The mongongo Nut oil or manketti tree grows throughout southern Africa, thriving in arid and semi-arid conditions with large temperature extremes. Its fruit, which contains seeds, is a popular food for both elephants and people. The oil inside the nut contains lots of vitamin e, which helps keep the oil good even through the intense heat — and which nourishes your hair and skin. Mongo goes oil relieves dry, itchy, flaky, red, and irritated skin. Its unique blend of essential fatty acids makes it ideal for restoring strength, moisture, and a healthy shine to dry, frizzy and weak hair. Ships in dark glass to preserve freshness.

Mongongo oil, also sometimes referred to as Manketti seed oil or Manketti Oil, has been getting a lot of attention on the Internet lately from small and large blogs alike. This oil is derived from nuts that can be found on the Mongongo tree, scientifically named Schinziophyton rautanenii of the Euphorbiaceae family, which is native to the southern parts of Africa.

The Mongongo tree doesn’t actually bear fruit until it reaches the ripe age of 25 years when its flowers bloom and produce their ovular fruits that could be compared to plums. The fruits are green and fuzzy on the outside and are typically loved by elephants due to their sweet taste. As the fruit matures, the flesh that surrounds the nut softens and begins to taste more similar to a date.

For over 7,000 years, san women have rubbed mongo go nut oil on their skin during the dry season. In the Kalahari desert where an average month’s rainfall barely fills a teacup the “dry” season is dry indeed. Your search for the best natural, organic hair treatment and skin beauty oil is over. Repairs split ends regenerates broken hair strengthens hair calms the frizziest relieves itchy scalp reduces dandruff. Smoothest the surface adds a brilliant gloss softens hair protects hair helps hair retain curls and waves it moisturizes your skin, keeping it plump, hydrated, juicy, and youthful.

Mongongo oil uses and benefits Quick Facts
Name:	Mongongo oil uses and benefits
Scientific Name:	Schinziophyton rautanenii
Flesh colors	Light yellow
Health benefits	Skin health, Hair health, Prevent moisture loss

Mongongo oil is derived from the nuts of Mongongo trees that could be found in Southern Africa. Botanically, the tree is called Schinziophyton rautanenii and belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. This oil has a high content of Vitamin E, linoleic acid, Omega 6, iron, copper, magnesium, and calcium. Mongongo oil possesses regenerating, hydrating, and restructuring properties. It lowers inflammation and promotes repairing cells. The oil is extracted from the nuts with the use of the cold-pressed method. It also possesses eleostearic acid that provides protection from environmental pollutants. It has adequate amounts of vitamins such as nicotinic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, y-tocopherol, and vitamin E. It contains the nutrients such as copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc which are beneficial for maintaining hair health.

Mongongo oil facts

Name	Mongongo oil uses and benefits
Scientific Name of Mongongo tree	Schinziophyton rautanenii
Common names	Manketti oil
Common/English Name of Mongongo tree	Mongongo tree, Manketti tree, Mongongo nut, Omunkete
Extraction method	Cold pressed
Color	Light yellow

Health Benefits of mongongo oil

Hydrates

The fatty acids in mongongo oil help replenish hydration to the skin. But it also helps lock-in that moisture. Essential fatty acids can decline in the skin as we age, making it harder for the skin to retain moisture. This ingredient helps protect against moisture loss and supports a healthy skin barrier.

Softens and Smooths

As an emollient, mongongo oil helps make the skin softer and smoother. When the top layer of the skin doesn’t contain enough moisture, it starts to flake and crack. We know this as dry, rough, or flakey skin. Emollients help replenish the skin with lipids for a smooth even texture and softer skin.

Sun Protectant

Mongongo oil contains eleostearic acid. This unique acid polymerizes when exposed to UV rays which can help protect the skin against harmful rays. It’s not a replacement for SPF products but it does have some built-in sun-protection power.

Anti Aging

Mongongo oil’s ability to smooth, soften, and hydrate the skin can help decrease the signs of aging. Keeping the skin hydrated and nourished can help decrease the appearance of fine lines and also protect the skin against premature aging.

Soothes Skin

The mix of fatty acids in mongongo oil help soothe and calm the skin. It can even help reduce the appearance of redness.

Fights Free Radicals

Mongongo oil contains antioxidants that help fight free radicals. This helps protect the skin from premature aging and irritation from environmental stressors. Antioxidants help promote a healthy, glowing complexion.

