Hair oils: what next for the salon favourite?
It’s the hair saver that has taken the market by storm, and now hair oil is taking on new forms and functions.
Over the past few years, hair oils have firmly established themselves as main players in the haircare market. This is no surprise given the instantly noticeable results they provide. The benefits oils can have are wide-ranging, especially for clients suffering from dry, damaged, frizz-prone or unmanageable hair.
As their popularity increases, the range of products available has expanded. Now hair oil products incorporate treatments especially tailored for specific hair types, be it Afro or ultra-fine, and are available in different formats from the traditional glass bottle to handbag-sized sprays.
With all these options available, we put some common questions to expert stylists to find out more about their many uses.
My client has frizzy, flyaway hair. How can I use oil to tame her locks?
"There is a big trend for high-shine hair this season and oils are a great way to help clients banish frizz and flyaways, and radiate shine. Which oils to use depends on the client’s hair type. On thick, coarse hair, I use Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Pure Treatment Oil as a pre-shampoo treatment, or apply it to damp hair before styling. To avoid overloading fine hair, the new, lightweight Kendi Dry Oil Micromist controls flyaway strands without weighing the hair down. I tend to work in the oil as I’m blow-drying, or as a light finishing spray." Petar Dragicevic, Glass Hair Salon, London
My client has light blonde, very fine hair. Which oil can I recommend for her that won’t be too heavy?
"With fine tresses, the perception can be that you have to avoid oil through fear of weighing it down, but fine hair still needs that professional finish. Moroccanoil Treatment Light busts the myth, delivering the same soft condition and finish for fine hair. Not only does it erase frizz, the Moroccanoil Treatment Light also provides moisture, shine and a healthy finish without weight or residue. I use it either on wet hair to prepare for heat styling, or warm a tiny drop in my hands and rapidly run them through a finished blow-dry to add sheen and condition from mid-crown to ends." Errol Douglas, Errol Douglas, London
I’ve heard that oil can be used to reduce blow-drying time. How does this work and how should I apply the oil to achieve this?
“Using oil is a great way to condition the hair, and has the added bonus of speeding up the drying process. The reason this happens is because oil and water can’t mix together, instead they separate. After washing your hair, the water gets trapped under the cuticle, which can make drying it a lengthy process. By applying a few drops of Osmo Berber Oil to lightly towel-dried hair, and working it through the lengths and ends, the oil will penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, pushing the water out and up to the surface and making it dry much quicker. Doing this will also condition the internal hair structure, giving you smooth and hydrated hair.” Paolo Andreuccetti, freelance hair stylist, Glasgow
Why should I be recommending oil as a good Winter haircare product for my clients?
"Hair oil has a multi-dimensional effect – it helps by increasing the strength of the hair, reducing frizziness and preventing breakage. An oil such as Orofluido Beauty Elixir coats the hair forming a protective layer for the shaft, which is perfect for Winter when hair is battling against the elements. While serums typically just coat hair with silicone for a glassy gloss finish, oils add shine in a far more hair-friendly way. For example, Beauty Elixir contains argan, linseed and cyperus oils, which penetrate the hair to treat and condition at the same time." Mo Nabbach, M&M Hair Academy, London
