Rosemary, coconut and argan oil – there is no shortage of buzzy, nutrient-rich ingredients lauded on TikTok promising to accelerate hair growth and leave our locks stronger, smoother and healthier. Lately, though, one lesser-known contender has been dominating my feed: batana oil. But can it rival the results of more widely known alternatives? Celebrity hairstylist Dionne Smith believes so.
Vogue’s batana oil haircare at a glance:
She explains, “Batana oil is a rich, natural oil used for deep hair repair. If your hair feels dry, brittle, or damaged from heat or colouring, then this helps bring it back to life with a soft texture and shine.” The ingredient, derived from American palm nut, has been used by indigenous Miskito people of Honduras to nourish their skin and hair for centuries, selected for its high vitamin E and essential fatty acid content.
But does it work to promote hair growth or just improve condition? The hairstylist who counts Wunmi Mosaku, Golda Rosheuvel and Leigh-Anne Pinnock among her extensive client list reveals, “It’s more about improving the condition of your hair than making it grow faster, but healthier hair means less breakage, which helps overall.”
It is commonly found as an oil in which you can slug the strands and massage into the scalp and leave overnight as a deeply conditioning hair mask, or as a star ingredient in shampoo, beginning a routine with its moisture-enriching, thickening properties.
Smith says it’s suitable for all hair types but stresses “how you use it really matters.” She details, “If you have thick, curly, or textured hair, you can be quite generous with it. If your hair is fine or gets greasy easily, use a small amount or apply it as a treatment before washing.”
Below, Vogue’s top batana oil-based products.
Nature Spell
Batana Oil for Hair Growth
Why it’s Vogue-approved: It was a late-night scroll on TikTok that convinced me to try this batana oil-based product, an essential for Rapunzel hair when paired with rosemary oil. Nature Spell sources the named ingredient from Honduras, calling on its fatty acid and vitamin E-based formula to strengthen strands and encourage hair growth. This is a multi-tasking product, but much like the videos that inspired its purchase, I like to massage it into my scalp, apply a shower cap and sleep overnight in it. You can also use it as a styling product, however. Great for protective styles.
Batanaful Batana Oil Shampoo for Hair Growth
Why it’s Vogue-approved: It is important to pay close attention to the source of batana oil in haircare products to ensure you are maximising the benefits, and Batanaful, a brand devoted to the ingredient, uses an authentic Honduras-derived component. The idea is to replace your current shampoo in order to reduce breakages and leave your hair cleansed and thick. All hair types can make the most of the reparative treatment, especially those with curly, coily and coloured locks.