What it is

Emu oil is fat rendered from the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and is rich in oleic acid. It is sold neat or in hair oils. It is an animal product, so it is not vegan.

How it works

In mice, topical emu oil cut croton-oil ear swelling by about 70% and lowered IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, outperforming fish, flaxseed, olive and chicken fat (Yoganathan 2003). A formulation study used emu oil as the base for a minoxidil foam as a delivery idea. Neither penetration nor anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to translate into hair growth.

What the studies show

In a mouse ear-swelling model, emu oil had the strongest anti-inflammatory effect of the oils tested. Yoganathan 2003
A search for emu oil with hair found only three records, none a hair efficacy study.

Side effects and safety

There are no hair-specific safety data. Allergy is possible, and the oil is animal-derived with variable processing and quality.

Bottom line

Weak evidence. Emu oil is a rich emollient, and claims of regrowth are marketing. Quality is unstandardized, and the idea that bird fat boosts minoxidil is a formulation hypothesis only.

Studies 1

Yoganathan S et al. Antagonism of croton oil inflammation by topical emu oil in CD-1 mice. Lipids. 2003

Design: animal
Who: CD-1 mice, ear swelling model

Tested: topical emu oil vs fish, flaxseed, olive and chicken fat

Result: Emu oil cut ear swelling by about 70% and lowered IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, outperforming the other fats.

Read the study ↗