Hair oiling is by no means a new discovery and has been around for centuries. The benefits of hair oiling are vast and if you can dedicate an hour or so a week to hair oiling, woman, you are in for a treat.
There may come a time in a beauty babe’s life when she looks at her luxurious mane and realises that it’s not quite as luxurious as it once was. Perhaps it’s more brittle or it looks a bit lacklustre. Perhaps there may be a bit of *gasp* dandruff. No need to break out the hats just yet. Hair oiling can fix quite a few problems (Including disguising your split ends. Sometimes we do forget to have our hair trimmed regularly, no?)
There are so many reasons why our hair becomes less-than-lustrous looking. It can be anything ranging from temperature changes, humidity, styling tools, vigorous hair brushing, pollution, hair products to over cleansing. Dry, damaged hair has, sadly, become a part of life. Now there is no need to run amok over having dry hair. It is something that can be remedied. Hooray for hot oil treatments!
Hot Oiling your hair is meant to mimic the natural oils found in our hair (sebum). These oils have a waxy texture to them. This waxy texture is protection from the elements and such, and it’s the reason our hair shines. Frequent washings remove the oils and causes dry hair as well as an overproduction of sebum which builds up within a day or so.
So what exactly are the benefits of hot oil? Well, there are tons, some of which are:
•It can help with dandruff.
•Oiling conditions the scalp and hair.
•Restores lost shine.
•Increases blood circulation and allows the scalp to breathe.
•With scalp massage, hot oiling will reduce hair loss and promote the growth of new hair.
•Oiling grants softer, more nourished hair.
•Oil saturates the hair shaft and in turn leaves behind a thin veil to protect the hair against environmental damage.
•Keeps the moisture content high of the hair.
•Strengthens the hair and prevents it from becoming brittle.
•Temporarily “fixes” split ends (It coats the ends and gives the appearance of split end repair).
Some of the downsides are:
•Hot Oiling needs to be repeated regularly to maintain results.
•Is a temporary fix to hair problems.
•Can be time consuming.
•When making the oil, you need to experiment with the best type of oil for your hair type.
•It can be messy. If you’re keeping it on overnight, do lay an old towel over your pillow before sleep.
•Certain oils can go rancid, so buy only what you need.
Hot oil treatments are a luxury that is easily achieved at home. You can either buy hot oil or simply make your own (which is my favourite method). Common oils for hot oiling are:
•Argan Oil
•Amla Oil
•Coconut Oil
•EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
•Grapeseed Oil
•Sweet Almond Oil
•Sesame Oil
•Jojoba Oil (this is closest in texture to sebum).
Consider this Alberto VO5 Hot Oil Treatment Review
If you’re going to make your own oil, do consider some of the following Essential Oils:
•Rosemary
•Peppermint
•Tea Tree
•Grapefruit
•Rose
Not all essential oils are good for hair though, so do check before buying any.
If, by now, you’re dreaming about the effects of hot oil and what it can do for you, you’re probably wondering “How do I work this magic?” It’s really simple. You need a few things and then to simply follow the instructions and you’re set. You will need:
•Oil of your choosing
•Wide tooth comb
•Old towel
•Hands
•Warm water in a spritzing bottle
•Shower cap
•Warm towel
Method:
1.Heat up your oil in a double boiler or microwave. If you’re doing it in the microwave, please check on it every few seconds. The oil should be BODY TEMPERTURE and not steaming or boiling (obviously).
2.Now, section your hair into 4 parts. Spritz the first part with warm water. Now, pour the oil into your hands and work it into the hair starting at the roots. I like to concentrate the oil in my roots and then work down the shaft of the hair. Make sure all the hair is coated (but not dripping). Do this for all 3 remaining sections of hair.
3.Comb the oil through your hair with the wide tooth comb. Now place your hair in a shower cap and cover with a warm towel. I like to leave my hot oil treatment on for about 2 hours. A half hour to an hour would be fine as well. During this time, relax. Read a book, bake some cookies or do a crossword. Whatever you need to do to relax.
4.When it’s time to wash it out, well, there’s 2 ways you could do this. I prefer to add a very mild shampoo to my already oiled hair and start to wash it. Note that I have not added any water yet. I start shampooing in the roots and then add a bit of water until it starts to see lather. I continue to shampoo until the lather reaches the rest of my hair. Now, it’s the time to rinse. Your hair should feel soft and not tacky. If it’s still a bit tacky, add a bit more shampoo. If your hair feels squeaky clean, you’ve either used too much shampoo or your shampoo is too astringent. The other way to wash it out is to wet your hair first and then shampoo it out as usual.
There you have it, lovelies – How to use hot oil and what it does. Do you hot oil you hair? What is your method and are there any particular hair oils you enjoy using and why?
Article by: Suaad D Artistry http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/suaad-d-artistry
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