The best hair oil for your hair type and how to use them

We are always advised to add hair oil to our hair care routine but what hair oil is the best for you? Keep reading to find out the best hair oil for your hair type and porosity, and how to optimize them to them fullest.

What are the types of hair oil

Hair oils can either be made from aromatic leaves and flowers or plant seeds and nuts. And these oils can either function as a moisturizer or a sealant

 • Moisturizing oil vs sealants

Just as the name suggests, moisturizing oils sink deep within your strands to nourish them from within while sealing oils coat your hair to seal existing moisture within your strands.

Note that if you use a sealing oil to moisturize your hair, you will be trapping in dryness rather than hydrating your hair.

• Carrier oils vs. essential oils

Carriers oils are gotten from the seeds and nuts of plants. They usually have no fragrance and are non-volatile. Some examples of carrier oils are grapeseed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil.

Essential oils are derived from the aromatic leaves and flowers. They are highly volatile and concentrated. Some examples are; lavender oil and lemongrass oil.

Because of the high concentration of essential oils, they cannot be used raw on your scalp. It can cause irritations and burns. Instead, it should be diluted with a carrier oil before use or applied as a pre-poo to be rinsed off after.

How to use hair oils

Hair oils are a great addition to your hair care regimen. And they can be used in different ways

1. As a pre-poo before shampooing your hair

2. As a mask

3. As an oil rinse

4. As a moisturizer twice every week

5. As a softener for tangles 

6. As a hair oil treatment 

The best way to use your hair oils depend on the needs of your hair and what works best for it. But for all hair types and conditions, hair oils should be used in their liquid form and when your hair is damp. Oils are emollients i.e, they cant work successfully without water. So it is necessary to refresh your hair with moisture by either spritzing your hair with water or washing your hair. To prevent clogging, don't pour oil directly onto your hair. Spread it between your palms and work through your strands before massaging it into your scalp.

What is the best hair oil for you

The best oil for your hair is dependent on your hair density, type, and porosity, with more emphasis on your hair porosity. 

Hair type 

The major determinant of your curl pattern is your follicle shape i.e, how your hair grows out of your scalp. Round follicles produce straight hair while oval-shaped follicles produce wavy or curly hair. Flat-like follicles produce oily hair. So, the best hair oil for your hair type would be one that maintains your curl pattern.

• Best hair oil for wavy hair

The best hair oils for wavy hair are lightweight oils that don't weigh down on your soft waves to deform them and are easily absorbed into your hair. 

Lucky for you, your natural oils are not restricted by spirals – so they easily coat the entire length of your hair. Invest more in hair oils that seal existing moisture like jojoba oil. 

To moisturize your hair, try argan oil. Argan oil functions at a cellular level and is easily absorbed into your strands.

How to use jojoba and argan oil for wavy hair

Since wavy hair does a good job at preventing dryness on its own, you don't have to oil your hair frequently. Applying oil daily will only make your hair greasy and in the end, cause product buildup.

Argan oil: For wavy hair, use argan oil as a hair mask before shampooing and conditioning your hair. Rub 6-10 drops of argan oil against your palms and work it down the lengths of your hair first. Use 3 drops to moisturize and massage your scalp. Put your hair into a shower cap and leave for 15-30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning your hair.

Jojoba oil: Dry your hair with a microfibre towel and blowdry after sealing the moisture with jojoba oil.

Best hair oil for curly hair

Curly hair has spirals that restrict its natural hair oils from coating the entire lengths of its strands. This increases the chances of it drying out and experiencing shrinkage. The twist and turns of curly hair make it more prone to matting and hair breakage. This is why moisturizing oils are very important for curly hair, especially small amounts of heavy oils like avocado oil and olive oil.  

Hair oil blends are equally great. 

Pro-tip; Blend light and heavy oil. The lighter oil thins out the heavier oil, so you don't have to fear the weight.

How to use olive oil and avocado oil for curly hair

Olive oil: You can massage olive oil into your scalp with a scalp massager twice every week or use it as a prepoo deep treatment. Rub a generous amount on your hair and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off as usual.

Avocado oil: Avocado oil seals moisture into your hair and prevents your ends from damage and split ends. You can use avocado oil as a hot oil treatment or hair mask. Its also a perfect lubricator for detangling and an effective leave in conditioner.

• Best hair oil for kinky hair

The natural oils of coily hair, barely coat the strands of hair because of how "zig-zagged" and tightly packed coily hair strands are. Coily hair requires heavy oils like castor oil to prevent shrinkage. Castor oil is a type 4 hair favorite because it travels along your dense crown to coat your entire strand. 

Before going in with castor oil to seal the moisture in you can use Shea butter to hydrate your hair.

How to use castor oil for hair

For coily hair, castor oil can be used thrice or twice a week to seal in your products. You could also use it as a pre-poo to prevent tangles and lubricate your strands. Castor oil is a deep treatment, so you can use it as a deep conditioner. Rub a few drops of castor oil on your strands first and then massage it on your scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap and then wrap your towel on top. For an extremely deep treatment, leave it overnight but two hours will suffice.

Hair porosity 

Your hair porosity is dependent on the structure of your cuticle. If you have low porosity hair, your cuticles have narrow spaces therefore restricting products from sinking into your strands. If you have high porosity hair, your cuticles have wide gaps and therefore accept moisture easily. 

Best hair oil for low porosity hair

The best hair oil for low porosity hair would be lightweight and should easily sink through your hair cuticles (since low porosity hair strands have cuticles that overlap tightly against each other and are prone to product buildup). Argan oil and olive oil are perfect for moisturizing your low porosity hair. Its lightweight consistency will prevent the oil from remaining on your strand and causing product buildup, especially argan oil because it works at a cellular level.

If you would like a sealing oil, try jojoba oil or grapeseed oil. 

How to use oil for low porosity hair

For the oils to sink into your strands easily, you need to expand your cuticles with heat. Use a heat cap or diffuser after applying your hair oil 

You could also use it as an oil rinse. After you shampoo and condition your hair to drench your hair in oil and keep it in for 10-20 minutes. Rinse off excess oil and dry with a microfibre towel.

Best hair oil for high porosity hair

High porosity hair strands have hair cuticles that overlap to leave wide spaces. Because of this moisture easily penetrates but easily gets out as well. So oil sealants are a must-have if you have high porosity hair. 

To moisturize your hair, we recommend getting oil that adds strength to your hair cuticle. We recommend coconut hair oil. It fills in your cuticle gaps to moisturize and prevents protein loss in your strands. 

Best hair oil for bleached hair

If you have colored or bleached hair, shea butter delivers deep hydration and prevents breakage. 

Pro-tip: Don't use shea butter in its solid form. This may cause clogging. Heat your butter to its liquid state before applying it from your strands first and then to your roots and scalp.

Best hair oil for locs

Locs need nutrient-packed oils that sink deep into their locked strands. The best way to get this type of oil is to blend rich hair oils to get a balanced nutrition-filled serum. 

Best hair oil for extensions

If you did a protective hairstyle with weave the best oils for your hair are oils that have antimicrobial properties. We recommend tea tree hair oil and almond oil. These hair oils will prevent bacteria from causing dandruff, irritations, and inflammation on your scalp. For your extensions, you can use Olive oil or Shea butter to give them shine and elasticity. 

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What hair oil are you getting? Tell us in the comments below!