Hair oil: before or after shampoo?
It is the most asked question about hair oils, and it is badly framed. There is no universal answer, because not all oils are alike.
The real question is this: does your oil rinse out, or not?
Everything follows from that. And getting it wrong does not make the product dangerous — it makes it disappointing, which is almost worse.
5 seconds to find out
Pick up the bottle and look for the directions. One word matters: rinse.
- If the directions say to rinse, or carry the words rinse-off, it is an oil to be applied before shampoo. This is what is called an oil bath.
- If they say nothing about rinsing and indicate a small amount on damp or dry ends, it is a leave-in oil, to be applied afterwards.
Both comai. oils are rinse-off products. They are applied before shampoo, and they are rinsed out.
Why the order changes everything
An oil bath is applied to dry hair, before washing. The oil has time to work while it sits, then shampoo removes the excess.
If you apply a rinse-off oil after shampooing and leave it in, nothing good happens: the quantities intended for a rinsed application are far greater than what hair can hold. The result: heavy roots the next day, hair that looks dirty, and a logical but wrong conclusion — « this product doesn't suit me ».
Nine times out of ten, it is not the product. It is the routine.
The right routine, in 4 steps
- On dry hair, before washing. Part into a few sections to reach the scalp.
- Massage for 2 to 3 min. The massage counts as much as the product: it loosens, it spreads, and it feels good.
- Leave on for at least 30 min, or overnight on a pillowcase you will not regret. Beyond one night you gain nothing more.
- Rinse, then your usual shampoo. One shampoo is enough if the quantity was right.
2 to 3 times a week, no more. More often speeds nothing up and weighs the hair down.
The 3 most common mistakes
Too much product. 5 to 7 mL is enough for the scalp — about a teaspoon. If you need two shampoos to make up for it, you used too much, and the second shampoo cancels out the benefit of the first step.
Applying to wet hair. Water already occupies the space. On dry hair, the oil reaches the fibre.
Rinsing with scalding water. It does not remove the oil any better and leaves the scalp uncomfortable. Lukewarm is enough.
Scalp or lengths: not the same oil
Once the order is settled, the choice of product remains — and there, everything depends on where the problem is.
The Dry Hair Oil is applied to the scalp and the lengths. Jojoba, sweet almond, castor and avocado: 95.4 % of the formula.
The Oily Hair Oil is applied to the scalp. It is not strictly an oil but an aqueous emulsion, built on 63.4 % organic Damask rose hydrosol. Light texture. Shake before use: the phase separation is natural.
If you hesitate, the diagnosis asks 4 questions and points you in the right direction in 2 min.
What we will not tell you
We will not tell you how long it will take before you see something, nor what you will see. A rinse-off oil is a comfort and maintenance step, not a treatment.
What we can say fits in one line: applied before shampoo and rinsed out, it is used as intended. Applied afterwards and left in, it is not.
comai. oils contain essential oils: they are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children under 12. External use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. A patch test on the inner elbow is recommended before first use.
