If you've read my previous post about conditioners and hair fall, I mentioned that I don't anymore use conditioner on my hair after every shampoo. What I do now is do a weekly pre-poo (pre-shampoo) oil treatment that I believe gives my hair the basic deep conditioning it needs without using harmful ingredients and without risk of increased hair fall. Like I said in my previous post, I recently realized conditioners make me work through my hair more while wet and fragile because they are hard to wash out. Thus, resulting in more hair fall.
So as promised, here's how I do it!
What I Need and Use:
- Olive Oil (the lesser the processes it undergoes, the better! Opt for the cold-processed ones! Go virgin or extra virgin!)
- a small pan
- a shower cap (or plastic bag!)
No Olive Oil? Substitute with Coconut Oil! Extra Virgin and Virgin are much better!
What I Do:
1. I put around 4 tbsp. of oil in the pan and warm it up. WARM only - like only for 10 seconds or something!
*tip: Adjust amount based on hair length. I have long hair up to my waist but it's kinda thin. You don't need to apply a thick layer, that's unnecessary and wasteful. Just make sure to cover all ground and you're good!
2. I blow dry my hair just a little. I mean it, just a little - like only for 10 seconds also!3. I put shower cap on. If no shower cap is available, go ghetto and just use a plastic bag. :) This keeps the heat and therefore, allows the oil to be more easily absorbed.
4. I leave it on for 2 hours. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It depends on the time I have available :)
*tip: Leave for at least 30min but the rule is, the longer the better! Some people even sleep on it. I don't really like getting my pillows nasty so maybe next time I'll just do this very early in the morning and wash before bedtime :)
5. Wash with your fave shampoo as usual! Try an organic shampoo if you've never did before. The oil is hard to wash out so it usually takes me about 2-3 washings.
*tip: Wash with care! Hair is fragile when wet! And some people do the final rinse with colder to seal hair cuticles and make hair more shiny. I've never done this before but I'll give it a try soon!
*tip: Heat weakens hair so air-drying is still the best option. Also, avoid brushing/combing hair while wet. If you must, use a wide-toothed comb (or fingers!) and work through hair very carefully.
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Sooooo easy, right?! And much cheaper too than commercial hair masks/deep conditioning treatments that may even harm you and the environment with all those nasty chemicals!!
I tried the virgin coconut oil as a substitute for the olive oil for the first time last night and here's what I have to say:
PROS:
- I just had the least number of hair fall I've had in years!
- I have shinier hair, I swear!
Wow, I think I like the effects more than the olive oil. Maybe because I used processed Olive Oil... not virgin or extra virgin. But that was what's available around the house! I promise I'll buy the extra virgin next time! In the meantime, VIRGIN coconut oil is doing wonders so I'll use this first! CON:
-The only downside is I can't stand the smell. Some people like it but not me!
Oh, whatever! I'll do this when I don't have to leave the house so other people won't be repelled. The thing is, even after shampoo, there's still a faint coconut smell. Hmmm... other people add essential oil of their choice to remedy the smell and I will try that as well soon! I heard Rosemary is also good for the hair.
So, have any of you tried this? How do you do yours? What other ingredients do you use? Sound off!
P.S. The gorgeous, shiny, black hair in the pic ain't mine. Wish it was. I'm on my way. :)
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