Nourishing Oils For The Hair
Instead of caring for your hair with silicone, you’d better use natural nourishing oils for your hair.
Nourishing oils for the hair should be purely vegetable and never stretched with silicones or mineral oils. Although these are cheap, they have no real caring effect. Find out more about why you should use conditioning oils for your hair rather than cheaper petroleum products.
Nourishing oils for the hair
There are some nourishing oils for hair on the market, but many are based on silicone or other petroleum products. Most of these are waste products from the mineral oil industry, which are sold to us as care cosmetics for expensive money.
Silicones are very popular in hair care products. They hide behind the following names: Cetearyl methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone and Stearoxy Dimethicone.
Silicones are by-products of the petroleum industry and have the only advantage in hair care that they make the hair feel softer and silky in the short term.
However, this is not a real hair care product, as the silicones only cover the individual hair like a layer and do not supply it with nutrients. Due to this layer around the hair, real nutrients can no longer reach the hair and it becomes brittle and dry, and split ends can occur.
With regular use, silicones also weigh down the hair because layer by layer is deposited on the hair. You don’t notice it, however, because the hair feels well-groomed thanks to the silicone layer! Silicones and silicone oils are therefore not nourishing oils for the hair!
How do mineral oils maintain?
Mineral oil-based oils do not contain any fatty acids and therefore cannot go rancid. They are therefore completely undemanding in storage and do not have to be protected from light, heat and oxygen. They are therefore “infinitely” long-lasting and completely uncomplicated, as they do not cause allergies. They are also sold as nourishing oils for the hair.
However, they are criticized for being carcinogenic due to certain ingredients. Some mineral oil-based hair care products contain paraffins. These do not penetrate the skin or hair, but remain on the surface as a “lubricating film”. A care effect is not achieved by oils containing paraffin.
The only advantage of mineral oil-based hair products is their extremely affordable price. But even a low price without a care effect is an unnecessary expense. Mineral oils in the declaration of ingredients are called: Cera Microcristallina, Ceresin, Mineralöl, Mineral Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Ozokerite, Paraffine, Paraffinum Liquidum, Paraffinum Subliquidum, Petrolatum and Vaseline.
Vegetable oils for real hair care
If you really want to take care of your hair, you can’t use synthetic fabrics. A look at the package should therefore become a matter of course before you buy the shampoo, conditioner or hair treatment. Such substances are generally prohibited in natural cosmetics.
If you start to switch from synthetic care products to herbal active ingredients, it makes sense to get a “hair peeling” from the hairdresser, which removes the accumulated silicones from your hair and makes it receptive for real hair care. Natural vegetable oils are a very simple way to care for your hair:
olive oil
The Mediterranean olive oil cares for all hair that has not previously been treated with silicone. Please only work into the ends and lengths of hair and do not massage into the hairline or onto the scalp. Olive oil has a weighting effect on the hairline and “overcare” the hair! Olive oil is ideal for making fine curls pop! Since olive oil can have a coloring effect, it is not suitable for light hair!
castor oil
The oil, better known for its laxative effects, is also suitable for hair care. Castor oil also helps relieve itchy scalps and can be used as an intensive treatment overnight or for at least two hours before washing out with a mild shampoo. Castor oil is traditionally used in Africa to add shine to frizzy hair. Warning: the oil is a bit tough and can discolour light hair!
Rosemary oil
The oil from the needles of rosemary or the brew from it is traditionally used against hair loss. Since rosemary oil is an essential oil, which can cause skin irritation when used on its own, you should mix it with a neutral oil before applying it to the scalp. Sesame or jojoba oil work well as a base
Avocado oil
The high-quality oil from the avocado is not only very effective in skin care, but also helps very well against dry and brittle hair. You can massage it into your hair and scalp as a pure oil as a treatment, but you can also use a pureed avocado as a hair treatment!
almond oil
The almond oil obtained from sweet almonds is tolerated by all skin types and is also suitable for delicate baby skin. It pampers the hair with intensive care and a delicious fragrance. Simply rub on the palms of your hands and work into the ends of your hair.
Jojoba oil
One of the most popular high-quality oils for skin and hair in natural cosmetics is jojoba oil, which is often the basis of so-called “leave-in” products. This means that you don’t have to wash it out, because its texture is very suitable for making curls jump and with its sun protection factor 4 to protect your hair from UV radiation (and also salt water!). An ideal holiday companion for your hair!
sesame oil
In India, where women show the most impressive hair lengths, sesame oil is an all-rounder in beauty care. We also use it as the basis for many hair oils. Sesame oil nourishes intensively and also penetrates deep into the skin. The ideal “all-purpose oil” for skin and hair!
