7 Surprising Facts About Hair Oils

NOT ALL HAIR OILS ARE CREATED EQUAL

Hair oils can be as deeply repairing as a deep treatment or can be great for touchups or as a styler. It all depends on the ingredients. Rice Bran, for example, is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens the hair fiber and will also help to seal split ends. The seeds from the Sacha Inchi plant are cold pressed to make an oil that reduces breakage.

HAIR OILS WON’T WEIGH YOUR HAIR DOWN

Or at least, they don’t have to. The weighed-down or greasy effect that some people, particularly those with fine or thin hair, associate with oils is typically because they are using the wrong oil or they are using too much. When applying oil, always start with a pea-sized amount and start with ends. Work your way up lengths of your hair, as needed. Whether or not you continue past cheekbones will depend on your hair type and needs. If you’re still seeing or feeling like you’re on the oilier side, look for oils that are lightweight and perfect for fine or thin strands.

IT’S SAFE ON COLOR-TREATED HAIR

Not only are hair oils okay to use on color-treated hair, they can make hair look more vibrant and actually help the color last longer. Superfruit Açai is a powerful antioxidant that protects color-treated hair from fading due to exposure to UV-rays as does Chia Oil, which is rich in Vitamin E. In fact, some hair oils will even help with your color application. Oat oil also helps with fading, but as it is naturally rich in ceramides it reconstructs the cuticle so that, when used before you color, the dye that’s applied to the hair is locked in, and therefore lasts longer and looks shinier.

YOU CAN USE HAIR OILS AS A STYLING PRODUCT

Hair oils add chicness to any hair texture, makes hair look hydrated and can also help keep your look together, making it an especially great styler for braids, ponytails, upstyles and buns. It does this by collapsing the hair and adding more control to strands.

HAIR OILS WORK AS A DEEP TREATMENT

Hair that’s craving hydration is the prime candidate for a hair oil reparative treatment. Use an oil like Shea or Argan before you shampoo. Add to lengths and ends for anywhere from five to twenty minutes depending on your hair needs and then rinse thoroughly. For a more intense treatment, leave on overnight.

ALL HAIR TYPES CAN USE HAIR OILS

Each oil or combination of oils will provide different benefits that are unique for each individual. Some oils, like Argan, are deeply nutritive and work to repair strands from within, while others are more lightweight like Abyssinian and will still add nutrition but won’t weigh down fine hair. It’s important to determine your hair type and needs before choosing a hair oil.

APPLYING A HAIR OIL IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Once you’ve figured out why you’re using a hair oil, applying is easy. Whether you’re applying hair from roots to ends as a deep treatment for dry or damaged strands, or using it sparingly for touchups between washes depends on your needs and hair type. With oils, less is always more. It’s easier to continue to add oil as needed than to remove excess. However, if you do over-apply, don’t worry. Dry shampoo or a texturizing spray can help balance it out.

At Prose, we make a custom hair oil that’s a perfect blend of the just-right oils for your hair type, needs and goals based on your consultation. Click here to shop your custom hair oil.