Baobab Oil for Hair and Beards: How to Use It by Hair Type

Baraka's baobab oil, made by hand in Ghana, is a light, golden oil that softens hair, adds shine and helps seal in moisture without weighing it down. It is traditionally used on hair and scalp, and this page covers amounts by hair type, low porosity hair and beards.

Baobab oil for hair: what it is and what it does

Baobab oil is a light oil pressed from the seeds of the baobab tree, and on hair it works as a softener and a shine oil. It is liquid at room temperature, pale yellow to golden, with a mild, faintly nutty smell. It absorbs quickly, so it does not have the heaviness of a rich butter.

Baraka's baobab oil is a single ingredient. The fruit ripens and falls naturally from wild baobab trees, and women in the communities where the trees stand gather it from the ground. Nothing is cut, picked or stripped from the tree. The oil is unrefined, and the product page lists the vitamins A, D, E and F that it naturally contains. It lasts 2+ years when stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Baraka is Community Certified Fair Trade.

If the oil looks cloudy in cool weather, that is normal. Stand the bottle in warm water for a minute or two, then shake it. Do not microwave it.

What follows comes from traditional use and what people report, not from clinical testing. It is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or pharmacist about a scalp or skin condition.

What are the benefits of baobab oil for hair?

The main benefits people describe are softness, shine and easier handling, all from an oil that stays light. Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Softness: a few drops warmed between your palms leave the ends feeling smoother.
• Shine: a thin film of oil adds visible gloss to dry or dull-looking hair.
• Moisture sealing: applied to damp hair, the oil helps hold in the water that is already there.
• A light feel: it does not leave the heavy, coated feeling of a rich butter, so it suits daily use in small amounts.
• Scalp use: it is traditionally used on the scalp as a massage oil before washing.

The same oil is used on skin too. For that, see what baobab oil is good for and how to use it.

Is baobab oil good for hair growth?

There is no evidence that baobab oil makes hair grow, and Baraka does not claim that it does. What it has traditionally been used for is keeping hair and scalp conditioned. People who use it describe hair that stays soft and breaks less, but that is reported experience, not a tested result.

Hair that feels soft is easier to comb with less tugging, which is a practical benefit of any light conditioning oil. The oil works on the hair you already have. It does not change how fast new hair comes in.

If your hair is thinning or you are losing more than usual, a doctor or pharmacist is the right first call, not an oil.

How do you use baobab oil for hair growth?

Use it as a conditioning oil, on the scalp and along the lengths, with the aim of soft, well-kept hair rather than faster growth. There are four common ways to do it.

1. Pre-wash oil. Warm about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) between your palms for shoulder-length hair, and use more for long or thick hair. Work it through dry or damp hair, cover with a shower cap, leave it for 30 minutes, then shampoo as usual.
2. Scalp massage. Part your hair, put about 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) on your fingertips and massage the scalp for a few minutes before washing. Many people simply enjoy it as part of a routine. Our baobab oil scalp treatment recipe shows one way to do it.
3. Leave-in for ends. Warm 3 to 5 drops between your palms and smooth them over damp ends. Try the baobab oil hair leave-in conditioner if you want a ready method.
4. Hair mask. For a deeper session, use a mask and rinse it out. Two recipes to start with are the shea butter and baobab oil hair mask and the baobab oil hair mask.

Start with less than you think you need. You can always add more, but it is hard to take oil out of hair once it is in.

Baobab oil by hair type

The lighter and finer your hair, the less oil you need. Use these amounts as a starting point and adjust.

• Fine or straight hair: 1 to 2 drops on the ends only, and keep it away from the roots. The pre-wash method suits fine hair best.
• Wavy hair: about 3 drops on damp ends as a leave-in.
• Curly hair: 3 to 5 drops on damp hair, smoothed over each section.
• Coily or thick hair: 5 or more drops on damp hair after water, to seal it in. For extra richness, use a mask that adds shea butter.

Hair that has been coloured or is dry at the ends may take a little more. Add oil one drop at a time until the hair feels soft but not coated.

Can baobab seed oil be used on hair?

Yes. Baobab seed oil and baobab oil are the same oil, pressed from the seeds of the baobab tree. Its ingredient name on a label is Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil.

Baraka's baobab oil is made by hand in Ghana and is used on hair in the ways above. For more on where it comes from and how it is used, see the baobab oil hub.

Is baobab oil good for low porosity hair?

