What oil makes hair shiny?

9 Natural Oils For Smooth and Shiny Winter Hair

What’s better than pure, plant-based oils? Not just the hair, but the entire body absolutely loves them. In winter, you’ll want – no need – to add a hair oil to your routine for healthier-looking, smoother and shinier locks. Dry ends, no more.

How’s your hair and scalp? Dry? Living up north, like we do, climate’s a bitch. Sorry, but it is. At one point (yup, we’ve already reached it) all you’ll want is to sink yourself into a tub of oil and soak until late spring; June possibly. As this isn’t an option (why though?), you must go about it methodically, working your way from the top down. So, starting with hair and scalp – must not forget – a natural hair oil is total BFF material.

Why oil? Natural, plant-based oils – like jojoba, coconut, argan and castor – are pure and incredibly potent, nourishing and hydrating. They work to protect, restore and nourish the hair, leaving it smooth and shiny. Some you can even use for face and body, making it the perfect multipurpose product (God we love those).
But keep in mind: a good oil should never weigh down the hair or make it look greasy. Ever.

How to use? Squeezing a few drops of oil into dry or split ends will instantly make the hair look a lot healthier. And smoothing it over the lengths will help tame frizz and flyaways. For curly hair, which is naturally dry, oil is a year-round must.
You can also apply it to wet hair, which is especially great if you’re going to do a warm blow-dry, as the oil helps the hair stay moisturized, shiny and bouncy.
When used as a treatment, you’ll get a super-soft and shiny finish. Work some into the hair before taking a hot Yoga class or going into the sauna. Wash it out and be wowed by new healthy lustre.

What about the scalp? Oils work wonders for dry and itchy scalps. Quick-treat yours with a few drops for about 15-20 minutes before shampooing, or leave it in overnight. Massage the oil into your scalp before going to bed (you’ll want to place a towel over your pillow for this one) – give it a good rub to get circulation going – and wash the hair as usual the next day. Tada.

Shop the Hair Oils

1. Hair Oil De Luxe, Loelle. 2. Organic Sonoran Jojoba Oil, hair and body, Kindred Black. 3. Hair Oil, F. Miller/Kindred Black.

4. Legendary Amazon Oil, Rahua. 5. Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer, John Masters Organics/Content Beauty. 6. Organic Jojoba Oil, multipurpose use, C/O Gerd/Naturligt Snygg.

7. Cold Pressed Jojoba Oil, multipurpose use, Maria Åkerberg/Naturligt Snygg. 8. Raw Coconut Drink For Hair, Sister & Co./Content Beauty. 9. Serum, hair and body, Mater.

Photographer — Pauline Suzor

Hair & Makeup Artist — Sara Eriksson

Stylist — Meja Taserud

Model — Zoe/Stockholmsgruppen

Model — Magda/Nisch Management

Winter hair care: My grandma’s secret mix of 5 oils can work wonders

Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, you can use this wonderful 5-oil mix for hair growth, strengthening and nourishing.

Shifa Khan Published: 22 Dec 2021, 18:17 pm IST

Winter is here and we are loving that crisp nip in the air. Christmas decor and ‘almost’ New Year vibes are making us plan our party outfits already! But, these festivities and chilled weather comes with a killjoy – our limp, lifeless hair! If this drop in temperature is making your hair yell for help and shiny hair seems like a dream that’s about to break, you’re not alone! But hold on, and we’ll tell you about a wonder oil.

Remember, It is not just your skin or lips that demand extra TLC during winter, but your hair can go dry, scalp can get flaky and itchy during the cold days. To tend to that dry pile of haystack like hair and turn them into a lustrous mane, my grandmother’s 5 oil mix came to the rescue. The recipe is simple- 5 oils mixed together in equal parts of goodness!

I tried it, loved it and now I am sharing it with anybody dealing with hair woes during this brutal winter season.

