Sweet almond oil for hair: what it is, what it does, how we blend it
Sweet almond is the classic massage oil turned hair oil: medium-rich, soft and cushioning, the base of Soft Focus and the oil most people picture when they think of oiling their hair.
| Role | Base oil |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3 of 4, medium-rich |
| Chosen for | Moisture, softness |
| On the label | Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil |
| In our blends | Soft Focus 79% |
| Builder limit | Up to 85% of a hair blend |
| Allergy | Tree-nut oil. Tell the quiz you are allergic and we block it everywhere. |
What it is
Pressed from the kernels of the sweet almond tree, the oil is about 65 to 70% oleic and 20 to 25% linoleic acid, pale yellow, with a mild sweet note. It is a tree-nut oil: the quiz and the builder block it everywhere if you tell them you have a tree-nut allergy, along with macadamia, marula and tamanu.
How it feels on hair
Weight 3 of 4, medium-rich. It feels fuller in the hand than argan, spreads well and leaves a soft, slightly cushioned finish that lasts. On thick or dry hair it reads as moisture; on fine hair it can look heavy by the next day.
Who reaches for it
Dry, thick or wavy hair that wants a softer feel; people who oil before washing; anyone who wants a gentle, familiar base. Soft Focus gives it 79% of the bottle.
Where it sits in our blends
Soft Focus carries sweet almond at 79% (with Avocado 10%, Baobab 10%, Lavender 0.5%). Open it in the builder, change any oil, name it and we weigh it for you.
How to compose with it
As a base it can take up to 85% of a hair blend. Soft Focus pairs it with avocado and baobab and a low share of lavender. For a lighter version, split the base with jojoba; for a pre-wash oil, add castor or Jamaican black castor as an active.
Good to know: Tree-nut oil. Tell the quiz about allergies and it is blocked in every step.
Compose with sweet almond 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.