I had never heard of Emu Oil until a few weeks ago when someone wrote to me asking about it. I decided to carry out some research. My sources are at the bottom of this blog.
What is an emu? An emu is an indigenous flightless Australian bird. The moment I read this description I thought of a chicken so I googled for images and voila – see the images that are part of this blog. It looks more like an ostrich than a chicken. Where do they harvest emu oil from? The emu bird’s back is made of a thick layer of fat (adipose tissue) designed to protect it from the Australian sun as well as cushioning during an attack. When this fat is extracted it is distilled to remove proteins, bacteria and other particles leaving emu oil as it is commercially sold. This is an important difference compared to all other oils I have ever used or written about – they are all vegetable oils,on the other hand, emu is derived from an animal. What does emu oil look like? The exact colour and consistency of emu oil depends on the bird’s diet. It’s a white/off-white solid at low temperatures but quickly melts at temperatures above 22°C (72°F) to form a yellow liquid. The viscosity of emu oil at any given temperature varies depending on the diet of the bird it was harvested from. 
What characteristics does emu oil have?
According to online sources it’s:
For those that have thin or thinning hair the last benefit makes emu oil especially attractive. Unfortunately, many of the claimed benefits are empirical not scientific. Emu oil has not been scientifically tested rigorously enough to make the claims therefore its risks and benefits are currently not that well understood. The biggest proponents of emu oil’s health benefits sell it so it’s hard to tell how genuine their claims are. Emu oil has been fraudulently promoted as a health supplement when it shouldn’t be due to a lack of data backing up claims of any health benefits. According to the FDA website, “FDA determined that a pure emu oil product marketed to treat or cure a wide range of diseases was an unapproved drug. Its marketer had never submitted to FDA data to support the product's safe and effective use.” Should you try emu oil on your hair and skin? Why not? It probably won’t do you any harm so it could be worth a try to see whether your hair benefits from it. As with any oil, you would have to use it for a few months to notice a difference, if any. Where can you get emu oil? There are a variety of online sources selling it but I can’t prove how genuine their emu oil is. If you’ve ever used emu oil and have an opinion on it, please share! References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_oil http://www.emu-oil-well.co.uk/faq Emu Oil: The Secret to Cate Blanchett's flawless complexion?
6/8/2015 02:48:36 am
Hi Heather,
Candice
12/8/2015 06:33:03 am
I have and still use emu oil. Its great for hair growth but its expensive. I buy mine at the health food store because it's genuine emu oil. It's $19.95 for 2 oz. Like I said, it's expensive, but it's worth it. I mix it in with my other oils to stretch.
Charvian
12/8/2015 07:24:37 am
Hi. I've been using emu oil for about a month now, and I believe it helps with hair growth. I have a small patch on my right edges that have always been noticeably thinner than those on my left, but within two weeks of putting emu oil on the area I could see baby hairs starting to grow in. So I'm definitely sold!
KJ
12/8/2015 07:41:10 am
Thanks for the article! I thought about purchasing emu oil, but not for my hair; I read about the benefits of using emu oil on stretch marks and old scars. This sold me even more.
Jolene
12/8/2015 07:58:58 am
I loved emu oil for my daughters eczema. I also just recommended it to my dear friend for her babies eczema, and she said she a big difference. I have not yet used it in my hair though. I think I will give it a try.
Alex
12/8/2015 09:41:31 am
I'm concerned about these animals and how this oil is derived. Are these emus being hunted and killed solely for the purpose of profiting from emu oil? It seems extremely unnecessary when there are vegetarian/vegan options for growing hair 12/8/2015 10:47:41 am
Alex, Emus are raised on farms for their lean red meat, eggs, feathers, skin and their fat, which is what is processed into emu oil. Nearly the entire animal is usable. The emu farm that I source my oil for Emu Bliss from is a small family farm that treats the emus very well, as emus won't last long if not in a humane environment. They are fed organic grain and treated with care.
