Black palm kernel oil is one of those things people buy because they heard about it, then leave in the cupboard because nobody told them what to do with it. It is simpler than it looks. Here is how it is used in Nigeria, and how to fit it into a normal routine.
First, what you are holding
Black palm kernel oil is pressed out of the kernel of the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis. In the traditional method the kernels are cracked out of the nut and roasted over a live firewood fire until the heat drives the oil out. That is where the dark colour and the smoky, nutty smell come from.
It is solid when it is cool and it melts on contact with skin. If your jar arrives soft or liquid in warm weather, nothing has gone wrong. Palm kernel oil softens near body temperature. It sets again when it cools.
The one habit that makes it work
Warm it in your palms first. Scoop a little, rub your hands together for a few seconds, and the solid turns to oil. Applied warm it spreads thin and absorbs. Applied cold it sits on top and feels greasy. That single step is the difference between people who love this oil and people who give up on it.
On hair and scalp
Two ways, and you can do both.
As a leave in
- Take a small amount, less than you think, and warm it between your palms.
- Work it into your scalp with your fingertips, section by section.
- Smooth what is left over the lengths and ends.
- Leave it in. Style as normal.
As a pre wash treatment
- Warm a slightly larger amount and work it through dry hair, scalp first.
- Leave it for about thirty minutes. A shower cap or a wrap helps.
- Shampoo and condition as usual.
If your hair is fine or you have been using a lot of product, start with the pre wash version. It gives you the oil without leaving weight behind.
On skin
Use it as a body balm on the dry places: elbows, knees, heels, shins, the backs of the hands. Warm it, press it in, and give it a minute before you dress. A little goes a long way. This is a thick oil and a pea sized amount covers more than you expect.
Best time to apply it is straight out of the shower while the skin is still slightly damp.
On a beard
Warm a small amount and work it in from the skin outward, not just over the surface hair. The skin underneath is usually the part that needs it.
If the smoke is too much for you
The smell is real and it is meant to be there. It fades as the oil absorbs, but it is stronger on application than most commercial oils.
If you want it softer, add two or three drops of rosemary or lavender oil to your palm before you rub your hands together. It blends in and it does not change how the oil behaves.
How much and how often
There is no rule and we are not going to invent one. What people generally do:
- Scalp: two or three times a week
- Pre wash treatment: once a week, on wash day
- Skin: daily, after showering
- Beard: daily or every other day
Start with less. This oil is easier to add than to take back out.
Storing it
Keep it closed, out of direct sun, at room temperature. It does not need refrigerating. If it has gone liquid in the heat and you want it solid again, put the closed jar somewhere cool for an hour.
Questions people ask
Can I use it on my face?
It is a heavy oil. People do, usually on dry patches rather than all over. If your skin is prone to congestion, test a small area first and see how it behaves over a few days.
Will it stain?
It is dark and it is an oil, so treat it like one. Keep it off light coloured pillowcases and collars until it has absorbed.
Is it the same as red palm oil?
No. Red palm oil is cooking oil from the fruit. This is from the kernel and it is not a cooking oil.
Is it the same as batana oil?
No, though people use them the same way. We wrote out the full comparison here: batana oil and black palm kernel oil, what is the difference.
Where to get it
Ude Aki Black Palm Kernel Oil, 4 oz. One ingredient, fire roasted in Nigeria, packed by Jeb Foods in Union, New Jersey. In a wide mouth jar you can actually get two fingers into, which matters more than it sounds when the oil is solid.
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