Oats Treatment

Oats is extremely moisturizing as it contains hair-loving vitamin B's, which draws water in from the atmosphere into your hair (humectants). It does all this while penetrating the cortex of your hair.

Many times I sit and think about new ways to treat my hair that won't have me searching too far. I have always been the type of mother who finds natural ways to heal my kids. In doing so, I have managed to find another ingredient to add to my routine: Oats..... Jungle Oats! Yet again, my kitchen never disappoints.

My son has eczema and in the past, I've used Oats to bathe him. The oats add a milkiness to the water which helps to coat and moisturize the skin.

Oats is great internally and after doing my own research, I found it to be beneficial to my natural hair as well.

Here is what I found:

It makes your hair feel silky and soft. Oats contain beta-glucan which is a polysaccharide. Polysaccharides add slip to the hair and act as an emollient (softening).

• Oats is extremely moisturizing as it contains hair-loving vitamin B's, which draws water in from the atmosphere into your hair (humectants). It does all this while penetrating the cortex of your hair.
• Oats add shine to your hair - especially type 4 hair. Shine happens easily with hair that has an even surface - like straight(er) hair, so adding some sheen/shine will help that crown glisten.
• Oats can help fix damaged hair as it assists in strengthening the hair. As mentioned in the previous point, it contains Vitamin B which penetrates the deepest layers of our hair. It helps with brittleness and elasticity especially since we are exposed to loads of manipulation and handling damage.
• Oats is also an excellent film former. This can be great for high porosity hair. I know some, mainly myself, are really apprehensive about anything that creates a film on the hair shaft. Like silicones (which is what we avoid), but this “oat coating” isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it seals in moisture and provides a barrier from harsh elements (cold, wind, etc).
• Oats are great for hair that’s prone to tangling because of its film/coating properties. It reduces snagging of the hair and also washes off easily every wash, unlike silicones that need a sulphate to wash them off.

I do admit - because of my own fears/preferences - that I am still trying to find the right balance in my routine for oat rinses. I am low porosity so for me, too much coating can lead to build-up BUT, never has there been an issue with getting more moisture. So, I challenge you to find a balance that works for YOU in your routine too.

~ Marion

Here are a few ways to make oat water/conditioner:

1. 1️⃣ Add some boiled water to a few spoons of oats in a cup and let them soak until the oats are cooked (until the water cools down). Strain and use the milky water to rinse or refresh.
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   2️⃣ Blend dry oats and allow it to sit in boiling water until the water turns milky. ⁣Strain the oats (twice if you can) and rinse the hair with the water or use as a refreshing spray.
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   3️⃣ To use as a detangler/deep conditioner, cook the oats in a pot of water until creamy and then strain the oats.