A hair oil treatment has become a world trend. It is quick, comfy, uncomplicated and – most of all – effective. This cosmetic treatment has an old tradition and has been ruling in the Asian countries for ages. Hands down, beautiful hair of Indian women proves the full range of benefits delivered by natural oils and oiling. What does the right hair oil treatment involve? How to choose the most suitable oil for your hair type?

What is the hair oil treatment?

Oiling is a hair repairing treatment that derives from the Ayurvedic philosophy of beauty and health. It is both uncomplicated and extremely effective: it involves spreading an appropriate oil on the scalp and hair – from the roots to the very tips. It gives the best benefits when mixed with a gentle scalp massage, increasing the blood circulation and stimulating the bulbs to work. After the complete treatment, the oil should be washed off, preferably with a paraben-free and non-comedogenic shampoo. What benefits will your hair get thanks to applying hair oils regularly?

Hair Oil Treatment – Benefits

• hair becomes nourished and reinforced
• -an inner hair structure is being fixed
• hair bulbs are stronger (strands grow faster and don’t fall out in excess)
• hair is protected against damage
• the condition of the scalp is improved
• hair regains bounce and smoothness
• hair is soft and shiny (the gelatin lamination treatment effect)
• a hairdo gets volume
• hair receives heat protection

Hair Care with Oils – why is it so effective?

The secret of this kind of hair care and its astonishing effectiveness lies in the structure and composition of natural oils. They make up a treasure trove of vitamins, minerals, phytosterols and flavonoids which are essential for keeping hair in shape.

There’s more, though. Among other substances, oils stand out thanks to the molecules of essential fatty acids; they are extremely important: enhance the regeneration and protect hair from bulbs to tips, upgrading its looks at the same time. The type and size of molecules in fatty acids depend on a type of an oil. It is the key info because these molecules must ideally go along with the hair type – the only way to get the maximum benefits.

Oils, which match the hair type, are unmistakable – it is an on-point hair care which ensures reconstruction and reinforcement of hair from the very roots. This is what makes for the exceptionalism and extreme effectiveness of oils – they repair the hair when the power of every mask or conditioner fails. They are versatile. Their action isn’t just superficial. In this way, they are able to solve out the most crucial hair-related problems.

Hair oil treatment looks simple in theory – it is even simpler in practice. Choosing a suitable oil is the key to successful treatment. ‘Suitable’ – matching the size of the gaps in the external keratin cuticle layer which decide about the hair condition.

The criterion, which defines this size, is known as hair porosity. Simply put, to work the most efficiently, an oil must match the hair porosity type.

What is hair porosity?

We’ve already mentioned that hair is built of keratin scales that are located on the hair stem. They overlap, creating tiny, microscopic tiles which raise to a different degree. Highly-raised cuticles mean damaged and ‘vulnerable’ hair. Hair porosity defines the size of gaps in the cuticle layer and classifies hair in relation to the degree of damage.

In the light of this, it seems obvious that the bigger the gap in the hair cuticle layer, the bigger number of harmful substances get inside the hair. It is exposed to damage and cannot keep water inside – consequently, hair is dry and brittle. On the other hand, hair, which has tightly-closed cuticle scales, is smooth and shiny, more resistant to damage but its care is challenging: it quickly loses bounce and volume, most products weigh it down. That’s why each of the three types of porosity requires different hair care and substances which are made up of molecules filling the gaps in the cuticle layer. Only natural oils are able to make it.

3 types of hair porosity – characteristics

The porosity-related division of hair types isn’t complicated. There are 3 categories (types) of porosity. They are enough to recognize, categorize and choose the suitable hair care for our hairdos. What are the three types of hair porosity?

• low porosity hair – keratin cuticle scales are tightly bound together; this hair type is heavy and thick, often oily. It’s flat, lacks body; picking a hair product which won’t weigh hair down is a challenge.
• medium porosity hair – it is not damaged yet its condition is somewhere between low and medium porosity – its appearance depends on the hair care routine. The cuticles on the hair stem are slightly raised. A new conditioner or a change of a season can make hair frizzy, dull or falling out.
• high porosity hair – dry and damaged, often brittle, lacking vitality. Keratin scales are highly raised. High porosity hair care is a non-stop battle for restoring the hydro-lipid barrier and improving elasticity. How so? The molecules of products and water cannot ‘nest’ under the highly-raised cuticles for long.

How can you define your hair porosity?

Most women know how to define the state of their hair after just reading the description of each porosity. To get certainty and make sure you’ve made the right choice, do a hair porosity test – answer a few questions about your hair condition and care routine. Defining the porosity of your hair lets you pick the right type of oils and perfectly match the size of their molecules with the keratin hair structure.

Types of oils – how to choose the best one?

Natural oils come in three groups and each one works for a different hair porosity. This synergy of molecules and hair structure delivers a high-end hair care. Oils are divided considering the size of molecules that they are built of. The division is as follows:

• penetrating oils and butters (coconut oil, palm oil, babassu oil, cupuacu butter) – the ones made up of tiny molecules. Saturated fatty acids prevail, ideally matching the structure of low porosity hair.
• semi-penetrating oils (argan oil, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, maracuja oil) – they have bigger molecules and are built of omega-7 and omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids. They ideally match the medium porosity hair.
• non-penetrating oils (evening primrose oil, avocado oil, cottonseed oil, black seed oil) – their molecules are big enough to care for high porosity hair. They are built of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Hair oil treatment step by step

You have learned the porosity of your hair and picked the appropriate group of oils? Time for hair oiling. To make it run smoothly, just follow simple instructions:

1. Comb your hair out (if there’s too much sebum or styling product build-up – wash it first).
2. Take an oil which suits your hair porosity.
3. Start applying an oil – first, fully cover the scalp; then, apply it to the lengths, focusing on hair ends (usually the most damaged hair part).
4. Wrap the hair in a towel or put on a cap (to warm the skin up and intensify the work of oils).
5. Leave the oil in hair for minimum half an hour (you can even go to sleep with the oil in and wash your hair in the morning – oils will have the whole night for repair).

Hair structure – the degree of porosity – is the key to the proper hair care. A blend of precisely selected natural oils gives the best care, cooperating with the hair type. They make up the strongest weapon in the battle for beautiful hair.