Antioxidants

Most everyone knows by now just how important antioxidants are for your general health and your skin. Mongongo oil is a rich source of vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant and an essential ally to your skin. The antioxidants found in mongongo oil help protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals caused by environmental pollutants, sun exposure, and other factors. It can help reverse the signs of premature aging and may help reduce wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Vitamin E has a number of other vital roles. It can help reduce inflammation, redness, and irritation and may help to expedite the healing process when your skin is damaged.

Moisturizer

Mongongo oil is an excellent general moisturizer for your skin. When applied topically, the oil can help form a protective barrier that stops the moisture from escaping. It can help keep your skin feeling soft, hydrated, healthy, and supple. Certain compounds in mongongo oil like oleic acid have emollient properties that further help to hydrate the skin and keep it moist while helping your skin absorb important nutrients. Studies have also demonstrated that linoleic acid helps protect the skin from external pollutants while keeping the skin soft and healthy.

Anti Inflammatory

Mongongo oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve swelling, redness, and irritation of the skin. Although there are no specific studies into its effects, it may well help treat common skin complaints like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. You could use mongongo oil alone but for an extra benefit, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil for the condition.

Protects From sun

The antioxidant compounds and the fatty acids found in mongongo oil work together to protect against sun damage. You can apply mongongo oil to areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun to form a protective barrier against the sun’s UV rays. Mongongo oil can also help to relieve damage to the skin caused by the sun, soothe burns and ease inflammation caused by the sun.

Help in collagen production

Applying mongongo oil to your skin can also help boost the skin’s production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that plays an essential role in the skin’s structure and elasticity. As we get older, so the body loses its ability to produce collagen. Vitamin E can actually stimulate the production of the protein even as we age by inhibiting an enzyme that reduces collagen production. By boosting the production of collagen, your skin will retain its integrity, health, and elasticity for longer.

Best for winkles skin

Applying some of this antioxidant-rich oil to your skin can help diminish the appearance of wrinkles, lines, and other blemishes linked to aging. Vitamin E is a very effective antioxidant that could help make your skin look younger and healthier by reversing the effects of free radical damage on the skin.

Scars Remover

According to a limited amount of research, vitamin E might help diminish the appearance of scars over time. Unfortunately, the results are inconclusive with some showing it has a positive effect and others noting it was no more effective than a placebo.

Traditional uses

It is added in lotions, creams, lip balms, sun care products, body butter formulations, and massage oil.
It helps to regenerate and moisturize the skin.
It ensures the growth and maintenance of hair health.
It prevents hair damage and loss of moisture.
It repairs and moisturizes the mature and damaged skin.
It protects the hair from environmental pollutants and blow-drying.
Apply this oil to the hair to protect from the damages caused by the sun as well as the chemicals applied to the hair.
It maintains the luster and shine of the hair.

How to Use Mongongo Oil

As noted above, the most common uses for mongongo oil are in skincare and hair care. It’s in products such as shampoo, conditioners, lotions, serums, creams, lip balms, and even massage oil.

It can be found (and used) in its pure form or mixed with other ingredients as normally found in most products.

For Lips

Mongongo oil is a great option for chapped, dry lips. It helps replenish moisture, soothe, and soften skin. It’s the core ingredient in Mongo Kiss, one of the popular natural lip balms on the market. This brand mixes mongongo oil with fun flavors and other natural ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, cera flava, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, and more.

For Face

Follow product instructions when using mongongo oil on the face. For pure mongongo oil, start with a small drop on the fingertips and massage onto the face until absorbed. Mongongo oil pairs well with other favorite oils such as argan, carrot seed, and rosehip oil.

For Hair

The same nourishing fatty acids that benefit the skin can also do wonders for hair. Mongongo oil helps condition, hydrate, and protect hair. It can be used as a conditioner by applying it to washed, wet hair. Massage in and then rinse. Mongongo oil also hydrates the scalp, protects hair against heat styling, and helps control frizz and shine.

Infuses Healing Moisture – Ouidad’s fast-absorbing liquid gold elixir delivers intense hydration to all curl types, restoring curls’ natural luster.

Adds Softness and Shine – Adds illuminating shine and smooths the cuticle to perfect each individual coil. Ouidad’s Mongongo Oil leaves a beautiful shiny finish to previously lackluster locks.

