One of the biggest debates (and trends) to be party to the natural hair bandwagon is ingredients. We get it! Plant based personal care benefits can be a nightmare to choose from. This is especially true in hair care, but there are reasons why these ingredients actually live up to the hype. So, when it comes to personal care, there’s probably an area which you allocate the majority of your time and resources. With so much development and so much going on around natural hair care, it’s easy to find oneself in a sticky wicket. How about the consuming frenzies regarding the endless steps, processes, not to mention conflicting tips and options that come with them? The desire to have a good head of hair can easily turn into a logistical ordeal. The thing for us to keep in mind is that our experiences when it comes to natural hair (different as they are) can be as flexible or as complex as we want them to be. And the good news is that it is totally up to us!

Nonetheless, we are happy to continue to discover natural hair ingredients that become our main sources for finding holy grail products. Before “clean beauty” became a collective effort, these ingredients have contained benefits far beyond. It’s still surprising that aside from their usefulness in cooking and consuming, they are earning their spots in our bedroom and bathroom shelves. Because of their health benefits for the body and skin, exactly how beneficial are they for our hair and scalp? With so many products (oils, creams, lotions, treatments) calling our hair, finding the right ones for our hair needs can be a Ripley’s believe it or not. As different oils (and products) serve different purposes, we’re looking at 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Jamaican Black Castor Oil with the qualities that make them different and effective hair oils:

100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:

As it turns out, our hair (especially natural hair) can experience a serious boost from nourishing oils that can be used as part of our daily hair care and maintenance routines. Caring for our hair varies from queen to queen, making it a unique experience for everybody. As we’ve mentioned that hair oils are also different, the fruit of the coconut is something special, with a range of different variations of the oil. When you’re looking forward to purchasing a jar of Coconut oil, you may get confused between regular Coconut oil and 100% virgin Coconut oil. If you want to harness the power of Coconut oil, it’s good to know that all the entire virtues of the Coconut milk are preserved within the virgin Coconut oil (100%) because it does not undergo any heating processes to alter it. This method maintains all the natural values (fatty acids and antioxidants) through a cold process which extracts the oil from the fresh milk of the coconut fruit, making it good for nourishing, moisturising, and deep conditioning hair.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil:

Next on the list of natural hair marvels? Jamaican Black Castor Oil is also having a moment right now (amongst others). Many ingredients didn’t normally get credit, but natural hair has changed all that. Thanks to its moisturizing and thickening benefits, Jamaican black castor oil is bound to be favourite (especially if you’re looking to grow your hair). With its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial perks, it has key benefits required to grow everything hair related. There are plenty of oils in the market that include a mix of Jamaican Black Castor Oil, and even as a standalone, natural coils are guaranteed next level care. Aside from treating irritated scalps as well as sources of dandruff, it is also found to be an ideal oil for making ultra-hydrating conditioners and hair masks.

The Difference?

Tons of us encounter common and sometimes distinct issues with our hair from time to time. When we’re looking to determine which oils (or products) are better, whether it’s with a multi-use or specific item, we can consider questions (to ourselves) such as am I struggling with certain hair problems like hair loss, dryness, or thinning? Have I tested what my hair prefers or responds to? As we use different hair oils (and products) for different occasions and needs, the choices that we make depend on the type of issues we want to address or possible cures that we might be looking for. With every product having its own set of significant benefits (ingredients), you’d think there are definite answers that can fit everyone. The point of looking at these two oils together is to compare the values of each, and the possibilities of considering them in a regimen. Both are natural remedies with respect to hair growth and maintenance, and both vary in their qualities as well as the effect that they have for hair:

  • Castor Oil is highly effective for treating issues like hair loss, hair fall and hair thinning. It is best for hair growth, whether edges, eyebrows or filling the gaps of weakened hair.
  • 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil contains properties which protect from environmental conditions. It can be used for regular hair maintenance to keep hair moisturised for long, working to strengthen hair and helping to prevent breakage.

A swarm of theories are passed around to help us understand which products (oils, butters, treatments) are more suited for different hair care needs over others and why. There are strict rules of perfection that cause many of us to miss out on the simplicity of caring for, and maintaining our natural hair, creating stigmas around what beautiful afros look like. When it’s all said and done, this all speaks to us about better hair care, where we’re able decipher the benefits of using some products over others (or all) which are good to know. The characteristics of our natural hair vary and appreciating them is a good start which can help us understand how we can take better care of it in its different stages. If you’ve missed our previous posts about how our Hafro Natural Cosmetics range is well defined by nature, please catch up on https://hafronatural.com/its-a-win-win-situation/