WHY OILS ARE NECESSARY FOR HAIR GROWTH!

Oils are a must for beautiful, healthy hair. Oil acts as an emollient that locks in water, allowing natural hair to retain moisture. And in some cases, oil penetrates the hair shaft and moisturises it.

The kinkier the hair, the harder it is for scalp oils to travel down the entire hair shaft, and the more important the incorporation of hair oils into the hair care routine becomes. This is essential for proper hair hydration.

Here are some of the oils we absolutely love and recommend for natural hair:

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a very versatile oil, great for cooking, skin, and hair. Containing large deposits of fatty acids, coconut oil is also rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals that are necessary for good hair health. You can find it in many varieties, including extra-virgin, refined, and unrefined.

Coconut oil is great for all kinds of hair, but is especially good for dry, damaged, or dull hair. It also works well for repairing split ends and brittle hair, and is recommended for persons with slow hair growth. It penetrates deep into the hair shaft and reduces protein loss. Hair that has absorbed coconut oil increases in diameter and gains extra volume.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is an essential oil containing menthol that stimulates the scalp and hair follicles. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, vasodilating (and vasoconstricting), analgesic and anaesthetic, and insecticidal and pesticidal properties, which is why some people use the oil as a remedy for hair loss and for dryness, itching, or other scalp problems.

This oil works best for people with oily hair and scalp, and should not be used by people with brittle hair or dry scalp. As this oil can cause a burning sensation on the scalp, it should be diluted before use.

Rose Oil

Rose oil is best for fine, natural hair because it strengthens the hair roots, and adds shine to hair. It is a penetrating oil. That said, those with dry or damaged hair, or a problematic scalp benefit most from the healing and penetrating properties of rose oil. It also gets rid of frizz – if the user has frizz-prone hair. Rose oil helps to get rid of bacteria and dirt while providing moisture to the hair and soothing the scalp.

Hemp Oil

One great thing about hemp oil is that it adds moisture retention ability, sheen, and elasticity to the hair. It also contains protein and vitamins, and has high fatty acid content, which is why it is a great option for high-porosity hair. It also helps straighten hair because the fatty acids help in keratin bonding. Hemp oil is ideal for persons wishing to grow their hair to its full potential, as it enhances natural hair growth through the omega-9, omega-3, omega-6 and fatty acids in the oil.

Hemp oil also improves blood circulation in the scalp, thus ensuring that hair follicles retain enough nutrients to encourage hair growth. What's more, human hair is made up of keratin, which is 90 per cent protein, and hemp oil provides this protein during the growth process.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Jamaican black castor oil is a sealing oil with a reputation for boosting hair growth. In fact, many people credit this viscous oil for helping them reach their hair length goals.

Jojoba oil

Fun fact; Jojoba oil is actually pronounced ho-ho-ba. Gotten from the jojoba plant, jojoba oil is in many ways similar to sebum, the oil our scalps naturally produce, which is why it is ideal for use for hair.

For one, it does not interfere with the scalp's natural pH balance. Secondly, it penetrates the hair shaft and follicle deeply, and works from the inside out, making it an excellent moisturiser. Although Jojoba oil is a sealing oil, it is not too heavy, working well as a scalp treatment for flaking or dryness. Jojoba oil is ideal for dry, damaged, or dull hair, and those with dry scalp and dandruff issues.

Neem Oil

Yes, neem oil is not the best smelling of oils, but it is one of the best natural oils out there. It is great for treating scalp conditions such as dandruff, dermatitis, and psoriasis due to its potent anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Not only does neem oil treat these conditions, it also adds shine to the natural hair, strengthening it, and promoting growth. Neem oil has high levels of fatty acids such as oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids that help condition and nourish the scalp and the hair.

Neem oil protects the human scalp from damage caused by free radicals, and the regenerative properties of the neem oil also help to support healthy cell division while stimulating hair follicle function and growth.

Olive Oil

Olive oil shields the natural keratin protein in hair and coats the hair shaft, which is why it has great protective qualities. Olive oil also exfoliates and fights dandruff when combined with lemon juice.

Olive oil is ideal for frizzy, damaged, dull, dry or dandruff-prone hair, and protects against heat damage. It also lends hair a sleek look and shine, moisturising and giving damaged, broken hair a healthy appearance.

Organic extra virgin olive oil is the best kind of olive oil because it contains no chemical ingredients and is rich in natural antioxidants.

Shea Butter Oil

Shea butter oil is the liquid form of raw Shea, which is solid – and which most of us are familiar with. To get Shea butter oil, simply heat up raw Shea butter. As you perhaps know, Shea butter is arguably the most popular ingredients in the natural hair care community, being a staple product for many naturalistas.

Its main components are linoleic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid. Shea butter contains vitamins F, E, and A that protect the body from free radicals that damage healthy cells and cause hair loss. These acids and vitamins help condition and nourish the scalp and the hair. In fact, oleic and linoleic acid penetrate and moisturise the scalp, keeping the lining of the hair cells soft and supple.

The non-greasy quality of Shea butter oil makes it an excellent moisturiser for hair, as it softens dry, brittle hair while repairing split or damaged ends.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil unclogs hair follicles and nourishes hair roots. It also prevents and treats dandruff, and is a great natural choice for cleansing hair because it doesn't cause dryness or damage. It also stimulates and increases blood flow to the scalp, improving the state of the hair follicles and promoting faster hair growth.

It is important to understand that this oil is very potent and must be used sparingly. This oil should not be applied directly to the scalp, but used with carrier oils like almond or coconut oil.

In conclusion

In hair care, the first thing to consider is the hair type; The oils that are perfect for someone else might not be good for another person. The idea is to try all kinds of oil and experiment until you find what works for you.

Also, it is best to use only minimally processed, high-quality oils. These kinds of oils maintain their natural levels of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. They have no non-natural or chemical ingredients or additives.

Finally, it is important to read labels. Even though the product touts itself as all-natural and great for natural hair, it is advisable to read the labels to ensure that there are really no unnatural ingredients or hidden chemicals in the product. This is because some hair oil brands that claim to be ‘natural‘ use unnatural ingredients such as additives or perfumes.