I understand there are some products I just can’t afford. So, I look for the least expensive way to go. Nothing wrong with that. However, when I make that choice, I also realize I will not be getting the quality, nor the results, as I would with a product created to address my individual hair needs.
So…the summer heat is coming round the bend. That means beach time, pool time, tennis time, cook-out time, and sooooo many other times of being in the moisture-sapping sun rays, as they beat down on your smooth, shiny, protected hair strands of last season. You know that season I’m talking about. The “stay behind closed doors and don’t come into contact with people, season.” The season where EVERYTHING was protected. Mostly…
Now it’s time to whip out the oils! Right? But, WHAT oils? Is there a difference? Do I HAVE to buy your expensive oil made exclusively for what the sun is going to rob me of? Pssst….Please understand I am not trying to sell you my silicone-free Dream Oil, nor my leave-in styling conditioner, Dream Cream, even though they would keep your hair looking like a goddess’ hair. Especially in the upcoming “fun-in-the-sun” days.
Let’s do a little Fact vs. Fiction. Hang tight. Surprises are coming your way…
1) FICTION: Coconut Oil is moisturizing. FACT: Moisture comes from water and nothing else. Oil and water do not mix. There is no moisture in cooking oil. While hair might feel soft after its application, just like a candle might feel soft, we all know you’re not feeling the wick, but only the stuff coating it. The wax…
2) FICTION: Your hair gets macro-nutrients from oil. Think protein, fat, carbohydrates. FACT: The only macro nutrient in oil is fat (also contains triglycerides, sterols, fatty alcohols, phosphatides), which the hair cannot use, and would require a digestive process to extract them that hair lacks the capability to do.
3) FICTION: Your hair gets micro-nutrients from oil. Think vitamins and minerals. FACT: The only micro-nutrients in oils are fat-soluble vitamins. The hair would need to have some process of adding its own fat (not a real thing) in order to make those vitamins available. The amount of vitamins available in oil would hardly be worth the effort, even if your hair could get to them.
So, what’s the answer then? How are you to keep your luscious locks looking, um…luscious?
The best thing to do for healthy hair is to use quality, professional products. Non-coating (non-silicone infused) products. “But if it says ‘organic’, then that’s good, right?” If your hair is still organic, it might be. Have you altered it in any way? Or have you ever used non-organic products, chemicals, or heat? You get the picture…
Putting fat on your hair accomplishes nothing, with maybe one messy exception. There are better ways of moisturizing your hair than to add a moisturizer, then seal it in overnight with a tiny amount of oil, just to wash it out the next morning. And your pillowcase, and possibly your sheets.
One rule of thumb is this: If you can use a product to cook a meal with, don’t use it on your hair. Coconut Oil, Vegetable Oil, and even Olive Oil, are all made for cooking. Please. Please don’t put any of these oils in your hair before blow drying or even ironing. Unless, of course, you are into the messy, the spiky, the broken. My hair dryer varies between 320 and 340 degrees at the tip. With oil and heat, you can fry an egg at just 130 degrees. That’s not a good combination, wouldn’t you agree?
MEMO #1: Coconut oil (and most cooking oils) can cause protein build up, blocking your hair from much needed moisture which makes your hair even drier, stiffer and less elastic. It’s just not refined enough to absorb into the hair, so it attaches itself to the cuticle, causing build up. Therefore, using coconut oil as a hair mask can actually make your hair drier, brittle and more damaged than it was before!
MEMO #2: ProRituals Dream OIL (ah…here it is! You knew this was coming), has been formulated and processed for the structure of the hair, helping to prevent damage caused by free radicals. AND…if you cocktail it (pair it up) with the Dream Cream, it will control all your texture and frizz! What?! Yep!!! All while sealing down that sweet protective cuticle. Bonus: It’s silicone free! No build up of moisture confining oils here, ladies and gents. BUT…I’m not trying to sell you any of these miraculous products. (HINT: I do keep them in stock, however, should you tire of the cooking oils. You can even order them on this website! If you want…). 😘😬
Your comments are always welcome. If you think me wrong, please provide some real science and not what some educator told you, or some Google advertisement. I’m not trying to belittle any of you that have been duped into thinking cooking oil is a bonus for hair strands.. Hey! Even I took the bait, long enough to see I needed to find some truth about oils. Just trying to get us all on the same credible page.
Give me some feed back. I welcome it!
