Natural Hair Guide 101: Moisturizing Vs. Sealing Oils
Welcome back to another segment on Au Naturale. Today I will be focusing more on hair, rather than the skin care that we have been talking about lately. Yes, we all know it is important to take care of our hair, but how many of us really know what’s best for our particular hair? I can be the first to tell you all that I learn new things about my hair all of the time. So for this article, I want to talk about a topic I most recently learned about! It helped me and I’m sure it can help you all as well. Let’s talk about Oils.
We all have heard that oils are important for moisture, hair growth, etc. However, not all oils are created equal. There is a big difference for example on moisturizing oils and sealing oils. Let me tell you how.
As we all know, moisture for natural hair is our best friend. Why? Well, it is the key to reducing breakage, of course. Now, oils are one of the best ways to fight dryness and keep our hair moisturized. I’m here to tell you which oils are the moisturizing one. “Well, can’t all oils act as a moisturizer?” No! While there are some that can moisturize your hair, the others will sit directly on top of your strands and seal in whatever moisture, or lack thereof, that you have. These are sealants.
Moisturizing Oils:
Moisturizing oils can soak straight into our hair shaft. These are best used with hot oil treatments or as a pre-shampoo. This is how to get the maximum benefits from the moisturizing oil. Similarly, these oils do very well with a water-based leave-in conditioner/ lotion, hair milk, or with simply water itself.
Here are some moisturizing oils you should know:
Coconut Oil – We all know this one! It has amazing antibacterial properties, as well as being antifungal and it’s super moisturizing for hair and skin. It’s said to penetrate the hair better than any other oil. This oil can also act as a sealant if you want it too, making it the best of both worlds.
Olive Oil – I particularly love Extra virgin olive oil for skin and hair. It adds softness, shine, and strength to your hair and would be a great addition to your natural hair routine.
Avocado Oil – This oil is also an amazing one. It is said to be great for those who suffer from dryness due to heat damage and/or environment factors. It’s high in Vitamin E, so it can also help prevent breakage while still leaving your hair smooth. Lighter than olive oil, this oil is awesome as. a pre-poo!
Babassu Oil – Before doing my research, I hadn’t heard of babassu oil before, but after reading up on it, I’m curious to give it a try. It’s a bit similar to coconut oil, however, it’s a bit lighter. It can be very helpful for women who have differing hair types/ porosity levels in their hair.
Sealing Oils:
Sealants are definitely where some of my favorite oils come from. It’s easier to mix and match or find an oil that works the best for you. Here are some of my favorites.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil – Just as coconut oil is a famous moisturizing oil, JBCO is a famous sealant. This oil is a bit on the heavier side, but it softens hair while also helping to draw out the impurities that prevent hair growth. Since it’s a heavier oil, it is also great for thicker hair textures.
Jojoba Oil – Jojoba oil is also a favorite of mine. It adds shine to hair and is lightweight, with a nice smell. It resembles the natural hair sebum that our body makes naturally, which is great. It’s definitely great to seal moisture during a wash day. What’s more, it helps with people who suffer from dry or flaky scalp as it helps restore the pH in our hair.
Almond Oil – Almond oil is another lightweight oil that can bring a lot of shine to your hair. Almond oil is high in protein and vitamin content, such as Vitamin A, B, and E. It also can help improve scalp circulation and hair growth when massaged!
Grapeseed Oil – This oil is extremely lightweight and has the ability to withstand a lot of high heat. It’s best for women with finer or thinner strands since it can seal in moisture on their ends without weighing the hair down.
There you have it. These are the differences between moisturizing and sealing oils, as well as some of the best of the best. I hope this helps guide you on your natural hair journey, as it is helping me with mine! Stay beautiful everyone!
January 31, 2019
AU NATURAL
Natural Hair Guide 101: Moisturizing Vs. Sealing Oils
We all have heard that oils are important for moisture, hair growth, etc. However, not all oils are created equal. There is a big difference for example on moisturizing oils and sealing oils. Let me tell you how.
As we all know, moisture for natural hair is our best friend. Why? Well, it is the key to reducing breakage, of course. Now, oils are one of the best ways to fight dryness and keep our hair moisturized. I’m here to tell you which oils are the moisturizing one. “Well, can’t all oils act as a moisturizer?” No! While there are some that can moisturize your hair, the others will sit directly on top of your strands and seal in whatever moisture, or lack thereof, that you have. These are sealants.
Moisturizing Oils:
Moisturizing oils can soak straight into our hair shaft. These are best used with hot oil treatments or as a pre-shampoo. This is how to get the maximum benefits from the moisturizing oil. Similarly, these oils do very well with a water-based leave-in conditioner/ lotion, hair milk, or with simply water itself.
Here are some moisturizing oils you should know:
Coconut Oil – We all know this one! It has amazing antibacterial properties, as well as being antifungal and it’s super moisturizing for hair and skin. It’s said to penetrate the hair better than any other oil. This oil can also act as a sealant if you want it too, making it the best of both worlds.
Olive Oil – I particularly love Extra virgin olive oil for skin and hair. It adds softness, shine, and strength to your hair and would be a great addition to your natural hair routine.
Avocado Oil – This oil is also an amazing one. It is said to be great for those who suffer from dryness due to heat damage and/or environment factors. It’s high in Vitamin E, so it can also help prevent breakage while still leaving your hair smooth. Lighter than olive oil, this oil is awesome as. a pre-poo!
Babassu Oil – Before doing my research, I hadn’t heard of babassu oil before, but after reading up on it, I’m curious to give it a try. It’s a bit similar to coconut oil, however, it’s a bit lighter. It can be very helpful for women who have differing hair types/ porosity levels in their hair.
Sealing Oils:
Sealants are definitely where some of my favorite oils come from. It’s easier to mix and match or find an oil that works the best for you. Here are some of my favorites.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil – Just as coconut oil is a famous moisturizing oil, JBCO is a famous sealant. This oil is a bit on the heavier side, but it softens hair while also helping to draw out the impurities that prevent hair growth. Since it’s a heavier oil, it is also great for thicker hair textures.
Jojoba Oil – Jojoba oil is also a favorite of mine. It adds shine to hair and is lightweight, with a nice smell. It resembles the natural hair sebum that our body makes naturally, which is great. It’s definitely great to seal moisture during a wash day. What’s more, it helps with people who suffer from dry or flaky scalp as it helps restore the pH in our hair.
Almond Oil – Almond oil is another lightweight oil that can bring a lot of shine to your hair. Almond oil is high in protein and vitamin content, such as Vitamin A, B, and E. It also can help improve scalp circulation and hair growth when massaged!
Grapeseed Oil – This oil is extremely lightweight and has the ability to withstand a lot of high heat. It’s best for women with finer or thinner strands since it can seal in moisture on their ends without weighing the hair down.
There you have it. These are the differences between moisturizing and sealing oils, as well as some of the best of the best. I hope this helps guide you on your natural hair journey, as it is helping me with mine! Stay beautiful everyone!