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Benefits of Marula Oil for Hair Growth
5 Amazing Ways Marula Oil Is Good for Hair
By Jacqueline Samaroo
The many benefits of marula oil for hair growth and a healthy scalp have been known on the African continent for centuries! In this article, you will find out how marula essential oil promotes shiny, bouncy curls and a thriving scalp.
Here’s what we will look at:
Not sure what makes an oil an essential or carrier oil? No worries! You can find out in our recent article The Difference between Essential Oils and Carrier Oils – 4 Really Good Things to Know.
What is marula oil?
Marula oil comes from the nuts of the marula tree. It can be extracted from the hard outer husk or shell of the nut but is more commonly extracted from the kernels.
The marula tree is native to several parts of Africa, including Southern Africa, East Africa, and Madagascar. It goes by a few other names, including elephant tree because it is said elephants love eating its fermented fruits (which in turn makes them drunk). It is also called the marriage tree and has traditional links to both marriage and fertility.
The fruits of the marula tree are succulent with a strongly tart and distinctive flavor. Their seeds have a nutty aroma. All of these scents are transferred to the extracted oil. The fruits are traditionally used to make marula beer. In South Africa, they are used to make a cream liqueur called Amarula.
Different parts of the tree are also used in concocting traditional remedies for several ailments. And, of course, the nuts are used to make oil which gets put to use as cooking oil, as a hair and skin moisturizer, as a treatment for leather, and as a way to tenderize meat.
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Is marula oil good for hair?
Research has confirmed that marula oil has several benefits for hair, skin, and nails. We’ll link you to some sources in this section.
Recently, marula has been enjoying popularity as an addition to skincare and haircare products. Check out these six benefits of marula oil for hair growth.
1. Marula oil contains amino acids and fatty acids
L-arginine and glutamic acid are two amino acids found in marula oil. They have been shown to help keep skin hydrated and moisturized. The oil also contains palmitic, stearic, oleic, and myristic acids, all of which are fatty acids that act as emollients, protecting, moisturizing, and lubricating the scalp.
2. Marula oil contains antioxidants.
Antioxidants are protective. They protect cells from free radical damage, exposure to ultraviolet sunrays, and the environmental damage that comes with pollution. Marula oil is rich in antioxidants, including vitamin E, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds.
3. Marula oil may have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Research into the benefits of marula oil for hair, skin, and internal health also points to the possibility that it has antimicrobial properties, helping it to keep the scalp healthy and thriving. Its anti-inflammatory properties have been attributed, in part, to its rich fatty acid content.
4. Marula oil is lightweight and readily absorbed into your scalp.
Marula oil won’t feel heavy on your skin or leave your hair feeling and looking greasy. Your scalp and strands will drink it up and its beneficial components will get right into where they can do the most good for your natural hair.
This leads us to another of the benefits of marula oil for hair growth. Because it is so readily absorbed, it can be used to transport other good-for-your-scalp-and-hair ingredients into your skin and into your strands.
5. Marula oil is non-comedogenic and very similar to sebum.
The consistency and make-up of marula oil are very similar to that of sebum – the natural waxy, oily substance produced by the scalp. People with skin conditions, such as acne, may find that this is one of the most appealing benefits of marula oil for hair, as marula oil will not clog pores. Marula oil has also been said to calm irritation and dryness related to eczema and similar skin conditions.
6. Marula oil reduces the breakdown of elastin.
This is perhaps one of the benefits of marula oil for hair growth that curlies and coilies will appreciate the most! Elastin is among the proteins that help to make up the skin of the scalp. In particular, it helps to keep the hair follicles firmly rooted in the scalp and resistant to manipulation by, as its name suggests, providing some amount of stretch. This helps curls and coils to better withstand detangling and styling.
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How to use marula oil for hair growth
As we mentioned earlier, there is now a wide range of natural haircare products that include marula oil in their formulations. A good example is Soultanicals Marula- Muru Moisture Guru Hair Cream. We featured the brand and its marula-infused hair cream in the Best Black-Owned Hair Care Brands series.
If you are into DIYing your natural haircare products, you can add a few drops of marula essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner. You can also mix it with a carrier oil and use it to massage your scalp or rub it into the ends of your hair to help prevent split ends.
Also, check out Oslove Organics Butters, Oils, and Wax DIY Deluxe Pack. It contains unrefined hair butters, an emulsifying wax, and several oils, including marula oil, for avid DIYers.
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- Good-to-Know Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil for Hair + 3 Ways to Use It
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What do you think about the benefits of marula oil for hair growth? Is marula oil good for hair?
If you use it, be sure to let us know what you think!
