Have you heard about the benefits of macadamia nut oil for the hair? Well, macadamia nut oil is very good for rejuvenating dull, damaged and limp hair. It not only moisturizes the hair but strengthens the hair tremendously. Let us learn more about this magnificent oil…
Macadamia nut oil is touted for its oodles of health, skin and hair benefits. This slightly amber-colored, clear oil extracted from the nuts of the macadamia trees, is a popular ingredient in heavy creams and sun care products.
The oil has tremendous oxidative stability and is resistant to rancidity, which is what makes this oil a perfect choice for cosmetics and toiletries.
Macadamia nut oil is also used as cooking oil, to add flavor to several dishes and also because of the high amounts of monounsaturated fats it contains. Thus, macadamia oil is truly a versatile oil with several benefits.
Using Macadamia Nut Oil For Hair
Macadamia nut oil, contrary to the floating myth, does not make the hair or scalp greasy. In fact, this oil gets readily absorbed into the hair follicles and scalp, thereby leaving no scope for greasiness to develop on the scalp.
To test how readily macadamia oil gets absorbed, just take some in the palm of your hand and rub it in between your palm. Within 5 minutes you will find the oil seeping into the underlying layers of your skin. Moreover, if you apply it and go to bed, you will find absolutely no signs of macadamia oil on the pillow case. Some even describe the oil absorption as ‘magic’. They say the oil simply vanishes into the hair.
Macadamia nuts contain a type of omega-7 monounsaturated fat called palmitoleic acid, which is a main constituent in the sebum produced by our hair follicles. However, as one ages, the natural sebum levels begin to deplete.
Since the palmitoleic acid in macadamia nut oil bears semblance to sebum, it gets absorbed into the scalp really quickly. It then replenishes the hair follicles with the required palmitoleic acid content, thereby rejuvenating the hair.
Thus, this oil is also touted for its synergy with the capillary sebum, thereby increasing the strength of the hair strand right from the root. It is capable of moisturizing and strengthening rough, dry, frizzy and limp hair. This is because unlike coconut oil which penetrates the scalp, this oil coats the hair follicles and scalp, thereby preventing loss of moisture.
For application, take some macadamia oil and warm it. Spread the oil evenly with your hand and massage your scalp. Gently comb your hair and allow the oil to work its way into your hair and scalp. Since this oil works well on split ends, take some oil and rub it onto the tips of the hair strands. After two hours, rinse off the oil using a mild shampoo. Some even add a little macadamia oil as a leave in after shampooing, if they find their hair still a little dry. The sheen the hair attains from the oil is simply fantastic!
You can also add a little macadamia nut oil to your conditioner and apply it gently to your hair while taking a shower. You will find your hair silky-smooth to touch, with no frizzes or dryness to worry about. If you wish to blow dry your hair after the bath, it is advisable to put a little macadamia oil to your scalp and then blow dry it. The benefit of doing it is that the oil pushes the water molecules out faster and your hair dries faster in turn. This ultimately reduces the net time taken to dry your hair, thus, exposing your hair to the blow dryer for lesser time.
Macadamia nut oil is also beneficial during color treatments. Before carrying out a color treatment, apply some macadamia oil onto the scalp and hair. Then apply the color. The oil will help the color absorb well and will also enhance the sheen and color effect after the treatment. Since you need only a little oil to get the desired effect, macadamia oil is also cost-effective and one bottle will last for a long time. Moreover, the oil has a pleasant, extremely mild fragrance, which solves the problem of the oily stink people hate about oils.
Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask
Macadamia hair repair mask is a combination of macadamia oil and a few other essential oils such as chamomile oil, tea tree oil, argan oil, aloe and algae. Each of these ingredients have their unique set of benefits, which when combined together, make a super mask for hair repair.
The macadamia oil works on the capillary sebum, tea tree oil prevents dandruff, argan and chamomile oil help hydrate and rejuvenate the hair by sealing split ends and preventing hair damage caused due to UV rays exposure.
Moreover, the mask also comprises several minerals, vitamins and natural oils that are known to increase sheen, rebuild elasticity and stimulate hair growth.
The mask not only repairs dry and split hair, but also stimulates hair growth and brings back the sheen to one’s hair. It also improves hair elasticity and furnishes the hair with longer lasting conditioning effects. This mask is applied after shampooing and towel drying the hair. You should take some mask on the palm of your hand and after rubbing your hands together, gently run your hands through your moist hair. Make sure the application is even. Combing the hair gently will help spread the mask evenly among the hair strands. After 5-10 minutes, rinse your hair with tepid water thoroughly. The mask would have seeped into the hair follicles and will work by revitalizing the hair and its growth. The mask should be applied only twice a week for maximum benefits.
After reading the benefits of macadamia oil for hair, hope you have been inspired to go and get a bottle of your own macadamia nut oil or deep repair mask. You can easily pick them up online or at herbal stores. You can also try out the various macadamia oil hair care products available in the market.However, remember, they are not all natural!
Since macadamia nut oil does not contain alcohol or harmful sulfates, it is suitable for people with sensitive scalps. However, do check for allergies before applying the oil onto your hair. You can do this by rubbing some oil on your palm and if no rashes develop, you are good to go!
While purchasing macadamia nut oil, ensure you are getting the pure oil and not the commercially adulterated ones.