With the explosion in hair care products for the unique and varying textures of natural hair, it can sometimes be confusing to know what to buy. But today we will get to know the Best 8 carrier Oils Perfect for Natural Hair( 4C hair)
Back in the day, when most products catering to the black hair market contained suffocating ingredients like petroleum, along with cheap additions that did nothing to improve hair’s health, consumers didn’t have much choice.
Due to the rise in a more natural approach to it natural oils have taken over the stage. Oils are an essential component in the hair regimen of a naturalist. From carrier oils to essential oil these products exhibit nourishing properties, which leaves the hair moisturized, stronger, and ready for growth. Some of the ways you could use hair oils include:
- Sealing in moisture
- Detangling
- Pre-pooing
- Hot oil treatments
- Adding to your leave-in conditioner/deep conditioner
- Scalp massages prompt scalp circulation, hence growth
- Post-wash; mixing with water in a spray bottle to help nourish the hair
The following are the 5 best oils a naturalist could use on 4C hair.
1. Black castor oil
While plain castor oil has long been used as a laxative, it’s become more common in hair care too. This one is incredibly thick, so use sparingly; otherwise, your hair will be weighed down and sticky. The pharmacy-grade castor oil has benefits, but Black Castor Oil has really come into its own.
Otherwise known as BCO, this variety gets its dark color and nutty scent from the ash content derived from roasted castor beans. It’s believed that the ash helps with hair growth. Women who swear by BCO say it helped regrow thinning edges and made their hair grow faster overall.
Containing Vitamin E, protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and minerals, black castor oil is proven as one of the best boosters for hair growth. It increases blood flow to the scalp resulting in stronger, longer, and thicker hair. With anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, BCO is the best treatment for balding areas and brittle hair that is prone to breakage. It can also be used by people with high and low porosity hair for hot treatments and prepooing.
2.Coconut oil
One of the most well-known oils that benefit many types of hair, coconut is a favorite because it actually moisturizes tresses. To be clear: most oils do not moisturize the hair. They help to seal in moisture, which should come in the form of water, including water-based products. But the chemical structure of coconut oil allows it to penetrate the hair strands, strengthening and moisturizing it from within.
This carrier oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin E, which help strengthen the hair, decrease breakage and promote hair growth. Due to its low molecular weight, coconut is proven to penetrate the hair shaft a reason why many naturalists use it as a pre-poo.
Pre-pooing is done using coconut oil/Olive oil, before washing the hair to lift up product build-up, loosen the hair strands, remove tangles, and reduce protein loss caused by wet combing. Post wash, it serves as a great sealant to help the hair retain moisture.
Look for organic varieties of this oil,
Best carrier Oils Perfect for Natural Hair(4C hair)
Carrier oils amazon (Buy now )
3. Extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil isn’t just for cooking. This fave may have moved into your bathroom a while ago, while also being useful in the kitchen. Very easy to find, look for extra virgin olive oil, popularly known as EVOO in hair circles, whenever possible. This variety has little processing or refinement done to it, so it retains many of its nutrients. Olive oil nourishes dry scalps; anyone plagued by an itchy scalp may find relief with gentle EVOO massages.
While Extra virgin Olive oil works the same as Coconut oil, some people tend to complain that coconut oil dries out their hair making it brittle. This could be a result of too much hair protein considering that coconut oil also contains proteins.
Therefore as an alternative, if ever your hair doesn’t react towards coconut oil as you desire, Olive oil is recommended as it is proven to penetrate the hair shaft just like its twin, coconut oil. The goal is to always have an oil that you can use for hot treatments, pre-pooing, and hair repair preventing hair damage.
4. Avocado oil
The ultimate moisturizer is rich in monounsaturated Omega-9 fatty acids, amino acids, protein, magnesium, iron, copper, and folic acids. Cold-pressed virgin Avocado oil contains Vitamin A, B, D, and E a reason why it’s recommended for protecting the hair against damage caused by UV rays. This is your hair sunscreen as it is your go-to product for that added shine and luster. Due to its lightweight, it’s good for both low and high porosity 4c hair as it doesn’t weigh down your hair or clog your pores. It also prevents split ends, hair loss, and a dry scalp.
Due to its rich moisturizing properties, adding it to your detangler or conditioner will add more slip preparing your hair for styling and that ultimate definition.
Rich, thick, and nourishing, avocado oil is fast becoming a popular oil in hair care. Used in everything from conditioners, styling products, and DIY hair masks, this one is full of emollient properties that make hair feel softer, smoother, and healthier.
Best carrier Oils Perfect for Natural Hair(4C hair)
Carrier oils amazon (Buy now )
5.Jojoba oil
One of the most attractive qualities of jojoba oil is that its make-up closely resembles that of our scalp’s natural sebum. That makes it an ideal oil for scalp massages. Like other oils on this list, it works extremely well as a sealant over water-dampened hair. Look for unrefined jojoba, which is golden in color.
Jojoba oil is rich in Vitamins B, C, E, zinc, copper, and minerals that nourish the hair. A unique fact is that it is said to adapt to the hair’s natural oil (sebum) which facilitates absorption into the hair shaft giving the hair a silky, shiny, and smooth look.
Most naturalists add Jojoba oil to shampoo and conditioners due to its ability to carry active ingredients in hair products. With avocado oil containing 72% of monounsaturated acids, jojoba oil contains 98%, which makes it the best product to prevent hair breakage and add strength to your tresses. It is lightweight therefore it can be used by naturalists with high, low, and normal porosity hair.
6.Sweet Almond
Women looking for a lightweight oil that won’t weigh down fine strands will probably like sweet almond oil. It works well as a light sealant, whether you use it only for dry ends or as an oil rinse.
7. Argan Oil
One of the pricier oils to grace this list, argan has grown in popularity in recent years. Look for 100 percent argan or 100 percent Moroccan argan oil if you want the full benefits of this frizz-fighter and extreme shine-booster. Because of the cost, you may want to add small amounts to your shampoo or conditioner to boost their softening properties instead of using the oil by itself.
8.Shea Butter:
Not technically an oil, shea butter can be melted down into oil if desired, but its thick, buttery
properties are the reason a lot of people love it. It’s a wonderful sealant and mixes well with other oils on this list, making it easier to apply. Shea butter also provides some sun protection if you’re
outdoors a lot, and with all of the fatty acids it contains, it softens dry tresses extremely well.
When buying shea butter, look for one that is pale yellow in color. Dark yellow butter is highly refined and therefore not as nutrient-rich (buy now )
All the above oils are also known as carrier oils. They can be used as a base to neutralize any essential oils you use.
Carrier oils amazon (Buy now )