Great hair care products are designed to help style, create manageability, and promote healthy hair growth. When choosing natural hair care products, you’re guaranteed to find at least one natural oil or butter to aid in moisture retention and reduce scalp dryness and irritation.
That’s why earlier this year it was so controversial that some hair experts expressed concern with the use of hair butters and oils. The concerns mentioned were that “oil and water don’t mix” and that the use of them locks moisture out and “dehydrates” the hair.
With a variety of natural hair products on the market that include natural butters and oils, the question still remains; are hair oils and butters bad for natural hair?
THE PURPOSE OF HAIR BUTTERS AND OILS
The most common hair butters used in our favorite natural hair products include shea butter, mango butter, even cocoa butter. Although there are many more butters less commonly used, their purpose and use all depend on their properties. For example, these butters come with important hair benefits:
Shea Butter:
· Contains essential fatty acids that create shine and reduce frizz
· Healing properties that reduce inflammation of the scalp
· Penetrates the hair shaft easily
Mango Butter:
· Rich in vitamins A and E
· Regenerates the hair and scalp
· Softens dry hair and reduces breakage
Cocoa Butter:
· Adds volume and strength to fine hair
· Prevents hair breakage
· Restores oils lost due to chemical processes
The same holds true for natural hair oils. Each one provides a plethora of benefits including hair manageability, increased elasticity, strengthening of the hair, growth promotion, relief from scalp irritation, prevention of split ends and are also known to protect the hair from heat damage. Some of the most common hair oils you are most likely using right now are:
· Argan
· Almond
· Coconut
· Grapeseed
· Jojoba
· Olive
· Peppermint
· Safflower
As you can see the overall use of natural butters and oils in natural products aid in moisture retention, condition the hair for manageability and offer health promoting nutrients to the scalp and hair.
WHAT WORKS
Prior to being diagnosed with Seborrheic Dermatitis, I spent time away from oils. I was following the advice of my hairdresser at the time. She explained that due to the natural oils(sebum) that our scalp produces, little to no additional oil was really needed.
After staying away from hair oils, I noticed that my scalp dryness and irritation quickly grew worse, and my hair had difficulty holding moisture. It wasn’t until I found the right products with the right hair butters and oils that I started to see relief from scalp irritation and hair dryness.
I quickly concluded that what my hair needed was the right amount of nutrients through certain hair butters/oils, not necessarily the absence of them.
ARE HAIR BUTTERS/OILS GOOD FOR NATURAL HAIR?
Hair butters and oils aren’t created equal, and neither are hair types. When using hair butters and oils it’s important to use them the right way. When using them keep mind:
DO:
· Use your natural butter or oils after applying a leave-in conditioner to seal the cuticle
· Use your hair butter or oil on your ends to prevent split ends and breakage
· Use your hair butter and oil to extend the life of your style and create smooth defined curls
· Use hair oils directly to scalp to treat chronic scalp dryness and irritation
DON’T:
· Don’t use too much at one time.
· Don’t mix hair butters or oils with other harsh un-natural ingredients such as silicones and sulfates. This works against the original purpose of the natural product.
· Don’t keep your natural hair butters and oils longer than directed. They will lose their effectiveness.
Before deciding if hair butters and oils are right for you, consider the needs and condition of your hair. Even your hair’s porosity can play an important role in choosing the right products containing natural butters and oils.
Focusing on products that contain hydrating ingredients first will ensure that whichever natural butter or oil you follow up with will work to seal in as much moisture as possible rather than seal it out.
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