Cooking Oil on Natural Hair

I was in the salon giving a client consultation and started to smell something in her hair that reeked of baby vomit. I asked her, “what are you putting on your hair,” she said Olive Oil. I asked her cooking olive oil. I told her your hair smelled like baby vomit! (I’m very honest with my clients)

After shampooing her hair 3 times, conditioning and blow drying as I began curling her hair a ball of smoke filled gasses came flying back at me !! Choking me! As I continued curling, coughing and dodging the smoke I knew something had to be terribly wrong with using food grade cooking oils on your hair if something doesn’t smell right then it ain’t right!

So I began my investigation.

Here’s why you SHOULD NOT use cooking oils on your hair!

Beyond the un-natural levels of polyunsaturated fats and Omega-6 fatty acids, there are all the additives, pesticides, and chemicals involved in the processing methods of cooking oils.

Many vegetable oils contain BHA and BHT (Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene). These artificial antioxidants keep the food from spoiling. They have also been shown to produce potential cancer compounds in the body.

They have been linked to things like:

  • Immune system issues
  • Infertility
  • Behavioral problems
  • Liver and kidney damage
  • Low birth rate
  • Hormonal issues
  • Mental decline
  • Cancer

Also, avoid putting Coconut Olive and Vegetable cooking oil or ANY OIL MADE FOR COOKING on your hair and scalp! Though these oils seem to be beneficial for those who struggle with dandruff dry hair and scalp these food grade oils have a fungal component, people may see negative effects from using these oils directly on the scalp. Food grade cooking oils may clog pores and cause irritation for some hair and scalp types (just as it does on certain skin types) and is best used internally rather than topically.

Eat the organic oils for maximum benefit! Organic coconut, olive and Almond oils because hair doesn’t have the ability to metabolize or digest these oils as your digestive system does.

So the next time you’re in the supermarket and think about buying cooking oil for your hair think again. Just use quality natural hair products to assure you are giving your natural hair the best care.