Apricot kernel oil for hair: what it is, what it does, how we blend it
Apricot kernel oil is the soft, faintly sweet cousin of sweet almond: medium-light, quick to sink in, and a quieter choice for people who want a gentle everyday oil.
| Role | Base oil |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2 of 4, medium-light |
| Chosen for | Softness, lightweight feel |
| On the label | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil |
| In our blends | Not in a signature blend yet |
| Builder limit | Up to 85% of a hair blend |
What it is
Pressed from the kernel inside the apricot stone, the oil is about 65% oleic and 25% linoleic acid, close to sweet almond's profile but a touch lighter. It is pale yellow with a faint marzipan note. Although it comes from a stone fruit rather than a nut, people with a tree-nut allergy are often advised to treat it with the same care.
How it feels on hair
Weight 2 of 4, medium-light. It spreads smoothly, absorbs within a few minutes and leaves a soft finish with a little shine. It feels slightly more cushioned than grapeseed, less than sweet almond.
Who reaches for it
Normal to slightly dry hair that wants a daily oil without heaviness, and anyone who finds argan too glossy. It suits lengths and ends; on the scalp it sits a little richer than jojoba.
Where it sits in our blends
No signature blend uses apricot kernel yet, which makes it one for the builder: start from a blend that is close and swap it in, or build from scratch. Every blend is weighed to the gram and the recipe is printed on the label.
How to compose with it
As a base it can take up to 85% of a hair blend. It is not in a signature blend yet, so treat it as the base you reach for when sweet almond would be right but you want something lighter: pair it with baobab or rosehip and a floral essential oil.
Good to know: Not in any signature blend yet; a good base for a custom blend.
Compose with apricot kernel Find your formula
Weighed to the gram and blended to order in New Jersey, with the recipe printed on the label. For external use only; patch test before first use. Every oil, with its INCI name, is in the oil library.