The Best Oils for the Winter

November 20, 2014

As the weather continues to get colder, you might start to notice that your tresses become a little drier than usual or looks a little duller than you would like. One major healthy hair method you should include into your routine especially during winter is using oils to properly seal in moisture. A common misconception is that all oils moisturize the hair which is untrue!Oils are used to seal in moisture so therefore make sure you have sufficiently moisturized your hair before applying an oil, otherwise all you are doing is trapping in dryness.

One thing to keep in mind is that while oils are important, too much of a good thing can still be bad. So do not overdo it, otherwise you will end up with clogged up pores, buildup and limp greasy curls.

Almond oil – contains vitamins A, B, and E., nourishes brittleand dry curls and gives the hair a natural sheen. The oil is neither too heavy nor to light and therefore works great for those with medium/fine hair width.

Avocado oil – is light and easily absorbed into both the scalp and hair and therefore can be used for both. It contains vitamins A, B, D, and E, amino acids to help boost growth and leaves the hair feeling soft and shiny.

Castor oil/Jamaican Black Castor oil –since it’s a humectant that draws moisture in the air, if you live in dry & cold weather conditions this might not be the oil for you. Otherwise, applying castor oil is known to boost hair growth when massaged on the scalp, effectively seals in moisture and its rich source of vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids helps to soften, smoothen and impart shine on the hair. This is a thick and heavy oil that should be used sparingly and is best for those with thick/medium hair width.

Extra Virgin Coconut oil – is slightly thicker than Almond oil and is ideal for those with high porosity or medium/thick hair width. The oil imparts shine, can help tame frizz and is easily absorbed into the skin, making it a great scalp massage oil as well. (Some have said that coconut oil makes their hair feel “hard” especially during winter, it is important not to use too much of it as a little goes a long way.)

Extra Virgin Olive oil – is a mildly thick oil packed with omega 3, which promotes healthy and shiny hair. Apart from being used as a sealant, it can be massaged onto the scalp as a hot oil treatment to help boost hair growth and a healthy scalp.

Grapeseed oil – is a light oil similar in structure to Almond oil. It is ideal for those with fine/medium hair width since it does not weigh the hair down and works wonders at sealing in moisture.

Jojoba Oil – is a light oil with a composition similar to sebum(our natural body oil) which makes it an excellent scalp massage oil and as well as a sealing oil. The oil helps a flaky/dry scalp,provides a light sheen to the hair and is known to restore the natural pH level of the hair and skin.

Additions -You can infused natural ingredients to your oils to increase their effectiveness:

Hibiscus – conditions and darkens the hair

Rose – promotes shine and soothes the scalp

Coffee beans – boosts hair growth & new cell generation on the scalp to heal an irritated scalp

Neem – fights against scalp irritations, dandruff, provides shine and darkens the hair

Amla – promotes healthy scalp and hair, darkens the hair and provides shine

If an oil alone does not feel like it is enough, you can also use butters such as Shea, Mango, Cocoa Kokum or coffee bean butter (to mention a few).

[by Maicurls]