To start with it, you need to get your hands on these oils when you go grocery shopping

Ingredients:

½ cup of pure mustard oil
½ cup of coconut oil, cold pressed preferably
½ cup of olive oil, virgin not pomace
½ cup of castor oil. You can buy black castor oil if available
½ cup of sweet almond oil

Once you have these oils in their measured quantities, mix them together in a big bowl or flask, like they do in a laboratory! Whisk them together and pour the contents into an oil dispenser bottle for a quick go at it for days when you’re running late!

Before you get to now my ‘hair-changing’ experience with this oil, let’s delve into the nutritional values of the oils you’re about to use:

Mustard oil

Mustard oil or sarson ka tel really needs no introduction in an Indian household. Whether you want to whip up delicious delicacies or massage your body, it is the go-to oil for everything. Mustard oil contains a potent mixture of omega 3-and omega-6 fatty acids, and at the same time, is also enriched with vitamin E. It is also packed with zinc, beta-carotene, and selenium that makes it even more potent. It can deep condition your hair, fight dandruff and control premature greying. What more should we ask!

Coconut oil

Cold pressed coconut oil in this oil mix is the OG moisturiser for lifeless hair. Coconut oil is extremely rich in fatty acids and is easily absorbed by your hair fibre, as well as the scalp. Hence, it deeply moisturises the hair and provides it with the nourishment it needs.

Olive oil

Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, olive oil has a unique chemical composition obtained naturally by pressing olives. Known to strengthen your hair follicles, olive oil has a soothing impact on the scaly and dry scalp. This oil can even stimulate hair growth. A total winner, ain’t it?

Castor oil

This widely available oil is an absolute blessing when it comes to hair loss. Unlike other oils, castor contains several nutrients that consist of a powerful mix of proteins, vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants. Hence, it provides the scalp with the nourishment it requires. This doesn’t just prevent hair loss but also ensures healthy hair growth. Due to its thick consistency, castor oil when mixed in other 4 oils makes it easy to apply.

Almond oil

Rich in proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, there’s no doubt that almond oil can do wonders for your hair health. The proteins and vitamin E in this beauty elixir can provide the scalp and hair with all the nourishment that’s needed. While the omega-3 fatty acids ensure the hair stays soft and lustrous, Vitamin E nourishes the roots for improved hair growth. That’s not all about it! Do not mistakenly pick up a scented bottle of almond oil for this mix. It may be a little pricier, but, choose a non-scented sweet almond oil for better results.

Here’s how to use this 5 oil mix for shiny hair:

1. Pour the mixture in a bowl and warm it up.
2. Apply this warm oil starting from the ends along the entire length of your hair.
3. Now, with the help of your fingers, apply this oil on your scalp.
4. Massage your scalp using light pressure until the oil absorbs.
5. Keep it on for 30 minutes and wash with a mild shampoo.
6. If you have time, you can leave it overnight. Remember to cover your pillow cases with a protective towel to avoid staining.

It’s true that it is one of the best hair potions, but you can’t go overboard with its application! It’s important to exercise moderation. Always do a patch test on your elbow by applying a small amount to check if the oil suits you.

If you have the time, keep this oil on overnight. In case you need to wash your hair the same day, ensure you’ve let the hair oil do its job for at least two hours, before you rinse it out with a gentle shampoo.

Neglect combined with external stresses such as pollution can settle this damage into your hair. But, this damage can be reversed by giving some love to your tresses from time to time.

The takeaway

This oil gave my parched locks the hydration and nourishment they were longing for. I have long wavy hair, and this mix helped make them more manageable right after a wash. It turned my hair from brittle and boring to bouncy and beautiful! What’s more, regular champi with this mix can also enhance blood circulation, preventing hair loss. Final rating? This potion can solve any hair trouble!

About the Author

Shifa Khan

An aesthete and a skincare junkie, Shifa spends most of her time cooking delish food while wearing a sheet mask. At HealthShots, she creates high-octane content that can leave you all a little intrigued! . Read More

Avocado Oil For Hair: 6 Benefits & How To Use It In Your Routine

Hannah Frye is the Assistant Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including health, wellness, sustainability, personal development, and more.

