Description
In the 1700s Native Americans used the oil and seeds for treating sores, cuts, bruises, and burns; as a skin conditioner, for soothing windburn and sunburn; as a cooking oil; and as a hair or scalp restorer.
A distinguishing property of Jojoba is the inherent structure of the oil, which resembles the sebum oil produced by the sebaceous glands on our scalp, making jojoba more similar to human sebum than to traditional vegetable oils. Sebum acts like a moisturizer for dry scalp. Jojoba oil, having a similar structure, helps in maintaining the required level of moisturizer in the scalp. The regular use of this oil gives strength to hair by providing moisture, making them free of split-ends and tangles.
Cold pressed Jojoba oil does not become rancid due in part to the presence of Tocopherols (Vitamin E) and primarily because of its wax structure which is never subject to oxidation. It is also full of plant sterols (plant fats) which help to boost the immune system in addition to preventing transepidermal water loss in the skin. Aging is primarily the result of dehydration of the skin, Jojoba oil works to prevent water loss.
Jojoba oil also helps hair growth by acting as a solubilizing (dissolving) agent and disbands the sticky build-up, diffusing through the follicles – this allows for hair growth without blockage. There are six general attributes which allow for optimal oil absorption into the skin, all of which cold pressed Jojoba oil possesses: Low viscosity, high unsaturation, low saponification number, short carbon chain length, low lecithin (Jojoba oil has no lecithin), straight chain molecule, and branched esters.
Jojoba oil is characterized as having 50% of its content as unsaponifiable while other vegetable oils contain only 2-3%. Applying unsaponifiable oil to the skin improves elastin formation, which makes skin and hair lustrous and increases elasticity. Jojoba works to disinfect, stimulate skin cell regeneration, halt inflammation, antimicrobial, antibacterial, improve elasticity, heal sunburn, heal acne, promote hair growth, heal dermatitis, heal eczema, strengthen hair follicles, add lustrous shine to hair, improve skin complexion, adds suppleness to the skin, minimize facial lines, balance oil production, maintain moisture in the skin.
This refined Jojoba oil is odorless and colorless and acts as a great carrier oil for other essential oils that require dilution.