Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil

Potential efficacity for hair loss : ⭐⭐

My recommendation

I suggest using jojoba oil primarily for its anti-inflammatory properties. To potentially address androgenetic alopecia or other forms of hair loss, you should use it as a carrier oil and blend it with essential oils. Using jojoba oil by itself may help reduce inflammation but is unlikely to prevent androgenetic alopecia.

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Jojoba oil is extracted from jojoba plant seeds. Its name is derived from the Mexican word ‘Chohobba,’ used for a beverage with jojoba extracts that predicted harvests. It gained popularity after the whaling ban due to its similarities to whale oil.

Thriving in desert conditions with extreme temperatures (0°C at night, 45°C during the day), the jojoba plant can live for up to 200 years. Its slow-maturing fruits contribute to the oil’s relatively high cost.

Technically, it’s a wax with a composition similar to sebum, making it popular in cosmetics for its effective skin penetration and moisturizing abilities.

Is it effective against hair loss?

As of now, we have limited information about the potential connection between jojoba oil and hair loss.

Typically, vegetable oils have similar compositions, but jojoba oil is unique as it primarily consists of waxy esters.

Based on my research, jojoba oil may impact hair loss in the following ways:

Antibacterial properties

One of the contributing factors to hair loss is pollution. When the scalp is exposed to foreign substances, it can trigger an immune response that leads to inflammation.

Bacteria are just one of the many types of pollutants we encounter. When they reach our scalp, they feed on our sebum and skin remnants, allowing them to thrive. As a result, they release toxic byproducts that cause an inflammatory response.

In a 2016 study conducted by Mr. Pooja Umaiyal and colleagues, jojoba oil exhibited powerful antibacterial activity against several types of bacteria.

Another study in 2019 by Al-Ghamdi and colleagues also confirmed this antibacterial effect. However, the researchers noted that jojoba oil had no impact on fungi and yeasts (and therefore, no effect on dandruff).

A study on jojoba oil and mouse hair

In a 2014 study by Ji Young Oh and colleagues, the effects of jojoba oil on mouse hair were compared to those of 3% Minoxidil and 3% peppermint essential oil.

The results were quite disappointing for jojoba oil, as it provided little to no assistance in hair growth. In contrast, peppermint essential oil and Minoxidil were highly effective.

Here are the results:

JO: Jojoba oil, PEO: Peppermint essential oil, SA: Saline (control group) – MXD: Minoxidil

Number of hair follicles at 1 to 4 weeks:

There was hardly any change between week 1 and week 4 for jojoba oil, clearly indicating that it was not as effective as Minoxidil or peppermint oil.

In this image, you can see the hair through the skin:

In the Minoxidil (MXD) and peppermint oil (PEO) groups, well-developed hair is visible, while the control group (SA) and jojoba oil (JO) groups showed minimal hair development.”

Anti-inflammatory properties

Inflammation is the body’s immune response mechanism that activates in the presence of various challenges, like infections, irritations, muscle tension, or injuries.

What’s intriguing is that almost all forms of alopecia involve chronic scalp inflammation, and reducing this inflammation has been found to be effective in decreasing hair loss (source).

In a 2005 study conducted by Ramy Habashy and colleagues, jojoba oil exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in various experimental models.

For example, jojoba oil reduced edema induced by carrageenan in rat paws and ear edema caused by croton oil.

This effectiveness against edema demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity, which is supported by other studies (source).

Research indicates that jojoba oil can lower levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid associated with inflammation, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which is also connected to inflammation.

In the same study, jojoba oil’s anti-inflammatory properties were found to be on par with indomethacin, a commonly used anti-inflammatory medication.

Closing thoughts and verdict

I believe that jojoba oil can be used for androgenetic alopecia only as part of a protocol that includes other potent treatments. It will be employed primarily for its anti-inflammatory properties and possibly for its antibacterial properties if there is bacterial activity present.

On its own, it will not be sufficient to stimulate hair growth. It may help reduce the inflammation caused by androgenetic alopecia. It could also be considered for alopecia areata, a condition triggered by an autoimmune problem characterized by chronic inflammation.

For instance, you can use jojoba oil for its anti-inflammatory properties and combine it with peppermint essential oil for its stimulating properties.