Tonka: The Wonder Bean for Hair Growth & Aroma Therapy

The tonka bean has long been known for its wonderful vanilla/anise-like scent and was even used for quite some time as a substitute for the vanilla flavor in various desserts. But due to too high a coumarin content in the tonka bean, this is no longer used.
However, the tonka bean is still used daily for aromatherapy and the tonka bean has hair growth stimulating properties.

In this blog we are going to talk about the, of course, Tonka bean!

The tonka bean

The tonka bean comes from the dipteryx odorata, or more simply, the tonka tree. This tree bears fruit every five years and grows in Central, North and South America in native areas. The indigenous people of Suriname use the tonka beans for various medicinal purposes. This is also where Andelia's tonka oil officially comes from, which was cultivated by Marlon Rozenblad.

Tonka oil: What are the differences?

Tonka oil can be prepared in many ways because you can actually call anything tonka oil as soon as the tonka component is in the oil. This does not mean that all tonka oils are pure tonka oils. There are differences between pure tonka oil or a hydrosol called tonka oil.
With pure tonka oil, the oil is pressed from the tonka bean itself. This is an intensive process and requires many tonka beans. Here you are talking about more than thousands of beans per liter. After this process you will have a very concentrated oil. This oil has an amber/brown color.
With a hydrosol, tonka beans are 'pulled' into another oil. So a carrier oil is used in which tonka beans are put. The tonka beans are left in the oil for different periods of time, so that the oil can absorb the properties of the tonka bean. These oils have many color variants. They vary from a cloudy dark brown oil to a completely clear oil.

Andelia's tonka oil

Andelia's tonka oil is manufactured by Marlon Rozenblad. Marlon Rozenblad (also a hairdresser and hair/scalp specialist with more than 40 years of experience in the hairdressing trade) produces the tonka oil by pressing the oil from the bean itself. What you get is a 100% pure tonka oil .

Tonka oil and stimulating hair growth

Tonka oil stimulates hair growth by stimulating blood circulation in the scalp. It is not the case that tonka oil causes more hair to grow. Hair consists of the protein keratin.

"Very nice oil. Smells slightly like vanilia and it is very easy to rub it in. Whether the oil or the oil cream, just a little bit is enough. Can last a long time. I am very satisfied"

- Angelina Melcherts via Product Reviews

How can I use tonka oil for hair growth? 3 step plan

1. Start by parting the hair so that you can easily apply the oil to the scalp.
   
2. Gently press the dispenser so that the oil comes out of the dispenser one drop at a time. Then drip the tonka oil in different places per separation
   
3. Use your fingertips to spread the tonka oil thinly over the entire parting. Then massage the tonka oil well into the scalp.

Aromatherapy

The scent of tonka beans is used in aromatherapy to reduce stress. The scent is said to have a calming effect on both body and mind.

Funfact: Did you know that tonka beans were used as legal tender in Venezuela until the 1940s?