Do You Need To Grease Your Scalp At All?

13/5/2015

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Many of us were brought up to believe greasing one’s scalp with “hair food”, such as Blue Magic, Sulfur 8 or any other petrolatum-based grease was essential for maintaining healthy hair. However, many in the natural hair community now argue that greasing your scalp is not essential. So is it? It depends…

Day-to-Day Management

Generally, a clean and healthy scalp does not need to be greased to stay soft, pliable and well suited for hair growth. Sebum, the oil naturally produced by the scalp lubricates the scalp on an on-going basis.

Importantly, unlike skin, the scalp is not constantly chaffing against clothing or rubbing against furniture so it doesn’t need to be moisturized as intensely or as regularly as skin does.

Dry Scalps

The above said, just as some people have drier skin than others, some scalps are more dry than others. The dryness of one’s scalp can be impacted by diet and weather.

Whatever the case, if your scalp doesn’t seem to lubricate itself and perhaps gets all dry, ashy or dandruff-ridden then it certainly doesn’t hurt to oil it.

If your scalp is dry, don’t use a thick or heavy grease; choose a light, nutrient-rich oil to rub into your scalp.

Jojoba has a similar structure to sebum so this would be a great oil to use.
Coconut oil is light, very nourishing and smells great so it’s another good choice.

When In Plaits

If your hair has just been plaited/braided then it might be useful to oil your scalp to prevent bumps and rashes from forming where the root has been pulled.

I personally have a very sensitive scalp; even with minimal pulling my scalp gets sore and bumpy so I oil the scalp religiously for about a week after its been plaited using Neno Natural’s Hair Growth Stimulator when I have just had braids installed.

After a week the new growth compensates for the pulling my scalp endured.

Hair Growth

Last but not least, because the scalp is so thin, you can promote the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the scalp to help hair grow by massaging it with an oil + essential oil blend. I have quite a few recipes that you can blend yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu2772_DbH-LWFfnvzHn-uN6bw4LgX4_b

What do you think about greasing the scalp? Is it essential for you?

Get your FREE ebook on How To Grow Long, Healthy Natural Kinky or Curly Hair.

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Working with Essential Oils - Understanding Dilution

Betty

13/5/2015 06:34:10 am

Thank you for this article....I have been growing my hair for two years this year April. And it was not retaining length. I listen to everyone that said not to oil hair often because of the scalp producing oil itself. I listened and it did not work for me..I should have listened to my hair.. I have been consistently oiling and moisturizing for a little over a month and my hair has grown by leaps and bounds....If I knew what I knew today my hair would have been a lot healthier and longer.I have to remember our hair is all unique....My hair loves oil regularly...
My mom did do the oiling with the royal crown and my hair and sister was very long and healthy...however I had a perm for years and locs for years and really did not know how to properly take care of my natural hair. So after 2 long years I am getting there.
Heather you have been so helpful. I have been watching your YouTube videos forever and love them. You have really changed for the better since you had the baby...You smile so much more...time for another baby. LOL

Heather Katsonga-Woodward

13/5/2015 06:59:14 am

Thank you! lol @ smiling more. Another baby?! I'm still recovering from this one.

Yes, before I write a blog I skim through what else is out there in the net and most of the kept saying no, you don't need to oils the scalp, with my blogs I like to think about all the various options without forgetting that everyone is different...

Thanks for the comment.

H xx

Angela

15/5/2015 04:41:25 pm

I also oil my scalp. My mother use bergamont and hair food oils on me and my sisters hair. Relaxers have been my down fall. I wish I went natural before my hair started thinning from relaxers. I'm so done with relaxers and try to encourage others to do the same.

Yes, I agree, Heather does have a nice glow sincer her pregnancy.

Phyllis

13/5/2015 07:21:55 am

What about moisturizers, conditioners etc, do they help with dry scalp? I just HATE the feel of oil and sometimes would rather avoid them.

Tangie

13/5/2015 10:58:47 am

I have been natural for 1 year and though it is hard I love it. Thanks for all the information you provide it helps and congrats on your baby. Enjoy

Blessed_coils link

13/5/2015 11:47:23 am

It depends on my scalp. When I first returned natural I went on a castor oil challenge and it was required. As time went by I noticed my scalpscalp.acting funky so I stopped and now I oil my scalp only when it's beginning to itch or if it is dry.

