Jojoba oil is a wax-like oil that is extracted from the seeds of the Simmondsia Chinensis plant, commonly called the Jojoba plant, a native plant in the North American region, especially Arizona, Mexico, and parts of California. It is a shrub with remedial benefits that grows in arid regions and since times immemorial has been used for a variety of purposes, with special emphasis on beauty and haircare. Since the 1970s, the jojoba oil has gained prominence as a useful plant product for regular use.
What is Jojoba Oil Made of
Jojoba oil is mainly used in beauty care products. This can be attributed to the fact that it gets readily absorbed by the skin and also has no side effects at all. Plant products are used in personal care products for their remedial and medicinal properties. Jojoba oil also has a host of various important ingredients, which make it ideal for daily use. These ingredients include the following:
- Gadoleic acid: Also called Eicosenoic acid, this ingredient has the quality of smoothening or softening the skin. It also prevents blockage of the skin pores and lets your skin breathe. Gadoleic acid is known to absorb unnecessary oils that can get accumulated on the skin, thus, blocking your skin’s natural radiant look. Gadoleic acid wipes them off making you look fresh and radiant.
- Erucic acid: It acts as a natural alternative to silicone for your skin and helps in providing a non-greasy lubrication alternative for your skin and hair. The acid has a silky consistency that helps your hair and skin glow while also avoiding unnecessary oil build-up. It helps in oxidative stability and makes your skin and hair smooth and soft.
- Oleic and Palmitoleic acids: These acids are antioxidants that have anti-aging properties for your skin. They make your hair and skin look soft and silky, and they have a wonderful effect on hair as well, removing dandruff, and making your hair thicker and stronger. They also help in reducing pains and inflammations in your body while also maintaining proper immunity.
- Palmitic acid: This acid is also an antioxidant that has smoothening and softening properties for your hair and skin. It helps your hair look shiny without any oily texture at all. This saturated fatty acid makes your skin soft.
- Stearic and Behenic acids: Both these acids have cleansing properties that help remove dirt, sweat, and excessive oil found in the epidermis, sebum. They also have hydrating features that help your skin look radiant always. Your hair looks conditioned and smooth because of these acids present in jojoba oil.
- Vitamin E: It has anti-aging properties that help soothe your skin from any rashes or other problems. It also helps your skin and hair remain hydrated for a long time. Vitamin E is known to be an antioxidant, which can help slow down premature aging.
- Vitamin B Complex: This vitamin is known to be particularly good for human skin, as it reduces hyperpigmentation and makes you look younger. It also maintains good hair texture and has healing properties for the skin.
Examples of Oils That are Flammable
Flammable substances are those that ignite easily when exposed to any ignition source. Flammable and combustible liquids are divided into three parts based on the degree of flash points-
I-A (below 23°C), I-B (below 23°C), I-C (24-38°C),
II(39-60°C),
III-A (61-93°C) and III-B (more than 93°C).
Oils, in general, are not placed in the category because they have flash points greater than 150°C. However, oils do fall in the category of combustibles; oils can lead to fire hazards. Here are the two major classifications of oils based on their origin:
- Organic oil: These will include peanut oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and many others, which catch fire easily. Oils like lavender, eucalyptus, lemon/citrus, peppermint, and clove are also flammable because they have ignition properties. You must use them carefully and avoid direct contact with heat, flame while using them.
- Mineral oil: Crude oil or petroleum is a fossil fuel that is highly flammable. Examples of their products include jet fuel, petroleum ether, and gasoline which are flammable in general.
Oils are naturally not flammable liquids because they do not give out extensive vapors as such, but they have higher ignition possibilities, so you must be careful. Jojoba oil, as such, is a flammable oil and must be used with proper care. Essential oils easily catch fire that spreads rapidly, so you cannot just ignore the fact that they are flammable.
What Makes an Oil Flammable
Any flammable material needs to have a certain amount of stored energy to ignite in the presence of fire. Oil does not come under the list of flammable liquids, but it has some properties, which make it an ignitable compound. Some of the facts about oil that prove its combustion properties include the following:
- Oils have high amounts of carbon and hydrogen in them, which make them combustible. Fire variables state that carbon and hydrogen are the most common non-metallic elements found in inflammable substances, and they are both highly flammable.
- An oil is a combustible liquid that ignites at higher temperatures. The flashpoints determine the intensity of flammability. Oils have flashpoints greater than 100°C which makes it easily flammable and it also spreads quickly (especially cooking oils).
- Oils (especially fuel oils) have a high amount of stored energy in them, which causes the ignition properties of oils. The degree of flammability depends on the amount of energy the substance has. Oils may not be booming with stored energy, but they surely ignite as and when brought near a fire.
