Haitian Castor Oil For Your Hair Regiment!

Last month, I discussed the Many Uses of Castor Oil: Nature's Healing Oil.  Now that you know the many ways it can be used for beauty and health, we can go a bit deeper into the specifics.  Most naturalistas I run into want to know exactly how to use black castor oil in their hair.  Castor oil can be very thick and viscous.  Quite often, this discourages many people from using it in their hair, for fear that it will weigh it down.  This is the case for many ladies with finer hair textures.  Some have used castor oil in the past and remember it being sticky and that turned them off from ever using it again!  In my experience, I find Black Castor Oil to be less sticky, so for those of you who have used castor oil before and didn’t like it, this is one more reason to give castor oil another shot.  If you have never used Haitian Black Castor Oil (HBCO), here are some fun and easy ways to add it to your hair regimen!

HBCO Hair Treatment

This is a method that can be used on all hair types.  For those with fine hair and straighter textures, including those of European descent, this is an excellent way to make use of the many benefits of HBCO without adding weight to the hair.

• Before washing hair, apply HBCO to the ends of the hair and scalp.  Separate the hair into four sections and apply a dime-sized amount to each section (thick-haired lovelies may need more).  Take several minutes to massage the oil throughout the hair and into the scalp.  Enjoy the experience!  How often do you get a scalp massage?  Even better, you can do this for that special someone or your little princess before those dreaded “wash days”! 

• Make sure you pay close attention to your ends, as this is the oldest part of your hair and has endured the most abuse.  Because of the thickness of HBCO, a little goes a long way, so be cautious not to overdo it. 

• Comb through the hair gently and cover with a plastic cap.  This allows your body heat to heat up the oil.  Leave on for at least 30 minutes.  Relax at home or throw on a cute hat on top and go about your day running errands!  When you take off the plastic cap, you will find that your hair is so much softer and juicier than it was previously! 

• Use a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo or conditioner to wash the HBCO out.  Style as usual. Over time, you will find your hair and scalp less dry using this treatment.
  
  

HBCO Smoothie

For many women with tightly coiled hair, it is harder for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down the shaft to coat the hair.  Many of us with curlier textures have to use additional products to assist in the moisture balance of our hair.  This is where creams and oils are extremely useful.

Haitian Black Castor Oil can be used to seal in moisture to the hair.  Making an HBCO smoothie to use in the hair is a technique that can be of use to thirstier hair types, especially those living in drier climates (like me)!  I had been using oils and creams to seal my hair for years, but had no idea it was known in the cyber world as the LOC method.  This method consists of using a Liquid, Oil and a Cream to seal moisture into the hair. 

Liquid: First, you will need a liquid moisturizer. Again, you can work in four sections.  Spritz or apply the liquid moisturizer all over your hair.  I love aloe vera juice for this step.  Hydrosols or floral waters also work well.  I know many naturalistas who make up various concoctions, so have fun with it!  If you’re not a mixtress or need something a little more substantial, try Kreyol Essence’s Goat & Coconut Krem ak Let which contains aloe vera juice.

Oil: The next step is applying an oil to your hair.  Make sure the oil is pure, unrefined and of good quality.  If it is an oil blend, be sure that petroleum or mineral is excluded from the list of ingredients.  Apply the oil onto the hair paying close attention to the ends.  Kreyol Essence’s HBCO is unique in that you have the option to have your black castor oil unscented or with essential oils already infused into them.  This saves you the trouble in having to add those in yourself, while experiencing the benefits of aromatherapy. Choose from lavender, mango, peppermint, and the newest flavor chokola –Mmmm!

Cream: The final step is to apply a creamy leave-in conditioner or hair cream to seal everything in.  This is your layer of protection, in essence your “hair shield”!  My hair is really thick and curly, so it loves “creamy”!  Kreyol Essence’s Haitian Shea Butter is a wonderful option for this last step because it contains Shea butter, which is great for tightly coiled hair textures.  Smooth the cream over your hair, enveloping it with all the goodness of these amazing ingredients!  Style as usual.

So there you have it: two easy ways to incorporate HBCO into your regimen.  Natural hair care does not have to be complicated.  If you show your hair love and care, it will return the favor!  Try these techniques out and let me know how they work for you!