Black Hair Styles

We know that whether to oil or not oil African-American is the subject of an on-going debate. In our experience, the right oils, put on at the right times and in the right amounts are a great thing for our hair. Oils, pomades, daily moisturizers, leave-in conditioner and creams will make the hair feel more soft and flexible. They are particularly important to be added to permed hair which has been stripped of some of its ability to oil itself. Mineral oil and petroleum use should be minimized or avoided. These products can tend to clog the pores (known as comedogenic), are not easily absorbed into the hair and attract dust. If you use products with these oils, try to use the ones that have the least amount. But, really there’s no need to use such products when there are much better all natural alternatives available. But, just so you know, generally, the further down the ingredient list, the less there will be in a product. So, try to use products where these are listed near the end.Now, back to what you should use. There are so many great natural plant oils. We typically don’t use animal oils, with one exception- emu oil. Emu oils reduces inflammation and has essential fatty acids and vitamins. It also easily penetrates the hair and skin. Emu oil has been shown to stimulate hair growth and is also good for a variety of other conditions. Some natural plant oils to try are shea butter, jojoba oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. Jojoba is another oil worthy of note. It’s great for hair and skin as it naturally is very close to the sebum we secrete to lubricate our own hair and skin. Jojoba oil helps balance the skin. Treasured Locks offers a great selection of oils, pomades and moisturizers for every hair type and style.Many people ask us how often they should oil their hair and how much oil to use. This is something you will have to experiment with. You’ll probably find that permed hair needs more oil. But, natural kinky hair will need more oil than straighter natural hair. Biracial hair will probably require less oil than Black hair. And so on and so forth. As long as you are using good, natural oils in reasonable amounts, you should not have to worry about any build-up.Oils are best applied to wet hair to help hold in the moisture already there. Creams or leave-in conditioners can be used on days when you don’t wash or wet your hair. The type of oil or cream you use in your hair is going to depend on your hair type and may take a little it of experimenting to find what works best for you. Also, the time of year and your hair’s exposure to the elements will vary your routine.