Alright curl queens, we've got a question for you. Show of hands: whose hair has felt dry and brittle shortly after washday despite all their best efforts at moisturising and layering products. Trust us, we feel you. Sometimes curly hair can dry up faster than a drop of water in the desert. But thankfully, there are ways to make your hair chill out.
Thanks to the ever-innovative curly natural hair community, we have oil rinsing, a technique that will rescue your curls from excessive moisture loss and keep them hydrated for longer. Don't know what oil rinsing is? Keep reading for all tea about this game-changing technique.
What Is Oil Rinsing?
You may hear the term oil rinsing and think what is that? Last time I checked oil is not water or a moisturiser. Well, oil rinsing is just as it sounds. It is the process of dousing the hair with a nourishing oil like Sofnfree's Manuka Honey & Avocado Oil a post-shampoo step on wash day. This technique is generally used to enhance moisture retention since oils create a film around the hair shaft. This film slows down the rate at which moisture evaporates from the hair, essentially sealing moisture in the hair for longer.
Now, if you are familiar with hot oil treatments you may be wondering if this isn't basically the same thing as a hot oil treatment. Although both are similar in the ingredients used, they are quite different. Hot oil treatments are traditionally done as a pre-poo treatment to detangle and nourish your tresses, but an oil rinse is done to keep moisture locked in for a longer time. This fundamental difference is why an oil rinse comes at the end of your wash routine while a hot oil treatment is usually a pre-shampoo step.
How Does Oil Rinsing Benefit My Curls?
If you have curly hair, you're likely always looking for ways to keep your tresses moisturised for as long as possible. In fact, that is probably how you found your way to this article. Well, an oil rinse is the ultimate way to achieve the long-lasting hydration we all dream of. It can leave the hair feeling super hydrated and incredibly soft for up to five days, saving you the hassle of re-moisturising the hair throughout the week.
Additionally, oil rinsing keeps breakage and single-strand knots at bay since the hair retains moisture for longer. It also makes the hair shiny, easy to detangle, frizz-free and generally more manageable. All these amazing benefits combined will keep your curls defined and help maintain your hairstyles for longer.
Choosing The Right Oil
Oil rinsing is done using carrier oils (neutral oils that do not contain any essential plant extracts). This can include a wide range such as avocado, olive, jojoba, baobab, coconut oil and so much more. The goal here is to have the oil create a film to seal in the hair so don't stress about choosing an oil that will easily penetrate the hair. However, deciding what oil to use can sometimes be a bit of a conundrum.
If you have low-porosity hair, you may be afraid of buildup up and want to use lightweight oils that will coat the strands without weighing them down with grease and grime, but will they work as well as thicker oils? Meanwhile our high porosity curl friends, will probably consider reaching for thick oils that will form a good film around the strands and prevent moisture from escaping but are also probably weary of ending up with super heavy greasy hair.
The perfect solution to this confusion is to choose an oil like Sofnfree's Hair and Scalp Oil with the right balance of lightweight and heavy oils like avocado oil, baobab oil, rapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil. With a well curated formula like that you can give your curls the perfect oil rinse and ensure moisture stays locked in for days while also keeping your strands free of grime and excess oil build-up. Whether you have low or high porosity tresses, Our Hair Oil is guaranteed to leave you with best oil rinse results. We're talking super moisturized, soft and shiny curls you'll never want to stop touching.
How To Oil Rinse Your Curly Hair
There are two different methods you can use to do an oil rinse. Each method will deliver incredible results, but effects can vary based on your hair's porosity. Feel free to try out each one a couple of times and see which one works best for your hair.
Post Shampoo Method
- Apply your shampoo evenly over the hair and gently scrub the scalp to cleanse the hair. Try to go for a hydrating shampoo like our Manuka Honey shampoo. Since this is a moisture retention routine, you need all the hydration you can get and this creamy formula cleanses while replenishing the hair with an extra boost of moisture.
- Thoroughly rinse the shampoo out with lukewarm water. Then, grab about 1 cup of Sofnfree's Hair and Scalp Manuka Honey & Avocado Oil and pour it over the hair. Use your finger to work it into the strands, making sure to focus on the hair itself and not the scalp. Let the oil sit on the hair for about one minute then rinse it off with water.
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Follow up with Sofnfree's Moisture Rich Conditioner or the Manuka Honey & Avocado Deep Conditioning Hair Mask and rinse. Then finish off with our super nourishing Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner before drying the hair.
Post-Deep Conditioner Method
- Shampoo the hair as normal and rinse thoroughly.
- Then, apply a rejuvenating and moisturising deep conditioner like our Manuka Honey and Avocado Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. It will nourish the hair and leave it super hydrated. Leave the conditioner on the hair for about 15 minutes then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water.
- Now, grab a cup a nourishing oil like of our Manuka Honey Hair & Scalp Oil and coat the hair strands evenly with it. Make sure to apply the oil from the roots to let it flow down the full length of your strands, using your hands to help slide it down to the ends.
- Let the oil sink into the hair for about a minute, then rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. Be sure to section the hair and squeeze from root to tip to remove any excess oil. Once the hair is dry, it will be so soft you'll never want to stop running your hands through it. But apply a leave-in conditioner and proceed with styling your curls to finish of your wash day.
Hot Tip: if your curls are extremely low porosity, the post-deep conditioner method will likely be the best option for you. But, to get the best results you'll need to make a slight adjustment. As soon as you apply your deep conditioner, follow up immediately with the oil rinse by gradually layering the oil on top of the deep conditioner in your hair.
Then, sit under a hair steamer or hooded dryer for about 30 minutes. Doing this will open up your cuticles, allowing the moisture from the deep conditioner to penetrate while being sealed in at the same time. Mixing the deep conditioner with the oil rinse will also make it easier to rinse out the oil, preventing excess build-up of an oily film on the hair.
How Often Should You Do An Oil Rinse?
An oil rinse is generally done on wash day since that is when your hair comes in contact with as much moisture as possible. So, it can be done every wash day whether that is weekly, monthly or every two weeks.
Healthy curly hair and moisture go hand in hand but if your curls seem to lose moisture like a leaking tap then oil rinsing is the perfect solution. Finish off your wash days with this simple moisture retention technique to keep your tresses soft, hydrated, and flourishing.