As consumers become increasingly aware of the harmful chemicals and additives put into conventional hair products, they’re quickly turning away from major brands and embracing organic, all-natural shampoos and conditioners.
Oat milk, in particular, has received a lot of attention for its healthy simplicity, but just how good is oat milk for your hair?
Oat milk is full of nutrients that are good for your scalp and hair, including vitamin B, magnesium, and folate. Applying an oat milk-based product to your hair can help soothe a dry, itchy scalp, detangle your hair, and leave and beautiful, healthy sheen.
We’ll explain the benefits of applying oat milk to your hair and scalp and then introduce a handful of quality products that can restore your hair to health and beauty.
So, if you’re ready to swear off harsh chemical shampoos and conditioners, let’s get started!
Is Oat Milk Good for Hair?
Yes, oat milk is good for your hair!
Oat milk is made by blending rolled oats with water, then straining the mixture into a creamy, rich beverage.
The oats impart a handful of vital minerals and vitamins that greatly benefit your hair. These include:
- Vitamin B helps regulate red blood cell production, allowing more oxygen to reach your scalp and encouraging faster hair growth.
- Folate is important for hair growth and hair loss prevention. It helps to produce new cells and to keep the existing cells healthy. A lack of folate can lead to hair loss and cause the hair to become dry, brittle, and break easily.
- Magnesium is important for the health of the scalp. It helps to keep the scalp moisturized and to prevent dandruff. A lack of magnesium can lead to a dry, itchy scalp.
Thanks to these nutrients, oat milk can help reverse the harmful effects of harsh chemical shampoos and conditioners.
Benefits of Oat Milk for Hair
There are several benefits to using oat milk for hair.
1. Doesn't Strip Away Your Hair's Natural Oils
If you have ever experienced an adverse reaction to a conventional shampoo or conditioner, oat milk-based products are a great alternative because they will not strip your hair or scalp of its natural oils.
2. Clean Ingredients
Oat milk is also a great alternative if you're looking for more natural, organic hair products.
Brands that use oat milk generally avoid harmful additives and formulate their products using plant-based ingredients instead.
So, if you’re looking to avoid harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients, oat milk-based hair products are for you.
3. Thicker Hair
You’ll notice your hair become thicker and healthier within a few weeks, thanks to its nutrient-rich formulation.
The blend of vitamins A, B, and E will help restore life to your hair, encouraging faster growth, while folate encourages new cell growth, leading to more voluminous hair.
4. Get Rid of Dandruff
If you suffer from dandruff, magnesium will offset calcium build-up in your scalp, bringing hydration back into your roots.
Which Hair Types Does Oat Milk Work Best For?
Oat milk works best for those with dry, damaged, or brittle hair.
If your hair is color-treated, oat milk can also help extend your color's life and prevent fading.
If you have curly hair, you can also use oat milk to help hydrate and nourish your curls, giving them definition and bounce.
If you have oily hair, you may want to use oat milk sparingly, as it can draw out oils from your scalp, adding weight to your hair.
However, if you are prone to dryness, oat milk is highly beneficial and will restore vibrancy to your scalp.
Related: The Benefits of Oat Milk For Skin
The Best Oat Milk to Use for Your Hair
We recommend sticking with oat milk formulated with simple ingredients (oats and water). If you’re looking to try it out, we recommend:
Homemade Oat Milk
Oat milk is incredibly easy to make. All you need is chilled water, rolled oats (organic), a blender, and a sieve.
Directly blend the oats without letting them soak to keep the mix from becoming slimy. Then, sieve out any particles, leaving just the creamy milk.
Here's a video that walks you through the process
Willa’s Unsweetened Original Oat Milk
Willa’s oat milk comes in a pack of 6 small cartons, making it easier to portion out and apply to your hair.
It’s made from just four ingredients—oats, water, salt, and vanilla—making it organic and clean. The only sugars in the formula come from the naturally occurring carbohydrates in the oats.
Thrive Market Organic Oat Beverage
Thrive Market’s oat milk is even more pared down with just two simple ingredients—oats and water.
It’s also incredibly affordable at just $3.99 for a 34 oz carton, helping to restore your hair without costing an arm or a leg.
How to Use Oat Milk in Your Hair
Whether you’ve made your own or bought it from the store, there are two ways to use regular oat milk in your hair.
You can either use it as a hair rinse or leave it in your hair for a couple of hairs as a leave-in conditioner.
We’ll go through both approaches and recommend trying both to find the method that works for you.
Washing Your Hair With Oat Milk
Oat milk makes an excellent hair rinse because of its ability to hydrate and nourish your hair and scalp. To use oat milk as a hair rinse, follow these steps:
- Start with clean, wet hair. You can shampoo your hair as normal with an organic shampoo to remove any build-up from your scalp.
- Pour oat milk over your hair, evenly distributing it from your roots to your tips.
- Leave the oat milk in your hair for 3-5 minutes, then rinse it with lukewarm water.
- Finish by applying a conditioner to your hair. We recommend using a conditioner formulated with oat milk or another natural ingredient to further hydrate your hair.
- Style your hair as normal.
Oat milk can also be used as a pre-shampoo treatment.
If your hair is particularly dry or damaged, we recommend applying oat milk to your hair 20-30 minutes before shampooing.
Simply apply oat milk to your hair, then rinse it out before shampooing and conditioning as normal.
Using Oat Milk as a Conditioner
Oat milk can also be used as a leave-in conditioner to help hydrate and protect your hair throughout the day.
If you have dry or brittle hair, we recommend using oat milk as a leave-in conditioner 1-2 times per week.
To use oat milk as a leave-in conditioner, follow these steps:
- Start by wetting your hair and washing it with organic shampoo as you normally would.
- After rinsing your hair, evenly apply the oat milk from the tips of your hair upwards until you are 3 inches from your roots.
- Leave the oat milk in your hair to dry naturally.
- Style your hair as normal.
You can use oat milk daily, but we recommend only using it 1-2 times per week to prevent your hair from becoming greasy.
Related: Does Oat Milk Cause Acne?
5 Best Oat Milk Products for Your Hair
If you’re looking for a more convenient way to use oat milk in your hair, we recommend trying one of the following oat milk products.
They are all infused with oat milk to provide the same benefits in an easily packaged formula:
Klorane Ultra-Gentle Shampoo with Oat Milk
This dermatologist-tested shampoo from Klorane is formulated with organic oat milk to hydrate and nourish your hair.
It also contains Avena Sativa stem and leaf extracts to further moisturize your hair and coconut acids to repair damage and promote growth.
Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo
This industry-leading oat milk shampoo is completely free from sulfates, parabens, and dyes.
It relies on the all-natural benefits of oat milk, sweet almond extract, and hydrolyzed milk proteins.
Be aware that this product is not vegan-friendly if you are avoiding dairy products.
Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Conditioner
Formulated in tandem with the Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo, this leading oat milk conditioner pairs perfectly with the above product.
It's not a leave-in conditioner, though, so be sure to wash it out after a few minutes.
Garnier Blends Oat Delicacy Gentle Detangling
This unique formula from Garnier blends the benefits of oat milk and rice cream to create a gentle product that’s perfect for sensitive scalps.
It will leave your hair light and bouncy, full of hydration.
Lush Revive
The final product on our list comes from Lush.
This leave-in hydrator is specifically designed for curly hair types, especially those prone to dryness.
Apply it to your ends after washing and drying your hair to restore moisture into your curls.
Care For Your Hair With Oat Milk!
The benefits of oat milk for your hair are endless, and it's likely that you've never given it a try!
So why not give it a go today?
Your hair is sure to thank you.
