How to Properly Oil Your Scalp for Healthy, Vibrant Hair: A Guide for Black Women
Oiling the scalp is one of the most time-honored practices for maintaining healthy hair, especially for Black women, because our hair types often require extra care and nourishment. Regular scalp care can promote hair growth, prevent dryness, and improve the overall health of your hair. However, not all oils are created equal, and knowing how to properly oil your scalp is just as important as choosing the right oil.
Why Is Scalp Care So Important?
The scalp is the foundation of healthy hair growth and neglecting it can lead to various issues like dryness, itching, flakiness, and even hair thinning. Regular oiling helps address these concerns by keeping the scalp moisturized, balancing its natural oils, and providing essential nutrients to the hair follicles. Healthy scalp care can also reduce dandruff and inflammation, ensuring our hair grows in a strong and healthy environment.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Properly Oil Your Scalp
Wash your hair!! Washing your hair before oiling your scalp removes dirt and buildup, allowing the oil to penetrate more effectively and nourish the scalp and hair.
Choose the Right Oil: Selecting the right oil is key to addressing your unique scalp and hair needs. We'll cover the best oils shortly.
Section Your Hair: To ensure that the oil gets to your scalp evenly, section your hair into manageable parts. This is especially important if you have thick, curly, or tightly coiled hair, as it allows you to apply the oil directly to your scalp.
Warm the Oil: While not necessary, warming your oil can help it penetrate the scalp more effectively. You can do this by placing the oil bottle in a cup of hot water for a few minutes or gently heating the oil on the stove (be careful not to overheat it).
Massage the Oil Into Your Scalp: Use your fingertips (not your nails) to gently massage the oil into your scalp. The circular motion stimulates blood circulation, which encourages hair growth. Take your time, and ensure you cover every section of your scalp. Aim for 5-10 minutes of massaging for maximum benefits.
Leave It On: After massaging the oil into your scalp cover your head with a plastic cap so outside dirt and grime doesn’t get in your hair and into your follicles. You can leave it on for at least 30 minutes, but for better results, you can leave it overnight. If you decide to leave it overnight, cover your hair with a satin or silk scarf to avoid staining your pillow (I’ve ruined so, so many).
Wash It Out (optional): Depending on the oil you use, you may want to wash it out after a few hours. Use a sulfate-free shampoo to gently cleanse your scalp without stripping away its natural oils. If you have dry scalp or hair, you might only need to shampoo once.
Repeat Regularly: For best results, aim to oil your scalp once a week. For those with severely dry or flaky scalps, you may want to do this more frequently.
Best Oils for Black Women’s Scalp and Their Benefits
When selecting oils for your scalp, it’s important to choose oils that are nourishing, lightweight, and rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids. Here are the top oils recommended for our hair:
1. Coconut Oil
Benefits: Coconut oil is a favorite among many for its deep moisturizing and nourishing properties. It penetrates the hair shaft easily, making it great for those with dry, coarse, or curly hair. It also has antimicrobial properties, which can help combat dandruff and scalp infections.
How It Helps the Scalp: Coconut oil helps balance the natural oils of the scalp while moisturizing, which can prevent flakiness and itching. Its antifungal properties make it an excellent choice for those dealing with dandruff.
2. Jojoba Oil
Benefits: Jojoba oil is a liquid wax that closely mimics the natural oils of the scalp, which makes it highly effective for moisturizing and nourishing the hair. It's also rich in vitamins E and B, which support healthy hair growth.
How It Helps the Scalp: Jojoba oil is great for maintaining scalp health because it regulates sebum production. For those with an oily scalp, it can help reduce excess oil production, while also nourishing dry scalps without clogging pores.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Benefits: Tea tree oil is renowned for its ability to treat dandruff and flaking due to its strong antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It also helps to soothe the scalp and prevent clogged hair follicles, which can hinder hair growth.
How It Helps the Scalp: Tea tree oil promotes a healthy, clean scalp by preventing buildup and treating conditions like dandruff, fungal infections, and itchy scalp. It can also stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, encouraging healthy hair growth.
