I should have labeled the series that I've been doing "Skin and Body Care" instead of just "Skin Care" because I'm including a variety of tips for naturally frugal alternatives, not just for the skin. Today, I want to focus on hair.
Back in my teen years and early twenties I used to buy those pre-packaged tubes for hot oil treatments on a regular basis. You remember the ones - drop them in a cup of hot water, break the tube open and apply to hair? Well, there's a reason they sell. They work.
Allow me share a story with you, if you will. Several years ago we went to Daytona for Christmas and I was shocked to find that the pool was filled with sea water. The salt in the water really did a number on my mop and by the time we made it home I could have passed for the Scarecrow's sister in The Wizard of Oz. I desperately needed a hot oil treatment, but didn't have any on hand. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and believe there's a lot of truth in that statement. My need led me to a solution.
I had olive oil in the cupboard, so I poured a little in a bowl and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute until it was nice and hot. Then I began applying it to my hair, concentrating on the driest ends. I proceeded to wrap my hair in plastic (grocery bag, cling wrap or a towel) and waited about 30 minutes before showering and shampooing as usual. The results were nothing short of amazing. As a matter of fact, I had an appointment to get my hair cut a few days after and my stylist commented on how wonderfully soft my hair was. Imagine that!
I never have bought another one of those pre-packaged hot oil treatments since. Their packaging and marketing makes for a higher price. A box with 2 treatments will run you about $4.00. That's pretty salty considering you can buy an entire bottle of olive oil for about the same price many times. Using oil from my pantry also means that there's one less thing that I have to find a place for. That always makes me happy.
Ever wonder why hot oil treatments work so well? The heat from the oil opens up the hair shaft allowing the oil to penetrate and moisturize the hair and add shine. Since heat opens up the hair shaft, cold closes it. This is why it's important to do your final rinse with lukewarm to cool water. It will close the hair shaft, leaving you with shine instead of frizz.
Olive oil isn't the only oil that works for restoring moisture to dry hair. You can also use jojoba or coconut oil as well. Though I've never tried it, I would venture to say that grapeseed oil would also work. You can also mix a bit of honey in with your oil for added benefit. Coconut oil is also great for the scalp - especially if you deal with dryness or dandruff.
Sometimes if I'm in a hurry and don't have time to do a full hot-oil treatment, I'll just slather a bit of olive or coconut oil on the ends of my hair while I'm getting my shower ready. The heat from the water still allows the oil to penetrate the hair shaft, giving a deep conditioning benefit. This doesn't give quite the dramatic results of a full-on hot oil treatment, but in real life we take what we can get sometimes, right?
Click here to view more posts in this series.
So, tell me, have you ever used hot oil treatments on your hair?
I'm sharing this with Your Green Resource, Hearth and Soul Blog Hop, Teach Me Tuesdays, Frugal Days - Sustainable Ways, Living Well blog hop and Healthy2Day Wednesdays.