In Focus: Everything you Need to Know about Cactus Seed Oil

Did you know one of the main ingredients in our new natural shampoo is Cactus Seed Oil? It’s a mysterious precious oil from Morocco that will do wonders for your hair, from leaving it shinier and softer to generally feeling healthier. Want to know how? 

Cactus Seed Oil, also known as Prickly Pear Seed Oil or Barbary Fig Oil is actually a super powerful and nourishing ingredient that will fit perfectly into your grooming routine. But don’t take it from us, keep reading to find out all the benefits and uses of this amazing essential oil.

So, What is Cactus Seed Oil exactly?

Cactus Seed Oil is actually one of the most moisturising natural beauty ingredients currently out there. You’ve probably heard about Argan Oil and how good it is for your hair, right? Well, Cactus Seed Oil has even bigger quantities of the same vitamins and antioxidants that make Argan Oil one of the preferred ingredients of many Beauty and Grooming editors.

Credit: IWOOT US

And where does it come from form?

The oil is extracted from the seeds of the cactus plant Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly called Prickly Pear and found in the Moroccan Desert. As the cacti blooms, it grows a fruit that is full of these precious little black seeds.

To extract them, farmers need to take special care and use special gloves to collect the ripened fruit and avoid splinters in the process. The seeds are then separated, washed and air-dried under the sun.  

Once the seeds are harvested, a high-tech machine squeezes the oil out. The process is actually quite similar to that of extra virgin olive oil, ensuring the purest oil with absolutely no dilution, chemicals or nasties.

The challenge is that each seed contains only around 5% of oil and you need one tonne (1000kg) of fruit to extract 25kg of seeds and the equivalent of 1 litre of oil, making the entire process very time-consuming and resource intensive. This is why this oil is one of the most expensive oils in the world, but it’s so powerful a few drops will go a long way.

The benefits of Cactus Seed Oil on your hair

So we know it’s the main ingredient in our new shampoo - but why is it so good for your hair? Cactus Seed Oil is exceptionally rich in Vitamin E and Fatty Acids which promote healthier, shinier hair. Some of the benefits are:

• It promotes hair growth: Omega Fatty Acids are key for stimulating cell growth and development, so it can lend you a hand in preventing hair loss.
  
  
• It’s good for dry hair: It’s the perfect solution for dry and damaged hair. Think about it, the oil comes from a plant famously known to withstand the harshest dessert conditions. The same properties that help the plant retain and trap its water are then passed onto the oil and thus your hair, helping it smooth out split ends and broken follicles. It’s also full of vitamin B5 which helps the individual hair follicles retain moisture and nutrients.

• Amazing for itchy, irritated scalps: Vitamin E, on the other hand, protects your scalp and helps ensure its kept moisturised to avoid the annoying dry and itchy scalp problem some men suffer from.

So, have we convinced you yet? Our brand new Fig Barbary Musk Shampoo is rich in Cactus Seed Oil and is still on offer, so grab yours while stock lasts. It will leave your hair feeling soft, shiny and moisturised, perfect to be followed by one of our styling products.

Bonus Fun Fact: Cactus Seed Oil has somewhat of a fruity yet not sweet smell. It’s not floral at all but instead will leave you feeling crisp, cool and invigorated - just how a Funky Fella should feel!