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Hi Hairy People,
I just made a recent discovery, --- actually, a REdiscovery of an old bit of advise that I had forgotten & drifted away from...
Just a couple of days ago I felt the need to do a thorough shampooing, followed by heavily conditioning my hair afterwards (as I usually do after even an editted version of shampooing). It had been almost a week since my last shampoo application; so, I couldn't wait to massage my scalp with lots of lathering finger-tip action, followed by rinsing rinsing rinsing, etc....
The "re-discovery" that I made was when after getting out of the shower and starting the air-drying process, I decided to apply a little beneficial oil onto / into the lower half of my mane, --- especially at the ends of my hair.
At home I have Jojoba oil, and also have used both Almond oil and also Kukui nut oil in the past. But, I was staying overnight at the place where I work during the day, --- and the only oil that is considered "beneficial" for hair that was available to me there was some Olive oil.
Anyway, I applied a fairly generous amount of it (over the size of an average coin's worth), massaging it mostly into the lower portion of my hair WHILE IT WAS STILL DAMP. I haven't done that in quite a while, --- and to my amazement, my mane felt INCREDIBLY soft and manageable by the time it was fully dry.... It felt the way I always imagined hair "should" feel after being freshly cleaned & conditioned (but often doesn't): no dry, brittle, rough-feeling or frizzy ends!!! The hair also felt very "moist", healthy, and well cared-for. As the saying goes, "It felt as right as rain!"
Years ago I remember being very impressed with a local guy's butt-length hair, and having the nerve to ask him how often he trimmed for split ends. "I don't need to", was his reply, "as long as I put a little Kukui nut oil on the ends after showering and shampooing, while my hair is still damp."
I had forgotten about the "damp" part of his advise. I have been using a little bit of some of the beneficial oils on & off over recent years; but, mostly only applying it onto my hair when dry.
I realize that not everyone gets split ends (as well as when still shorter than shoulder-length, it's not as common to find many of them until it gets a bit longer). It all depends on a person's genetics. But, for those who DO have a tendency to find a fair amount of split, broken, or dry/scratchy or brittle-feeling ends, this is at the very least a good preventative solution.
- Ken in San Francisco
Hi Ken, I've also been doing the oiling of my hair when it's damp for a couple years now. I'm thinking that after my accident in '78 (spinalcord injury) and low Thyriod output that it shut off or decressed my own natural oil production. So my nurse aid adds about a good tablespoon of Jojoba or Coconut oil to my hair after my wash and rinse. My hair always seems to be dry, I'm hoping this oiling is doing it some good.
Take care.
Frank
Hi Frank,
That's an interesting perspective you have. It never occurred to me that a serious injury like what you've survived through might also have an effect on one's natural hair oil production from the scalp area. It sounds like the nurses who help you out are very caring and understanding, as well as kind & helpful.
And yes, I do honestly feel that applying any of those store-bought oils (Jojoba, Kukui nut, Almond, or Olive oil) do benefit my hair, --- so, why not yours, too?!
Take care, my friend, --- and my best to you!!
- Ken
Great Post Ken; !!
Remember Sherry of years gone by? She used to tout using Olive Oil as a deep conditioner. Whenever I shampoo my extremely dry brittle hair, I use a fair amount of Olive Oil, leaving it in as long as time allows, then rinse it out with a commercial conditioner...really kills the frizzies and leaves my hair very manageable.
Thanks Sherry, wherever you are....
Walter
Hi Walter,
I don't remember the "Sherry" of which you mention, above; but, did you ever see the movie, "The English Patient"??? It won several academy awards when the movie came out in the late '90s (I think it was around then). There's a scene of a young Indian (from India) who is shampooing his incredibly long hair when the French nurse who is attracted to him comes out and offers him some olive oil for his hair afterwards. They fall briefly in love, of course; but the scene where she first sees him shirtless and shampooing is unforgetable... See what a little Olive oil can do for your love life? (LOL!!)
- Ken
"...See what a little Olive oil can do for your love life? (LOL!!)..."
Sadly all it does around here is cause the cats to follow me around with an evil, fishy look in their eyes.....sigh !
I will try that, thanks for the tip.
Great tip and thanks for sharing that Ken.
Cheers,
John.B
Hey, Ken. That's an awesome tip, thank you. I have to try this when my hair is a little longer!
Great post Ken, very informative. I've tried jojoba in the past (once) but it was before showering while my hair was dry. I don't think it spread around very well and didn't feel right. Tomorrow, I'll try it again!
Bruce
(btw, that was a fantastic scorpion braid Even did for you! Some talent, them dog groomers!)
I've always oiled my hair when it's dry - usually the morning after I've washed it, but I'll try oiling while it's damp next time.
Thinking about it, that makes sense because the scales on the hair will still be open, allowing the oil to penetrate into the shaft rather than just sitting on the surface, so it should get the full benefit of the oiling without leaving it feeling greasy afterwards.
I always apply oil when it's towel damp. Oil penetrates and helps seal the scales of the hair. Which is similar to alot of the silicone products on the market. Thats exactly what they do.
Olive oil, Apricot oil (My new fave), Avacado oil are all considdered Stone Fruit oils, which are close to your natural skins oils, but has the benefit of absorbing and redistributing heat. Which protects against the sun, and heat damage.
Jojoba is awesome especialy when you work from the scalp down, but the other Stone Fruit oils are considdered heavier. They remain longer in the hair.
Overall, applying damp will condition the hair and seal it. Apply a few drops, warmed up on your hands (Not much, should just be a film on your hands) when the hair is dry to remove frizz and stop wildness.
(Trivia) Women and Men in India, Greece and Mexico use to make a paste of their respective Stone fruits and comb it through damp hair in order to stop sun scalp burn and breaking of hair, which long was coveted as a simple of strength or fertility.
I'll have to give this a try. I have a problem with frizz for a day or so after a shampooing until my natural oils get back in. Thanks for the idea. :-)