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Penetrating Oils vs Sealing Oils: What’s Best For Your Hair?

Penetrating Oils vs Sealing Oils: What’s Best For Your Hair?
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You know how much I love my hair oil. Over the years, thanks to all the Indian hair secrets that I inherited growing up, I have incorporated oils that penetrate hair and oils that seal in the moisture in my dry hair care routine.

And as you know, both of them have benefited me greatly.

In recent years, hair cosmetics have rediscovered the virtues of natural elements. The oils that penetrate hair and oils that seal in moisture are the new trend-setters in the cosmetic industry due to the benefits they provide.

Penetrating Oils Vs Sealing Oils

Penetrating oils for hair and sealing oils are great allies of hair health, as they have nourishing, moisturizing and hydrating functions.  Sealing oils are placed on the hair and their function is to maintain optimal hair moisture over time.

penetrating oils vs sealing oils

Penetrating Oils For Hair

Penetrating oils, as the names suggest are the hair oils that penetrate deep within your hair shafts and nourish your hair strands from within. These moisturizing hair oils conserve and regulate the hair’s moisture to keep it well hydrated.

This prevents the hair from drying out and damage over time. In fact it helps to strengthen hair strands which prevent breakage, severe hair loss and promote faster growth.

If you are nerdy and curious like me, you can also check out this study conducted in October 2005: Investigation of penetration abilities of various oils into human hair fibers.

There are lot of oils that penetrate hair but the best ones are coconut oil, avocado oil and olive oil.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is highly moisturizing hair oil. It has the virtue of deeply nourishing and protecting hair, making it shiny, healthy and soft to the touch. Coconut oil is ideal for restoring dry and damaged hair because it works from root to tip to heal hair texture. It is one of the best oils that penetrate your hair shafts.

I recommend this coconut oil as it contains biotin and hibiscus too. Also don’t forget to check out my experience of using coconut oil as leave-in conditioner.

SaleBestseller No. 1
Handcraft Fractionated Coconut Oil - 100% Pure & Natural Premium Grade Coconut Carrier Oil for Essential Oils, Massage Oil, Moisturizing Hair Oil & Body Oil - 16 fl. Oz
  • 100% PURE & NATURAL FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL - A versatile carrier oil used...
  • COCONUT OIL FOR SKIN – Pure coconut oil is light weight and provides a...
  • COCONUT OIL FOR HAIR GROWTH – Coconut hair oil is rich in antioxidants...
SaleBestseller No. 2
OGX Extra Strength Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Hair Oil Treatment, Extra Hydrating Anti-Frizz Oil for Coarse, Dry Hair, Paraben-Free, Sulfated-Surfactants Free, 3.3 fl oz
  • Revive & repair dry, coarse hair with the extra strength coconut oil hair...
  • REPAIR DAMAGE and REVIVE LOCKS: The 3.3-ounce container of OGX Extra...
  • ANTI-FRIZZ HYDRATING OIL: Ideal for medium to coarse-textures, medium to...
Bestseller No. 3
OKAY 100% COCONUT OIL for HAIR and SKIN 4oz / 125ml
  • Deep Moisturizing Oil for all hair textures and skin types - Great for dry...
  • Powerful anti-aging and skin healing properties
  • Stimulates collagen production and protects the skin from sun damage

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Avocado oil

Avocado oil has become incredibly popular for beautifying hair. This oil has a high nutritional composition because it contains biotin, vitamin E and good quality fatty acids. This penetrating hair oil successfully combats dryness, breakage, dandruff and hair loss. The key is to use it consistently to achieve the desired hair.

