Sometimes curlies have difficulty finding oils that don’t give their hair the appearance of being dunked in a grease fryer. Even taking into account your hair’s density, porosity and width, what works for one curl may not work for the other. Although it’s tempting to just do away with hair oils altogether, curly hair needs help combating dryness, especially after cleansing.
Cleansing your hair and scalp without restoring moisture balance can cause your scalp and hair to dry out. Stripping your skin or scalp of their natural oils can cause other problems too. A perfect example is your face. My skin completely cleared of mild acne after I started moisturizing my face. I was not aware that washing my face without moisture reinforcement was causing my skin causing more acne problems. Your scalp is no different. Although olive oil and castor oil are heavy oils that are popular in the naturally curly hair community, there are plenty of highly beneficial light oils that you can use for healthy hair.
Light Oils
- Extra virgin coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to provide moisture and restore shine.
- Grapeseed oil protects the hair when using heat tools with temperatures up to 425 degrees. It can also be used to combat dandruff.
- Jojoba oil balances the production of the scalp’s sebum.
- Sweet almond oil seals in moisture and smooths the hair shaft, which is an addition to highly porous hair.
- Argan oil provides strength, moisture and shine by penetrating the hair shaft.
Homemade Recipes
Pre-poo: Creamy Supreme Conditioner
This creamy concoction provides the hair with great moisture, slip, sheen and protein prior to the cleansing process.
For Fine Strands
Deep conditoner for fine hair: Luxe Deep Conditioner
Although olive oil may be to heavy to leave on the hair, it is a great deep conditioning element. Allowing this treatment to sit for 15-30 minutes will allow your hair to absorb the nutrient before rinsing.
Leave-in: Rosewater & Glycerin Hair Spritz
Is your hair anti-butters? Not a problem. This leave-in conditioner is very hydrating and will leave you with soft curls minus the weight.
For Coarse Strands
Deep conditioner: Coconut Milk & Honey Hair Smoothie
This is a great treatment for long, lasting softness. The collaboration of coconut milk, avocado, olive oil and honey will enhance shine and decrease frizz.
Leave-in: Leave-in Shea Coconut Cream
When you have coarse, dense hair sometimes your curls laugh at anything in a spray bottle. Raw shea butter, coconut oil and honey have always been great combinations and adding vegetable glycerin is great for an extra moisture boost if you have low porosity curls and do not live in a dry climate.
Before you give up on oils, try these oil suggestions by applying them to damp hair. Applying oil to wet hair will cause it to roll right off the strands. If you are experiencing curls that are greasy to the touch, do not apply oils to dry hair, especially if they do not have the capability to penetrate the hair shaft. Do what works for you. Do not be afraid to change the recipes to your liking. You may find that oils can be a curl’s best friend!
