Walnut Oil For Grey Hair: How To Use It

Grey hair is quite polarizing among those who sport it. Younger people who want a striking silver look think it’s super chic and stylish.

On the other hand, some more mature men and women see it as a reminder that they’re getting older by the day.

However you see your grey hair, one thing is for sure: this type of hair needs a lot of extra love and nourishment.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to do that, from deep conditioning your locks to skipping wash day to preserve the natural oils that moisturize your hair.

But if your grey hair is insanely parched and dehydrated, nut oils will do wonders for you.

Many turn to tried and tested oils like coconut oil or macadamia oil.

But there are lesser-known oils that work for deep moisturization too.

Walnut oil is one of them, and it’s got a few hair benefits up its sleeve.

In this post, we’ll be discussing the use of walnut oil for grey hair.

Table of Contents

Why Does Grey Hair Need Extra Moisture?

Many people assume that the greying of hair is simply a change in color as you get older.

But there’s a lot more to it than just the fading of your natural shade.

There are important implications in the hair’s structure and overall health as soon as it starts showing signs of greying.

The reason why the hair greys in the first place is because, over time, your melanocytes will start to be less active.

Melanocytes are the cells in your body in charge of producing melanin – the natural pigment in your hair and skin.

As you age, these cells will stop giving color to your strands as they grow.

It will only happen to the melanocytes in some of your follicles first, gradually spreading across every strand.

That’s why you start with salt and pepper locks before going completely white in your senior years.

Causes Of Dryness

Now, naturally grey hair tends to be super dry.

That’s because when your hair starts losing its pigment, the sebaceous glands in your scalp will also start being less productive.

Little to no oil will be secreted into your hair, leaving your locks parched.

And since your hair doesn’t have melanin to protect it from the sun, it will be more susceptible to heat damage from UV rays.

This can result in split ends, brittleness, and breakage in the long run, which adds to the dehydration your greys are likely already facing.

All these things alter the texture of grey hair, making it more porous than it once was.

And when hair is coarse and porous, it has trouble retaining moisture.

That means you have to work twice as hard to nourish your grey hair.

And even if your grey hair is dyed that color, you’ll still likely have porous hair from the bleaching and chemical treatments you did at the salon to achieve that silver fox hair.

Like those that have naturally transitioned to grey, your hair will be craving more moisture.

Benefits Of Using Walnut Oil

We’re all familiar with walnuts.

They make for excellent brain food before a big exam and are the secret ingredient to the best brownies ever.

But aside from being a delicious and nutritious nut, walnuts are also used in cosmetics in the form of walnut oil.

Cold-pressed walnut oil is commonly used to soothe sensitive skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema.

These conditions are difficult to manage when there are red and inflamed flare-ups on the skin, but walnut oil is gentle and moisturizing enough to relieve the itchiness and discomfort.

Hair Benefits

Aside from the skin, walnut oil also has many benefits for the hair.

This oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are excellent for nourishing dry hair, like grey locks, without feeling too heavy on the head.

Walnut oil also contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help strengthen your hair, which is a must if you have tresses that are starting to grey out.

These include biotin, vitamins B6 and E, copper, folic acid, and potassium.

Speaking of potassium, this element is essential for cell regeneration and hair growth.

That said, walnut oil is a terrific oil to use instead of coconut oil and shea butter when you want to grow out your locks without having to deal with greasy, sticky oils.

But the benefits of using walnut oil don’t stop at your hair.

It’s also a terrific moisturizer for the scalp, especially when you’re dealing with dandruff issues and itchy flaking.

Walnut oil has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect your scalp from infections, including those that cause dandruff.

And since this oil is hydrating, it also relieves any itchiness and flaking you feel from an ongoing dandruff episode.

Walnut Oil For Grey Hair

Impressed by all those benefits we’ve listed above?

Well, that’s not all walnut oil can do.

For those with grey hair, walnut oil has a special benefit, whether or not your greys are natural!

If you dyed your hair grey and want to keep it that way for longer, walnut oil might be your new favorite moisturizer.

This oil is known to enhance the hair color you have now, making it brighter and more vibrant.

It’s perfect for those who want to extend the longevity of their hair’s grey or silver hue.

And for those that are a bit insecure about their hair naturally transitioning to grey, walnut oil can help you slow down the greying process of your strands.

It’s rich in proteins that can help lessen the greying and can even help with darkening your locks when massaged into your follicles.

No matter which way you look at it, it seems that walnut oil is one of the friendliest oils out there for greying hair.

How To Use Walnut Oil

Not sure how to incorporate walnut oil into your hair care routine for grey locks?

Here are three simple ways to do it, step by step:

Use Walnut Oil When Massaging Your Scalp

Scalp massages are a fantastic way to cap off a long, tiresome week.

It’s known to release some tension in your head and neck muscles, allowing you to feel extra relaxed and calm.

It also boosts blood circulation in the area, which is good for your scalp health overall.

But when you add oils to your scalp massage, it increases the benefits tenfold.

Not only do you get to sit back and unwind, but you’ll also be moisturizing your potentially dry and weak grey hair in the process.

Plus, if you use some essential oils in the mix, you can reap some aromatherapy benefits too!

Consider giving yourself a scalp massage with walnut oil once or twice a week.

