Do you remember the time when you were kids and your mum would feed you soaked almonds and walnuts every morning? She claimed that it was super beneficial for better memory and overall brain health. While these nuts may help your cognitive abilities and overall health, did you know that walnuts can actually give you better skin and hair?
Being rich in healthy fats, a good amount of protein, walnut is a skin and hair superfood. From delivering dull and lifeless skin with a lovely radiant glow to promoting healthier and stronger hair, walnuts are a powerhouse of nutrition. If you want to find out in detail about the properties that make walnut a superfood or simply how it aids in giving you better skin and hair, then you’ve come to the right place.
- Did you know these nutritional facts about walnuts?
- Walnut benefits for skin
- Walnut benefits for hair
- Side effects of walnuts
- Different ways to consume walnuts
- FAQs about walnut benefits
Did you know these nutritional facts about walnuts?

- Walnuts are a rich source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which make it beneficial for heart health.
- They are a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Walnuts are low in carbs, which makes them beneficial to eat everyday as well.
- It is also a food that is rich in fibre, helping in better digestion and bowel movement.
- Being a rich source of vitamin E, B6, folates and phosphorus, walnuts are super useful in delivering healthy skin and hair.
- The antioxidants present in walnuts protect your skin against free radical damage.
Now that you know about the nutritional value of walnuts, it is now time to see how this superfood helps in achieving better skin and hair.
Walnut benefits for skin


Brimming with antioxidants and vitamin B, walnuts help protect your skin against environmental aggressors such as sun exposure, dirt, pollution and other impurities. This in turn prevents skin damage and the appearance of premature fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, the presence of vitamin E intensely hydrates your skin and boosts collagen production to keep your skin more youthful.

Thanks to our hectic lifestyles, stress, irregular sleeping patterns and unhealthy diets, developing dark circles and puffy eyes seems almost inevitable. But the soothing properties of walnuts helps in calming and soothing the area to reduce strain and make your eyes appear bright and well-rested. It also leads to a visible reduction in dark circles and puffiness over a period of time.

Walnuts are filled with incredible moisturising and nourishing properties. Massaging walnut oil on your face and body intensely moisturises and conditions your skin to hydrate and condition your skin. Nutrients such as vitamins B5 and E help in diminishing scars, lightening spots and patchy skin and they also provide intense moisture. All the properties come together to make your skin appear really soft and radiant.

By now, we are sure you are aware about all the incredible benefits of exfoliating your face and body regularly. Enriched with stellar ingredients such as antioxidants and vitamin E, walnuts work over time to exfoliate dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other impurities stuck deep within your pores to prevent them from getting clogged. This in turn also prevents acne and keeps your skin healthy, clear and incredibly supple.
Walnut benefits for hair


If the reason for your dandruff is a really dry and flaky scalp, then walnut oil is going to be an excellent treatment to deal with dandruff. When applied to the scalp, the lightweight texture helps penetrate deep inside the hair shaft, and to moisturise and reduce dandruff. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of walnuts help in soothing and calming an inflamed scalp to reduce itchiness, dandruff and general discomfort.

The health and wellness of your scalp is extremely important for maintaining healthy, long and lustrous hair. Massaging your scalp with either walnut oil or using a hair scrub with crushed walnuts helps in stimulating oil production, reducing flakiness and stimulating dormant hair follicles to improve hair growth and shine.

Weak and dry hair strands are the number one cause of breakage and unhealthy hair growth. But thanks to the abundance of fatty acids, walnuts help in strengthening each hair strand, scalp and the hair shaft to provide moisture. Walnuts also deliver intense nourishment to your hair to make it strong and healthy over time. This helps in preventing breakage and intensifying the lustre to make your hair appear healthier and fuller.

Another amazing benefit of using walnuts in your hair care routine is its hair strengthening and regrowing properties. The antioxidants and fatty acids present in walnuts helps in stimulating dormant hair follicles, preventing and restoring damage, while fortifying your follicles to deliver healthier, stronger and fuller hair growth. Simply massage your scalp with walnut oil two to three times a week to see baby hair sprout in a couple of months after regular use.
Side effects of walnuts

Even though walnuts are brimming with beauty and health benefits, overdoing it or over-consuming walnuts can have some side effects too. A lot of people, especially the ones suffering from autoimmune disorders, could be allergic to nuts, and should definitely avoid consuming them. Additionally, the high fibre content in walnuts, could lead to digestive issues such as diarrhoea. Therefore, always start by doing a patch test if you are using walnut oil. But if you consume walnuts and notice rashes or anything uncomfortable and unusual, it is best to consult your doctor to find out the cause before continuing.
Different ways to consume walnuts

Now that you know about the walnut benefits for skin and hair in detail, we know you are wondering just how to use walnuts in your everyday routine and diet for easier (and of course, yummier) consumption. You coarsely crush some fresh walnuts and add them to your salads and smoothies to soak in all the goodness along with the fibre. Additionally, you could also eat a lot of whole walnuts during the day along with a few other nuts of your choice. Consuming soaked walnuts first thing in the morning is a great way to reap the benefits too. But whatever you do, remember not to consume more than 4 to 5 nuts in one day, as too much can actually cause allergic reactions.
FAQs about walnut benefits

Q. Can walnuts be consumed on an empty stomach?
A. Yes, absolutely. In fact, consuming walnuts along with a few almonds, soaked overnight, actually has a lot of health and beauty benefits. Not only are you receiving a large portion and essential fats first thing in the morning, but it is also a great way to improve your gut health and control your HDL levels.
Q. How many walnuts can be eaten in a day?
A. Ideally speaking, it's best to eat just about two grams of walnuts in a day for both adult men and women. To reap maximum benefits, always have walnuts with other nuts. In order to use them for your beauty needs, remember to get either walnut essential or cold-pressed oil for it to show visible results and prevent allergies and side effects too.
Written by Urvi Dalal on 9th Jun 2021
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!