Harmattan Skin and Hair Care: How to Use Natural Oils to Beat the Dry Season

Harmattan dries out skin, lips and hair fast. The simplest fix is to moisturise on damp skin, then seal it in with an oil, and to protect your hair from dust and breakage. Coconut oil is a light all-over sealer. Castor oil is a heavy-duty sealer for heels, elbows, cuticles and hair ends. A few drops of black seed oil can go into a scalp massage oil. Below is a simple harmattan routine for skin, lips, hair and scalp that uses oils you can buy in Lagos and Port Harcourt, with the safety notes that matter.

What harmattan does to your skin and hair

Harmattan is the dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara across West Africa, usually from around late November into February or March. The north gets it hardest, but Lagos and Port Harcourt still feel the haze, cooler mornings and lower humidity. With less moisture in the air:

• Skin loses water faster, so it turns dry, ashy, tight and flaky.
• Lips and heels crack.
• Hair gets dry and brittle and breaks more, especially at the ends and edges.
• Scalps get itchy and flaky, and dust settles into hair.

Harmattan skin care routine

1. Keep baths short and lukewarm. Very hot water strips the skin's natural oils.
2. Moisturise within three minutes of bathing, while skin is still slightly damp. Use your usual lotion or cream first.
3. Seal with a thin layer of oil. Coconut oil spreads easily over arms and legs. Use just enough to make skin feel soft, not greasy.
4. Treat the driest spots with castor oil. Heels, elbows, knees and cuticles benefit from castor oil's heavier texture. For cracked heels, rub in castor oil at night and wear cotton socks.
5. Drink water. It won't fix dry skin alone, but dehydration makes everything worse.

Coconut oil may go solid in harmattan. Coconut oil sets below about 24°C, so on cool harmattan mornings your bottle may turn white and solid. That is normal. Warm it between your palms. See how to know original coconut oil.

Lips

• Apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly often, especially before going out and at bedtime.
• A tiny dab of coconut oil or castor oil works as an overnight lip treatment. Castor oil is a common ingredient in lipsticks.
• Don't lick your lips. Saliva evaporates and leaves them drier.

Harmattan hair care routine

1. Pre-wash with coconut oil. Apply coconut oil to your hair 30 minutes to a few hours before washing. A lab study found coconut oil used this way reduced protein loss from hair. See coconut oil for hair.
2. Moisturise, then seal. Many naturals follow the "LOC" order: a Liquid or water-based leave-in, then an Oil, then a Cream. Castor oil is a strong sealing oil for ends.
3. Protect your edges. Harmattan plus tight styles means more breakage. See castor oil for edges.
4. Cover your hair outdoors to keep dust out, and sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet so cotton doesn't pull moisture from your hair.
5. Wash dust out regularly. Oil plus dust builds up on the scalp.

Scalp

For a dry, itchy harmattan scalp, mix a light scalp oil, for example 1 tablespoon castor oil, 1 teaspoon black seed oil and 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Massage a little along your parts two or three times a week. Our black seed and castor oil mixes have more recipes. If flakes are thick, greasy or yellow, it may be dandruff rather than dryness. See our dandruff guide.

Babies and children in harmattan

A thin layer of pure coconut oil after the bath can help dry baby skin. Patch test first, and ask your midwife before using oils on a newborn. See coconut oil for baby skin.

Safety notes

• Patch test any new oil on your inner arm for 24 hours.
• Eczema often flares in harmattan. Oils can help mild dryness, but see a doctor if skin is cracked, weeping, bleeding or infected.
• Keep oils out of your eyes.
• These oils are for skin and hair, not for drinking.

Where to buy harmattan oils in Lagos and Port Harcourt

• Lagos: Elo-Ruks Naturals, Shop E2/379, Articles Market, Abule Oshun, by Trade Fair on the Lagos–Badagry Expressway. It stocks xHerbs Castor Oil and Black Seed Oil.
• Port Harcourt: Doyen Pharmacy, beside Salvation Ministry, Okuru Link, Golf Estate Road, Golf Estate. Tel: 0815 091 0417 or 0815 091 0418. It stocks xHerbs Castor Oil, Black Seed Oil, Coconut Oil and Poke Root Castor Oil.
• Online: Castor Oil 200ml, Coconut Oil 100ml and Black Seed Oil 200ml on xherbs.store.

All stockists are listed in where to buy xHerbs in store.

Frequently asked questions

What oil is best for harmattan?

Coconut oil is a good light sealer for the whole body. Castor oil is better for very dry spots like heels, elbows and hair ends. Apply oils over a moisturiser on damp skin for the best effect.

How do I stop my skin from drying in harmattan?

Take short, lukewarm baths, moisturise within three minutes while skin is damp, seal with a thin layer of oil, and protect lips and heels at night.

Why is my coconut oil solid in harmattan?

Coconut oil solidifies below about 24°C. Cool harmattan mornings can drop below that. It is normal. Warm it in your hands.

How do I protect my hair in harmattan?

Pre-wash with coconut oil, moisturise then seal with castor oil, cover your hair from dust, sleep in satin, and go easy on tight styles.

Bottom line: To beat harmattan dryness, moisturise on damp skin, seal with coconut oil, use castor oil on heels, elbows and hair ends, protect your hair from dust and breakage, and patch test anything new. Buy xHerbs oils at Elo-Ruks Naturals, Abule Oshun, Lagos, or Doyen Pharmacy, Golf Estate, Port Harcourt.