Why Long Hair?

Long hair care tips

Oiling Your Long Hair

Filed under: Long Hair Care — Stephanie

One of the problems with long hair is how hard it is for your hair’s natural oils to get all the way down to the ends. You can help your hair feel great with a good conditioner, but oil can be really helpful.

My personal preference is to use jojoba oil. I buy it at my local natural foods store. I like to scent it with a bit of lavender oil too, since I love that scent.

It takes very, very little oil to do the job. My hair copes pretty well with being long, so I find I do best by only oiling the last few inches. If I do much more, my hair shortly looks oily, and that’s not the look I’m after.

I added the lavender oil to the jojoba before using it, right in the bottle.

The thing to remember is that you hardly need any oil at all. Put a drop or two in your palm, rub your hands together and stroke your hair smoothly between your hands. Just on the ends, as I said before. It really doesn’t take a lot.

If you need extra help for all your hair, try oiling the entire length of your hair before bed, and wash it out in the morning. This will give the oil time to soak in.

Of course, jojoba isn’t the only oil that works well. Coconut oil is quite popular, although it has a stronger scent. Some use olive oil straight from the kitchen cabinet. If you aren’t sure about putting oil in your hair, you can start with that, but a lighter oil really is better in the long run.

What does the oil do for you? It keeps your hair moist and flexible, so it doesn’t break so easily. If you want your hair to grow long, that’s vital.

If you do choose add a scent to your oil, make sure it is one that is safe for your hair. Some essential oils are really not good for your hair.

Oiling your long hair is one of those things where you’ll feel the difference in the texture of your hair quickly, but it will take time to see a difference in how long it grows. After all, it takes a long time for hair to grow. But if you’re serious about having really long hair, it’s an easy step to add to your routine.

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5 Comments »

42

Pingback by Brushing Long Hair » Why Long Hair?

November 6, 2006 @ 6:01 pm

[...] Once it’s brushed, you’re free to oil your hair if you like. You can also style with hair sticks or other hair accessories, depending on the look you’re after today. I like to wear my hair up or braided most of the time as it limits the chances for damage. My mother has noticed the difference in how my hair looks when it’s down already - she asked if I had started buying better shampoos, but most of it I attribute to better care! My husband… what can you say except he’s a guy!          [...]

137

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January 25, 2007 @ 4:20 pm

[...] It’s tough to beat this problem. Oiling definitely helps, though. Not enough it seems, at least for my taste, but I’m doing what I can. [...]

Comment by eternalvoyageur

October 25, 2007 @ 9:14 am

That’s the secret of Indian women: they oil their hair and that not only nourishes it but protects it from the sun and the environment as well.

Comment by Gina logan

February 7, 2008 @ 2:44 pm

My aunt’s hair came down past her hips; mine is hdown to my elbows and I intend to grow it at least to my waist (for the second time in my life–I cut it at 25 and started growing it again at 55–I’m 56 now). One of my aunt’s techniques was oiling–she gave herself a hot-oil treatment weekly, using plain olive oil. Warm the oil until it feels warm but not hot. Oil the hair thoroughly and massage the scalp. Wrap the whole head in a towel wrung out in hot water. When the towel cools off, replace it with a dry towel. If possible, do this before bed; in the morning, shampoo and condition. I have been doing this every week and my hair is in the best condition it has ever been, and growing like mad. I also take fish oil capsules (3 per day), which seems to help.

I have to say also that gentle shampooing, every other day at most, is key. If your hair/scalp gets oily, esp. in summer, rinse in between shampoos with a gallon of cool water mixed with two tablespoons of lemon juice.

My hair is light brown streaked with white, naturally wavy, and I usually wear it half up with a rubber barrette (no metal) or a hair stick or comb. I get tons of compliments, even though my hair is not as thick as it was when I was younger, and even though I am clearly a middle-aged woman. My husband loves it!

I have recently found some cool plastic hairpins that have an extra piece in the middle; they anchor a bun very well. I have also been brushing my hair up and coiling it on top of my head with a coated elastic into a topknot (winding the ends around to hide the coated elastic). If you pull a few tendrils out to make some wispy curly bits around the temples and nape it looks very romantic!

If you have the time, you can oil your hair before swimming in a chlorinated pool or in the ocean; just remember to cover your head completely with a bathing cap so that water can’t leak in and oil can’t leak out. The heat of the scalp inside the cap will help the oil to penetrate the hair.

Comment by Tyciol

February 19, 2008 @ 4:03 pm

Voyageuer, I think you are right about it protecting indian women’s hair, however I’m not sure that the oil would ‘nourish’ it. Possibly if it soaks into the scalp it will give nutrients for new hair that is grown, but I’m not sure you can nourish something that is dead, like the hair which has already grown out from the scalp.

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