How to Add Extra Sheen and Smoothness to Your Hair with Oil Rinsing

Oil rinsing is a process whereby you apply a great deal of oil to your hair, leave it in for some time then rinse out with hot water followed by cool water. This has been a popular hair practice for some time. It is recommended for alleviating the more common hair woes such as dry, frizzy, dull, and prone to tangling tresses. It’s slightly different from a hot oil treatment. A hot oil treatment is a stand-alone process while oil rinsing is an extra step to include in your normal regimen. There are six distinct advantages to oil rinsing: –

1. It revitalizes dull tresses leading to bounce and sheen.
2. It smoothes out cuticles, eliminating frizzy hair.
3. It keeps locks soft and pliable.
4. It eliminates tangles and single strand knots.
5. It assists in moisture retention.
6. It reduces shedding over time.

If you’re ready to try it, section your hair into workable sections, then rinse with warm water or shampoo lightly (if your hair has a lot of product in it from before, it’s recommended to shampoo once with a mild shampoo before oil rinsing). Coat strands with natural oil, smoothing through in a downward motion, then cover your head with a shower cap or wrap in cling film. Apply gentle heat with a blow dryer or hard hat dryer for five – ten minutes then rinse out with warm to hot water. Apply conditioner, smoothing it through the hair thoroughly, wait a few minutes and rinse out with cold water. Apply a leave in conditioner and style as usual.

You should notice a distinct difference after the first try. The best natural oils to use for oil rinsing are olive oil, castor oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil and coconut oil (coconut oil is better for summer use as it tends to solidify in winter). You don’t have to restrict yourself to the recommended oils. You can still experiment with any kind of oil and judge the results for yourself after a few tries.

It’s important to remember that oil rinsing isn’t for everybody. If you are prone to scalp conditions such as dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, oil rinsing may aggravate your problem. Nevertheless, give it a try and see if your hair takes to it. If you also have an oily scalp and strands prone to product build up, oil rinsing might not be for you as well.

Remember, consistency with practice is key to improved texture and better retention over time.

The Author:

Abi Faniran is passionate about healthy hair, health, fitness and beauty. She developed an interest in natural oils after regrowing her bald spots with a combination of oils over 6 months. She is the author of Grow Your Hair Healthy & Long with Natural Oils and The Ultimate Hair Growth Guide: Recover from Hair Loss, Bald Spots & Fill in Thin Areas.