Can Jojoba Oil Treat Hair Loss Conditions?

Belgravia specialists are often asked about different scalp or hair oils which may help in the treatment of hair loss.

Those most commonly enquired about include coconut oil, argan oil, castor oil and jojoba oil.

The truth is, there are no hair care products of any type that have been clinically-proven to treat key conditions, such as Male Pattern Baldness, Female Pattern Hair Loss or Alopecia Areata.

So whilst the short answer to whether cosmetic hair and scalp oils can treat hairloss on their own is 'no', there are some benefits associated with their use.

Here we look specifically at using jojoba oil as part of a hair regimen.

What is jojoba oil?

The jojoba plant, also known botanically as simmondsia chinensis, is a dioecious shrub native to Mexico and South Western regions of the USA. It produces seeds rich in jojoba liquid wax ester, commonly known as jojoba oil.

It has a high fatty acid content which comprises a number of different types, predominantly monounsaturated omega 9 and omega 7 oils, including palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, 11-Eicosenoic acid, erucic acid and nervonic acid.

These, particularly oleic acid, are thought to have some metabolic health and cancer prevention benefits when ingested; when applied topically, omega-9 preparations can provide various advantages. These include enhancing the activity of antioxidants, as well as providing softening, hydrating properties. They may also help to protect against signs of environmental damage, skin and hair ageing.

A 2005 clinical study of the anti-inflammatory properties of jojoba liquid wax discovered through animals trials that the substance showed similar levels of efficacy to the prescription drug indomethacin.

As inflammation plays a part in many different hair loss conditions, whilst it may not increase hair growth, treat thinning hair or bald spots, it may be useful as a natural anti-inflammatory.

It may also help to prevent damaged hair and hair breakage, which is where weakened hair snaps along the shaft but the follicle is not affected.

Shown to increase minoxidil absorption

Oleic acid has been shown in some clinical trials, to increase the skin penetration of certain topical medications.

One such drug, studied in 2018, was the only clinically-proven hair loss treatment currently both MHRA-licensed and FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia in men and women: high strength minoxidil.

In vitro testing - not human trials - showed significantly improved hair follicle delivery of the researchers' minoxidil-oleic acid formulation when compared to minoxidil alone.

This does not mean anyone using this particular hair loss solution should start mixing it with jojoba oil - or any other oleic acid-containing oil such as olive oil - however; that would most likely just dilute the medication and reduce its efficacy.

You can, if you wish, apply jojoba oil at least an hour before, or at least an hour after applying minoxidil, as a moisturiser to help keep the scalp in good condition. After all, a healthy scalp is important when it comes to healthy hair growth.

Further studies are needed, including large scale clinical trials including human participants, to ensure the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of such a concoction. It does provide hairloss researchers with an interesting springboard from which to potentially develop new hair loss products in the future, though.

For now, for those wanting to add hair oils or scalp oils into their general hair routine, we consider jojoba oil to be a safe choice in the majority of cases, with known benefits whether applied to the lengths and strands as a moisturiser, or directly to the scalp to help reduce any inflammation.