My Dependency on Foreign Oil by Melanie Parker

I had one of those horrible hair experiences that only happens once in a lifetime if you are lucky several weeks ago. The kind that make you want to simultaneously murder someone and hole up in your bedroom for weeks with the covers over your head. It reminded me of the time I got a perm and used a lightner in my hair in high school. *cringe*

After waiting too long (6 months) to get my hair highlighted, I had it foiled. I sat there and let my hairdresser pull the color all the way through to the ends of my hair without saying a word. I knew it was wrong, and that I should have stopped her on the first foil and said, "Hey, hey, hey! New growth only, please." But I was listening to her telling a story and didn't think the damage would be that bad. After all, she was skipping every other section and I wasn't getting the underneath done. Fast forward to two days later and my hair was breaking off. And we are not just talking split ends here. We are talking all the way up my hair shaft to the 3 inches of healthy single-processed root growth. The back of my hair that was all one length suddenly looked shattered. I was mortified.

I had just cut 3 inches off of my hair's length the week before to get it healthier and I didn't really want to cut it again. So, I did some hot oil treatments, used a Roux Moisture Recovery packet (and curses Roux and Sally's Beauty Supply for discontinuing them as my stash will be depleted soon), bought the Aphogee leave-in protein spray, and tried to nurse the hair that had been overprocessed to the point of being straw back to health. It's hard to let go, when only half of your hair is this texture. Even though logically I knew that cutting it was the only way to end my distress and stop spending my evenings with the scissors trimming the hairs one by one when I saw breakage.

Then, a friend told me about MoroccanOil. She said MO could also be called "miracle oil" and it was the only thing that was allowing her to grow her thin, fine hair past her shoulders. At $40 a bottle, I asked a few more people if they had heard of it and the ones that had tried it all considered it their holy grail. They assured me that although it seemed pricey, you just apply it to the ends of your hair when it is damp and then heat style as usual, so you don't use as much as you would for a hot oil treatment and the bottle lasts a really long time.

So, I did some research and decided to give it a try. Yes, the main ingredient is a silicone and not the mystical Argan oil that it is named after, but you know what? I don't care. My hair is damaged and if a ‘cone or three is going to help refine the texture and protect it, then so be it! I found the best deal to be at haircarediscounters.com (and it was a bonus that they also sell OPI nail polish and sent a free brush with the order). Within a week, I had obtained this precious oil that actually looked more like a bottle of cough syrup. I flattened my palm, inverted the bottle, turned it right side up again just leaving a trace amount the size of the bottle opening in my hand. And it was really oily, so I was suddenly scared to use it. I rubbed it between my palms and it spread out to the consistency of cuticle oil. I was unsure about it, but I started smoothing it on my damp hair--avoiding the roots and focusing on the ends. I blow dried my hair, and was amazed at the silkiness I felt. It had transformed my distressed hair into a soft and silky state again. Then, I took a large barrel curling iron and smoothed out the ends to curl them under and was amazed. Some how the heat sets the MoroccanOil and it makes it thinker and shinier while still feeling clean and soft. It does not seem like a typical leave-in treatment. All I can say is you need to try it for yourself. I even love the slight musk scent it provides.

And in the end, I decided that I could not be so dependent on this forgeign oil, and I had my hair cut again. I got a shoulder length shag cut, and my hair is healthy and the layers were just the trick to get rid of the damage and actually make my hair feel thicker. I’m pleased to report that the MoroccanOil works just as well on my healthy hair as it did on the damaged hair. So, I am sticking with it even though I no long *need* it. If you suffer from overprocessing, frizzies from humidity, or are just looking for a leave-in treatment to keep your silky hair smooth, give this a try! It is actually worth the retail price of $40.


Disclaimer: This product was purchased by Melanie Parker.