Today's topic is about GREASE! For those of you out there, I'm sure you can recount the times when Mommy dearest put some grease in your hair. Lol! Some of may you may not want to remember those days, but we've all had them. :-)
What I'm finding in my preliminary readings on the grease phenomenon is that there is more of an advocacy for essential oils over petroleum based grease. The view is that grease clogs your pores,and encourages dirt build-up, yada, yada yada. [Rolls eyes.] I have to say that I have a mixed take on this. I choose to take my mother's advice of using grease to grease my scalp at least twice a week.
The best analogy I can use is that grease is like an important "plant food" in lawn care. It's like Miracle Gro for your hair. A well maintained lawn must undergo a series of edging, hedging, watering, pruning and mowing in order to be healthy, and the same goes for your hair.
Generally, Black hair requires more attention to the utilization of oil (in Texas we pronounce oil as "all")/grease than our Caucasian counterparts. Let's say that "watering" your hair is like that of greasing. Simply put, too much greasing of the scalp, will not be help for the promotion of hair growth; it's as if you are over watering (drowning) your hair. That is what you want to avoid. But grease application in moderation, just like watering your lawn in moderation, maintains the vibrancy of your hair like that of a lawn.
Below is a direct excerpt of an article I found helpful in looking at the best oil /greate ingredients for your hair. Among the list below I currently use a regimen of coconut grease (petroleum based) and olive oil (less petroleum based) for greasing my scalp twice a week. My results have been great My hair looks alive even in it's transition state! Enjoy!
What I'm finding in my preliminary readings on the grease phenomenon is that there is more of an advocacy for essential oils over petroleum based grease. The view is that grease clogs your pores,and encourages dirt build-up, yada, yada yada. [Rolls eyes.] I have to say that I have a mixed take on this. I choose to take my mother's advice of using grease to grease my scalp at least twice a week.
The best analogy I can use is that grease is like an important "plant food" in lawn care. It's like Miracle Gro for your hair. A well maintained lawn must undergo a series of edging, hedging, watering, pruning and mowing in order to be healthy, and the same goes for your hair.
Generally, Black hair requires more attention to the utilization of oil (in Texas we pronounce oil as "all")/grease than our Caucasian counterparts. Let's say that "watering" your hair is like that of greasing. Simply put, too much greasing of the scalp, will not be help for the promotion of hair growth; it's as if you are over watering (drowning) your hair. That is what you want to avoid. But grease application in moderation, just like watering your lawn in moderation, maintains the vibrancy of your hair like that of a lawn.
Below is a direct excerpt of an article I found helpful in looking at the best oil /greate ingredients for your hair. Among the list below I currently use a regimen of coconut grease (petroleum based) and olive oil (less petroleum based) for greasing my scalp twice a week. My results have been great My hair looks alive even in it's transition state! Enjoy!
xoxo
-chisomthewriter
The information below is from the following website:
http://blackhair.about.com/od/naturalcare/tp/naturalhairmyths.htm
Natural Hair Needs Grease
Many products you'll find in the ethnic hair care section of your local stores are full of ingredients that aren't the best for black hair. Ironic, but true. Petroleum and mineral oil make up a large percentage of black hair products and all they do is clog your scalp and attract dirt to your hair. You do not have to "grease" your scalp for it to be healthy.
A better approach is to apply natural oils directly to your hair, paying special attention to the ends, which tend to be dry.
Coconut Oil
You'll find products that contain coconut oil, but if you can buy it pure and/or organic, you can use it straight from the jar. It's a wonderful emollient because unlike other oils, coconut oil actually penetrates the cortex instead of simply sitting on top of it and making it look all nice and shiny. It absorbs wonderfully and is multi-functional; use it on your skin and cook with it, too.
Shea Butter
Look for pure, unrefined shea butter that's pale yellow and smooth. Gritty, dark yellow, white or green shea butter is either too refined or even rotten. Again, look for a light yellow color and uniformity when buying shea butter. There's plenty of products that have jumped on the shea butter bandwagon, but if it's not one of the first five ingredients listed, it's probably not doing you much good. You can either buy a shea butter-based product, or better yet, use it straight from the jar. Pure shea butter can be firm, but it melts easily and absorbs into dry hair well.
Olive Oil
Another multi-tasker here, olive oil is great for hot oil treatments and for mixing with rinse-out conditioners. Use sparingly as this is a heavy oil and can weigh your hair down when used in large amounts.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is prized as a natural ingredient because its composition is similar to that of your scalp's natural oils. Use straight from the bottle, although it's not considered as effective a penetrator as coconut oil, or mix with conditioners and hair moisturizers.
Avocado Oil
If you've ever used mashed avocado as a conditioning treatment, you're familiar with the moisturizing properties of this vegetable. The oil is good for use on dry hair.
Aloe Vera
Purported to prevent hair loss, aloe vera does more than soothe sunburn. A good aloe vera shampoo is said to restore the pH levels of the scalp.
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