Oiling hair is an integral , if not almost compulsory part of most natural hair routines. However, not every natural will religiously oil their hair on a daily basis. Daily hair oiling, however could be beneficial for some as:
1. The extra oil layer will help to block moisture loss from hair (J Cosmet Sci, pp 135-145 2007).
2. If you use a penetrative oil like coconut oil, you will have hair that is more resistant to breakage during daily styling or washing (J Cosmet Sci, pp 203-208, 2011).
3. Oil can enhance hair’s feeling of softness.
How to Oil Hair Daily
There are three main ways that you can choose to oil your hair on a daily basis:
– An excess of oil applied to hair overnight which is washed or rinsed off the next day
– A small amount of oil applied to dry hair at the tips (last 3 inches or so)
– A small amount of oil applied to hair as part of a daily moisturizing routine involving water or a water based product as well.
Is Daily Oiling For You?
1. Aesthetics
I could literally dip my hair in a bucket of oil, wipe off the excess and my hair would not look oily even if it is. However, this is not the case for everyone. If your hair looks greasy or becomes more difficult to handle when oily, daily oiling may not be for you. You may certainly still try it paying attention to really using as little oil as possible.
2. Scalp Issues
If you have scalp issues such as dandruff or a generally sensitive scalp, daily oiling may not suit you. There are certain oils such as tea tree or neem oil which may help but in general, most natural oils are not suited to be applied to the scalp if it is sensitive. If you are able to apply a small amount of oil just to the tips of hair and it proves not to irritate, this is perfectly acceptable.
3. Daily Exerciser
If you are active and choose to also wash your hair daily after sweating it out, daily oiling really could make a huge difference to your hair. One study has shown that hair damage and breakage was significantly reduced by pre-shampoo oiling of hair compared to using shampoo alone. The subjects in this study washed their hair daily over a 16 week period (J Cosmet Sci, pp 203-208, 2011). You may have already guessed that coconut oil was the oil of choice in this study too.
Ladies, do you oil your hair every day? Why or why not?
