Hair oil has long been considered an indispensable assistant in the fight for smoothness and shine. However, international hairdressers and stylists are beginning to re-examine this stereotype, pointing out that the need for such a product may not exist at all. Exclusively for the WAVE project (RBC-Ukraine), stylist Ruslana Bela explained that oil is not a base for care, but merely an addition.
The Physics of Hair: Why Oil Doesn't Work Like a Conditioner
The main problem with modern care is that most consumers perceive oil as a full-fledged restorative product. The expert explains that this is a common myth that can be dispelled by knowing a simple physical principle of how cosmetic products work.
Hair and cosmetics have their own electrical charge. Wet hair has a negative charge, and shampoo, which also works with a negative charge, performs the cleaning task. After washing, this charge needs to be balanced. This is why masks, conditioners, and balms have a positive charge. They smooth the cuticle, remove static, and make hair elastic.
In contrast, hair oil is a neutral product. It has neither a positive nor a negative charge. Consequently, it is unable to condition, restore, or fill the hair structure. Its only function is to fix and preserve the state that has already been achieved by other products.
One Product Instead of Three: How to Simplify Care
Another common misconception concerns the difference between masks, conditioners, and balms. Many buyers are convinced that these are three completely different products with unique effects and strive to buy them all at once.
Ruslana Bela asserts that this is the same group of products performing a single function — conditioning. The differences between them lie only in the density of the texture and the concentration of active ingredients. Because of this marketing myth, people often overload their shelves by buying unnecessary items.
In most cases, one correctly selected product from this group is sufficient. Basic home care should be as simple as possible and consist of a shampoo and one conditioning product. All other products, including oils, are merely additional products, not a necessity.
