Benefits of Avocado Oil for Hair, and How to Use It

Mega moisture is only the beginning.

Avocado: It’s delish on toast, worth paying extra for at Chipotle…and an amazing haircare ingredient? You bet. Avocado (well, avocado oil specifically) offers a multitude of benefits for your strands, helping to add moisture, increase strength, bolster shine—the list goes on and on. The other big boon: Avocado oil is suitable for all hair types, says cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline, founder of KKT Consultants. “It’s relatively lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, so all hair types can enjoy it,” she explains. And that applies both when it comes to using it straight-up and in various products. Ahead, more on exactly what avocado oil can do for your hair, plus the best ways to incorporate it into your routine.

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First and foremost, remember that not all avocado oil is created equal. Koestline suggests looking for pure, cold-pressed avocado oil; this is the least refined and will have the most intact nutrient profile. Her favorite way to use the oil, straight up? Apply two to three tablespoons onto a cotton ball and then press it into your scalp. Massage in with your fingertips for five to 10 minutes, then leave on for at least an hour before washing it off.

Neill is a fan of seeking it out as a star ingredient in haircare products, where it can work in tandem with other ingredients; plus, you can find products that offer both styling and haircare benefits, in one. For example, he recommends looking for it in moisturizing creams or hair oils to really play up the moisturizing effects. Try: Nature’s Little Secret Avocado Moisture Cream ($13; natureslittlesecret.net) or Cantu Biotin-Infused Strengthening Hair & Scalp Oil ($6.48; walmart.com).

Koestline adds that it’s great to look for avocado oil in leave-in treatments and conditioners. The Design Essentials Almond Avocado Leave-In Conditioner ($14; ulta.com) fits the bill. The product you pick is largely a matter of personal preference, although keep in mind that you’ll reap more of the benefits in a leave-on product rather than in one that gets washed off, like a shampoo, Koestline points out. And make sure that avocado oil is listed towards the top of the ingredient list, a telltale sign that there’s actually enough of it in the product to have an effect.