10 Ways to Use Jojoba Oil for Hair Care

DIY recipes for hair masks, shampoos, conditioners, and more.

By
Joanna Parkman
Joanna Parkman
Joanna Parkman
Writer
  • Duke University, Sewanee: The University of the South

Joanna is an environmental protection specialist, science writer, and clean beauty writer. Her focuses are floodplain management, coastal resilience, environmental justice, nature-based solutions, and clean beauty DIY recipes.

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Published January 12, 2022
Jojoba oil in a bottle with a dropper on a wooden table with ripe jojoba fruits. Chinese date oil and fruit
Oleksandr Shatyrov / Getty Images

Jojoba oil can work wonders for your hair, much like coconut oil or avocado oil. Derived from a shrub native to the Southwestern U.S., jojoba oil’s high vitamin E content nourishes hair and soothes an irritated scalp.

DIY serums, sprays, and other hair care recipes leave the harmful ingredients of store-bought products behind, relying on natural, eco-friendly ingredients instead. Try these 10 easy homemade recipes to add jojoba oil to your clean beauty routine for hydrated, shiny hair that won’t feel weighed down with product.

Treehugger Tip

When buying jojoba oil, try to choose companies with sustainable certifications—like organic or Fairtrade International labels—to minimize environmental damage and extractive harvesting.

1
of 10

Scalp-Soothing Rosehip Hair Mask

Rosehip seed essential oil in a small bottle. Selective focus.
Milena Khosroshvili / Getty Images

This simple oil-based mask is great for damaged and dry hair, and it may also help keep dandruff at bay. It uses only three ingredients: rosehip seed oil, peppermint essential oil, and jojoba oil.

Steps

  1. Combine 1 teaspoon of rosehip oil, 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil, and three drops of peppermint oil in a small glass container. 
  2. Gently invert the container to ensure thorough mixing of ingredients.
  3. Depending on your hair length, apply all or some of the mixture to your scalp and hair.
  4. Leave in for 30 minutes before rinsing with shampoo.
2
of 10

Invigorating Tea Tree Shampoo

aromatherapy - floral essential oil bottle

Ronstik / Getty Images

This homemade shampoo will help you wake up in the morning and leave your hair smooth and shiny.

Instead of the harmful chemicals used to make commercial formulas foam, this DIY shampoo uses liquid Castile soap for a natural clean.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap
  • 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
  • 10-20 drops of tea tree oil

Steps

  1. Combine all ingredients in a reusable squeeze container or empty shampoo bottle.
  2.  Lightly shake the mixture to combine ingredients.
  3. Use as you would any other shampoo. Store in your refrigerator to avoid bacterial growth.
3
of 10

Moisturizing Coconut Conditioner

Fresh coconuts and a jar of coconut oil on a wooden table
Magone / Getty Images

To fight off dry frizz and damaged split ends, treat your hair to this luscious DIY conditioner.

You can use any essential oils you like in this recipe, but some are known to be especially beneficial to hair, such as lavender oil (helps stimulate hair growth) and peppermint oil (may help strengthen hair follicles).

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
  • 1 teaspoon of aloe vera
  • 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil

Steps

  1. Place cocoa butter and coconut oil in a double boiler (or in a glass bowl atop a pot of water).
  2. Raise to medium heat and boil water until oils are liquid and thoroughly melted. Remove from stove and let cool for five minutes.
  3. Add jojoba oil, aloe vera, and 10 to 20 drops of essential oil. Stir thoroughly and pour into a reusable container.
  4. After shampooing, massage about a quarter-sized amount on your scalp and ends. Wait two to three minutes before rinsing.
4
of 10

Lavender Detangling Spray

Dry lavender and oil on a white wooden table
Aamulya / Getty Images

Avoid those dreaded post-shower knots by creating your own homemade hair detangler mist with jojoba and essential oils.

Steps

  1. Add 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil to a 4-ounce glass spray bottle. 
  2. Add 10 to 15 drops of lavender essential oil.
  3. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water and gently shake mixture to combine ingredients.
  4. Spritz onto hair after washing and carefully comb through to remove tangles.
5
of 10

Refreshing Peppermint Scalp Treatment

Small bottle with essential peppermint oil. Fresh mint leaves close up. Aromatherapy, spa and herbal medicine ingredients. Copy space

Kazmulka / Getty Images

This DIY scalp treatment recipe will leave your skin feeling tingly and make your hair soft to the touch.