Bestseller No. 1
NOW Solutions, Avocado Oil, 100% Pure Moisturizing Oil, Nutrient Rich and Hydrating, 4-Ounce
  • FOR SOFT, HEALTHY SKIN: A nutrient-rich vegetable oil. Heavy in texture,...
  • NUTRIENT RICH: When used as a massage oil, it’s soft, soothing, and...
  • HYDRATING: NOW Solutions products are not tested on animals. Clear bottle...
Bestseller No. 2
MAJESTIC PURE Avocado Oil for Hair and Skin - 100% Pure and Natural, Cold-Pressed, for Skin Care, Massage, Hair Care, and Carrier Oil to Dilute Essential Oils, 16 fl oz
  • HEAD TO TOE MOISTURIZATION: Versatile avocado oil, can be used to nourish...
  • 100% PURE & NATURAL AVOCADO OIL: Majestic Pure avocado oil is cold-pressed...
  • HYDRATING MASSAGE OIL: Highly hydrating and absorb quickly, excellent for...
Bestseller No. 3
Handcraft Avocado Oil 8 fl. oz - 100% Pure and Natural - Hair Oil - Carrier Oil for Aromatherapy, Massage Oil, Body & Skin Moisturizer & Lubricant - Cold Pressed - Hexane Free
  • 100% PURE & NATURAL AVOCADO OIL unfiltered, undiluted without any additives...
  • AVOCADO OIL FOR HAIR is loved by many people around the world for their...
  • NATURAL SKIN MOISTURIZER Combine Moisturizing Avocado Oil with other...

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Olive oil

Olive oil contains healthy fats, antioxidants and vitamins that promote strong, healthy and shiny hair. This natural ingredient deeply moisturizes, restoring and nourishing damaged hair. Olive oil also effectively treats problems such as dandruff and psoriasis thanks to its emollient action.

Sealing Oils For Hair

As the name suggests sealing oils are the hair oils that help to seal in moisture in your hair shafts.

Sealing oils work directly on the hair keeping it moisturized for longer, as this natural ingredient prevents moisture from “escaping” due to various causes. Sealing oils regulate the moisture in the hair keeping it in optimal conditions. The best sealing oils for hair are Jojoba, Jamaican black castor and Grape seed oil.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil has an incredibly light texture and is the oil that most closely resembles the oils that our hair naturally generates. As soon as you put jojoba oil on your hair you will see that it becomes shiny and silky. This natural ingredient also successfully combats problems such as itching, irritation and dryness of the hair.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Jamaican black Jamaican castor oil is one of nature’s most effective oils for moisturizing hair from root to tip. This ingredient stimulates hair growth, thickening it from the beginning. Jamaican black oil effectively fights alopecia, dandruff and itching of the hair, making it healthy and in excellent condition.

SaleBestseller No. 2
Jamaican Mango & Lime Black Castor Oil Rosemary, 4 Fl Oz
  • Nourishes hair & scalp.
  • Great for dry skin.
  • Helps soothe tired muscles.
SaleBestseller No. 3
MAJESTIC PURE Jamaican Black Castor Oil for Hair Growth & Natural Skin Care - Roasted & Cold-Pressed - Massage, Scalp, Hair and Nails - 16 fl oz
  • Head to toe moisturization: Versatile Jamaican Black Castor Oil can be used...
  • Pure & Natural Black Castor Oil: MAJESTIC PURE Jamaican Black Castor Oil is...
  • Hydrating message oil: Highly hydrating and absorb quickly, excellent for...

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is a powerful moisturizer for hair due to its high vitamin E, phenolic compounds and phytosterols compounds content. This natural ingredient effectively combats brittle, fragile and dry hair strands caused by the passage of time. Grapeseed oil is also used to combat dandruff and hair loss.

Bestseller No. 1
NOW Solutions, Grapeseed Oil, Skin Care for Sensitive Skin, Light Silky Moisturizer for All Skin Types, 16-Ounce
  • SENSITIVE SKIN CARE: 100% Pure Grapeseed Oil is a light, odorless oil with...
  • LIGHT SILKY MOISTURIZER: Its rich, silky texture is perfect for soothing...
  • ALL SKIN TYPES: Grapeseed oil is perfect as a base for lotions, and it’s...
SaleBestseller No. 2
Handcraft Grapeseed Oil - 100% Pure and Natural - Premium Therapeutic Grade Carrier Oil for Aromatherapy, Massage, Moisturizing Skin and Hair - Huge 16 fl. Oz
  • 100% PURE & NATURAL GRAPESEED OIL is most commonly used for aromatherapy,...
  • COLD PRESSED GRAPESEED OIL FOR SKIN has a light texture and easily absorbs...
  • LOADED WITH VITAMINS grapeseed oil is packed with vitamins A, E , and K. It...

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Conclusion

As you are now more aware of benefits of penetrating hair oils and sealing oils, I recommend you start by incorporating both in your hair care routine. No matter your hair type, I am pretty sure, you would benefit from it, just as I did.

Which ones are you starting to use first?

Penetrating oils or sealing oils? Do share via comments.