4. Castor Oil
Benefits: Castor oil is famous for its potential to promote hair growth. It is rich in ricinoleic acid, which increases blood flow to the scalp, nourishing the hair follicles and promoting thick, healthy hair.
How It Helps the Scalp: Castor oil’s ability to hydrate the scalp and promote blood flow makes it an excellent choice for women seeking to grow their hair. It also helps reduce scalp dryness and flakiness.
5. Argan Oil
Benefits: Argan oil, often referred to as “liquid gold,” is packed with antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, which nourish and hydrate both the scalp and hair. It's a lightweight oil that won't weigh down your hair, making it a great option for various hair types.
How It Helps the Scalp: Argan oil helps maintain a healthy scalp by moisturizing dry patches and balancing oil production. It also helps protect the scalp and hair from damage caused by environmental factors like UV rays and pollution.
6. Peppermint Oil
Benefits: Peppermint oil has a cooling sensation that can help soothe an irritated or itchy scalp. It also has stimulating properties that can promote hair growth by improving blood circulation to the hair follicles.
How It Helps the Scalp: Peppermint oil is great for relieving itchy scalp and stimulating hair growth due to its ability to increase blood flow. It also has antimicrobial properties that help keep the scalp clean.
7. Olive Oil
Benefits: Olive oil is a highly moisturizing oil that has been used for centuries for its benefits to both skin and hair. It’s rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, which can help strengthen hair and reduce breakage.
How It Helps the Scalp: Olive oil is ideal for dry, sensitive scalps. It helps to hydrate the scalp, prevent dandruff, and improve the overall health of the hair.
8. Hempseed Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Hempseed oil is rich in essential fatty acids like omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9, which are essential for healthy hair growth. It's also packed with vitamins A, C, and E, which help to promote hair shine, prevent breakage, and keep the hair hydrated.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Hempseed oil moisturizes the scalp without clogging pores, making it ideal for both dry and oily scalp types. It also reduces inflammation, promotes blood circulation to the scalp, and helps soothe itchy or irritated skin.
9. Amla Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Amla oil, derived from Indian gooseberry, is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. It strengthens hair, prevents premature graying, and can improve the overall health of the hair by enhancing its shine and smoothness.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Amla oil balances the pH of the scalp, making it a great remedy for oily or dry scalps. It promotes healthy hair growth, reduces dandruff, and soothes irritated skin with its anti-inflammatory properties.
10. Rosemary Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Rosemary oil is known for stimulating hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp, which helps hair follicles receive more nutrients. It's also beneficial for reducing dandruff and dry scalp issues.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Rosemary oil improves circulation, leading to stronger, healthier hair growth. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help alleviate scalp conditions like dandruff, itching, and flakiness.
11. Lavender Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Lavender oil is a calming essential oil that promotes healthy hair growth by reducing stress and improving blood flow to the scalp. It also has antimicrobial properties that can prevent scalp infections and reduce dandruff.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Lavender oil soothes irritated scalps, reduces inflammation, and balances oil production. It can help with dandruff and other scalp conditions, while also preventing hair loss.
12. Hazelnut Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Hazelnut oil is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, offering excellent nourishment for the hair. It helps strengthen and soften hair while enhancing shine and reducing frizz.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Hazelnut oil is lightweight and non-comedogenic, making it ideal for scalp health. It helps to hydrate and balance the scalp without causing buildup or clogging pores. It also promotes a healthy scalp environment for hair growth.
13. Evening Primrose Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Evening primrose oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids, particularly gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is known for its ability to promote hair growth and prevent hair thinning. It also helps reduce dryness and scalp irritation.
How It Helps the Scalp:
This oil helps soothe dry and itchy scalps while balancing oil production. It’s particularly useful for people with scalp conditions like eczema or psoriasis, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
14. Almond Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Almond oil is rich in vitamins E and D, proteins, and fatty acids, all of which nourish and strengthen hair, making it more manageable and less prone to breakage.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Almond oil helps moisturize a dry scalp while also reducing inflammation. It promotes healthy hair growth by nourishing hair follicles and improving blood circulation to the scalp.
