I'm one of the people who found that oiling the length of my hair was ultimately drying it out and making it crunchy (I was using almond oil). I've read a couple of posts from people who had the same experience, but then found that their hair loved essential oils. I'm going to pick up some ylang ylang and cedarwood oils at the health food store tomorrow, and after I do a 24-hour patch test to make sure I'm not allergic to them, I'm going to try them in my misting bottle with conditioner and distilled water. I'm just curious what the consensus is on essential oils as opposed to regular ones like jojoba and almond oil. Are they better? Thanks!

My answer to this is that it depends. My hair hates regular oils (monoi, jojoba, EVOO, MM Euro). I like rosemary EO on my scalp to keep it from getting greasy too quickly, but I find it to be too drying on the length no matter how I apply it. Lavender or orange EO in a mister with water is nice for scent (after being in a smoky pub for instance) and seems to be moisturizing rather than drying. Straight lavender on both wet and dry hair gives me the crunchies though. I've also tried lavender and ylangylang in a ACV rinse which seems to be moisturizing.

I guess the jury hasn't made a final decision on EOs. :rolleyes:

I tried doing regular oiling and noticed one major thing with it.....my undyed natural regrowth LOVED oil, it was super baby soft after doing a treatment. BUT the rest of my hair of which the majority is coloured that I'm growing out......HATES it. It made it extremely dry & crunchy. I had the same reaction with straight EO's. :?

I did misting with EO/distilled water/conditioner for a few months and found that after oiling this was the one thing that made a huge difference to the condition of my hair, my hair was just drinking in the extra moisture. I now just use the distilled water to damp bun in the morning, which is leaving my hair even softer.

Hmm... how many of you guys who's hair hates oil have your hair colored? With henna or something else? That may be an indicator of how your hair will handle the oil... something to ponder...

My length has been stripped twice, then dyed medium blonde once, and dyed back to my normal medium brown a couple of times. I am trying not to dye it anymore though it doesn't really match my roots... so I'd be one of the "dyed hair hates oils" girls. :) Hmm...

Hmm... how many of you guys who's hair hates oil have your hair colored? With henna or something else? That may be an indicator of how your hair will handle the oil... something to ponder...

You might be onto something there ... although I'm not sure if you can compare henna to permanent chemical dyes as they do totally different things to the hair. But yep, here's a hennaed head that hates oil :)

I read somewhere a long time ago that jojoba is closest to your natural sebum, which should make it appropriate for just about anyone. Maybe one of you ought to start a poll and see if we can come to some kind of consensus. It's an intriguing idea: color/perms interfere with oils? Natural hair likes it?

In my case, I use very light jojoba after I shampoo and can't get by without it, but I have no color or perm.

Interesting question, A.D.

Howdy guys :)

I have permanent color and the remnants of a perm and I truly believe that jojoba was the first thing that really started turning the condition of my hair around for the better. Once I started using it, it was as though the brittleness of my overprocessed hair gave way to pliability and softness - and just overall better texture. I'm sure it was because of other things too, but this chemically treated head loves jojoba. And yes, it is supposed to be very close to natural sebum. I usually do a heavy oiling once a week right before washday and then throughout the week I apply a small amount to the ends - particularly the canopy area where I still have some nasty perm damage left.

Not all oils are the same though and my hair didn't like monoi at all. It gave it the crunchy feel that you guys are referring to. I loved the smell and wanted to like it, but my hair knew better... :) So I've used it as a skin lotion in the summer...

Interesting thread...

Avrilon

Howdy guys :)

I have permanent color and the remnants of a perm and I truly believe that jojoba was the first thing that really started turning the condition of my hair around for the better. Once I started using it, it was as though the brittleness of my overprocessed hair gave way to pliability and softness - and just overall better texture. I'm sure it was because of other things too, but this chemically treated head loves jojoba. And yes, it is supposed to be very close to natural sebum. I usually do a heavy oiling once a week right before washday and then throughout the week I apply a small amount to the ends - particularly the canopy area where I still have some nasty perm damage left.

Not all oils are the same though and my hair didn't like monoi at all. It gave it the crunchy feel that you guys are referring to. I loved the smell and wanted to like it, but my hair knew better... :) So I've used it as a skin lotion in the summer...

Interesting thread...

Avrilon

interesting...the parts of my hair that start feeling plasticky are the colored parts of my hair, when i use oil. i've tried monoi (totally suffocated my hair, but i had more hair that was colored when I tried it) & jojoba. maybe avrilon's having luck because her hair is permed AND colored? :)

I'll start a poll... I'm really curious. Everyone go over there and answer it! :) :P

Essential oils are vrey complex. Their makeup depends on not only the type of EO, but the plants it was extracted from. They can have thousands of compounds in them. It stands to reason that some hair will like some, and others, different stuff.

My hair is colored and it really likes the oils. I did okay with monoi, but it really likes the pure coconut oil I've been using. Also carrot oil and jojoba did well on my hair. I think if the hair is hennaed that would make it difficult for the oil to be effective because henna coats the hair. Just a thought............