Miracle Hair Treatment

One of my first posts was: the easy secret for healthy hair. And although I planned on writing the follow up soon after that was published…. I forgot! So, first of all, please forgive me for this mishap of mine. But now, without further ado;

Why You Should Oil Your Hair

For centuries, natural oils have been used to condition hair but that’s no longer common. And maybe it should! Because to truly treat hair, be it from frizz, dullness, heat damage etc, you want something that does more than simply coat your hair and make it shiny. You want it to heal.

That’s where coconut oil comes in! Although moroccan/argan oil became the most known hair oil in recent times… coconut oil is special because it has the right combination of molecular size and shape that not only creates a protective layer on the hair shaft but also penetrates it as well. Convinced? I know I am!

Well, there are 2 ways to give your hair a deep treatment with oil. One is keeping it on overnight, and the other is using it as a pre-wash. It depends on how damaged/dry your hair is – either way it will be beneficial to your lovely locks.

Pre-Wash & Overnight

There is a reason why second day hair is a thing. It’s the natural oils of your scalp that leave your hair shiny and tamed, versus freshly washed hair that because of shampooing can get even more dry than it already was – even with a good conditioner. Which is why pre-wash oiling is so good. Your hair will leave the shower well treated and looking nice!

What about an overnight treatment? Well, research has shown that hair can absorb around 15% of its weight in coconut oil in an hour. But an overnight soak (six hours+) increases absorption to around 20% or 25%! So, like I said, if you need something deeper, overnight is the way to go.

How to apply:

The oil should be lukewarm by slightly heating it – especially important with coconut oil because it can solidify depending on the room temperature.
Make a partition of your hair with your hand and apply the oil to the scalp. Do not just pour oil – using too much oil will mean you’ll need to use more shampoo.
Comb through your hair using a wide-tooth comb. This will not only detangle it but also spread the oil through any hairs that didn’t get treated by your fingers.
Gently massage the scalp with your fingertips – never rub your hair with your palms as it can cause breakage. Massaging is essential as it improves blood circulation in your scalp area besides being wonderfully relaxing. 😉
Now leave it on for an hour or go to sleep. Wrap a towel around your head if you are simply going to be waiting around the house…. but if you plan to sleep with it, what I like to use is a silk sleeping cap. It is very comfortable. Or, you can wrap a scarf around your head and/or protect your pillow with a towel.

Oil at least once a week, but you can go ahead and do it more frequently as fit to your needs.

Tips, tips & tips!

After applying oil to your hair, wrap a hot, wet towel around it for 2 to 3 minutes to get it absorbed in the scalp. But always check the temperature of the towel as too much heat is harmful to your hair.

If you find that your hair needs moisture. Apply oil on damp hair as that will trap moisture into your hair.

Tie your hair up into a bun. This will protect the shoulders and back of your clothing from the oil.

If you find your hair to be too oily or hard to wash. It’s simple! Apply shampoo before you wet your hair. Why? Because water and oil don’t mix and if you don’t want a lot of residue, applying shampoo directly to your oily hair and scalp will allow it to wash and dissolve away more easily. Promise!

After that, don’t wash with super warm water as that will diminish the absorbance and damage your hair. But go ahead and use your regular conditioner – I still consider it a needed care after shampooing.

Don’t want the hassle? Mix a little bit of your conditioner with coconut oil, but only what you will use on that wash as you don’t want to ruin the entire pot of cream by unbalancing its preservatives! Your hair will be softer than if you were to only use the conditioner alone. Make sure the cuticles of your hair are open by using warm water before applying then washing it out with cold water for smoother hair and lasting softness.

For conditioning in general you will want to squeeze your hair dry with your hands before applying anything. Soaked hair doesn’t allow for easy penetration of any product.