Hair oil is an oil-based cosmetic product intended to improve the condition of hair. Various types of oils may be included in hair oil products. These often purport to aid with hair growth, dryness, or damage. [1] [2]
Ancient Egyptians paid special attention to hair and images of hairdressers are depicted in ancient relics found by archaeologists. Archaic texts found during this era had information about “recipes” used by the Egyptians to tackle baldness. During this time period people used combs and ointments to groom and style their hair. [3]
Many cosmetic products including shampoo, heat protectant, hair drops, or hair masks contain oils.[ citation needed ]
Humans produce natural hair oil called sebum from glands around each follicle. Other mammals produce similar oils such as lanolin. Similar to natural oils, artificial hair oils can decrease scalp dryness by forming hydrophobic films that decrease transepidermal water loss, reducing evaporation of water from the skin. [4] Oils on the hair can reduce the absorption of water that damages hair strands through repeated hygral stress as hair swells when wet, then shrinks as it dries. [5] Oils also protect cuticle cells in the hair follicle and prevent the penetration of substances like surfactants. [5] Saturated and monounsaturated oils diffuse into hair better than polyunsaturated ones. [6]
Mineral and vegetable oils are used to make a variety of commercial and traditional hair oils. Coconut oil is a common ingredient. Other vegetable sources include almond, argan, babassu, burdock, Castor, and tea seed.[ citation needed ]
Natural oils are used more commonly as cosmetic products on the scalp. Natural oils come from natural resources that are very high in nutrients such as vitamins and fatty acids. [7] [ better source needed ]
Coconut oil has properties that reduce protein loss in hair when used before and after wash. [8] Coconut oil is known to have lauric acid, which is a type of fatty acid that may penetrate the hair shaft due to a low molecular weight and linear conformation. [9]
Argan oil originates from Morocco and is known for a conditioning effect that leaves hair soft and relieves frizz.[ citation needed ]
Avocado oil is rich in nutrients. It has a high concentration of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that may decrease hair loss and encourages hair growth. [10] [ irrelevant citation ]
Oils including almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, olive oil may promote hair elasticity and help prevent dryness and hair damage. [4]
Coconut oil is an edible oil derived from the kernels, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit. Coconut oil is a white solid fat below around 25 °C (77 °F), and a clear thin liquid oil in warmer climates. Unrefined varieties have a distinct coconut aroma. Coconut oil is used as a food oil, and in industrial applications for cosmetics and detergent production. The oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids.
Hair conditioner is a hair care cosmetic product used to improve the feel, texture, appearance and manageability of hair. Its main purpose is to reduce friction between strands of hair to allow smoother brushing or combing, which might otherwise cause damage to the scalp. Various other benefits are often advertised, such as hair repair, strengthening, or a reduction in split ends.
Baby oil is, in general terms, an inert oil for the purpose of keeping skin soft and supple. It is often used on babies for the purpose of maintaining "baby-soft" skin, but it is also often used by adults for skincare and massage.
Hair care or haircare is an overall term for hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair which grows from the human scalp, and to a lesser extent facial, pubic and other body hair. Hair care routines differ according to an individual's culture and the physical characteristics of one's hair. Hair may be colored, trimmed, shaved, plucked or otherwise removed with treatments such as waxing, sugaring and threading. Hair care services are offered in salons, barbershops and day spas, and products are available commercially for home use. Laser hair removal and electrolysis are also available, though these are provided by licensed professionals in medical offices or speciality spas.
Trichology is the study of the hair and scalp. The term derives from Ancient Greek θρίξ (thríx), "hair" and -λογία -logia. In most jurisdictions the title of a trichologist, not the field of trichology, is considered a para-medical discipline.
Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is indigenous to Morocco and southwestern Algeria. In Morocco, argan oil is used to dip bread at breakfast or to drizzle on couscous or pasta. It is also used for cosmetic purposes.
