The use of oils are very popular in the natural hair care world. They have many benefits and are used in various ways to provide bounce and shine to our natural hair. Oils shouldn’t be used solely to provide moisture. Their purpose is to seal in the moisture you get from water or a leave in conditioner.
Oils (as it relates to hair) can be used in pre-poos, hot oil treatments, deep conditioning, oil rinses, and as a sealant.
I have made of list of some popular oils used by naturals. Check it out below!
1. Jojoba Oil – derived from the seeds of evergreen jojoba shrubs (Simmondsia chinensis). It is native to Arizona, California and Mexico. It is the only oil whose molecular structure is similar to sebum (the oil that the scalp naturally produces.). This light and non-greasy oil helps to add shine, elasticity and softness to hair. It has antibacterial properties. It can also soothe the scalp and can be used to treat dryness.
2. Coconut Oil – an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It has various applications in food, medicine, and industry. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize as a result it has a shelf life up to two years. Using coconut oil can promote hair growth and reduces breakage. It is light weight and also provides sheen to your hair.
I prefer to use a jojoba oil and coconut oil mixture to seal in moisture to my natural hair because both are so lightweight and they absorb in my hair very well. The combination leaves my hair soft to the touch.
3. Olive Oil – is a fat obtained from the olive (the fruit of Olea europaea; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. The oil is produced by pressing whole olives.
It consists of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats as well as vitamin E and K but does not contain protein.
Olive oil has a shelf life of 2 years from manufacture date. After this time, it is still safe to ingest, however color and taste may be altered. Store in a dark, room-temperature cabinet.
Olive oil makes the hair easier to manage. Unhealthy hair is not easy to style; it is either limp or frizzy. Using olive oil as a hot oil treatment will make your hair healthy and manageable once again.
It can also soften the hair. Our natural hair can be rough and course. Weekly olive oil treatments are a natural way to soften our hair because it will saturate our hair with moisture.
After my weekly shampoo, I generously coat my hair with a regular conditioner (usually Tresemme) then top with olive oil and apply a plastic cap. I leave it in for about 3-5 minutes then rinse. My hair is feels stronger, softer and looks very shiny. This treatment works for damaged an/or course hair when used every time you wash your hair.
4. Castor Oil – is extremely rich vitamin E and essential fatty acids that are important for healthy hair growth. It thickens hair, promotes hair growth, prevents thinning, helps reduce split ends and helps to tame frizz. Castor oil contains anti-fungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties which helps prevents scalp infections, like ring worms.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil highly sought after and wildly popular among naturals because it isa raw, unrefined form of castor oil. So it is a form of castor oil that has retained most, if not all of its nutritive properties.
I have used castor oil as one of the ingredients of a hot oil treatment and sometimes mixed in with my deep conditioners. It is so thick and heavy that I tend to have to mix before use. It is a wonderful hair oil and I love its benefits.
5. Avocado oil – is particularly great for natural hair. It’s loaded with nutrients, amino acids, essential fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, B, D, and E. And it’s excellent for moisturizing, deep conditioning, improving hair strength, strengthening hair, and boosting shine. The vitamins, amino acids, and high fat content promote healthy cell growth and are great for maintaining and restoring scalp health (dry, itchy scalp).
I use avocado oil as an ingredient of my hot oil treatment.
These are the five oils that I used in my natural hair. Each has its own benefits and they work best for my hair. I love to mix them to together to make hot oil treatments or mix all of them in my deep conditioner. But I don’t always use all of them at once. I may only use one for a week. So don’t feel like you have to use all to get great results. Start with one and gradually try more.
I would like to know! What oils do you use in your hair care regimen? How do you use them?
~Stay Curly my Friends❤~
Healthy Hair Habits❤ 