When it comes to maintaining your curly hair, you may be seeing lots of products bombarding the market touting all sorts of ingredients. Especially when it comes to the sheer number of natural hair oils, it can be confusing to know which one may work best for your hair. What oil should you be using on your hair strands? Use this guide to find out.

To give you a brief introduction on hair oils, there are a couple main types of oils you’ll come across: carrier oils (vegetable/nut/seed derived oil, usually odorless, can be used alone or used to transport or “carry” the scent and properties of an essential oil) and essential oils (highly concentrated scent, contain specific therapeutic benefits, normally extracted from plant sources and diluted with carrier oils).

Coconut Oil

• Penetrates the hair shaft
• Protects hair against protein loss
• Can be used by all hair types
• Great for pre-poo treatment

Olive Oil

• Conditions hair
• Seals moisture in
• Great for hot oil treatment
• Great for pre-poo treatment
• (May be too heavy for those with fine hair)

Castor Oil

• Seals moisture in
• Heavier oil great for tighter coils
• Helps regain thickness around thinning hairlines (Traction Alopecia)
• (May be too heavy for those with fine hair)

Special Note: Another popular variation is Jamaican Black Castor Oil. This less refined version can be used to encourage hair growth as well as protect and seal your ends.

Grape Seed Oil

• Super light, moisturizing
• Increases manageability
• Strengthens each hair strand
• Combats dry scalp and dandruff
• Works as a natural heat protectant

Special Note: Grape seed oil can be used as a thermal agent up to 425 degrees when blow drying or flat ironing. Apply a bit throughout the hair before applying heat to give your hair added shine and protection.

Resources:
5 Ways Coconut Oil Can Prevent Hair Damage via Natural Hair Rules

content courtesy of naturallycurly.com
photo courtesty of oliveoilexplorer.com