Quick guide to hair oils

From avocado to argan, oils extracted from nuts, seeds, and fruits can give your hair a powerful healthily boost. Whether you’re dealing with dryness, dullness, or damaged strands, natural hair oils help strengthen your hair and enhance its texture.

One of the most popular natural products for hair care, coconut oil, is loaded with lauric acid (a type of saturated fat). According to scientists, lauric acid found in coconut oil has a rare ability to penetrate inside the hair shaft and, in turn, repair damaged hair.

Argan oil comes from the kernels of a tree native to Morocco. In recent years, this oil has become a beloved treatment for many hair types, including frizzy, coarse, and brittle hair. Praised for its conditioning effects, argan oil is packed with essential fatty acids said to leave hair more manageable.

The seeds of the jojoba plant are high in liquid wax and essential fatty acids found to possess moisturizing properties. Long used in shampoos and conditioners, jojoba oil may help soften and restore luster to dull hair. In addition, it may help treat dry scalp and aid in dandruff control.

Another lighter option, grapeseed oil is a smart selection for people with fine hair. Along with easing frizz, this antioxidant-packed oil may help treat split ends. To prevent greasy buildup, those with especially fine hair should avoid the hair’s roots when applying grapeseed oil (or any oil type).

Although it’s one of the lesser-known oils, baobab oil is a favorite choice among those with curly hair. Sourced from the fruit of the baobab tree (a plant native to Africa), this oil is said to enhance hair’s elasticity, increase suppleness, and add a non-greasy shine.

There are many different ways to introduce oils into your hair-care routine, including:

⦁ Adding a few drops of oil to your shampoo or conditioner
⦁ Applying several drops of oil to the ends of damp hair before blow-drying/styling
⦁ Slightly heating 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil, massaging the oil into your dry hair, then letting the oil sit for a half-hour before shampooing or rinsing with cold water

As a general rule, leave-in treatments are better suited to those with thick or particularly dry/damaged hair, while a pre-shampoo treatment may be more helpful to those with fine hair. To find the technique that’s right for you, experiment with a few different approaches and see how your hair responds.

It’s also important to note that certain nut oils may trigger allergic reactions, especially among individuals with nut allergies.