When it comes to adding hair oils to your hair care routine, you may want to give sweet almond oil a try. Sure, coconut oil gets lots of love for its nourishing and moisturizing capabilities. But its rich oily texture is best reserved for drier and coarse hair types. Meanwhile, sweet almond oil is lighter in texture without compromising on hydration. That's why it's a universally appealing oil for all hair types. But what are the exact benefits of sweet almond oil for hair? And how can you use it to make your mane gloriously luscious? Read on for the answers to your most-asked questions.

Sweet Almond Oil for Hair: Back to Its Roots

Did you know there are two types of almond oils: sweet almond oil and bitter almond oil? Due to sweet almond oil's beauty benefits, it's often found in skincare and haircare products, which is why it's the star of this article. Sweet almond oil is extracted from the kernels of ripened sweet almonds. The almond tree (Prunus dulcis) is native to Asia and the Middle East, and its fruits were documented as early as 780,000 B.C.E. Today, America is the largest almond producer in the world, specifically the state of California. In terms of hair care, the the profile of sweet almond oil is pretty impressive as it's infused with:

• Omega fatty acids, like oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid
• Vitamin E, which is a fat-soluble antioxidant
• Essential minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium
• Polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties

You should also know that cold-pressed sweet almond oil is considered unrefined, as it retains more of its beneficial nutrients. On the other hand, refined sweet almond oil usually undergoes some form of heat and/or chemical processing to extend its shelf life.

4 Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

OK, you are now an expert on the various nutrients sweet almond oil possesses. But how do they relate to the health of your hair? Mainly, in the following four ways.

1. An Incredible Softener for Rough Strands

Because sweet almond oil is an incredible emollient at heart, it's the go-to softener for hair. ICYDK what emollients are, they are hydrating oils that fill in the gaps of your hair cuticles (the outermost protective layer of your hair shaft) to keep moisture in. Your cuticles have overlapping, scale-like cells to maintain optimal hydration levels, and the cuticles also protect the inner parts of the fiber (read: the cortex and the medulla). Healthy cuticles mean that every scale lies perfectly flat with little to no "pores" (aka low porosity hair). Unfortunately, external stressors like heat, chemicals, and friction raise the cuticle layer and create more pores than you would like. As a result, the uneven cuticles of high porosity hair lead to a roughened texture. This is where sweet almond oil helps your strands. Using its emollient superpowers, it fills in the pores for a smoother cuticle and seals in moisture. Well-moisturized strands thus feel softer to the touch.

2. A Miracle Oil for Dull-Looking Hair

The cuticle-smoothing ability of sweet almond oil also works wonders to create glossy-looking hair. That's because flatter, smoother cuticles do a better job of reflecting light and the oil creates a glossy film on your fibers to supercharge their natural radiance. As you can imagine, this two-way approach makes your hair shinier than ever.

3. A Formidable Tamer for Frizz and Flyaways

One of the major benefits of almond oil is that it helps tone down unwanted frizz and flyaways. But first, let's look behind the scenes to understand why your hair turns frizzy. When your hair cuticles are peppered with pores, your mane loses more moisture than it retains. This leads to insufficient lipids in your hair shafts (think ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids). Unfortunately, these internal hair lipids cannot be replenished through your scalp's natural oils. In an attempt to compensate for the increased dryness, your fibers absorb the surrounding water droplets in the air. This causes your hair shafts to swell and frizz. So, how can you restore the internal moisture levels of your fibers without the dreaded frizz? The answer: sweet almond oil. As we've mentioned, sweet almond oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which is part of your fibers' natural lipid profile. Applying the oil to your tresses helps restock your inner hair oils sans the frizz. Aside from using sweet almond oil straight from the bottle as a natural moisturizer for dry hair and dry scalp, look for hair products that contain it as an ingredient. For example, you can add the "volumize" hair goal to your Function of Beauty custom shampoo and conditioner.

4. A Friction-Reducing Balm for Hair Breakage

We all know that combs and tangled hair don't mix well — can you say unwanted breakage and split ends? But sweet almond oil can help eliminate the struggle of knots and snarls. One study involving Brazilian oils and butters found that the botanically derived oils:

• Increased the ease of combing wet hair
• Significantly enhanced hair gloss
• Reduced the risk of split ends

In other words, applying sweet almond oil (also a plant-based oil) to your strands makes hair brushing a breeze, and puts you closer to achieving that healthy hair look.

How to Use Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Just like other lightweight carrier oils — think jojoba and olive oils — you can use sweet almond oil on its own or mixed with essential oils. How to use sweet almond oil on its own:

• Rub a few drops of sweet almond oil between your palms to warm up the oil.
• Apply the oil to your hair with your hands in a praying motion from the mid-length down. If you're struggling with dry skin on your scalp, apply the oil from roots to tips.
• Gently brush through your mane with a wide tooth comb to minimize breakage and ensure every strand is evenly coated with the oil. This is a good time to work out the kinks.
• Leave the oil on for at least 30 minutes before shampooing.

If you have an oily scalp, start with only 1-2 drops of sweet almond oil and concentrate it on the ends of your hair. This way, you can let the oil hydrate your locks without risking too much product buildup. How to use sweet almond oil as a DIY hair mask:

• Peel and remove the pit of one ripe avocado, then mash it thoroughly
• Combine coconut oil and sweet almond oil in a mixing bowl in a 2:1 ratio
• Add the mashed avocado to the bowl and mix well
• Apply the mixture to damp hair from the roots to the tips
• Let the mask sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with water
• Follow up with your usual shampoo and conditioner routine

Because sweet almond oil is such an easy haircare ingredient to play with, you can easily mix and match with other hair-healthy ingredients. For example, you can swap out avocado and coconut oil for lightweight ingredients like honey and yogurt.

Reap the Fruits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Sweet almond oil for hair is one of the best ways to treat your tresses. After all, who doesn't want to get rid of too-rough strands, dullness, frizz, and split ends? You can go the DIY route (which we've listed above) or choose hair products infused with sweet almond oil — the latter is great if you simply want convenience. To see sweet almond oil on the ingredient list of your haircare products, choose the "volumize" hair goal when you take our hair quiz. It's time to reap the fruits of sweet almond oil for hair.