Oils not water soluble, so how come we can use them?

lucyprimrose · 04-26-2012, 10:27 PM

I'm a bit confused because when doing CG we're meant to avoid ingredients that aren't water soluble so that we can co wash them out, eg. don't use silicones as they will build up if not water soluble ones.

But, a lot of people including me use oils on the hair directly or as part of product. And oil isn't soluble in water.

So, will it build up on the hair like cones do (ie. weighing down and possibly preventing moisture getting into hair)? Or is oil somehow different in the way it acts? Or can come out with a co wash?

I asked myself this question the other day and I seem to remember I came up with a reassuring answer....but now I've forgotten it, and it was probably wrong anyway!! Can anyone help?

KinkyRN · 04-30-2012, 11:41 PM

I was thinking the same thing but I do know that castor oil is a definite no no. It is the thickest of the carrier oils. I think the detergents in conditioners used for cowashes can't dissolve them.

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kathymack · 05-01-2012, 06:25 AM

Oil and butter should eventually be absorbed by hair. I use a lot of really rich products (in minute amounts) on my low porosity hair. I started using natural soap bars to cleanse when they were popular about four years ago. I felt that they were just enough to remove any residual product from my hair.

lucyprimrose · 05-01-2012, 05:01 PM

Thanks KinkyRN and Kathymack for your answers. I'll think I'll stick with the oils but maybe give castor oil a miss.

willowmina moon · 05-19-2012, 09:36 AM

My hair loves castor oil and the only thing I wash with is Tresemme Naturals and Suave conditioners. I use castor oil about every 6 weeks and my hair curls much more after I use it. I usually rub about 1 tablespoon on the ends and top layer, leave it for 30 min or so then co-wash. I use other oils such macadamia nut and rice bran too. But castor oil is my hairs favorite. Rose hip seed oil is used after every co-wash it keeps my hair from frizzing.

lucyprimrose · 05-19-2012, 05:24 PM

Those oils sound interesting, thanks willowmina moon (like the name!). I certainly hadn't thought about rosehip oil.

I do hear good things about the results from castor oil, and I used a tester of hairveda sitrinillah which has it in and liked it. But then I heard about how it can be problematic with CG. I think it is something I might well try again in the future when I can lo poo a bit more, but for now I'm treading carefully because my hair is really breaking after highlights went wrong. Certainly like the sound of curling more.

artemis513 · 05-26-2012, 12:34 PM

Oils aren't water soluble, but are oil soluble. Most conditioners have emollients/emulsifiers that allow for water and oil to exist harmoniously in a product, so when you are co-washing you are dissolving excess oils with the cationic and nonionic surfactants (those emulsifiers) that are in the conditioner. Some oils will penetrate the hair cuticle and condition, and the excess that the hair does not absorb is rinsed away.

This is under the same principle as the oil cleansing method. Oil dissolves oil.

lucyprimrose · 05-26-2012, 01:06 PM

Interesting, hadn't thought of that, thanks artemis513

juanab · 12-06-2012, 11:40 AM

Is it ok to use a product that has castor seed oil as the fourth listed product if I am strictly CG or will I have to low poo after using it to remove the castor seed oil?

Keihs · 12-06-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Is it ok to use a product that has castor seed oil as the fourth listed product if I am strictly CG or will I have to low poo after using it to remove the castor seed oil?

I use plain castor oil and I don't have a problem with it. I just cowash with my regular suave conditioner, leave it on longer, and scrub well on dry or wet hair.

juanab · 12-06-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keihs

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Is it ok to use a product that has castor seed oil as the fourth listed product if I am strictly CG or will I have to low poo after using it to remove the castor seed oil?

I use plain castor oil and I don't have a problem with it. I just cowash with my regular suave conditioner, leave it on longer, and scrub well on dry or wet hair.

Castor oil is really heavy for my hair on its own. I am hoping it won't be in the the Kyra's Ultimate Mango Butter that I bought.