Turns out we can all show our locks the same kind of love.

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Hair oil?

As someone who won the fine hair lottery (or curse) at birth, I’ve never considered using it. Already prone to an oily scalp, I figured that adding more oil would only make matters greasily worse.

This year, however, I began to wonder... is hair oil THE thing my locks have been crying out for all these years?

Although I’ve been leaning on Amy Farid’s at-home trim tips for the past year or so, these self-made appointments are few and far between. So my hair, especially at its (wit’s) ends, has grown a little lackluster. Dry and especially prone to the knots/mats that I’ve suffered from through most winters and summers anyway, and no longer benefiting from conditioner alone.

Poring through many sites and IG accounts in search of help, Briogeo was a brand that I kept reading about, and coming back to. The Black-Owned, literally-conceived-in-a-childhood-kitchen line of clean hair care is an undeniable fave of many (including my co-workers), so I went right to its source -- founder Nancy Twine -- to find out if hair oil proved a good match for me.

I assumed that hair oil was reserved for people with thick, unruly, and/or damaged hair. And that’s true, but not exclusively so. You see, hair oil, and Briogeo’s rose-formulated Strengthening Treatment Oil, specifically, “works the same on all hair types, providing a protective coating to keep essential moisture in and excess humidity and pollutants out,” says Nancy. “It also infuses strands with lipids and ceramides to reinforce the hair barrier, smooth hair, seal down the cuticle to repair split ends, and add shine.”

HOW MUCH HAIR OIL IS ENOUGH?

Because different hair types have different levels of porousness and cuticle structure (which affects just how much of a product is absorbed), Nancy suggests following these application guidelines:

✨ Fine, thin hair: 1-2 drops
✨ Thick, frizzy hair: 2-3 drops
✨ Curly curls: 2-3 drops per section of hair
✨ Coily curls: 3-4 drops per section of hair (or more as needed)

WHY WOULD I USE HAIR OIL?

I then thought -- for what purpose/s does a hair oil work best? Like, it is okay to use every day? Dyed/undyed hair? And to that, the best answer is: experiment. So you can assess what amount/frequency works best for your individual needs. There are several instances, however, in which making hair oil your HBF (that’s Head’s Best Friend) could be of true benefit:

1. Split ends. That indicates that your hair is dry and damaged. Hair oil can work to repair that damage and replenish your hair’s silkiness.
2. Naturally textured hair is generally “thirstier.” Curls can always benefit from added oil to help strands retain moisture while staying resilient.
3. Chemically treated or heat-styled hair. Hair oil can repair the lifted hair cuticle and bond split ends caused by either physical or chemical damage.

AND BESIDES HAIR OIL?

If you’re looking for more hair care options, consider supporting your locks from the inside out. Omegas, for instance, “are a key nutrient when it comes to healthy hair, but your body doesn’t naturally produce them,” Nancy says. And scalp massages? Great to incorporate into your regimen. “A scalp massager can help bring blood flow to your follicles and keep them filled with essential nutrients.” And last but not least -- silk pillowcases, “which can reduce friction, tugging, tangling, and damage; they can also help extend your style.”

So, am I super excited to bid adieu to dry, knotty ends? Well, let’s just say that it’s due time to give my hair the “r-oil” treatment.