Only oil your scalp….yeah right!

I have heard this a million times. Salons, friends and just about everyone argue that oil must be applied only to the scalp. I am here to tell you that is absolutely nonsensical. They imagine the scalp to be like soil in a pot that is waiting to drink up the oil you pour, while your hair – the plant does not require any of the nourishment. Well, I’m not a trichologist or a dermatologist. So, I’ll tell you my perception solely from experience. True, skin is the largest organ of our bodies. And a lot gets through our skin. But a whole lot does not get past the topmost layers. And while it’s great nourishment and keeps scalp dryness, and in turn – dandruff at bay, your hair growth is affected by internal nourishment and not on the amount of oil you keep pouring there. So yes, water… I mean – oil your scalp to prevent dryness and provide some nourishment. But please oil those strands too.

Why to oil the ends of your hair?

In fact, I believe it is more important to oil your tresses, especially those fragile ends. They tend to dry out fast simply because they’ve been around a few years longer than the juvenile growth around your crown. So just like old people have brittle bones and need healthcare and insurance, your old hair – the ends are more fragile and require more attention. They dry out faster and are prone to splitting and wilting in the harsh environments we live in – humidity, heat, cold. So give those oldies some love, please.

The benefits of oiling not just your scalp…

Oiling hair is like external nourishment and done mostly to prevent dryness. Let’s consider my favourite – coconut oil. Coconut oil has the capacity to penetrate through the hair follicles and moisturize and hydrate your hair from within. That being said, I maintain what I say in almost every haircare article – hair is nothing but dead cells, which is why they cannot be repaired like live tissues such as skin and bones etc. All you can do is moisturize, prevent further damage and probably create external barriers and layers on the outer part of individual hair strands. That’s the best way I can put it. I hope you get my point. Depending on the type of hair you have, much of the coconut oil will be absorbed by you hair and is retained within the hair strands making it more dense. More dense means more volume for each hair strand. But that also means that it weighs down your hair making it appear limp in total. But, then if each strand increases in weight and volume, it is less prone to frizz and flyaways. Also, straight hair will appear straighter because of this density. Because, each strand is heavier and moisturized, it also appears smoother and is softer to the touch, bouncier and more elastic so less prone to breakage from combing, styling, bands etc.

When to oil your hair?

So, how to get the best out of hair oils without the negatives that come along? My suggestion – always oil your hair before washing, especially if you use commercial shampoos containing drying ingredients such as SLS, parabens, alcohol, fragrance etc. Massage it into your scalp and keep it on your hair for a few hours before you wash it off. This requires some planning, but it is so worth it. You see your scalp consists of live tissues that absorb the nutrition from within and helps with growing healthier hair (to come). The massage helps with circulation which is great for the health of your hair (yet to come/grow out). Less moisture is lost during a wash because of the oil that has been absorbed by each strand. And the excess oil gets washed away with your shampoo, so you don’t have to worry about very limp hair that weighs you down.

There is absolutely nothing that can replace oiling your hair. This is why I love using coconut oil before a wash. Absolutely no hair treatment or spa in the world can compare to this cheap, easy advice handed down from the wisdom of our grandmothers. I don’t really use serums and styling products. I have a few but they usually just expire.

As mentioned earlier, I am not a trichologist or a dermatologist. I have no qualification in this field. This is my personal observation based on my experiences, some of which I paid a very heavy price to learn 

Which oil is good for hair?

Please choose a good hair oil. Well, you could use any unrefined vegetable oil. I raid my kitchen shelves way too often. Olive, coconut, sesame, almond – they’re all perfect. Just stay away from mineral oil. Always check the list of ingredients. Most of the almond oil and hibiscus oils we get here have a mineral oil base. No good comes from slathering your mane with mineral oil. Even most baby oils have a mineral oil base which is just horrifying. These are some good choices. I like coconut the best. It is local and rather inexpensive where I live.

1. Coconut oil
2. Olive oil
3. Almond oil
4. Argan oil
5. Sesame oil
6. Castor oil {this one requires some knack. Check out my article here where I reveal the secret.}
7. Hibiscus enriched oil

Happy Hair Days to you!
RUELHA
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^{All information and media posted on this blog has been corroborated by me. I have put in a lot of effort, time and careful consideration to create articles, reviews, tutorials etc. All of my content is original and protected by copyright law. Borrowed pictures have been given credit and the source of those images have been listed for your reference. Please do not use my content or pictures/videos without my explicit permission. This blog solely manifests my own personal opinions and is uninfluenced by any company, brand or external party. I do not promote any haircare brand at present and am not compensated for this review. I personally own and have purchased these products that I have used, sampled and/or reviewed. I cannot guarantee that these products will work in the same way they have worked for me. Please exercise caution and keep your specific conditions/skin, hair and body type in mind while trying out new products. Some of my articles may become obsolete or perhaps the article has content derived from past experiences and/or memories. Hence, I cannot guarantee that the information is recent or relevant. I am not a licensed professional and do not hold any certificates in the topics posted. Thank you for stopping by.}