Everything you need to know about oils

Oils are known to have healing, rejuvenating, and cleansing properties, although with so many oils around, it can get confusing knowing which to use for what. But no worries, here is an in-depth look into what oils are best for your hair, face, and body, and how best to use them.

Hair

I have heard from so many women that oils have helped them with their balding problems, frizzing problems, and so much more. But which oils, specifically? Think of oils having unique personalities, just like your hair.

If your hair is coarse and curly, you’ll find that coconut oil works best. Thinning hair is best remedied by black castor oil, which gives it strength and volume, while argan oil works wonders for all hair types. Remember, having damp hair is absolutely essential when applying oil for deep treatment.

If your hair needs extra tender love and care, you can make your own hair mask and infuse some oils for the extra vitamin benefits. First, combine an equal amount of castor, coconut, and olive oil, and mix them together with your favorite conditioner. Spread the mask throughout your hair (try to put particular focus on the ends), then tie it into a bun. For best results, wrap your hair in a foil cap or a warm towel, then leave on to intensify the conditioning. Afterwards, remember to wash out all the product to avoid buildup.

Don’t forget about finishing oils! Finishing oils are applied to the hair after styling. If you have coarse or curly hair, consider using a thicker oil. A small amount of this on damp hair will work wonders. Apply on the ends and work your way up. Then on your scalp, scrunch it upwards to avoid frizz. If your hair gets oily fast, lighter oil will work best, applied only to the ends of your hair.

Face

When treating the face, it’s important to use oils that are gentle. Grapeseed oil is good for acne-prone skin. Because it has astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces redness and swelling when skin is breaking out. Jojoba is the oil closest to sebum, the oil our skin naturally produces. Rosehip oil gives the best tender loving care to our skin, and works great for acne marks, sunburn and dry patches.

Oils can also act as a natural makeup remover. Cleansing oils are actually best to remove makeup because they don’t strip away facial moisture. If you have dry skin, use oil as your morning moisturizer before applying primer and makeup. If you mix a drop or two into your foundation it will give your foundation a serum consistency with extra luminosity. On the other hand, if you have mature skin, oil-based serum may be more suited for you, followed by lash and brow serum to keep both your lashes and brows full and healthy.

Body

The skin on our body is less delicate than that of the face, so heavier oils are fine to use. Avocado oil has a high concentration of vitamin E, which is a powerful anti-aging agent. Olive oil is full of antioxidants as well as vitamin A and E, while sesame oil helps stimulate collagen production and provides a healthy barrier to promote healthy skin cells, which does an exceptional job of preventing wrinkles and shrinking pores. 

A clever way of applying oils on your body without having to slather it on is by adding a few drops into your body wash. Around 10 drops of argan oil should do the trick, and goes a long way towards making your skin feel and appear healthier.

Lastly, oils also have healing properties and can help minimize scars, stretch marks, bad razor burns, and other skin afflictions. Though not scientifically proven, many swear by the healing properties of vitamin E oil, especially when freshly applied on a healing wound.

Honestly, oils are hidden gems. They have so many benefits, and just as important, are natural products. I think anyone can agree that nothing is better than something that is easy to find, inexpensive, and effective. Best of luck!