Encyclopedia · oil or butter
Jojoba oil
A liquid wax often said to mimic scalp sebum; we found no hair-specific efficacy study.
What it is
Jojoba is technically a liquid wax (long-chain esters), not a triglyceride, which is why it resists going rancid. It is a cosmetic ingredient.
How it works
Marketing says its wax esters resemble the skin's own sebum. A PubMed search for jojoba oil on hair found only general reviews of chemistry and activity, and no hair-fibre or clinical hair trial.
What the studies show
- No hair-specific study was located (see oils and hair).
- No randomised head-to-head human trial of hair oils exists.
Side effects and safety
Irritation potential is low in general. Patch-test if you are sensitive.
Bottom line
Fine as a light sealing oil or scalp-moisturising ingredient on personal preference, with no proven hair benefit. The "mimics sebum" line is a marketing claim, and no head-to-head testing exists. We are very unsure of any benefit.
Studies 0
No studies are listed for this page yet.
Related
- Argan oilA popular finishing oil for shine and anti-frizz, with only small lab studies behind it and no significant evidence for hair quality or growth.
- Coconut oilThe best-studied hair oil; in lab work it cut protein loss and fatigue damage when used before washing, but almost all studies come from coconut-oil sellers.
- Oils and hairOils coat hair and some enter it, which can cut damage from washing, but they do not repair split ends or add moisture.