Natural oils: Review

Over the last two months I have been sampling a few natural oils in my regular hair maintenance and the results, in my own opinion, are as follows:

OLIVE OIL (extra virgin)

Moisture Seal: Great for sealing in moisture and it always left my hair soft.

Build-up: No build-up. No dandruff. Absorbs well after drying so it doesn't attract lint.

Itch relief: Yes, used frequently it did minimise general itching between washes.

Re-twist: Yes! Holds a re-twist very well.

Other Positives: Used sparingly it makes for a good body moisturiser post bath or shower but is too thick to be used all the time and I'm not confident about using it on my face as it can be quite oily, good for very dry skin though.

Other Negatives: The scent can be quite unpleasant when used after a vinegar rinse.

Score: 9/10

ALMOND OIL (sweet, cold pressed)

Moisture Seal: It sealed in moisture very well and left my hair very soft and manageable.

Build-up: No build-up, highly absorbent and doesn't attract dirt or lint.

Itch relief: Yes, adequate itch relief as it kept hair and scalp from drying out.

Re-twist: Yes! holds a re-twist very well.

Other Positives: An ideal face and body moisturiser, absorbs almost immediately and is non-greasy. Seemed to minimise facial blemishes though it'd require a longer trial to be sure.

Other Negatives: None

Score: 7/10

LAVENDER OIL (pure essential) + used with almond oil

Moisture Seal: Used with almond oil it held moisture wonderfully and left my hair soft to the touch.

Build-up: Very absorbent. No build-up and because of its high absorbency it didn't attract lint.

Itch relief: Virtually itch free!

Re-twist: Yes! Holds a re-twist very well.

Other Positives: flowery scent that lasts several days, often recommended as a natural insect repellant. Great for healing and moisturising the skin. A good relaxant when inhaled before bed.

Other Negatives: can be very pungent but this is based on personal preference.

Score: 7/10

ALMOND OIL (sweet, possibly refined)

Moisture Seal: It sealed in moisture quite well and softened my hair somewhat.

Build-up: No build-up but there was occasional flaking, so it's not an ideal dandruff eliminator but it does have a high absorbency so it doesn't attract dirt or lint.

Itch relief: Yes, adequate itch relief as it kept hair and scalp from drying out.

Re-twist: Not the best; worked well initially but after a couple of days some of the softer twists had loosened quite a bit.

Other Positives: Possible face and body moisturiser

Other Negatives: Softening effect doesn't last more than a few hours

Score: 5/10

COCONUT OIL (refined)

Moisture Seal: Perhaps. To begin with it left my hair very dry but when applied in larger amounts and directly onto damp hair the softness improved and left a healthy shine.

Build-up: No build-up. Minimal dandruff. Not as absorbent in my hair as olive or almond oil but does soak in eventually. Attracts some dirt and lint when dry.

Itch relief: Yes, used frequently it did minimise general itching but not as well as olive oil.

Re-twist: Yes! Holds a re-twist very well but hair can feel slightly firm or hard when dry.

Other positives: Variety of uses. Good as a body moisturiser. Not as softening on my face but absorbs well into the skin and is non-greasy.

Negatives: Not ideal for a daily spritz because it stays solid unless warmed.

Score: 3/10

The experiment taught me:

•  there may not be a "one size fits all" product but I can benefit from multiple properties when using different oils in combination.
•  oil in its refined form may lack some of the beneficial qualities of it's unrefined/virgin and cold pressed counterparts.
• Quality does matter. You get what you pay for.
• not all oils can be used in the same way or in the same quantities (i.e. coconut oil).
• natural oils have helped to minimise my cosmetic expenses as they can be used for multiple purposes.

Dreadlocks are a lifestyle