I love coconut oil just as much as the next person; however, there are several other oils for natural hair that reap the same, if not better benefits. Don’t get me wrong, coconut oil is great! I use it as an as a substitute for lotion, a makeup remover, for cooking purposes, and even oil pulling (that one time I tried oil pulling lol); however, let’s explore other impressive oils for natural hair that you should try. But first, do you know the difference between an essential oil and a carrier oil? If not, keep reading to find out.
Carrier Oils – Carrier oils are vegetable oils derived from the fatty part of a plant, usually the seeds or kernels. Some are able to penetrate the inner cortex of the hair shaft for conditioning while others also work well to seal moisture through creating a light barrier on the exterior of the hair cuticle. When used in conjunction with essential oils, they “carry” the oils to your skin and hair, given that essential oils are extremely light weight and evaporate quickly.
Essential Oils – Essential oils are plant-based oils distilled from leaves, bark roots and aromatic portions of a botanical. With an extremely concentrated smell, essentials oils also have small molecules that evaporate quickly within the scalp. Due to their light, molecular weight and water-like consistency of these oils they are not used for sealing moisture. However, essential oils are great as scalp stimulators.
7 Amazing Oils for Natural Hair…That’s NOT Coconut Oil
1. Avocado Oil – Type: Carrier Oil
I know I just talked about avocado oil last week in my CurLUXE naturals review; however there’s no harm in mentioning it again simply because I love it so much. My fascination with avocado oil includes its light weight and molecular ability to penetrate the hair shaft for intense deep conditioning when combined with other ingredients. Vitamin rich and full of fatty acids it also helps to heal damaged, weak hair.
2. Babassu Oil – Type: Carrier Oil
Babassu Oil is extracted from the tree nuts of babassu palm trees grown in the tropical forests of Brazil. Babassu oil is light weight as well and locks in the hair’s natural moisture, adding luster, shine and elasticity to the hair. For skin care, its emollient properties are also claimed to help in the relief of itchy scalp, eczema, and psoriasis, which is also similar to a few benefits of coconut oil.
3. Peppermint Oil – Type: Essential Oil
This essential oil not only smells wonderful but can be used weekly to treat yourself to a scalp massage in order to promote growth. Peppermint oil, similar to a few other essential oils, are known to stimulate blood flow to the scalp, helping with hair growth. Just remember to combine a few drops of this oil with another carrier oil for best results. No worries, I’ve included a DIY recipe for you to pin or print below.
4. Wheat Germ Oil – Type: Carrier Oil
A little less widely talked about, wheat germ oil is not one to be skimmed over quickly. As the name suggests it is a plant derived oil and is very rich in linoleic acid, similar to avocado oil, which is very rich is omega 6 fatty acid. As the richest source of vitamin E than any other natural oil, use wheat germ oil for extremely dry hair to add moisture and softness. Due to its thick consistency, mix with another carrier oil, add to your spray bottle of water and aloe vera juice or add a little to your favorite conditioners. Since it has high emollient properties it also works well to be added to your favorite deep conditioner.
5. Rosemary Oil – Type: Essential Oil
Fully packed with loads of antioxidants, Rosemary oil is one of the best oils for natural hair known to stimulate hair growth as well as retard premature thinning and graying. As with many essential oils, rosemary oil helps to soothe and condition the scalp, helping with dandruff and itchiness.
6. Pumpkin Seed Oil – Type: Carrier Oil
In a Fall mood and obsessed with pumpkin like everyone else? Pumpkin oil is said to block the androgen hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair loss. You can purchase this in the form of a pill or just a jar of oil. Click here to see how one woman used it to fight alopecia.
7. Ylang Ylang – Type: Essential Oil
This essential oil is best for healthy scalp maintenance as it helps to normalize sebum production on the scalp. Since naturally curly hair is prone to be drier given our natural sebum has to work harder to travel from root to tip, this may or may not be of concern for you depending on hair type. However, if you feel your hair produces more oil than normal, you might want to give this essential oil a test.
Here’s a quick oil blend for you to try at home.
Easy DIY Healthy Hair Oil Blend Recipe:
Carrier Oils:
2 Tablespoons of Avocado Oil
2 Tablespoons of Jojoba Oil
Essential Oil:
10-12 drops of Peppermint Oil (3-5 drops per tablespoon)
Step 1: Mix all oils inside plastic bottle
Step 2: Shake well and apply to scalp for massage or apply to hair for sealing moisture!
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What are some of your favorite oils for natural hair outside of coconut oil? Comment and let me know!
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Charlene Walton McCraney, known on social media as @TexturedTalk, is a Dallas beauty and lifestyle blogger. After years of styling her and several friends’ hair as a hobby, offering advice and tips, she decided to combine two of her favorite things…writing and talking about natural hair!
Her blog, TexturedTalk.com was created to promote healthy hair care for women of all textures and has since evolved into other beauty and lifestyle topics. Charlene loves teaching other aspiring bloggers on how to take their passion and turn it into amazing content to provide value.
When she’s not blogging she is probably crunching numbers as a Senior Financial Analyst, dancing or figuring a way to meet Beyonce in person. :)
I’m still on the coconut oil because it has so many purposes. But I will purchase some peppermint to add to it for my next wash day 🙂
Author
Yes I still love it too! And you will enjoy the peppermint oil…add a little to the coconut oil and for a nice combo. Thanks for reading!
I wanted to know can my hair grow quick and long if I m transitioning from heat damaged hair
Author
Hi Nichole, thanks for reading and commenting! Of course, you can definitely grow your hair thick and long from heat damaged hair. The most important thing is making sure you continue to stay away from direct heat as much as possible and take advantage of low manipulation styles. For more tips check out the Healthy Hair Growth Guides and this other post on heat damage.
Such a great blog about AMAZING OILS FOR NATURAL HAIR . Everyone should followed your blog.coconut oil is very helpful for me to stop hair fall
Author
Thanks so much for reading!