15. Cinnamon Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Cinnamon oil has natural antimicrobial properties, which help reduce scalp irritation and dandruff. It also promotes blood flow to the scalp, potentially enhancing hair growth.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Cinnamon oil can help cleanse the scalp, stimulate circulation, and reduce dandruff and scalp infections. However, it should be used with care as it can be strong and may irritate the skin if not properly diluted.
16. Ginger Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Ginger oil is known for its stimulating properties, which can boost hair growth by increasing circulation to the scalp. It also helps prevent hair thinning and breakage by strengthening the hair follicles.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Ginger oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that reduce dandruff and scalp irritation. It also helps balance oil production and promotes a healthier scalp environment.
17. Avocado Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Avocado oil is packed with nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and B6, as well as folic acid and protein, making it excellent for moisturizing, strengthening, and nourishing hair.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Avocado oil deeply moisturizes a dry scalp and helps to soothe inflammation. Its rich vitamin content nourishes hair follicles, leading to stronger, shinier hair, and may help prevent dandruff.
18. Grapeseed Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Grapeseed oil is light and non-greasy, making it great for those with finer hair. It helps prevent hair breakage, strengthens hair, and adds a natural shine. It's also rich in antioxidants and vitamin E.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Grapeseed oil balances oil production on the scalp, reducing the risk of clogged pores and dandruff. It also promotes hair growth by strengthening the scalp and improving circulation.
19. Sesame Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Sesame oil is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it great for nourishing and rejuvenating dry, brittle hair. It helps protect hair from environmental damage while improving its overall strength and shine.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Sesame oil helps moisturize the scalp and promotes blood circulation, which can boost hair growth. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help combat dandruff and scalp infections.
20. Jasmine Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Jasmine oil has a soothing and calming effect, making it ideal for reducing stress-related hair loss. It also adds a luxurious fragrance to the hair while improving its texture and shine.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Jasmine oil improves circulation to the scalp, promoting healthier hair growth. It also has antimicrobial properties that can help cleanse the scalp, reduce irritation, and balance oil production.
21. Flaxseed Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote hair growth and prevent hair thinning. It also helps add moisture and shine while reducing frizz.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Flaxseed oil soothes dry, itchy scalp conditions and reduces inflammation. It nourishes hair follicles, strengthening the hair and promoting a healthier scalp environment.
22. Baobab Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Baobab oil is high in vitamins A, D, E, and F, which help to nourish and protect the hair. It also promotes elasticity, preventing breakage and split ends.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Baobab oil nourishes the scalp and improves its overall health. It helps soothe dry and irritated skin while preventing excessive scalp dryness, making it great for maintaining healthy hair growth.
23. Sunflower Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which help protect the hair from environmental damage and nourish the scalp. It adds shine, reduces frizz, and prevents hair breakage.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Sunflower oil moisturizes and nourishes the scalp, preventing dryness and irritation. Its antioxidant properties also help protect the scalp from oxidative stress and environmental damage, creating an optimal environment for hair growth.
24. Mongongo Oil
Benefits for Hair:
Mongongo oil is packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which make it a great option for protecting the hair from heat damage and adding moisture and strength to the hair.
How It Helps the Scalp:
Mongongo oil nourishes and soothes the scalp, helping to reduce dryness and irritation. It also improves the overall health of the scalp by providing essential nutrients that promote hair growth.
Final Thoughts: Making Scalp Oil Part of Your Hair Care Routine
Oiling your scalp is an essential step in maintaining the health of your hair. By following the steps outlined above and choosing the right oils for your scalp type, you can keep your hair hydrated, nourished, and growing. Remember that consistency is key, and finding the right oil or blend of oils that work best for you may take some trial and error. Ultimately, with the right oil and a proper application routine, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a healthy, thriving scalp and gorgeous, vibrant hair.
Are you currently oiling your scalp? What oils do you love using? Share your experiences and tips with us in the comments!
All the oils mentioned in this blog are in our shop’s hair care products, along with other hair and scalp nourishing herbs, botanicals and extracts. You can explore our hair care here.
Featured photo is hair care blogger @_ecoop on Instagram.