Alex
12/8/2015 04:15:39 pm
I sincerely hope this is the case for all sources of emu oil. Thank you for sharing.
jamie
12/8/2015 10:52:24 am
U posted what I was thinking Alex. When I was reading the above article, they had me wondering are they killing these birds to take this and if not is it still safe to take it even though they are alive because the article said that they use it as a cushion to protect them from attacks.
sondra
12/8/2015 01:16:44 pm
I'm trying to find vegetarian products for hair growth.....can you make a suggestion
Alex
12/8/2015 04:17:24 pm
Jamaican black castor oil does wonders. Though it's mostly about keeping your scalp clean and the hair you already have moisturized. I underestimated the power of a light spritz and seal with oil and shea butter too long! Less is more!
Charane
12/8/2015 06:14:39 pm
That's exactly what I wondered when I read that.
Bettye
12/8/2015 11:25:08 am
Yes - I have used emu oil on my skin when getting out of the shower and in my hair as a pre poo. I really like it, I just hate the hassle of having to order online since I am unable to find in stores where I live.
Janice Williams
12/8/2015 08:47:14 pm
I've been using the 100ml Bottle of Pure FREE RANGE Australian EMU Oil (bought it from Amazon), since 31 July 2015 and I can honestly say it is brilliant. After two weeks of using it everyday my edges are getting thicker and my 4c hair is growing. It does work. Try it. (In addition to using Emu Oil, I also use the following products daily; drink bamboo tea, take Health Aid Hair Vit capsules, drink two capfuls of maximum living mineral rich drink and for eight days out of every month, I also do the inversion treatment. Furthermore, I sleep on a 25 silk pillowcase). I have been natural for a year and 8 months after being a weave and wig junkie for the best part of 20 years! Good luck ladies.
Ternishia
13/8/2015 01:14:16 am
I went vegan less than a month ago and I saw an article about emu oil growing thinning edges. I have been natural for 5 years and still both sides of my temples are bold. After only 1 week or less I am noticing hair growing in on both sides. I've tired black castor oil, nioxin, ginger oil, for months with little help. I feel horrible that this product comes from an animal but it's the only thing I can see that actually working. 13/8/2015 02:07:03 am
Ternishia, It's funny you mention that. I had considered putting something on the website about emu oil being NOT for vegans, but I guess I'll leave it off!
Janice Williams
13/8/2015 02:37:49 am
Try spraying your hair every night with cooled boiled water and use Unrefined Shea Butter too. Also try Natural Organic Hair Growth Oil Formula with Black Cumin Oil Nigella Sative - Reduce Hair Loss, Promote Hair Growth, Strengthen Hair Roots (from Amazon).
Cinnamon
13/8/2015 08:24:06 am
This artiCle really caught my attention bcuz I have a 4 oz bottle just sitting there. Will definitely give it a try. Thank u Hea I have used emu oil. At first I was skeptical. That is until I saw what it did for my mother. She had a thinking spot at the crown of her head and the emu oil he her hair back in 4 months. I began to use the oil and it is also growing my hair. I also use it on my knee when it begins to hurt because of its anti-inflammatory properties and it reduces the pain. If you are interested in purchasing this oil,I found it in its part state on this website. Totallifechanges.com/3459331
Annette
14/8/2015 04:31:08 am
So where can I purchase this
Lisa
15/8/2015 12:51:47 am
I lost my hair four years ago to three chemotherapy treatments. My hair was already natural, so when it grew back in, it was much thicker. Over the counter store products did not work, therefore, I decided to make my own. Email oil is one of the oils I use in my and it is fantastic! My here began growing back in 2 years ago and now its above my bra strap. Emu oil is very rich and thick in texture so you don't need a lot of it. It melts quickly into the skin. It is not a healthy oil at all, but it is concentrated. I bought mine on ebay from a reputable seller. I would recommended it to anyone. Hope this helps. Comments are closed.
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I was a natural hair blogger and mixtress living between London & Chicago from 2012 to 2017. I always thought I was 4C but some say 4B; images below - you decide! Heather xx
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Heather Katsonga-Woodward is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme and the Amazon.com, Inc. Associates Program, affiliate advertising programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com respectively.
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