Over oiling your locs can easily be mistaken for good. For the longest we’ve been taught to oversaturate our scalp with heavy oils and grease like, Wild Growth Hair Oil and Blue Magic (brought you back didn’t I?) whenever our scalp feels dry.
But what if I told you, you’ve been doing it wrong all along?
Yes, oiling your scalp is beneficial for hair growth and dry scalp but it’s how you do it that makes all the difference.
In today’s post we’re going to talk all about how to oil your locs the right way, how often you should oil you locs based on your hair type, and the types of oils to use based on the benefits you’re looking for.
For starters, oil is NOT a moisturizer.
It’s a sealant. Meaning you should only use it to seal in moisture. Our scalp naturally produces oil from its sebaceous glands, helping to condition our scalp and hair shaft on its own. So applying even more oil can cause excessive build up, slowed hair growth, and extreme dry scalp.
So how do you oil your locs correctly then?
After misting your locs with your favorite hydrating mist like; rose water, cucumber water, or whatever mixture you’ve made for yourself, take a dime to quarter size amount of oil and evenly coat your locs along with your scalp.
Now you may be thinking, “what kind of oil should I be using anyways?” Well that depends on what type of benefits you’re looking for.
Related Blog Post: Rose Water vs Plain Water? | Which is Best For Your Locs?
There are 2 types of oils you can use on your locs:
Natural and or Essential Oils.
Natural oils are extracted from plants, seeds, nuts, or fruits that are consisted of vitamins and fatty acids.
Some examples of Natural Oils are:
Olive oil: Rich in vitamin E, increasing hair growth, helping lock in moisture, and nourish the scalp.
Coconut oil: Contains vitamin E, helping to retain moisture back into the hair, prevents hair loss, and gives hair a nice shine.
Almond oil: Is known to make hair follicles strong, decreasing breakage, reduce dandruff, and keep locs moisturized.
Argan oil: Helps prevent extreme dryness, giving hair and scalp hydration, and shine.
Jojoba oil: Helps to remove build in locs, nourishing the scalp, and helping with hair growth.
Castor oil: Decreases the chances of hair follicles breaking, helps with dry flaky scalp, and makes roots stronger. (my favorite!)
Be sure to use 100% organic oils only.
Product Recommendation: Sky Organics | Organic Castor Oil
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from plants that capture the natural fragrance and beneficial properties of the plants.
Some examples of Essentials Oils are:
- Lavender Oil: Promotes hair growth, soothes the scalp, and helps reduce dandruff.
- Peppermint Oil: Stimulates hair follicles, enhances circulation, and can promote a healthy scalp.
- Tea Tree Oil: Has antimicrobial that treats dandruff, soothes scalp irritation, and helps clear clogged hair follicles. (my favorite!)
- Eucalyptus Oil: Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, natural cleanser, and prevents hair loss. (my favorite!)
- Lemongrass Oil: Antibacterial and anti-fungal, regulates sebum production, and anti-inflammatory. (my favorite!)
- Rosemary Oil: stimulates the roots, improves hair growth, helps with itchy scalp and increases circulation in the scalp.
When using essential oils, it is imperative that you perform a patch test first. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Diluting these essential oils with natural oils will help lower the risk and help with absorption as well.
Product Recommendation: Loc Lady Bundle
Includes:
2 oz Lemongrass + Eucalyptus Oil
2 oz Rosewater + Aloe Hydrating Mist
Loc Lady Pouch in Cream
Now that you know the difference between these two types of oils, you can now decide which oils you’ll choose for your hair goal(s) in mind!
4 Best Hair Growth & Thickness Oils:
4 Best Itchy & Dry Scalp Oils:
Learning the ins and outs of these oils are a must to create your tailored oil routine. Finally, this is how to correctly oil your locs for maximum absorption.
How To Oil Your Locs
- Lightly mist hair and scalp; this will maximize absorption and help oil penetrate deeply.
- Take a dime to quarter size amount of oil and apply evenly throughout scalp and shaft of locs.
- Massage oil into scalp. This will help with blood circulation, absorption and promoting hair growth.
- Optional: apply shower cap or plastic bag, and sit under hooded dryer/hand held dryer. The heat will open up hair follicles, allowing for deeper conditioning and hydration, resulting in softer, shinier hair.
Based on your hair needs:
- Dry scalp: 2-3 times a week
- Normal scalp: 1-2 times a week
Related Youtube Video: First Hot Oil Treatment On Locs
Using too much of anything can cause problems overtime. Understanding the right techniques when using oil on your locs can benefit the health of your hair and scalp tremendously.
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click a link and decide to make a purchase I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Youtube and blogging is a stream of income for me, and those purchases help support this channel and my family. Thank you so much.
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