Hair oils have been around for awhile but they’re still making their way to everyday households. Alysia recently posted about how she loved the hair oil from the Live Clean Age Resist line. Today Sohnee tells us how oils have always been part of her routine and introduces us to three Live Clean hair oils.
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When I was a kid, my mom used to put coconut oil in my hair every Sunday night. It was one of our weekly rituals; one where we could sit together and talk about what was on our minds. She would warm some up in her hands and then massage it through my scalp, all the way to the ends before braiding it for bedtime. It was always a relaxing way to wind down in the evening and quickly became something I looked forward to every weekend.
It has been a long time since I’ve had one of those nights with my mom, but I never stopped putting oil in my hair. It used to be something that I thought only women of colour did, but now hair oils have entered the mainstream and in Canada, one company that has released a whole line of hair oils is Live Clean.
I had the pleasure of trying three Live Clean hair oils, each one providing a little something different to my hair. But first, here’s a quick fact sheet about hair oils:
- Hair oils replace essential moisture lost during shampoo and styling
- They treat dryness, split ends, and frizz, making your hair more manageable, soft, and shiny
- You only need a few drops to see an effect; it’s really easy to make your hair look greasy and weighed down. Remember, less is more.
- Not all hair oils are alike. Depending on the type of oil (molecular size and structure), it may be used to seal or moisturize.
- Sealing oils: These are typically polyunsaturated or “large molecular” oils that cannot penetrate the shaft. Instead, they coat the cuticle and help seal moisture. These oils are better to be used after a washing for added shine. Examples include: grapeseed, jojoba, castor, and almond. Jojoba is the closest to the scalp’s natural oil, sebum. As a result, it tends to be the most popular sealing oil on the market. Frizz occurs when moisture penetrates the hair’s cortex and causes it to swell. Sealing oils prevent moisture from entering the hair, preventing frizz.
- Moisturizing oils: These are categorized as being usually “small molecule”, saturated or monounsaturated fats that are able to penetrate through the cuticle into the keratin fiber. They are usually best to use as a pre-wash oil for full penetration and better water retention prevention. Examples include: coconut, olive, and avocado. Celebrities like the Olsen twins have been known to use moisturizing oils prior to swimming and showering, protecting the hair from further damage.
The three Live Clean oils that I tried were the Age Resist Miracle Nutrition Oil, Exotic Silk Keratin Oil, and the Exotic Vitality Monoi Oil. All of them are silicone free, so can be used regularly without buildup.
Live Clean Age Resist Miracle Nutrition Oil
This is a pre-shampoo treatment that contains safflower, jojoba, oat, and avocado oils. Its dual layer system requires you to shake the bottle to activate it. You then apply a small amount and leave it in your hair for 5-10 minutes before shampooing and rinsing it out. It’s supposed to increase sheen, lustre and hair density, making it look like you’ve turned back the clock on your hair. I found that it left my hair feeling very soft after coming out of the shower, making my hair easier to manage and style.
Live Clean Keratin Oil Leave-in
This is a smoothing oil as a part of their Brazilian Collection. It contains macadamia nut oil that is 85% monounsaturated, as well as Buriti oil, which is primarily oleic oil (the main component of olive oil). These are two moisturizing oils that makes this a great product for dry, curly hair. It also contains Phyto-Keratin, used to smooth the hair. I like to use this before I straighten my hair to keep the final look very sleek.
This is the strengthener, used to penetrate and shield each hair against external damage. It contains safflower, coconut, and jojoba oil as well as Monoi of Tahiti flower extract. Scented with the Tahitian Gardenia (also known as the Tiare flower), it’s a beautifully scented oil that softens hair and is known for its protective properties against sun, wind, and pool water. My hair definitely felt very strong after I used this. The shine lasted even through my daily summer commute through downtown Toronto, with all the air pollution, wind, and sun.
These are just three of the many hair oils that have come out from this Canadian company. While I still like to use the traditional coconut oil that my mom used to use, I’m glad to have these three join my haircare arsenal to change things up a bit. The tradition is still there, but now it’s a bit more modern.
Have you ever tried hair oils before?
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****Disclosure: products were sent to Toronto Beauty Reviews for review/editorial consideration***
Sohnee is a genetic counsellor by day, a product reviewer by night, and a cat whisperer on weekends. She loves to try out all things beauty related, but will always be curious about the science underneath. Follow her on Twitter @SohneeAhmed.