There are so many oils for natural hair. But, just like finding the perfect shoes, it may take a while to find the best naturally curly hair oils.
My children and I have completely different textures. Princess has a soft 3a/3b pattern. Her little brother has a tighter 3c texture, while I have a 4c kinky curly pattern.
So what works for one, may not work for all. Caring for their biracial hair has been a work in progress. But, I’m glad that I’ve finally got a good grasp on naturally curly hair oils that work best with their curls.
Best Naturally Curly Hair Oils
Coconut oil is great at moisturizing each strand right down to the hair shaft. I remember going in my backyard in Jamaica and getting coconuts from the tree. My parents would break them in half with a machete, and we’d eat the white coconut meat inside with a spoon.
Aside from being a healthy snack, coconut is great for all hair textures. However, when it comes to using it, technique is key. As far as my daughter’s hair is concerned, less is more. Adding too much coconut oil will weigh her hair down.
Now that the weather has gotten cold, I spray her curls with water and follow up with a few drops of coconut oil to seal in moisture and add shine. Although O’s curls are thicker and a little tighter, he doesn’t necessarily require as much oil.
Argan oil is not just great for skin, it’s awesome on hair too! It’s actually native to Morocco, and has grown in popularity among the natural hair community. Argan oil is proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier. It can also be used as a hair conditioner. It can even help to treat split ends and tame frizzy hair without weighing hair down. If you’re sensitive to coconut oil, this might be a better option for you.
Castor oil is another favorites from back home. It’s actually a staple in hair care. According to Naturally Curly, Castor oil comes from the Ricinus communis plant. Cold-pressed, solvent-extracted, or heat-extracted, castor oil has over 700 uses and has been an international commodity since the antiquities.
We use it for just about everything from our hair to our skin in Jamaica. Castor oil is also great at treating conditions like joint pain, fungal infections and other skin problems. People use it as a laxative, and pregnant women also use castor oil to jump start labor.
Even though it’s been used as a medicine, castor oil can also be deadly. Ripe seeds are pressed and the outer covering (hull) removed. The hull has a deadly poison called ricin. I’ve thought about growing my own, but I’d rather leave it to the professionals because of the hull.
Many locals make their own castor oil. In fact, before it became available in the states, we’d always get ours from a visiting friend or family member. If you ever get the real authentic Jamaican castor oil for your hair, make sure it doesn’t contain salt because it may damage your hair.
I use it all the time on my kinky hair, but rarely on the kids’ curls. In fact, I’ve only used it once as a hot oil treatment on my daughter’s hair, prior to shampooing and conditioning. Castor oil is just too heavy on their texture, so I try to avoid it.
Jojoba oil is similar to the sebum our body naturally produces. It tricks the body into thinking it’s producing its natural oil, therefore balancing oil production. It’s also very light and doesn’t make the hair feel greasy.
I’ve heard about people using it as a makeup remover, skin moisturizer, and some also use it for shaving. Native Americans extracted the oil from jojoba seeds to treat sores and wounds.
But, I like using it on our hair. Jojoba oil doesn’t leave any residue. It can help hair cells to reproduce themselves at a rapid pace.
Hair Growth Tips
Basically, the best naturally curly hair oils depends on hair texture and hairstyle. During cold months, oils are perfect for sealing in moisture with braided hairstyles. When it comes to wash and go hair styles, just add a few drops of oil in a spray bottle with water. That’s a great way to retain moisture and promote hair growth.