Steps

  1. In a small container, combine 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil, 2 tablespoons of castor oil, and five drops of peppermint oil. Gently shake container to mix
  2. Massage oils onto scalp.
  3. Wrap your head in a towel or cover your hair with a shower cap. Leave on for at least one hour. 
  4. Rinse and wash hair with shampoo.
6
of 10

Rosemary Curl Cream

Small bottle of essential rosemary oil on the old wooden background. Aromatherapy, spa and herbal medicine ingredients. Copy space.

Kazmulka / Getty Images

This homemade curl cream can help you keep those ringlets bouncy and hydrated. Our easy recipe requires just a few natural beauty all-star ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces of shea butter
  • 3 ounces of coconut oil
  • 2 ounces of jojoba oil
  • 2 ounces of aloe vera gel
  • 1 ounce of vitamin E oil
  • 20 drops of rosemary essential oil

Steps

  1. Combine shea butter with coconut oil and beat until smooth.
  2. Add jojoba oil, aloe vera gel, and vitamin E oil. Mix well.
  3. Add rosemary essential oil. Stir mixture and pour into a sealable container.
  4. Apply a quarter-sized amount to damp hair and run your fingers through to distribute.
7
of 10

Pomegranate Flyaway Oil

Pomegranate Seed Oil

Solidcolours / Getty Images

On windy or humid days, when it’s hard to keep your hair in place, try a few drops of this simple leave-in serum to tame the frizzies. 

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon of argan oil
  • 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
  • 1 teaspoon of pomegranate seed oil
  • 5 drops of rosemary essential oil
  • 5 drops of lavender essential oil

Steps

  1. Combine argan oil, jojoba oil, and pomegranate seed oil in a small glass dropper bottle. 
  2. Add rosemary and lavender essential oils.
  3. Gently shake closed container to mix ingredients.
  4. Apply a few drops of oil to your fingers and smooth over your hair to control flyaways. Avoid applying directly to your scalp to prevent oil build-up.
8
of 10

Apricot and Almond Beard Oil

Male face and pipette with a oil for a beard growth
Jun / Getty Images

To soften your (or your partner’s) beard and keep your skin moisturized, apply just a touch of this facial oil. 

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce of jojoba oil
  • 1/2 ounce avocado oil
  • 1/4 ounce almond oil
  • 1/4 ounce apricot oil
  • 15-20 drops of cedarwood oil
  • 5 drops of orange essential oil
  • 5 drops of tea tree oil

Steps

  1. Combine jojoba oil, avocado oil, almond oil, and apricot oil.
  2. Add cedarwood oil, orange essential oil, and tea tree oil.
  3. Invert closed bottle to mix ingredients.
  4. Apply 1-3 drops to your beard as needed.
9
of 10

Argan Shine Serum

Argan oil.
JuanamariGonzalez / Getty Images

This easy oil-based serum will help smooth your hair cuticles and tame frizz for glossy, perfect locks.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
  • 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
  • 1 tablespoon of almond oil
  • 1 tablespoon of argan oil
  • 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil

Steps

  1. Combine avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, argan oil, and grapeseed oil in a small dark glass dropper bottle.
  2. Carefully shake the closed bottle to mix the ingredients.
  3. Apply as many drops as necessary to lightly coat hair. 
  4. Leave in for an hour and then shampoo hair to remove.
10
of 10

Honey and Aloe Leave-in Conditioner

Aloe Vera Leaves
Kameliq / Getty Images

For long-lasting, no-fuss hydration, spritz on some of this natural homemade conditioner once or twice a week.

Aloe vera juice—the star ingredient in this recipe—is extracted from the flesh of the plant's leaves. Rich in antioxidants and several important vitamins, it is a wonderful moisturizer for hair.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1/4 cup jojoba oil
  • 1 cup of aloe vera juice
  • 1 cup of water or coconut water

Steps

  1. Combine honey, jojoba oil, aloe vera juice, and water (or coconut water) in a spray bottle.
  2.  Shake well and apply to hair. 
  3. Shampoo and rinse after one to three days.
View Article Sources

  1. Dimmitt, Mark A. "Simmondsiaceae (Jojoba Family)." Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

  2. Lee, Boo Hyeong, et al. "Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice." Toxicological Research, vol. 32, 2016, pp. 103-108., doi:10.5487/TR.2016.32.2.103

  3. Oh, J. Y., et al. "Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs." Toxicological Research, vol. 30, no. 4, 2014, pp. 297–304., doi:10.5487/tr.2014.30.4.297