Applying the right hair oil (at least a half-hour) before you shampoo your hair allows the oil to soak into your hair shaft and seal that fragile inner layer, making it less likely to get water-logged and therefore less likely to get damaged or break.
Moisturized hair is less likely to break or look dry and frizzy. But too much moisture can make the hair look greasy, limp, and dirty. After several days without shampooing, oil tends to build up closest to the scalp, making any hair around the face look dirty.
Apply oil to hair before shampooing. “Oil on hair will act as a shield to protect hair from the shampoos that can cause hair to become dry,” explains Chabbi. “When you apply oil first, it allows the shampoo to wash and clean the hair, not dry it out.”
“You can oil when your hair is damp or dry, but your hair and scalp have to be clean, or the oil won't have a chance to be absorbed,” says Dr Gupta. For heavier oils like coconut oil, applying it on dry hair is best, as the larger molecules may not penetrate the shaft of wet hair as well it can dry hair.
All that swelling and contracting makes your hair dry, weak, and prone to breakage. A pre-shampoo treatment adds oil back into your hair. Sure, it makes it a little greasier, but that's a GOOD thing. The extra oil reduces the amount of water your hair soaks up during washing, reducing hydra fatigue.
After applying oil to the entire scalp, apply oil to the rest of the hair till the tips. Applying oil to the tips is important as it prevents split ends. Massage the scalp with finger tips (don't use nails) for 10 minutes to improve circulation. Leave the oil for at least an hour before washing it off.
Let the oil penetrate into your scalp for 30 minutes. You can also leave this overnight, but do not leave it on for more than 24 hours as your hair will start attracting dirt.
Benefits of oiling hair
Oils play an important role in protecting hair from regular wear and tear. Oiling hair regularly reduces hygral fatigue , or the swelling and drying of hair. Oils protect the follicle from surfactants by filling the gap between cuticle cells. “Oil helps in scalp health.
Myth 1: Oil your hair to prevent hair fall.
Fact: Oiling doesn't help preventing hair fall, instead it can increase it. Oiling leads to accumulation of dust and oil on the scalp which blocks your hair follicles, hence increasing the fall. It can also give rise to other facial problems like acne.
1) Hair oils promote hair growth:
The dermatologist stated that hair oil promotes hair growth is a pure myth. Oils may nourish your hair but they cannot initiate hair growth. So, if at all, you think that hair oils stop hair fall and promote hair growth, you are wrong.
Oiling your hair 1-2 times a week is enough. Doing it everyday can attract dirt and also strip away essential oils from your hair. Combing, rubbing and vigorously massaging your hair with oil can also cause breakage. So, follow the steps we mentioned and healthy, beautiful hair will follow.
Don't let the oil sit for hours at end
Regular oiling is great and all, but letting it sit in your hair for too long has its own downside. When you keep the oil in your hair for more than six to eight hours, it tends to collect dirt and mixes with your scalp's natural oil.
Use cold or tepid water instead, of hot water when washing hair. Cold water helps to seal the cuticles and reduces moisture loss. Use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, such as those with softening oils that can include sweet almond, Argan, sunflower, and soybean.
Oily hair gets a bad rap, but the sebum your scalp produces is vital to healthy, shiny hair. Despite what shampoo commercials lead you to believe, washing your hair can be a key contributor to a bad hair day. Hair that is completely free of this natural oil can feel coarse and be dull and difficult to style.
The reason is simple, the oil on your scalp is not oil but sebum. The over production of sebum can cause bacterial infection leading dandruff and other scalp problems.
Well, your hair and scalp don't need that much oil. The more oil you put, the more shampoo you need to rinse it out. This can make your hair dry and can also lead to scalp eczema,” she says.
Oils can cause an increase in naturally occurring yeasts that will exacerbate conditions like Seborrheic Dermatitis. Also oils like castor cause an excessive build-up of dirt and which can clog the hair follicles.
Seal in your moisture
The practice of using oils after washing your hair is called sealing; this reduces the rate of moisture depletion. People will use oil as a part of their LOC method to prevent dryness, reduce frizz, and stave off wash day. You can use a pure oil or create your own blend.
In general, it is not recommended to leave oil on for more than 6-8 hours, as that might make things tricky. The oil can attract a lot of dirt, dust, grime and get them to stick to your hair! So, it will take a lot more effort to wash your hair with all this added stuff to wash off.
In addition to being good for your scalp, coconut oil also moisturizes your hair. Since it's easily absorbed, it works better than other oils at repairing dry hair. Keep in mind that coconut oil alone may not be effective as a shampoo to cleanse hair, but as a pre-shampoo treatment, it will condition hair.