Q and A Volume 8

Q&A Vol 8: Hot Oil, Deep Conditioning & Hair Dye

The latest installment of my Q&A series answers questions pertaining to deep conditioning treatments and the damaging effects of hair dye. Since some of my subscribers have asked that I do a video tutorial on my pre-poo olive oil treatment, I thought this would be the perfect time for a demonstration. Enjoy!

Cold vs. Expeller Pressed

Good afternoon divas,

I wanted to take a moment to address a question that was left in the comment section of my post, $3.00 vs. $11.00 Coconut Oil. A subbie by the name of Chidalu asked:

"I have a cold pressed coconut oil jar from Nature's way and it's organic but it was only like $5.00. Is cold and expeller pressed the same thing?"

I thought everyone could benefit from the answer, so here it goes:

Yes, "cold pressed" and "expeller pressed" are the same in that they are chemical-free methods used to extract the oil from the coconuts.

Now, I must say that I don't doubt that you can find a good, quality oil for less than $11.00. When I discuss pricing, I'm simply using general terms, as everyone's shopping experience, which is largely determined by location, is different. However, I believe that one should be able to tell whether they have received a good quality oil or not based on its appearance, smell, and performance.

I hope this answered your question. Happy hair growing!

XOXO,

DPrincess28

Hair

$3.00 vs. $11.00 Coconut Oil

In my video titled, "My Favorite Products: Hair & Skin Care," I listed Organic Virgin Coconut Oil as one of my favorite hair care products. I purchased it as an alternative to EVOO since I was looking for something slightly heavier and more moisturizing to put in my son's hair. Well, I received a few comments from some of my subbies, informing me that $11.00 is a lot to spend on coconut oil, and that I should purchase the $3.00 variety from my local Indian market. Well, I did, and must say that there is a BIG difference between the $3.00 and $11.00 coconut oil!

My husband, who doesn't consider himself to be a hair aficionado by any means, knew immediately that something wasn't right about the $3.00 coconut oil I purchased after we ran out of the $11.00 variety. For one, we both noticed that the $3.00 jar of coconut oil stinks! Instead of smelling like the sweet aroma of freshly cracked coconuts, it smells like burnt, roasted peanuts! Secondly, I've found that the $3.00 variety dries out quicker, and isn't as moisturizing. With that said, I decided to do some research, just to see what the difference is:

#1. The $11.00 coconut oil is organic, meaning that the coconuts were grown without pesticides, chemicals, or fertilizers, which makes them healthier. I know some of you may think "who cares if it's healthier," considering that you're putting it in your hair, not in your body...but guess what? If it's going on your skin or scalp, then it's getting into your pores, which means that it is going into your body, so the organic, "healthier" variety is best.

#2. The $11.00 coconut oil is "expeller pressed," meaning that the oil is extracted from the coconuts by physical, or rather, mechanical means, as opposed to a chemical extraction. Using solvents and or chemicals to extract the oil is the quicker and cheaper route, but this method produces a lower quality oil. I believe this to be true, as the $3.00 coconut oil I purchased is not as moisturizing as the $11.00, expeller pressed variety.

So ladies and gents, I've said all that to say this: cheaper isn't always better. For those of you who have yet to experience what it's like to moisturize the hair with organic, expeller pressed coconut oil, you may want to consider upgrading to the $11.00 jar. A little goes a long way, so you'll still get the right bang for your buck, and a better quality oil at that!

Hair

Olive Oil As A Conditioning Treatment

When I was transitioning, I used to put extra virgin olive oil on my hair at night and then wash it out in the morning. I considered this to be my alternative to the traditional hot oil treatment. The olive oil kept my hair well nourished, and I believe that it is the reason why I experienced little to no breakage as I transitioned out of my relaxer.

Below is a video in which I explain my olive oil treatments.





In addition, here is a link to a great article that explains the benefits of olive oil in detail: Olive Oil: The All-Purpose Remedy.