by Cassandre of cassandrebeccai.com
I’ve got a thing for quality oil mixes since learning that a myriad of hair issues can be mended with just the right oily potion. It takes a little experimenting to come up with your own ride or die, holy grail mix, but once you do, the difference it makes could mean a few extra inches of retained length per year.
Here are some of my favorite, personal oil mixes and how I use them to achieve maximum length retention.
Brilliant Sealant
This recipe contains some of my favorite mix of oils for shine, anti-frizz and moisture. It also has impressive occlusive properties similar to a silicone oil mix except there’s no silicone in it. Castor oil is a rather unique oil, boasting of unique fatty acids and similar “humectant” qualities of the well known vegetable glycerin. With a base of castor oil and the oil/wax like characteristics of jojoba that mimics our own scalp’s sebum, you’re bound to experience an intense moisture, making for an amazing length retaining potion.
In a small glass bowl mix the following oils.
1oz castor oil
1 oz jojoba oil
½ oz grapeseed oil
½ oz vegetable oil (yes. Vegetable oil)
Stir until they appear to be a homogenous mix.
I use this oil mix immediately after washing my hair and follow up with a leave in. It’s done wonders with keeping my hair moisturized for a good week. I also use it on my baby girl’s hair and find that her hair stays soft for days.
Amla Be Rich
Amla oil is produced from a combination of the fruit (amla aka gooseberry) with any base oil or butter. Amla’s pH is perfect for reviving your curl and helping to calm a scalp issue. Combined with ultra fatty oils it can really boost your moisture retention, which eventually spells L-E-N-G-T-H for your strands.
In a small pot, combine these ingredients on low heat.
4 oz cocoa butter
2 oz coconut oil
2 oz almond oil
2 tbs amla powder (dried amla fruit)
Stir mix while on low heat. Remove from heat after 15 or so minutes. To get a really rich infusion, leave the amla in the oil overnight or for a week. Strain the amla powder with cheesecloth.
I use amla enriched cocoa butter and coconut oil as an extra luxurious hot oil treatment. Leave it on your hair for as long as you wish. I get the best results on freshly washed or clarified hair. Check out my how to video here.
Ditch Your Itch
I’m convinced that poor scalp health can halt any “long hair don’t care” aspirations of most naturalistas and this particular oil mix right here has been used by so many of my clients and friends to help with their scalp situations. I recommend seeing a dermatologist about on going scalp issues and even though I’ve had no adverse reactions from using the oils in this recipe, they are strong so experiment at home at your own risk.
The base oil of this mix is neem oil. Neem oil is a natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-viral, and anti-bug (such as lice) remedy. It’s also uber potent so if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant consult your doctor about using it topically. When you combine this oil with rosemary essential oil, you get a very powerful (albeit, also very stinky) oil mix for your scalp.
Combine in a glass bowl
2 oz organic neem oil
6-8 drops rosemary essential oil
Neem doesn’t sting at all, and it feels like a very fatty type oil (kind’ve like olive oil), but you should do a little skin test on a hidden part of your body just to make sure you won’t have any adverse reaction to this potent mix at least 24 hours before applying a few drops to you scalp. You can also dilute the neem oil with another oil (1:5 ratio). I strongly recommend diluting it if you already know you have sensitive skin.
Once you’ve established that you won’t break out in strange hives from it, apply just a few drops to the troubled areas on your scalp. Massage it in and let it sit for an hour or so. Rinse it off with a water and apple cider vinegar mix or follow up with an anti-itch or anti-dandruff shampoo. Do this weekly for a few weeks. Stop using this mix if you find that your symptoms increase or you experience a negative reaction.
Can you share your home oil mixes that make a notable difference in your hair’s health and length retention?
