I just love learning about oils that I am not familiar with but have been around forever. Another old but new oil is kukui oil and it has received some recent fame when Lupita Nyong’o shared her beauty secret with Glamour Magazine earlier this year. When she shared that she uses natural Hawaiian kukui oil and avocado oil on her face that nugget of information began creating a buzz in the beauty world.

Kukui nut oil has been used for centuries in Hawaii and comes from the candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana”> in Hawaii. It is a transparent oil with low viscosity that is cold pressed from seeds. Hundreds of years ago, this oil was and continues to be used by the Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders to protect their skin, especially for the babies (Fujikawa and Gray 239“>.

A natural moisturizer, it contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that will help soothe dry skin, heal wounds, and moisturize dry, damaged hair. It contains vitamins A, C, and E and it is high in linoleic acid, which is beneficial to skin care.

Because it does not leave a greasy film, this oil is perfect as a hair conditioner. Hair that has been damaged by normal weathering can benefit from the oil’s fatty acids that will help your tresses maintain moisture. It also can be used as a treatment for an itchy scalp or a treatment for dandruff. According to Livestrong, the regenerative effects on the skin will also have the same effects on the hair and scalp. Massaging kukui nut oil onto the scalp or using it as a hot oil treatment helps hair to regain its moisture and stimulate hair growth.

There are products that have this wonder oil from Hawaii and although not all of them have them within the first five ingredients they do have the magic oil and may benefit your tresses.

OGX Frizz Defying Kukui Curl Cream

This curl cream will give your hold, shine, and moisture from its humectant properties. Kukui seed oil is not near the top but with the other ingredients in this curl cream it may be a good product to try. Boasts of defining your curls in a weightless blend.

Paul Brown Hawaii Kukui Nut Oil Treatment

Made with water, lanolin, lubricants, conditioning agents, and fatty acid, this oil makes for a great sealer. It is lightweight and will enhance the styling performance of your hair by adding strength, resilience, and shine.

Lanza Healing Moisture Kukui Nut Oil Conditioner

Water, fatty alcohols, and glycerin make this conditioner immensely moisturizing. This emollient-rich formula boasts of giving you softer, silkier hair.

Joico Curl Definer

This curl definer is extremely moisturizing and applies with smooth application. The kukui oil is the sixth ingredient to help lubricate your strands and add shine.

Have you tried kukui oil?