ingredient.

Olaplex Hair Perfector No.3 $22

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We cannot sing the praises of Olaplex enough. Their patented system is specifically formulated to help bond strands back together after the damage caused by bleaching. It is reparative, restorative, and allows for hair to get the nutrients it needs without weighing it down. The original at-home product is a pre-shampoo treatment that is meant to be used in tandem with the brand's No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo ($28) and No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner ($28).

Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask $28

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Amika is one of those brands you see all over Instagram and instantly fall in love with their packaging. This nourishing hair mask is one of the brand's standout products, and we cannot get enough of it. The main ingredients of this mask are jojoba and sea buckthorn oil, making it a superfood powerhouse. Apply it to damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes to see noticeably smoother and softer tresses.

Kate Blanc Cosmetics Organic Jojoba Oil $10

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This is perhaps jojoba oil in its purest, rawest form. It’s USDA-certified 100% organic, cold-pressed, pure, unrefined jojoba oil. Applying after heat styling helps add an enviable shine to your strands. We also love it following shampooing and conditioning our hair to help fight the split ends and frizz associated with damaged strands. 

Verb Mornings + Jojoba Treatment Oil $18

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This 100% natural hair treatment serum blends jojoba oil with moringa oil, for a product that moisturizes, smooths, and detangles hair. It reduces breakage and split ends, fights dry scalp, and can be used on any type of hair. Plus, it's free from silicones, parabens, fragrances, and gluten.

PATTERN Jojoba Oil Hair Serum $25

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There's something that feels amazing about massaging a little bit of this serum into your scalp after washing your hair. The delicious smell is an added bonus. It's designed specifically those for tighter, textured hair, and can penetrated low-porosity, coiled hair for a nutritious dose of hydration and fortification against breaking. An aromatic blend of jojoba, safflower, rosehip, olive, and lavender oils, this serum is nice and light, so it won’t leave a residue or greasy sheen on your hair.