Trinidad is home to multiple ethnicities and races, resulting in
an incredible variety of hair textures.
My niece (in the middle) and her friends in Trinidad and Tobago.
Despite the differences, there was one
unifying hair ritual across the island. Everyone rubbed oil into hair to keep
it healthy and shiny. From coconut oil to Vaseline to Crisco (well…maybe not
Crisco), everyone dutifully oiled his or her hair. However, as the years
passed, we realized that oil actually stifles the scalp, i.e. - it can’t
breathe which results in hair loss.
The Evolution of
Oil-Based Products
With the introduction of hair masks, it became common knowledge across
the industry that moisture came from water-based products, not oil ones. Hair
masks took the market by storm for years leaving oily treatments in the dust.
Silicone, an oil substitute, was introduced to help women fight
the good fight against frizz. But once low-grade silicone products flooded the
market, interest in them began to wane as over use left hair super limp.
Moroccan oil is wonderful for hair. But like anything
else, if it’s overused it will have the reverse effect. (A lightweight oil
is now available which helps…)
Don’t Do This…
The challenge with oil is…it’s not made to be used everyday, not
even every other day. When it’s overused, the hair absorbs too much, which
leaves it limp. Some people apply oil every time they style their hair with a
flatiron. That's too much. Think of when you pour oil on a piece of fabric. It’s
hard to remove right? Hair is similar; it holds on to oil.
The Correct Way to
Apply
Always start with the smallest bit of product. Less is more.
Work from the ends up, avoiding the scalp.
Last time I was in Tobago, I had my niece put Moroccan oil on her hair
prior to swimming in the ocean. When she came out of the salty water, her hair
was gorgeous!!
Avoiding Build-Up
Use an oil-based product only after shampooing. When applying
oil, it’s important that hair is clean. Make sure your shampoo is strong enough
to remove any excess build-up. If you’re using a Moroccan oil moisture base
shampoo, beware it can make the problem worse by adding more oil.
If your hair is fine, you should be very careful. Moroccan oil
is intense and may not be for you. If you have thick hair, you’ll still need to
be careful. Remember the idea is for your hair to be soft and shiny with life.
Not an oil slick!
Safe for Color-Treated
Hair?
If
you dye your hair, don’t use oil as it can remove color. I worked with a
hairstylist in L.A. who only used natural oils to remove hair color…seriously!
Antonio Gonzales