Avocado oil is an edible oil extracted from the pulp of avocados, the fruit of Persea americana. It is used as an edible oil both raw and for cooking, where it is noted for its high smoke point. It is also used for lubrication and in cosmetics.
White piedra is a mycosis of the hair caused by several species of fungi in the genus Trichosporon. It is characterized by soft nodules composed of yeast cells and arthroconidia that encompass hair shafts.
Shampoo is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in solid bar format. Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the scalp, and then rinsing it out. Some users may follow a shampooing with the use of hair conditioner.
Madarosis is a condition that results in the loss of eyelashes, and sometimes eyebrows. The term "madarosis" is derived from the ancient Greek "madaros", meaning "bald". It originally was a disease of only losing eyelashes but it currently is the loss of both eyelashes and eyebrows. Eyebrows and eyelashes are both important in the prevention of bacteria and other foreign objects from entering the eye. A majority of patients with madarosis have leprosy, and it was reported that 76% of patients with varying types of leprosy had madarosis.
Microsporum audouinii is an anthropophilic fungus in the genus Microsporum. It is a type of dermatophyte that colonizes keratinized tissues causing infection. The fungus is characterized by its spindle-shaped macroconidia, clavate microconidia as well as its pitted or spiny external walls.
Hair casts, also known as pseudonits, represent remnants of the inner root sheath, and often occur in great numbers and may mimic nits in the scalp.
Trichostasis spinulosa is a common but rarely diagnosed disorder of the hair follicles that clinically gives the impression of blackheads, but the follicles are filled with funnel-shaped, horny plugs that are bundles of vellus hairs.
Dry shampoo otherwise known as hybrid shampoo is a type of shampoo which reduces hair greasiness without the need for water. It is in powder form and is typically administered from an aerosol can. Dry shampoo is often based on corn starch or rice starch. In addition to cleansing hair, it can also be used as a tool for hair-styling as it can create volume, help tease hair, keep bobby pins in place, and be used in place of mousse in wet hair. Dry shampoo proponents attest that daily wash-and-rinse with detergent shampoo can strip away natural oils from hair. However, others attest that spraying dry shampoo every day will lead to a build-up of product that can dull hair color and irritate the scalp, arguing that the scalp needs regular cleansing and exfoliating to get rid of bacteria, remove dead skin cells, and stay healthy.
Nevoid hypertrichosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by the growth of terminal hairs in a circumscribed area. Nevoid hypertrichosis often presents shortly after birth. The cause of nevoid hypertrichosis is unknown. The diagnosis is made based of clinical and histopathological examination.
Beard oil is a cosmetic product that is used to nourish both the skin under the beard and the beard itself in order to keep it "soft, shiny, and smooth". Beard oil mimics the natural oils produced by skin, such as sebum, and is composed mainly of carrier oils and essential oils.
Premature greying of hair (PGH), also known as canities, is the process of greying of hair occurring at an unusually early age. It can have negative effects on appearance, self-confidence, self-esteem, and social acceptance of the affected individual. Hair is said to have greyed prematurely if it occurs before the age of 20 years in Europeans, before 25 years in Asians, and before 30 years in Africans.
Frictional alopecia is the loss of hair that is caused by rubbing of the hair, follicles, or skin around the follicle. The most typical example of this is the loss of ankle hair among people who wear socks constantly for years. The hair may not grow back even years after the source of friction has ended.
Horse ointment, known as horse oil and horse fat, is a topical formulation derived from subcutaneous fat of horses. Due to its thickness and viscosity, horse ointment is intended for topical use on human skin and mucous membranes to moisturize and increase the restoration of damaged skin. Horse ointment was traditionally prepared and used in ancient China for the treatment of qi deficiency, hemorrhoids, burns, and xeroderma. Due to the amount of fatty acids in horse ointment, which is similar to that of human skin fat, it can penetrate through the surface of skin. Nowadays, it is commonly applied to skin for the purpose of soothing redness and irritation. It is considered a natural skincare product with low risks of sensitization and irritation and is safe for people of all ages, including infants and seniors.