Black Hair encompasses a wide range of textures, from tightly coiled to loosely curled, and can vary greatly in thickness, density, and porosity. Black hair is considered versatile and diverse and so is the approach to its care and the choice of products or oils to use on it.
The Need For Natural Oils
Natural Oils helps to compensate for the unique natural dryness of black hair by providing the much-needed moisture and nourishment. Natural Oils helps to seal in hydration, reduce breakage, and add shine.
Black hair tends to be dry and is considered the most fragile hair type, its tightly curled structure makes it difficult for natural scalp oils to travel easily down the hair shaft, as a result, it is prone to dryness, breakage and damage.
Natural oils offer an effective way to address these issue by proving essential moisture and hydration when incorporated. Choosing the right oil for black hair depends on your specific hair needs and preferences.
When choosing an oil, consider your hair’s porosity, thickness and the desired results. As a rule of thumb, high porosity hair type can accommodate heavier oils, while low porosity hair type are much better off with oils with a lighter viscosity. High porosity hair types have more open cuticles which allows moisture and products to enter and exit the hair shaft easily, leading to drier hair with more fizziness.
Experimenting with different oils or even blends of oils can help you find the perfect match for your hair type. This requires some patience and consistency.
Below are some of our favourite natural oils for black hair, this list is not all encompassing, however, it’s a good place to start when dealing with black hair.
Extracted from the pulp of avocados, avocado oil is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D, E, and antioxidants. It is a thick rich oil with high moisturizing and nourishing benefits for black hair. Its high content of monounsaturated fats and antioxidants helps to repair and add an additional protection from environmental damage, such as UV rays and pollution, which can contribute to dryness and breakage.
Jojoba oil is an excellent choice for maintaining the health of black hair. Jojoba oil effectively mimics the scalps natural oils, providing essential moisture and hydration. When incorporated, it helps to maintain a healthy scalp environment, reducing issues like dandruff and scalp irritation. Also, it offers a great option for those with oily scalp, when the body produces more sebum than required, jojoba oil can help regulate sebum’s production and minimize oiliness. Jojoba oil is also a a good option for those with fine hair, it is a lightweight oil and would not weigh the hair down.
Coconut oil is a highly favored option due to its ability to penetrate the hair shaft, offer deep moisture and decrease protein loss. It is exceptional for fortifying hair and averting breakage. Its antimicrobial characteristics help maintain a healthy scalp by minimizing dandruff and other scalp issues. A great benefit of using coconut oil on black hair is its ability to minimize protein loss in the hair. Coconut oil is also good for deep conditioning or pre-poo treatments, if you want an all-rounder oil for your black hair, then this is a good choice.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is beneficial for those seeking to boost hair growth and thickness, it is able to improve hair volume thanks to its ricin-oleic acid content. Castor oil also contains high concentration of Omega-9 fatty acid, which helps to nourish the scalp . Regular application of castor oil can stimulate blood flow to the scalp, which nourishes hair follicles and encourages healthy hair growth. Also, if you are a lover of smooth and shiny hair, then consider adding to your hair care routine. Castor oil is great for sealing in moisture especially for high porosity thick hair, however, if you have thin hair, it’s thickness may weigh your hair down so use minimally or dilute with a lighter oil.
Extracted from the rosemary plant, this essential oil is known for its ability to improve scalp health, strengthen hair, add luster and stimulate hair growth by reducing hair loss.
Argan oil often referred as “liquid gold,” is another excellent option. Argan oil is known for its high vitamin E content and its ability to add shine and softness without necessarily weighing the hair down. Argan oil is deeply moisturizing without leaving a greasy after feel. Argan oil has been used for centuries as the choice for lightweight and non-greasy hair care, It is suitable for all hair types, including fine hair.
Olive oil is known for its moisturizing and strengthening properties. Olive oil is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats which contribute to healthier, more resilient hair. The nutrients in olive oil nourish the hair follicles, promoting healthier hair growth and minimizing hair loss. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties help to soothe the scalp, reducing issues like dandruff , scalp irritation and hair loss. Olive oil can help in managing hair loss due to oxidative stress by rejuvenating the hair and fostering healthy scalp conditions for more resilient hair health. Olive oil has medium viscosity and a medium comedogenic ratio which makes it great for both fine and thick hair types.
Baobab oil has high content of vitamins A, D, E, and F, as well as omega fatty acids, baobab oil which offer benefits that address the specific needs of black hair. Baobab oil is great for hydrating very dry hair as well as for strengthening the hair and improving elasticity. It can help alleviate scalp conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and psoriasis by reducing inflammation and providing essential nutrients to the scalp. This oil is strongly non-siccative (i.e. it does not dry out on contact with the air) and has a demonstrably longer shelf-life than many other natural seed oils.
Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Blackseed oil is particularly effective in addressing issues such as moisturization, strengthening, adding shine and luster, reducing breakage, and promoting growth. Historical evidence suggests that it was once used as a remedy for premature graying of the hair.
Incorporating natural oils into your hair care routine will help to maintain its health and beauty, experimenting with different oils or blends can help you find the right oil for your hair type and specific needs. Oils have been shown to improve conditions like dryness, breakage and ultimately improve growth.
There are myriads of oils to choose from and different ways to incorporate their benefits into your routine, explore our selection of carrier oils for more options.
Whether used for pre-shampoo treatments, hot oil treatments, leave-in conditioners, daily moisturizers, or scalp massages, natural oils provide the necessary hydration, strength, and protection that black hair needs.
By making oils a part of your hair care regimen, you can achieve softer, shinier, and more resilient hair, ensuring your unique black hair looks and feels its best.
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