Baobab oil suits low porosity hair when you use it in small amounts, because it is a light oil that does not sit heavily on top. Low porosity hair has an outer layer that lies flat, so water and oils can be slow to get in, and heavy products tend to coat the surface.

Here is how to work with that:

• Use 2 to 3 drops at a time, not a spoonful.
• Apply to damp hair, not dry, so the oil sits over water rather than blocking it out.
• Warm the oil between your palms first, and warm the hair with a towel if you are doing a pre-wash session.
• Choose a light oil over a thick butter for everyday use, and save richer masks for occasional use.
• If hair starts to feel coated or heavy, wash it and use less next time.

Baobab oil for beard: oil, wash and balm

Baobab oil works well as a beard oil. A few drops soften beard hair and the skin underneath, and because it absorbs quickly the beard does not feel slick. Beards are more than hair, so a simple routine uses three things: a wash, an oil and a balm.

• Wash. Our simple beard wash with African black soap and baobab oil cleans the beard and leaves a little oil behind. African black soap is traditionally used in Ghana for washing skin and hair.
• Oil. Put 3 to 5 drops in your palms, rub them together and work the oil through the beard down to the skin, then comb. Two recipes to try are the classic beard oil with baobab and coconut oil and the luxury beard oil with baobab and shea oils.
• Balm. A balm adds hold for shaping. Try the beard balm with shea butter, beeswax and baobab oil.

If you scent a beard oil or balm, keep essential oils to 1% or less on the face. That is Baraka's recommended limit. It works out to up to 0.035 oz (1 g), about 20 drops, per 3.5 oz (100 g) of oil. Leave out bergamot and lemon in anything that stays on, and leave essential oils out of anything made for children.

What each ingredient does

In hair and beard recipes, each ingredient has a job:

• Baobab oil is light and absorbs quickly without heaviness. Baobab oil typically makes up 5 to 30% of the oil part of a DIY blend, depending on the texture you want.
• Shea butter is rich. It is solid at room temperature and melts on contact with skin, and it is traditionally used on dry skin, lips, hands, feet and hair.
• Shea oil is the liquid part of shea. It is lighter than the whole butter and absorbs more readily, which is why it suits hair and scalp use.
• Virgin coconut oil absorbs quickly, is solid below about 75°F (24°C) and turns to clear liquid above it. Both states are normal.
• Beeswax gives a balm its hold, so it stays in shape.

How to change the texture

The rule of thumb is simple: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape. To change a recipe, move one thing at a time:

• Firmer: add a little more beeswax.
• Softer or runnier: add more baobab oil or shea oil.
• Richer: add more shea butter.
• Lighter: use baobab oil on its own, in small amounts.

Make it your own

These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a small batch, write down what you did, and see how your hair, beard and skin respond. When you find a blend that works for you, make it again.

Quick answers

Baobab oil for hair

Baraka's baobab oil, made by hand in Ghana, is a light oil that softens hair, adds shine and helps seal in moisture. People use it before washing, on the scalp, on the ends as a leave-in and in hair masks. This comes from traditional use and reported experience.

What are the benefits of baobab oil for hair?

People describe softer hair, added shine, easier handling and a light feel that does not coat the hair. Baraka's baobab oil is also traditionally used as a scalp massage oil before washing. These are reported experiences, not tested results.

Is baobab oil good for hair growth?

There is no evidence that baobab oil makes hair grow, and Baraka does not claim it does. It is traditionally used on hair and scalp to keep hair soft and conditioned. If you are losing more hair than usual, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

How do you use baobab oil for hair growth?

Use it as a conditioning oil rather than a growth product. Massage about 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) into the scalp before washing, warm 3 to 5 drops over damp ends as a leave-in, or leave about 1 teaspoon (5 ml) in the hair under a shower cap for 30 minutes before shampooing.

Can baobab seed oil be used on hair?

Yes. Baobab seed oil and baobab oil are the same oil, pressed from the seeds of the baobab tree. Baraka's baobab oil is made by hand in Ghana and can be used on hair as a pre-wash oil, leave-in or mask.

Is baobab oil good for low porosity hair?

It can be, in small amounts, because it is a light oil that does not sit heavily on top of the hair. Use 2 to 3 drops on damp hair, warm the oil between your palms first and use less if hair starts to feel coated.

Baobab oil for beard

Baraka's baobab oil works as a beard oil: 3 to 5 drops worked through the beard down to the skin soften the hair and absorb quickly. Pair it with a black soap beard wash and a shea butter and beeswax balm. Keep any essential oils to 1% or less on the face.