Batana oil for hair: Benefits, how to use and best products to buy in 2025
What is batana oil?
Batana oil comes from the nut of American palm trees, which is native to Central and South America. Not only is batana oil ingested, but it's often used for hair and skin, especially in products (namely in Honduras where it's native), says dermatologist Omer Ibrahim, MD. It has a smokey, tobacco-like, earthy scent, but that tends to go away once you rub it in and doesn't linger.
Compared to über-famous coconut oil and argan oil, it's much richer and denser, so it's fab for thick, curly, and/or coarse hair types (but dw, I've included some ways to use it below if your texture is on the fine side and you wanna get in on the benefits too). Currently, it's found mostly on its own, but because it's blowing up so much on social media, companies will likely start formulating with it in deep conditioners, curl creams, and protein treatments eventually.
Batana oil is full of nutrients that can help moisturise the heck out of your hair and skin. 'It's rich in fatty acids like oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid, which all help moisturise the hair and scalp to increase shine and strength,' explains Dr. Ibrahim.
'It also contains carotenoids, particularly alpha and beta carotenes, which convert to vitamin A and are beneficial for scalp health,' he adds. 'Lycopene, an effective antioxidant also found in batana oil, can help protect against oxidative damage,' he further notes. Basically, its a powerhouse for protecting your scalp and making your hair and skin look and feel healthy and smooth. Plus, it's suitable for all hair types and textures (although it might leave a greasy film on some fine hair types if left on or if too much is used).
No, batana oil cannot regrow your hair, according to Dr. Ibrahim. 'There are currently no studies on batana oil for hair health or hair growth,' he says. 'At best, we can surmise that its composition helps keep hair strands moisturised, pliable, and flexible.' Meaning based on all the information we have on its benefits above, batana oil could potentially increase hair health over time and prevent breakage.
Actual hair growth requires a comprehensive approach, trichologist Bridgette Hill previously told Cosmo, so it's going to take more than just a simple oil to do the trick (think: healthy eating habits, hydration, a good haircare routine, a clean bill of health from your doctor, and more). TBH, there aren't any products you can just slather on your scalp other than minoxidil (aka the active ingredient in Regaine) with adequate research to indicate that it can help grow hair faster.
As with all hair oils, there are a variety of methods to try with batana oil depending on your goals. You could also try hair oiling, an Ayurvedic practice that involves coating and massaging your scalp with oils to increase blood flow and (hopefully) encourage hair growth. Just place a few drops of the oil onto your scalp, then massage in circular motions with your fingertips for four to five minutes. Then comb or brush the oil through your hair to evenly distribute to your ends. You can leave it on overnight, or just wash it out after 10 to 20 minutes with a gentle shampoo.
You can also cocktail a few drops of batana oil in your own hair products, like a hair mask or leave-in conditioner, to add a bit of extra nourishment. Just avoid leaving it on your hair too long if you have fine hair because the oil is quite rich and can weigh down your strands.
Yes, you can leave batana oil in your hair overnight. But batana oil might be a bit too rich for some fine hair types, says Dr. Ibrahim. In that case, try a short-contact method like a pre-poo treatment for 10 minutes, then shampoo and condition as normal. You'll get shiny, soft, smooth results basically instantly, says Dr. Ibrahim.
You can use batana oil as often as daily if your hair is extremely dry and coarse, but generally, once or twice a week should be good. The oil is so rich, so you shouldn't need to coat your hair in it as often as other oils. But because the only risk is potentially weighing down your hair, you can't really overuse it, so if you feel like your strands are feeling a bit dehydrated and dull, feel free to increase your batana oil usage.
Don't expect batana oil to work miracles for hair growth (literally no hair oil, for that matter, is clinically proven to make hair grow). But! It can definitely improve your scalp and hair health over time. Overall, though, it's an antioxidant-filled, fatty-acid-rich oil that's fantastic for improving your hair and scalp's moisture levels, as well as increasing glossiness, silkiness, and smoothness. And that, bbs, is what finding the best new oil is all about.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from Olaplex dupes to almond oil for hair. She's an authority in all hair categories but an expert when it comes to batana oil for hair after consulting dermatologists and trichologists for their take on the buzzy ingredient.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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