Benefits Of Natural Oils To the Hair.

Since my journey to growing out my natural hair and letting go of all the chemicals, most especially the relaxers and all cant help but wonder if i am making the right decision because my hair falls into the very hard strong kinky class in which every journey to the saloon is always a very painful experience due to the hard nature of my hair, my darling hair maker recommending all manner of shampoos, head towel, hair organics products all with the intention of making it soft and easy to comb.
 I recently read about some natural oils online which can actually help with the transitioning, since this blog contains some health tips, i decided to share the importance and benefits of some oils which i know are easy and can be easily gotten on this side of the continent( Nigeria).

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil has a number of benefits and uses and its use in hair care is one of its most important benefits. It is an edible oil that is extracted from the avocado fruit pulp and has a sweet and nutty aroma. It has a light texture that makes it easy to soak into the scalp and skin. Use of avocado oil for hair can help deal with a number of hair related problems like hair fall, thinning hair and dandruff. Avocado oil is also being used in many hair and skin care products because of its beneficial properties.



Ways In which this Oil can be used on Natural Hair is Broken down into the following


1. To enhance a moisturizer. Monounsaturated oils may readily penetrate into the hair strand [1].  Additionally, oils with a slight polarity tend to have an affinity for the cortex [2].  Because avocado oil  has these two characteristics, it may easily penetrate into the cortex of the hair strand, which few oils can do.  Thus, it has the potential to enhance your current moisturizer.  Try mixing the oil with your store-bought product or into your homemade whipped butter.
2. As a carrier oil.  Avocado Oil penetrates the skin fairly easily when compared to some oils, such as olive or almond [3].  It is also moderately low on the comedogenic scale ).  Because of these qualities, it can make a great carrier oil for your essential oils.
3. To moisturize your scalp.the oil  is nothing like other oils which leave a greasy film on the surface of the skin.  It readily melts into the epidermis, thus making it a useful option for moisturizing a dry scalp.
4. To add slip to a deep conditioner.  Not all deep conditioners have a natural slip and this can be annoying for some naturals.  Try adding Avocado oil which has just the right consistency to create the lubrication you need.  Additionally, since avocado oil  might readily penetrate into the hair shaft, you may have an added bonus of increased elasticity!
5. For an enhanced pre-poo treatment.  For the same reasons as stated in #1 and #4, you may want to try incorporating avocado oil into your pre-poo treatment. Mix it with your favorite conditioner or with other oils, like coconut oil, which has been shown to protect the hair from damage due to swelling and de-swelling during the washing process [1].
6. For finger detangling.  Many oils generally make great natural detanglers. avocado oil  in particular, can lubricate and create slip without a super greasy feel.  This not only means less damage while detangling but also less of a greasy mess!  Use it alone or mix it with other oils, if you like.
7. As the ‘O’ component of your L.O.C. method. The ‘O’ (or oil) component of the L.O.C. method consists of using an oil that will later be sealed by a cream (the ‘C’ component).  It is ideal to use an oil that can penetrate into the cortex rather than just sit on the cuticle layer.  avocado oil  may be what you need!
8. Or as the first ‘O’ component of your L.O.C.O. method. The first ‘O’ (or oil) component of the L.O.C.O. method is a penetrating, or moisturizing, oil.  Again, avocado oil may be what you need here.  (This is to be distinguished from the last ‘O’ component in the L.O.C.O. method, which stands for a heavier “sealing oil” that provides a barrier against moisture loss. An example is castor oil.)
9. On your ends before undo-ing twists or braids.  Prior to undo-ing your twists or braids, it helps to apply an oil to the ends of your hair in order to ease the process and minimize breakage. avocado oil  is great because it is non-greasy and has a faint (rather than strong) scent.  It provides the lubrication you need without impacting your hairstyle.
10. To enhance a “cheapy” conditioner.  Do you have a cheap conditioner that could use a little more slip and moisture? avocado oil  may be the answer.
11. To massage your edges.  For those who are in need of a good massage oil for your edges, I would highly recommend avocado .  (jojoba oil  is ideal but it is relatively expensive. avocado oil s a great substitute.)  Again, it penetrates the skin without leaving a greasy film and is not as comedogenic (or clogging) as coconut oil  for example.  That could mean less forehead acne!
12. To refresh a style.  There are two great benefits to using avocado oil for refreshing a style: 1) it will not harden the style (like coconut oil  can do on a cold day for some naturals) and 2) it can provide a bit of shine without weighing down the hair (like castor oil does for some naturals).  A little oil also goes a long way.

To Be Continued.