Tabitha link

13/5/2015 12:03:44 pm

Thanks for the valuable information. I use Argan Oil to Oil my scalp and it has worked great for me. I haven't had a perm in a year so it gets dry fast especially after I worked out.

MsKat

13/5/2015 03:50:00 pm

Oiling one's scalp is definitely a person by person decision. As a child, teen, young adult, even into my mid 40's, My scalp was oiled. I always had flaky patches that sometimes itched so bad I scratched them raw, along with flaky patches on my hairline, face, ears. Of course, we see flakes and think 'dry', so I always made sure my scalp was oiled. Then, one day I finally visited the right dermatologist; right off she was able to tell me I suffer from sebhorreic dermatitis. When I was a cosmetologist I learned this was once called 'oily dandruff', and is quite similar to cradle cap. Since I became unemployed shortly after diagnosis, I utilized that time to figure out what i needed to do. I cut my hair short, partly because I was suffering breakage and thinning from extreme stress, and wanted to cut down manipulation to give it a rest. I decided to try going without oil altogether for a while. I used a tiny bit of moisturizing conditioner on my hair only (it is fine and curly). Took about a month-the sebhorreic dermatitis symptoms disappeared completely. As my hair grew back, I put oil on the hair only, at least an inch from my scalp, now 2-plus inches from my scalp. Once in a while if it is very hot and I perspire a lot, any oils on my hair might melt and get diluted by perspiration, and run onto my scalp, Then I get a little itchy patch, but I can deal with a little one once in a while in place of the constant misery I experienced for about 40 years of my life. All of this to say, Experiment to find your balance and the best products for you.

Natalie

13/5/2015 09:04:27 pm

I have always oiled my scalp just to prevent it from itching. I would part my hair apply a light creme based oil, hair grease, even olive oil and then brush each row with a soft brush. This is my weekly routine after washing.

Janine

13/5/2015 09:13:35 pm

When I first started my natural journey, from reading all the literature and watching videos I stayed away from greasing my scalp. My hair would not grow and I pondered why. I have 4c hair. Then I thought maybe I needed to grease my scalp since my hair was definitely dry and after starting regressing my scalp my hair started to grow. My regime when washing is to prepoo with Tresemme conditioner for dry and brittle hair and coconut oil. I wash with Aunty Jackie shampoo and recondition with the Tressmme. When my hair is half dry I grease my scalp with a petroleum grease that contains oil. I then do the LOC method with any moisturizer or conditioner I have on hand, coconut oil and seal with Cocoa and Shea butter. I then twist or plait my hair. The grease really makes a difference.

morna ikosa

13/5/2015 09:24:14 pm

Love the blog.i have an itchy scalp.i tried the ideas above,and still looking for a long term solution.i use coconut oil,shea butter,jojoba but after a day my scalp is itching again

Dawn

13/5/2015 09:39:02 pm

I like to massage my scalp with an oil mix 1-2 times per week at minimum (depending on weather etc).
In the early going, I too listened to those who claimed that scalps didn't need any oil but I find that as my hair grew (and sometimes broke), that my scalp, not just my hair-despite moisturizing and leave ins- needed a bit of oil, especially on the crown, which has been prone to dryness and hair breakage. I find that using a bit of Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, a few drops of Neem Oil and a few drops of Lavender (to cover the smell of the neem oil), really helps stimulate my scalp and I know find that the breakage is starting to repair itself.

Tammy J Carpenter

21/5/2015 04:47:50 pm

Frankly, At first, I was not that much concern about my hair, I naturally had long hair. But after my delivery, my hair loss problem began and had lost almost 90% of my hair. It made me sad. I had done <a href=”http://chtc.ca/”> a hair loss treatment with the help of an expert</a>, And after the treatment my hair began to grow. It’s happy to see the growth of my hair. Now, I’m taking extra care to maintain my hair stronger. I used oil my scalp at least twice a month. Thank you for the post.

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Do You Need To Grease Your Scalp At All?

By Heather Katsonga-Woodward

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