Is Jojoba Oil Flammable
Over the past years, several researchers have eminently proven that jojoba oil is flammable. You must exercise adequate precaution while using it for various purposes. Jojoba oil may be a common beauty and hair care product, but it has many more interesting properties that you must learn before using the oil. It is a plant-derived product that has several properties which make it a flammable oil. Some of these features may include:
- Jojoba oil is produced through the process of hydrogenation , which makes it flammable. The two-carbon units of fatty acids are broken down in this process. This clearly indicates that jojoba oil has both carbon and hydrogen in adequate proportions to make it flammable.
- It also has an eminent acidic composition with oleic acid, erucic acid, palmitic, and many more acids, which are good for skin and hair care. These acids have the potential to react with organic compounds and result in ignition within seconds. Thus, as and when jojoba oil comes in contact with an ignition source, it reacts.
- The oil also has a vast amount of stored energy in it, with its complex composition. Jojoba oil has copper, zinc, carbon oxides, and a host of other compounds in different forms. This makes it flammable with a high amount of energy.
- It also has a 295°C flashpoint, which makes it ideal for combustion. Flashpoint is the lowest temperature for proper ignition, which shows that jojoba oil is highly susceptible to ignition. Proper care must be taken to handle it with care and keep it away from ignition sources.
- The safety data sheets also declare that jojoba oil is flammable, and proper caution must be taken while using it. You can use media like carbon dioxide, foam, and dry chemicals for adjacent fire issues. The reactivity depends upon the ignition source, but jojoba oil has the potential to release toxic fumes when ignited.
- Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax, and any kind of wax is surely flammable. It has high ignition properties.
Jojoba oil is a kind of natural oil, but with extremely unique and different properties which make it flammable.
Can You Cook With It
Jojoba oil is actually an edible oil. It is derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant and could theoretically be used as a vegetable oil for cooking purposes, since it is rich in vitamins and minerals, and it can also withstand very high temperatures easily.
There is an article that we did on heating points in the case of olive oil, one cooking oil that gets used a lot. See the article and let us know if you would rather cook with olive oil.
However, it is not considered as a very good choice for cooking purposes. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Jojoba oil is more of a polyunsaturated liquid wax than oil, and it is this chemical composition that can cause side effects on your body.
- The oil does not have much nutrition to offer when compared with healthier cooking options like extra virgin olive oil. Its stability is better for cosmetic uses.
- It is non-caloric and non-digestible.
- Consuming jojoba oil can cause serious health problems like nausea, restlessness, vomiting, stomach aches, and heart problems.
Benefits of Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a highly desired product for beauty and hair care. It has some amazing properties which make your personal care routine far more effective.
Newspapers and magazines nowadays seem to promote this oil every now and then. The only reason behind this is its full-fledged proven clinical use. The various features which make Jojoba oil unique and ideal for daily use include the following:
- Its antioxidant and anti-aging properties: Jojoba oil has Vitamin E, which acts as a good antioxidant when applied to the skin. It can help your skin remain radiant and glowing all throughout the day. Applying this oil regularly can help get rid of aging marks on the skin and thus, can make you look younger.
- Cleansing features: It is true that oils are the reason behind clogged skin pores and greasy texture of the skin, but not all oils do the same. Jojoba oil helps you to remove the dirt and get a clean skin within minutes. Properly wash your face with water and pat dry. Then, apply jojoba oil and massage gently. You will be able to get rid of dirt and dust on your skin without the use of any harsh soap or chemicals. Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic.
- Hydrates your skin: Jojoba oil helps retain moisture in your skin by guarding it with a protective seal. This will help your skin remain hydrated for a very long time and also prevent dust and dirt from clogging the skin pores.
- Treats rashes and sunburns: The oil also has some excellent healing properties that help you treat acne, rashes, and burns effectively. It can be used as a natural sunscreen, when you step out in the heat.
- Removes unnecessary oils: Applying oil to get rid of unwanted oils seems a little confusing, but it’s true. Jojoba oil helps to unclog your skin pores and remove unnecessary oils. It also controls the production of sebum that helps in less oil production as well.
- Helps in hair conditioning: It acts as a natural conditioner for hair and softens your hair after every wash. Apply the oil to moist hair and see the results. You will get smooth and soft hair in no time. This will also help in less hair damage and breakage.
- Health benefits: Jojoba oil can also be used for cooking purposes, as it is edible. It has monounsaturated fatty acids that help you control your cholesterol levels and keep your heart healthy. Use it in small amounts regularly for the best results.
- Healing properties: It is also known to treat scars and wounds effectively. Apply jojoba oil to the affected area for a few days, and you are sure to get relief. It is an antioxidant with high amounts of vitamin C that helps in quick healing.
Jojoba oil is widely used as a beauty and hair care product, with tons of other uses as well. Its use cases will grow over the years multiple times given it has side effects on any hair type.
CONCLUSION
It is true that the oil comes with flammable properties and so, there is always a chance of fire hazards involved. But, it is also true that jojoba oil can do a huge favor on skin and hair. Consult your doctor before using jojoba oil, and store it in a cool dry place to avoid any ignition triggers.