The haircare benefits of sweet almond oil?

Benefit No. 1: Sweet almond oil for nourishing and protecting the hair.

Rich in unsaturated fatty acids, notably oleic and linoleic acids, sweet almond oil is primarily valued for reinforcing the hydrolipidic film on the hair’s surface and partially filling in cuticle irregularities. Its lipid nature indeed suggests a strong affinity with hair, enabling it to smooth the cuticle scales and to reduce the coefficient of friction between the fibres, two parameters closely linked to the appearance of split ends and frizz and to a loss of shine.

Sweet almond oil could thus have a conditioning effect.

To date, no clinical study has examined the effects of sweet almond oil on hair, whether in terms of mechanical strength, shine or hydration. The proposed hypotheses rely on its biochemical composition, extrapolations from general mechanisms known for plant oils rich in fatty acids and empirical observations. Indeed, sweet almond oil can improve the appearance and softness of hair. These effects remain temporary, however, and depend on hair porosity, its type (fine, kinky, wavy, curly, straight…) and the formulation (pure sweet almond oil or combined with other film-forming agents).

If you wish to applysweet almond oil pure to your hair, use it sparingly. Although relatively lightweight, it remains an oil with a greasy texture. A few drops will more than suffice.

4 minutes to understand your skin. Our dermatological diagnostic guides you toward the ideal skincare for your specific needs. Simple, quick, personalized.

Benefit No. 2: Could sweet almond oil accelerate hair growth?

Sweet almond oil is sometimes credited with the ability to stimulate hair growth or to slow hair loss. However, no clinical study in humans has demonstrated this effect to date. Only a study conducted in mice suggests that certain components of the oil extracted from Prunus mira, a variety of almond, may have a positive impact on the hair growth cycle.

In this study, 110 mice were allocated to different groups, including a control group, a minoxidil group as a positive control and three groups treated with various dilutions of almond oil. After shaving, the solutions were applied daily for 21 days. The researchers observed more rapid hair growth in the mice treated with almond oil, almost comparable to that seen in those treated with minoxidil.

Effets de l'huile d'amande sur la pousse des poils de souris. — Effects of almond oil on mouse hair growth.
Source: WANG Z. et al. Study into the chemical constituents of nut oil from Prunus mira Koehne and the mechanism by which it promotes hair growth. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020).

Almond oil would accelerate the transition of hair follicles into the anagen phase, that is the growth phase. This stimulation would be associated with an increase in the expression of the Wnt10b gene, as well as the β-catenin and GSK3β proteins, key players in the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway known to regulate hair follicle regeneration. However, even though these results are promising, they remain limited to an animal model.

Benefit No. 3: Is sweet almond oil effective at protecting hair from oxidative stress?

Sweet almond oil is naturally rich in antioxidants, particularly in vitamin E and phytosterols, which may help it to mitigate the effects of oxidative stress on the hair fibre and scalp. Research has shown that oxidative stress can be detrimental to hair and scalp health by altering keratin and promoting the appearance of white hair and accelerating hair loss. Free radicals can also weaken the fibre by altering its mechanical properties, leading to a loss of shine, increased brittleness, or even the formation of split ends. Regular application of an antioxidant-rich oil, such as sweet almond oil, could help to protect the hair and scalp from free radicals.

No study has demonstrated that sweet almond oil slows the onset of grey hair or prevents hair loss. It is only known that it contains antioxidants and that the role of oxidative stress in the whitening of hair fibres and their shedding is well established. The evidence therefore remains indirect.

Benefit No. 4: Sweet almond oil could soothe the scalp.

Sweet almond oil is often described as a plant oil with soothing properties, capable of improving scalp comfort. Thanks to its ability to form a protective film on the surface, it helps to limit water loss and support the integrity of the skin barrier, which can reduce sensations of tightness or irritation, particularly on dry scalps.

Furthermore, it contains oleic acid and linoleic acid, two fatty acids recognised for their anti-inflammatory properties. Oleic acid is reported to stimulate the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 while decreasing that of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. Linoleic acid, for its part, is reported to inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2), enzymes involved in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.

A clinical study evaluated the effect of the topical application of sweet almond oil on quality of life in 42 patients suffering from uraemic pruritus, caused by chronic renal failure and characterised by intense itching. Participants were instructed to apply 7 to 10 mL of sweet almond oil to the pruritic areas once daily for two weeks.

The results showed a significant reduction in pruritus scores in the intervention group from 50.3 to 31.7 over two weeks, whereas no improvement was observed in the control group. These findings suggest that sweet almond oil could help to soothe itching, possibly at the scalp and, by extension, aid in reducing irritation in general.