Does Almond Oil Make Hair Greasy? How Much to Use

Almond oil does not make hair greasy by nature, but almost any oil will look heavy if there is too much of it on fine hair or an oily scalp. The popular fix, that almond oil is "light" and "sinks into the hair shaft," is not backed by a study on almond oil. What helps is understanding what a thin film of oil does to hair and finding the amount that suits yours.

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Sweet Almond Oil

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What the studies did and did not cover

You will often read that almond oil has a "light molecular structure" that absorbs into hair. The penetration studies that exist looked at other oils. Rele and Mohile (2003, with authors from a hair oil maker) compared coconut, sunflower and mineral oil, and only coconut oil reduced protein loss, which the authors link to the straight-chain fat that lets it enter the strand. Keis and colleagues (2005) tested coconut, olive, sunflower and mineral oil. Almond is absent from both, and we are not aware of a clinical study of sweet almond oil on hair.

So the practical way to think about it is as a surface oil: assume most of what you apply stays on the outside of the strand, and size the amount to a thin film. That is a perfectly good way to use an oil. It just means the amount, not a molecular claim, is what you control.

Why a little shines and a lot looks flat

Keis and colleagues report that oil films of about half a micrometer or more mask the hair's scale structure, and that the scales reappeared as the oil was absorbed and the film thinned. A review by Dias in the International Journal of Trichology adds that a thicker oil layer on the fiber increased moisture regain, and that oil treatment reduced combing force on wet hair. Put together, the trade-off is easy to see: more oil gives more slip and more held moisture, and also a thicker film, which is what the eye reads as greasy. That reading comes from the sources for hair in general, not from a measurement on almond oil.

The person wearing it matters as much as the oil. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that straight hair with an oily scalp may need washing daily, while dry, textured, curly or thick hair can go at least two to three weeks between washes. It adds that conditioner goes on the ends of fine or straight hair and the full length of dry or curly hair. Hence the same teaspoon that vanishes into thick, curly hair can weigh down a fine ponytail.

Finding your amount

These are arithmetic starting points, not tested doses. The batch on our Certificate of Analysis has a relative density of 0.918, so a quarter teaspoon (about 1.2 ml) weighs about 1.1 g and a tablespoon (about 14.8 ml) about 13.6 g.

HairStarting pointAdjust by
Fine, straight, washed dailyLess than 1/4 tsp, ends only, on dry hairAdd a few drops at a time if the ends still feel rough
Medium, washed every other dayAbout 1/4 tsp, mid-lengths to endsReduce if it looks flat by evening
Thick, curly or coily, washed weekly or less1/4 to 1/2 tsp as a finishing oil; up to 1 tbsp as a pre-shampoo maskRaise slowly; keep it off the scalp if you flake

Four habits follow from the sources. Keep it off the roots unless you mean to oil the scalp. Apply to the ends first and work upward, spreading it thin between warm palms. Use damp or dry hair, not dripping wet hair. And if it already looks heavy, shampoo is the answer: the AAD says shampoo goes on the scalp to lift buildup, dead skin and excess oil.

For a pre-shampoo treatment, see the hair mask post, and for a leave-in finishing oil, the serum post. Overnight use is covered in the hair FAQ, and the almond versus coconut comparison goes deeper on the Rele and Mohile result.

What a good amount looks like

Here is a simple test. After you smooth the oil over the ends, hold a strand up to a window. A good amount gives you soft shine and hair that moves freely. Too much gives you dark, clumped strands that cling together. If you see clumps, blot with a clean towel and wait until your next wash to try a smaller amount.

Heat, combing and day two

Two habits make a good finishing oil look worse. One is applying it before a flat iron or blow dryer: the AAD advises low or medium heat and a heat protectant first, so the sensible order is protectant, style, then a few drops of oil on the ends. The other is brushing a head full of oil; the AAD suggests a wide-tooth comb on wet hair, starting at the ends. If hair looks great on day one and flat on day two, you probably used the right amount for day one and need a wash for day two. Halve the amount before giving up on the oil.

If hair goes greasy within hours whatever you do, or the scalp itches and flakes, a dermatologist is the better next stop.

Who should skip our oil on their hair

Anyone with a tree nut allergy. Our oil is cold-pressed and unrefined, so trace almond protein is present, and if you have a tree nut allergy you should not use it. FoodAllergy.org lists almond oil among the nut oils to avoid and notes that tree nut oils in hair products are often not highly refined. Oil on hair transfers to pillows, hands and children, which is one more reason. More in the nut allergy post.

Before first use, try a quarter-sized amount on the inner arm twice a day for 7 to 10 days and stop at redness, itching or swelling, per the AAD's testing steps. Our oil is for external cosmetic use only.

Sweet Almond Oil bottle

Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet Almond Oil from our own shop, in sizes from 0.5 oz to bulk.

From $9.99

Shop Now →

Sources & Further Reading