Kukui Nut Oil for Hair: What the Research Shows

Kukui nut oil has a recent hair study behind it: in a 2026 paper, the oil promoted hair growth in cultured human hair follicles, and a randomized left-right test found it promoted eyelash growth. That's early evidence from one paper, and it doesn't cover scalp hair in people. Separately, the plant's seeds have toxicity concerns if eaten.

Here's what that study found, what a small skin trial showed, and the safety caution.

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Key Takeaways

• In ex vivo cultured human hair follicles, kukui nut (Aleurites moluccanus seed) oil produced a significant hair-growth effect and raised levels of prostaglandin F2α.
• The same paper reported a randomized, double-blind, left-right human test in which the oil promoted eyelash growth.
• In a small trial in people with psoriasis, kukui nut oil did not reduce symptoms significantly more than mineral oil.
• Aleurites moluccana seeds eaten for weight loss have been associated with toxicity, and high repeated doses of a seed extract killed rats.

What Is Kukui Nut Oil?

Kukui nut oil comes from the seeds of Aleurites moluccanus (also called candlenut). It's traditionally used to promote hair growth and is widely used as a cosmetic ingredient.

Does Kukui Nut Oil Help Hair?

The evidence is early and rests mostly on one paper: follicles in a dish and eyelashes in a human test. Whether it helps scalp hair in people hasn't been shown.

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Using Kukui Nut Oil

• Use it on the skin, not by mouth. The seeds have toxicity concerns when eaten.
• Patch test new oils.
• Treat scalp hair benefits as unproven.

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What The Research Shows

Hair Follicles And Eyelashes

Researchers treated ex vivo human hair follicles with kukui nut oil and saw a significant hair-growth effect. The oil elevated PGF2α levels and the expression of AKR1C family enzymes, upregulated proliferation markers (Ki67 and cyclins B1, D1, E1), and activated Nrf2 signalling. A randomized, double-blind, left-right human test confirmed the oil promoted eyelash growth (Kato et al., 2026).

A Skin Trial

Thirty adults with mild, stable plaque psoriasis were randomized to kukui nut oil or mineral oil placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups improved and there was no significant difference between them; no side effects were reported. The authors called it a small pilot (Brown et al., 2005).

Seed Safety

The seeds of Aleurites moluccana (also called "noz da Índia") have been consumed for weight loss, with reports of toxicity. In rats, an aqueous seed extract showed no cytotoxic or mutagenic effects in vitro, but repeated high doses (250 to 750 mg/kg/day) caused mortality, while lower doses (25 to 100 mg/kg/day) for 28 days did not. The authors recommended further longer-term studies (Fukuda de Castilho et al., 2021).

See also: Prostaglandin Analogs for Hair: What the Research Shows · Ferulic Acid for Hair and Scalp: What the Research Shows

Comparing oils? See our guide to rosemary oil for hair growth, the oil with the most research behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does kukui nut oil help hair growth?

In cultured human follicles it showed a hair-growth effect, and in a human test it promoted eyelash growth. Scalp hair hasn't been tested in people.

Is kukui nut oil safe?

Used on skin, no side effects were reported in a psoriasis pilot. The seeds have toxicity concerns when eaten. Talk to your doctor first.

Can kukui nut oil help psoriasis?

In a small pilot it wasn't significantly better than mineral oil.

References

1. Kato H, Badjuri NR, Febrian J, et al. Kukui nut oil (Aleurites moluccanus seed oil) promotes hair growth by activating the Nrf2/ARE-AKR1C family-PGF2α signaling axis. Sci Rep. 2026. PubMed
2. Brown AC, Koett J, Johnson DW, et al. Effectiveness of kukui nut oil as a topical treatment for psoriasis. Int J Dermatol. 2005. PubMed
3. Fukuda de Castilho P, Gomes da Silva Dantas F, Pires de Araújo R, et al. General and genetic toxicology studies of Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd. seeds in vitro and in vivo assays. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021. PubMed