Multi-Use Formula – A true multitasker, Mongongo Oil can be used in the shower, on dry hair as a finisher or second-day refresher, or even as a spray-on UV protectant at the beach or pool.

Massage Oil

Mongongo oil is also a great option for massage oil. It makes for a pleasant relaxing experience while it helps smooth and soften the skin.

Directions

For skin: Apply just a few drops to face and problem skin areas before retiring at night. Can also be added to or mixed with other skin care oils. For hair: scoop up a little with fingertips, apply to hair, wait 20 minutes, wash out with warm water. For nails: Rub just a few drops on problem nails before retiring at night.

Precautions

Allergic people should avoid it.
Sensitive people might get an allergic reaction.
Use it in moderate amounts.
Do a patch test before use.

Here’s how you can incorporate mongongo oil into your weekly routine based on your curl type.

Loose Curls
Loose curls and waves tend to have a split personality: flatter at the crown, curvy in the mid-lengths, and drier on the ends. To bring your curls back to life, work our Revive & Shine Dry Oil Mist into your mid-lengths and ends. The mongongo and watermelon seed oils condition strands and deliver deep hydration, keeping curls soft, moisturized, and resistant to breakage.

Classic Curls
If frizz is an issue for your S-shaped spirals, use our Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Treatment to smooth things over. Pump a dime-sized amount into your hands and rub your palms together. Then, use your fingers to smooth the oil over the surface of your strands for additional moisture and shine.

Pro tip: If you’re on Day 2 or 3 curls, our Clean Sweep Moisturizing Dry Shampoo will instantly refresh your curls in between washes. Made with mongongo oil and ultra-fine silky powders, it won’t dry out your scalp or cause buildup.

Tight Curls

Oil makes an ideal finishing product for corkscrew coils since it adds an extra layer of protective moisture. After styling with gel, use a few pumps of our Mongongo Oil Treatment to smooth over your coils and break the ‘cast’. This styling method leaves tight curls soft and super shiny.

Pro tip: If your curls are feeling extra dry, try using the oil as an overnight treatment. Saturate your mid-lengths and ends with the oil and sleep with a turban or towel. After you shampoo and condition in the morning, you’ll reveal smooth, shinier strands.

Coily Curls

When it comes to coily curls, the more moisture, the better. Layer up for mega hydration: Prime curls with a liquid leave-in, like our Moisture Lock, Leave-In Conditioner, seal it in with our Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Treatment, and finish with a cream styler for lasting definition.

Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Curl Treatment	Curl Recovery Melt-Down Extreme Repair Mask	Ultra-Nourishing Cleansing Oil Shampoo	Ultra-Nourishing Intense Hydrating Mask
Curl Type	All Curl Types	All Curl Types	All Curl Types	All Curl Types
Benefits	Forms a protective barrier on hair’s surface to lock in moisture, helps prevent damage from heat styling	Restores elasticity and manageability, leaves curls soft, shiny, and vibrant	Mimics hair’s natural oils to cleanse and rehydrate dry, damaged curls, helps curls regain softness and shape	Replenishes parched curls with maximum moisture, detangles hair instantly to help prevent breakage
Helps Repairs & Protects Damaged Hair	✓	✓	✓	✓
Safe for Color-Treated Hair	✓	✓	✓	✓
Sulfate-Free*	✓	✓	✓	✓

From Where To Buy

29 Reviews

Au Natural Organics Manketti/Mongongo Oil - Cold Pressed, Extra Virgin Natural Moisturizer for Skin, Face, Body, Nails & Hair | Unrefined, Non GMO, Therapeutic Grade Pure Essential Oil - 3.4oz/100ml

AKA Manketti, multipurpose beauty oil restores your hair's natural glow and joy. Au Natural Organics Manketti Oil forms a protective barrier against sun damage. It helps in skin-cell renewal. It also helps condition and strengthen hair & nails.
Polysaturated fatty acids form a waterproof seal around your hair, locking in moisture.
The eleostearic acid absorbs UV radiation, so performs as a mild sunscreen for your hair.
Mongongo oil's linoleic acid helps your hair maintain its strength and shine.
Au Natural Manketti/Mongongo Oil unique blend of essential fatty acids make it ideal for restoring strength, moisture and a healthy shine to dry, frizzy and weak hairs.