5 Natural Oils for Healthy Hair

I’ve mentioned on several occasions in my previous blogs that you should be using oils on your hair. I’m sure by now I sound like a broken record, but I figured, now would be a good time to go into depth on why you really should! Most women assume oils will either make your hair too soft or greasy, yet they don’t know the list of benefits oils bring! Read on to find out the top five oils I would recommend for your hair and how they can work wonders!

1. Castor Oil

Surprise! It is said that castor oil actually promotes hair growth! Although this has not been scientifically proven, there are millions of testimonials that say castor oil will help to grow your hair 3-5x faster! It sounds almost too good to be true! On average, hair grows ½ inch a month. However, after using castor oil twice a week for one month, it is said that hair can grow up to 2 inches! Not only that but because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, it can prevent dandruff and other scalp infections. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself and track your growth!

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is trending quickly for its many benefits in the beauty field. This oil is perfect to counteract a dry, itchy, or flaky scalp. It’s full of Omega 3s, vitamin C, magnesium, and amino acids. Coconut oil also happens to be high in electrolytes, which makes it a great way to hydrate! Shampoos often contain coconut oil in them, so you might think they’re great for your hair alone but other harsh chemicals may be present that could, in fact, be damaging! Going straight to the source and using the oil itself to hydrate your scalp will treat dandruff much better than any other over the counter shampoo treatment. You may not be cured overnight, but in just about a week I promise you’ll be seeing results.

3. Almond Oil

It is said that people with alopecia often have magnesium, calcium, and/or zinc deficiencies. It just so happens that almond oil is rich in all three of these minerals. This makes almond oil another great oil to use for thinning hair! Almond oil will also repair your ends, given the high amount of vitamin E, which repairs any damage done to the collagen layer of your hair.

4. Olive Oil

Women have been using olive oil on their hair for thousands of years. Advocates claim that olive oil adds shine, body, and extreme softness. Olive oil is especially beneficial for those with dry and thick hair because of how strong it is. That is not to say that those with softer, thinner hair cannot use olive oil, it’s just that it may weigh your hair down. Olive oil is an especially useful treatment for hair that has been damaged by chemicals like perms, bleach, smoothing treatments, etc. due to the deep moisturizing that it provides. For those with highly bleached hair, it is best to wait at least 72 hours after your initial color appointment and start off with a strand test to be sure that it does not affect the color of your hair!

5. Avocado Oil

Not only do avocados taste great on toast and in guacamole, they’re also amazing for your hair! Being especially high in vitamin E, potassium, lecithin, and chlorophyll, avocado oil is the perfect leave-in conditioner because it is highly, highly moisturizing. Apply to hair while wet or dry and it will leave your hair feeling shiny and even easier to style! I hope that some of these has inspired you to head into your kitchens tonight and throw some oil on your hair! For all the oil treatments I have mentioned above, I suggest a couple of helpful tips to achieve optimal results:

• Wear gloves (with castor oil, specifically)
• Wear an old raggedy T-shirt in case of staining – Apply oil to dry hair for best absorption
• Use a wide tooth comb to distribute oil evenly throughout hair – Keep a towel on the floor for easy clean up from dripping
• Use a jaw clip to pin hair up while oil soaks in – Leave oil in as long as possible (overnight is best!!!)
• Rinse thoroughly when you’re finished and use a sulfate free shampoo

Go enjoy your beautiful hair!!!