Growing up if someone told me that I would be putting the same olive oil we cook with on my hair and scalp I would think they were
crazy! However, little did I know olive oil, as well as other oils, would be a staple in my hair
regimen years later. Olive oil is an example of one small thing in a list of
things I never would of thought I’d put in my hair. Here I will now list the benefits of some
oils that I have used on my hair and scalp. Remember a healthy scalp equates
to healthy hair
Olive oil (extra-virgin)
I apply a mixture of different oils to my scalp in a squeeze
bottle on a regular basis and olive oil is included in this mixture. I suffer
from really bad dry, itchy scalp and dandruff is a frequent visitor of mine,
ughh. But some of the benefits of using olive oil on the scalp and hair are:
- Stronger, healthier hair because of the monounsaturated fats of the oil can apply a protective shield over hair strand
- It contains antifungal and antibacterial properties for scalp which may help with preventing dandruff
- Gives hair a natural sheen
- Contains polyphenols a type of antioxidant which assists with scalp health by protecting the cells on scalp from damage
- Moisturizes the scalp
Grape seed oil
I tend to use this to seal in moisture on my hair after I moisturize my hair with
a water-based hair moisturizer but its helpful on the scalp as well. Benefits
listed below:
- Contains antioxidants polyphenols (like olive oil) and flavonoids. However, flavonoids being a very strong antioxidant helps keep the scalp healthy
- Lightweight, thinner oil compared to other oils-doesn’t make hair too greasy
- High content of polyunsaturated fats helps coat the hair making it shiner and softer by locking in moisture
- Can be used as a heat protectant with a smoke point of 420oF (for comparison coconut oil starts to evaporate at only 350oF)
Vitamin E
This is naturally included in other oils like grape seed and olive oil for example. Benefits listed below:
- Is a type of antioxidant that repairs damaged tissues and prevent further damage to hair and scalp
- Can repair damaged hair follicles which are necessary for proper hair growth
- Give natural sheen to hair
Coconut oil
·
One of the few oils that can penetrate the hair
shaft providing moisture to hair. It is a solid at room temperature but melts when rubbed between your hands. I usually apply this directly to my hair. Benefits are below:
- Contains antifungal, antibacterial properties and has antioxidants so it helps with dandruff and keeping the scalp healthy
Argon/Moroccan oil
This oil is lightweight and very thin. Its good to use on fine hair because it will not weight your hair down at all. Below are the benefits:
- Contains vitamin E to helps repair damaged hair and protects against split ends
- High in fats so increases shine to hair
- High in antioxidants which help protects scalp and help with dandruff
- Is lightweight and easily absorbed into the hair providing moisture
Castor oil
One of my staples in my scalp oil mixture. This is a very thick oil, I thin it out by mixing it with thinner oils. There are many types of Castor oil Jamaican, Haitian, cold-pressed, etc. It doesn't really matter which one you use. The benefits are below:- Can thicken and stimulate hair growth
- Contains an important type of fat called ricinoleic acid which can stimulate Prostagladins which are known to enriches hair follicle and promote hair generation- (scientifically proven when castor oil was applied to scalp)
- Has anti-bacterial and anti-fungi properties
These last three are called essential oils and need to be diluted with other oils before use
Peppermint oil
- Stimulates blood flow to scalp and can stimulate hair growth
Tea tree oil
- Stimulates blood flow to scalp
- Unplugs sebaceous glands and promotes healthy hair growth
Rosemary oil
- Can help with itchiness, dry, scalp and dandruff
- Has antioxidants that can assist with preventing hair thinning and greying
As you guys can see a lot of these oils share similarities with slight differences. In addition, this is only a list of oils that I have tried, however, there are A LOT of other oils out there that I still haven't tried. I'd love to try others, but my BUDGET says otherwise. Sigh.. The important thing to remember is to DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR HAIR! Just because something works for me doesn't mean it'll work for you and vice versa, because every body's hair/scalp/body is different. But if you'd like to try these oils just remember to LISTEN to your hair to determine if they work for you. If you have any questions about anything please don't hesitate to ask!
