Is Hair Oil Good For Frizzy Hair: Everything You Need To Know

missaazarian
3 days ago
4 min read

Is Hair Oil Good for Frizzy Hair?

Frizz can make hair look messy, uneven, and can even be a sign of hair damage or a lack of hydration. Hair oil can help to reduce damage and restore moisture, helping to keep frizz under control.

What Causes Frizzy Hair?

To understand whether hair oil is good for frizzy hair, it’s important to know what frizz actually is.

Hair becomes frizzy when the cuticle (the outer layer of the hair shaft) is raised, allowing moisture from the environment to enter and swell the strands. This leads to uneven texture, flyaways, and a rough surface. Here are the most common causes of frizzy hair:

Humidity
When the cuticle is raised due to moisture in the air, water molecules slip into the hair shaft, causing it to swell and frizz.
Dryness
Hair that is lacking in hydration can have a raised cuticle, allowing moisture from the environment to enter the hair shaft more easily, resulting in frizz.
Friction
When the hair comes in to contact with rough fabrics or surfaces, the cuticle can become damaged and lifted, causing frizz
Heat styling
Frequent use of flat irons, curling wands, or blow dryers damages and lifts the cuticle. The raised cuticle makes hair vulnerable to environmental moisture, leading to frizz.
Chemical treatments
A damaged cuticle from chemical treatments is lifted, allowing unwanted moisture from the air to penetrate the shaft, creating puffiness and frizz.
Hair type
Curly and wavy hair naturally have more lifted cuticles along the bends of the strand, making it easier for environmental moisture to enter and cause frizz.

How Does Hair Oil Work on Frizz?

Hair oils act as emollients, lubricants, and sometimes even penetrative treatments depending on the type of oil. They work in the following ways:

Sealing the cuticle
Oils form a protective layer around the hair shaft, preventing moisture from entering, helping to reduce frizz
Locking in moisture
Oils prevent excessive water loss, keeping hair hydrated longer, making hair less prone to frizz
Reducing friction
By smoothing strands, oils can prevent rough and damaged cuticles, minimising frizz.
Protecting from humidity
Hair oils can act as a barrier against excess moisture in the air, blocking it from entering the strands and causing frizz

Best Oils for Frizzy Hair

Castor oil

Castor oil is made up mostly of ricinoleic acid, a rare fatty acid with both penetrative and sealing properties. By penetrating and sealing the hair shaft, ricinoleic acid helps strengthen and hydrate hair from within, while at the same time, it coats the outer cuticle, sealing in moisture and smoothing raised layers. This combination prevents hair from drawing excess humidity from the air, while also keeping strands flexible and resilient.

Black seed oil

Black seed oil helps to reduce frizz by creating a sealing layer on the cuticle, minimising moisture loss from the hair. and preventing moisture from entering from the environment. This also creates a protective barrier protecting the hair from friction induced frizz, and the layer also smooths the cuticle to reduce frizz.

Avocado oil

Avocado oil is excellent for penetrating the hair shaft and restoring moisture. Its moisturising nature makes it ideal for reducing frizz, by creating hydrated hair and repairing damage, which helps to smooth and flatten the cuticles, making the hair less suseptible to frizz.

How to Use Hair Oil for Frizz Control

You can use oil in different ways in your haircare routine to manage frizz and improve overall health. Here are some effective methods:

Pre-wash treatment
Apply oil generously to your hair and scalp before shampooing. This gives the hair an intense hydrating treatment before washing
Leave-in treatment
Use a small amount of lightweight oil on dry or damp hair to lock in hydration, and smooth frizz
Styling Oil
Massage a drop or two into the hair to tame flyaways and add shine
Overnight treatment
Massage oil into hair and leave overnight for an intense treatment to help nourish and hydrate the hair before the next wash
Scalp treatment
Hair oil can soothe a dry scalp, which can sometimes contribute to frizz due to the lack of natural oils on the scalp to help lubricate the hair strands

Common Mistakes When Using Hair Oil for Frizz

Although hair oil can be beneficial for reducing frizz, there are a few things to keep in mind to get the best results:

Avoid applying too much oil
Applying too much oil at once can make the hair greasy, weigh the hair down, and interrupt your hair styling habits. Make sure to apply the right amount for your individual hair needs and focus on consistency for long lasting results
Apply to both lengths and scalp
Focus on both the scalp and ends, as it is important to nourish both the strands and scalp to tackle all causes of frizz for maximum benefits
Wash out thoroughly
Build-up can occur if oil isn’t washed out properly, therefore a consistent hair oiling routine using a lightweight buildable hair oil is perfect to maintain a frizz reducing haircare routine

Lifestyle Tips to Reduce Frizz Alongside Hair Oil

Hair oil works best as part of a holistic haircare routine. In order to achieve the best results and help support healthy hair overall, combine hair oiling with the following habits:

Use a sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping natural oils.
Use a hair mask during every wash to restore hydration.
Avoid excessive heat styling and always use heat protection to prevent dryness and damage
Dry hair with a micro-fibre towel to reduce friction.
Sleep on a silk pillowcase to minimise overnight frizz caused by friction