Image by Clique Images / Stocksy
April 30, 2023

Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may earn a small commission.

Shiny hair is understandably desirable. However, there’s not a way to fake highly reflective strands, given that shiny hair is synonymous with healthy hair. Still, there are steps you can take to encourage stronger, more hydrated hair—one of which is oiling your hair.

A common hair oil used for boosting shine and strengthening strands is avocado oil. To come, experts explain why this oil is so beneficial and how to use it.

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Hair benefits of avocado oil

Before we dive into the how-to methods, let’s chat about why you should use this ingredient in the first place. Below, a few noteworthy benefits—we explain more in detail below, but as an overview here’s what you can expect from using avocado oil.

1. Hydrates and conditions
2. Reduces breakage and split ends
3. Encourages growth
4. Hydrates the scalp
5. Reduces frizz and improves shine
6. Antioxidant protection

Image by SeeDJan / Twenty20

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Hydrates and conditions

The rich fatty acid content in avocado oil makes it a wonderful hydrator. «Avocado oil is extremely rich in oleic acid and monounsaturated fats, making it one of few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize your hair, rather than sitting on top and coating your hair,» hair expert and founder of NaturAll Club Muhga Eltigani tells mbg.

This is why avocado oil is a common ingredient in conditioners as well as leave-in products—it has the ability to soak into the hair, meaning a five minute hair mask with avocado oil will actually help your hair in the long run, rather than simply rinsing off.

Reduces breakage and split ends

Apart from momentary hydration, avocado oil also helps prevent breakage. Here’s how: First, avocado oil hydrates your strands and seals the cuticle shut1

. You may have open hair cuticles from hair dye, heat damage, UV exposure, dryness, etc.

“When your cuticle is open, not only is your hair susceptible to breakage but it will also appear dry and brittle—you know, that ‘I need a haircut’ feel on your ends,” professional hairstylist and founder of hOURS Haircare Marilynne Cosmillo tells mbg.

Not to mention, applying avocado oil straight to your ends may help you mask the appearance of splits, while preventing worsening breakage at the same time.

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Encourages growth

“Natural emollient, avocado oil is rich in vitamins, nutrients and biotin which is synonymous with supporting hair growth,” trichologist and founder of Colour Collective Kerry Yates tells mbg.

The reason for this is two-fold: First, avocado oil helps to strengthen and hydrate your hair, meaning it’ll continue gaining length without breaking off early. What’s more, using avocado on the scalp can help nourish that skin, creating a healthy environment for growth.

Hydrates the scalp

When applied to the scalp, avocado acts as a natural hydrator. Instead of applying loads of avocado oil to the scalp, use this ingredient in a pre-formulated scalp serum or stick with a few drops on your fingertips when you massage.

If you overdo it (read: load oil onto your scalp), you’ll run the risk of clogging follicles which can do the opposite for hair growth.

While this hydrating ingredient can be nourishing for the scalp when used in moderation, you can’t compare avocado oil’s function on the scalp with ingredients like rosemary oil that have been proven to stimulate hair growth at the follicular level.

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Reduces frizz and improves shine

“Avocado oil helps to smooth the cuticle down to create instant light reflection even for the most damaged of hair,” Yates explains. When your cuticle is flat, you’ll also experience less frizz and flyaways.

What’s more, Yates notes avocado oil as “A great alternative to silicones which can be too heavy and create an impenetrable barrier which can impact hair health.”

Antioxidant protection

Antioxidants are more commonly discussed in the skin care space, but your hair needs protection from free radicals, too. «As an excellent source of antioxidants like vitamin E, avocado oil can help deal with free radicals generated by environmental damage like UV rays and air pollution,» says board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D.

For lasting antioxidant protection, use a leave in conditioner or hair oil with avocado oil for consistent defense.