Over 80% of women are dissatisfied with their hair. Most of them think that both hair and scalp pose a problem. Over 50% of women and men struggle with excessive hair loss. Women unsuccessfully search for a product that would tackle most of hair and scalp problems. They fall for commercials and promises, believing that a new shampoo can be a remedy for falling out, stressed hair, and is even able to bond split hair ends.
Let’s face it: there is no shampoo, mask or conditioner that would eliminate hair problems. But there is a product that reaches the source of health and beauty of hair, namely hair bulbs and scalp. Natural hair oil is this kind of substance.
Oils have been used by women from Asia, Africa and South America for ages. Ayurveda – Indian philosophy and medicine – describes the power of oils for hair and scalp in details. They are extracted from the seeds, stones, flesh and shoots of plants abounding in vitamins and micronutrients that are necessary for hair and scalp to keep young, beautiful and healthy. Just think about Asian women’s outstanding, healthy and thick hair in order to understand the power of natural oils.
Apart from vitamins and minerals, they also contain something that cannot be found in hair care products: valuable fatty acids. Proper balance of omega fatty acids guarantees success and hair repair.
There is a huge number of natural oils. Each of them has a different balance of fatty acids. How to choose the ones that will properly take care of our hairdo?
The following article will help you understand the difference between variety of hair oils as well as between hair types. Consequently, you’ll be able to define what your hair needs and pick suitable hair oil.
How are hair types different?
Apart from visible differences in appearance (fair, dark, curly, wavy, straight, fine, thick), hair types have different external and internal structure. The condition of hair cuticle scales is the most important difference. The cuticles are the first and only obstacle that toxins and impurities encounter. The cuticles protect hair from damage; they are like a gate that secures the most important parts: hair cortex and stem. Sadly, when we are brutal to our hair, this shield gets disturbed. It is extremely easy to damage hair through colouring, blow-drying with hot airflow, straightening, intensive combing and rubbing with a towel. To make things worse, there is air pollution, improper hair care, stress, pharmaceuticals… hair has no easy life.
The health of our hair depends on our hair care, work of the scalp and condition of bulbs. The more damaged our hair is, the more raised the cuticles are. The criterion that defines the size of the gaps in hair cuticles is known as hair porosity.
Three types of hair porosity
Before discussing hair care and condition, we must define hair porosity. Only then are we able to choose suitable care and “decode” the needs of our hair type.
There are 3 types of hair porosity:
- Low porosity hair – cuticle scales cling to hair stem. This hair type is thick and heavy yet problematic: lack of volume, resisting styling and colouring. Low porosity hair is characterised by disrupted processes on the scalp, which results in excessive sebum secretion, greasy hair, often dandruff.
- Medium porosity hair – no longer low porosity yet not extremely damaged (the cuticles are slightly raised). It looks nice until strands get frizzy. Women whose hair is medium porosity often complain about fine hair, dry hair tips, dull and falling out strands.
- High porosity hair – this hair type has highly raised cuticles. It is stressed and damaged due to various treatments, improper care, sunlight or bleaching. Dehydrated, dull, brittle. Hair ends are so damaged that break while brushing. Highly porous hair is thin and shine-less. It needs intensive repair because its hair bulbs are very weak whereas the scalp – dehydrated.
How to choose an oil that suits your hair porosity?
Each of hair porosities has different condition. You must pick an oil that will match your hair type and porosity.
The size of holes and gaps in hair cuticles varies. If they are big, we need oils that are made of larger particles. The particles have various sizes thanks to differences between omega acids.
Properly chosen oil will fit like a key into the lock. In other words, the oil of suitable omega acids and proper particles is the key to successful hair care.
Read which omega fatty acids and oils match different hair porosities:
- Low porosity hair likes small particles included in saturated acids. The oils that are made of such particles (penetrating) are: coconut oil, shea butter, babassu oil.
- Medium porosity hair likes medium-sized, semi-penetrating particles. Omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids contain such particles. They can be found in: macadamia oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, apricot oil and camellia oil.
- High porosity hair – large gaps in hair cuticles require large – so called non-penetrating – particles. These are the particles of omega-3 and omega-6 acids included in: safflower oil, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, cedar oil, black seed oil.