It’s terrific for nourishing your grey, thirsty strands and even slowing down the process of them losing their natural color.

The best part is that doing it is super simple!

How To Do A Walnut Oil Scalp Massage

Here is all you have to do:

Choose Essential Oils

Choose what essential oils you want to dilute in walnut oil, which will serve as your carrier oil for the massage.

Select oils that will fit your hair goals, like rosemary oil for hair growth or tea tree oil to combat dandruff and detoxify the scalp.

Mix The Oils

When you know what oils you want to use, grab a small bowl.

Put two tablespoons of walnut oil in the bowl.

Next, add 8-10 drops of your essential oil and stir to combine.

Apply To The Scalp

Pour or slather a generous amount of the oil concoction onto the crown of your head.

Make sure you keep your head tipped back at all times so that the oils don’t drip down your face and cause any breakouts!

Massage In Circular Motions

Distribute the product across your scalp with your fingertips, rubbing and massaging your head as you go.

Go with circular motions to stimulate blood circulation and soothe any muscle tension in the area.

Scoop More Oil

Bend a bit forward and tip your head to the front.

Scoop the rest of your oil in the bowl with your fingertips and apply it onto the back of your head, near the hairline by your nape.

Again, use your fingers to spread the oil properly and massage the lower part of your head.

Don’t Forget The Strands

Don’t forget that walnut oil is terrific for your grey strands too, not just your roots!

So as you massage, gently rub the oil into your hair.

If you can, try to spread the oil all the way to your ends, which are the driest part of grey hair.

Use Walnut Oil As A Deep Conditioner

Grey hair is also likely to feel rough and look dull because of its dry state.

And like all dry hair types, it will need some deep conditioning.

Creating a DIY hair mask at home using walnut oil is an effective way of pampering your grey hair while adding tons of moisture and strength back to your strands.

The best way to deep condition your hair is by giving yourself a pre-poo.

This means drenching your hair in a moisturizing concoction of ingredients before washing it all off in the shower after around half an hour.

How To Make A Walnut Oil Hair Mask

Here’s a how-to for a basic hair mask using walnut oil and hair-strengthening yogurt:

Mix The Ingredients

Combine your hair mask ingredients in a bowl.

Mix half a cup of yogurt with two-thirds a cup of walnut oil to get a thick but runny conditioner-like consistency.

Yogurt is excellent for adding shine to the hair and strengthening weaker strands because it’s rich in protein and panthenol.

Apply The Mixture

Dampen your hair by spraying on a bit of water in your mane.

Then, apply your hair mask mixture.

Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the hair mask from root to tip, focusing on the driest areas of your hair.

Let It Sit For A While

Wear a plastic shower cap or towel over your hair and let it sit for 15-30 minutes.

If you want the most intense moisturizing effect possible, apply some heat using a hooded dryer (or just hover your blow dryer over your head!).

Wash Your Hair

Wash your hair as you normally would with shampoo and conditioner.

Make sure to get every trace of the hair mask out, or else you’ll be left with sticky, greasy spots later on.

Style as desired, and there you go!

Shiny, hydrated, and vibrant grey hair, all thanks to walnut oil and some yogurt.

Use Walnut Oil To Prevent Split Ends

Want to prevent your grey hairs from splitting but not yet ready to cut off your long hair?

Walnut oil can help keep your ends healthy and intact so you don’t see more split ends!

But you have to understand that there’s nothing that can re-stick split ends.

The only options you have are either to get a trim or moisturize them properly so that the damage isn’t that noticeable.

Walnut oil is an excellent oil for concealing those distracting split ends.

How To Use Walnut Oil To Conceal Split Ends

Here’s how you do it:

Detangle Your Hair

Brush out your locks to detangle the hair.

You mustn’t have any knots in your strands.

If you do, brushing and spreading the oil in your locks might be difficult, and you’ll end up with sticky knots and tangles in the first couple of minutes of moisturizing your ends.

Rub A Small Amount Of Oil Over Your Ends

Take a tiny amount of walnut oil in your hands.

The key to successfully moisturizing the ends of your grey hair is not to use a lot of oil.

Plus, the smallest amount of oil goes a long way when it comes to nourishing grey hair.

Rub the walnut oil over your ends, ensuring that every strand is coated.

This will make it seem like you have no split ends.

It also prevents your strands from splitting even more, so they don’t break apart and snap off later on.

Rub Into Other Parts Of The Locks

If you feel like you accidentally used too much oil, work the oil into the mid-lengths of your hair to hydrate the area too.

This will give your mane a cleaner, smoother, shinier appearance overall.

Conclusion

Because of its moisturizing and shine-boosting properties, walnut oil is beneficial for all hair types.

But because it can bring out your natural color and even delay the greying of hair in older people, it’s perfect for those who are already seeing some whites and silvers in their mane.

Plus, walnut oil also helps repair and strengthen your grey hair when it’s uber dry and coarse.

This oil helps immensely in fortifying your hair and boosting elasticity to prevent breakage, which your strands are likely susceptible to because of their age.

Try incorporating walnut oil into your moisturizing routine and see the difference it makes in your grey tresses.

Whether you opt for a relaxing scalp massage after a long week or a pampering deep conditioning treatment, walnut oil will knock your socks off with its plethora of benefits.

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