5 All Natural Hair Hero’s

Hair oil is having a moment right now..arguably it’s been having a moment since Moroccanoil brought Argan oil to the market and had us all throwing out the serum in favour of luxurious hair oils. So what is all of the fuss about and is hair oil worth it? In short, yes. Absolutely. Hair and Oil are the Ying to the others Yang..your hair needs oil so bad that your scalp produces it to keep the your happy.

The only issue is that some of our lifestyle & styling choices mean that the hair isn’t getting enough sebum (your scalps natural oil) to keep it supple and shining, particularly if you like to use heat or chemical processes such as colour on your hair. Depending on how dry your hair or scalp is should help you decide what type of natural oil is best suited to you.

We’ve picked our favorite all natural oils and given a little run down of their benefits so that you can give your hair a treat courtesy of mother nature…

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is magic. It is rich in lovely indulgent natural fats, not great for the waistline but excellent for your hair. The properties of coconut oil protect the hair from heat damage so it’s amazing to slather on if you’re away and out in the sun. It is rumoured to prevent hair loss and can even save your hair from damage by keeping it moisturised and preventing the dreaded brittleness that causes our ends to split. Coconut oil actually stays within the hair instead of evaporating meaning that your hair remains moisturised and shining while being less prone to damage. Mother nature we salute you!

Using it: Avoid the roots of your hair if you’re prone to an oily scalp but if it’s dry then by all means get on in there! Coconut oil is solid but melts easily and quickly in the heat of your hand so once it’s liquified apply it all over your hair and then leave it for an hour or two. An extra tip is to wrap your head in a plastic bag, the heat will help open your hair follicles and aid in absorbing the oil. Once you’ve waited rinse with shampoo and condition as normal. This is an amazing natural remedy on damaged hair if you do it once a week.

2. Argan Oil

We should probably begin by mentioning that ‘Argan’ is a tree. It produces the nuts that secrete the legendary Argan oil that Moroccanoil made famous. You may be seeing a trend beginning to form here with nut oils, because they are rich in natural fats which are perfect for indulging and nourishing your hair. Just like Coconut oil, Argan oil will nourish, moisturise and protect your hair from heat damage. This golden wonder also does amazing things when relaxing frizz and leaves hair uber soft and manageable. We defy you to add it to your hair routine and not be impressed!

Unlike coconut oil, Argan oil is not as greasy or difficult to remove so is perfect as part of your normal hair care routine.

How to use: Apply a few drops to your palms (don’t be too generous or your hair will be weighed down), rub your hands together and lightly spread through the ends of your hair before drying. Shiny.

3. Castor Oil

Now we didn’t want to make it all about the nuts, frankly why would we…So now we’ve found a magic bean which produces a lovely oil known for helping the hair grow through it’s enriching complex of vitamin E & proteins. Go for Castor oil in it’s most natural state, cold and pressed. Old wives say that this magic oil helped slow hair loss and control dandruff (and we think there is truth in this because of it’s anti fungal properties) The old wives weren’t always that far off..

Using it: Castor oil is thick, thick, thick. We’ve chosen it for it’s medicated benefits because its primary magical benefits are to the scalp. This makes Castor oil a great choice if you want to try the natural route rather than medicated shampoos. A carrier oil is best to be mixed with Castor oil because it can be so thick so try mixing with olive oil or coconut oil for a simpler application.

To treat the scalp, apply gently over the whole roots and scalp and sleep in the concoction over night (obviously with a shower cap on to protect your pillows – that oil stain ain’t budging once it has set). When you wake just wash and rinse as usual the next morning. Try using it weekly for a month and see if you see an improvement in a flaky scalp.

4. Almond Oil

Almond oil has a rich supply of vitamins, fats and other health benefits that can make it the perfect remedy for dry or damaged hair. The dense concentration of proteins and vitamins A, B and E help add shine to dull, dry hair while fatty omega acids help to reflect damaging UV rays and protect hair from the sun, deterring the dullness that comes from dryness.

 How to use it:

Sweet almond oil is a natural sealant and can be worked into wet hair to hold in moisture. It is also lighter than many other helpful oils, which makes it an excellent natural resource for leave-in protection. Ideal for people who do not like their hair to be weighed down but enjoy softness and shine.

5. Olive Oil

Olive oil is perhaps the most famous of our five oils for the scope and scale of its acclaimed capabilities whether it be for the skin, hair or the heart! Olive oil is super moisturising and the proof is in its waxy texture which means that when applied to the hair it forms a layer that acts as a wonderful heat protectant. Olive oil will also conceal any split ends with its heavy moisturising make-up weighing them down and sealing them together (temporarily of course)

Using it: Spread a few tablespoons of oil over your hair, (the amount depending on the length and thickness) we’d recommend 2 tablespoons for mid length, medium thickness hair. Follow by wrapping your hair up in a towel to create a warm environment for maximum moisturising potential! After an hour or so wash it all out and follow with your usual routine. Remember that this is a treatment so don’t skip the conditioner straight away..Olive oil is lovely but not an instant hair fix. As with all of our specially selected oils, you need to go a month before you assess any long term improvements. Give them good head start!

Lastly, do keep in mind that oils are greasy. Don’t use too much, otherwise you risk leaving your hair greasy even after washing so always thoroughly wash your hair after treatments. And of course, keep in mind that changes like this don’t happen overnight – give it some time and effort and reap the rewards! 

Or (editor’s note) keep the olive oil for frying and salads and treat yourself to Orifluido or Moroccan Oil , both available in our salons, click here for more!