I like to incorporate oils high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), particularly if hair is relaxed because relaxers remove EFA from hair. Back in the day, the relaxed sub-club compiled a list of oils high in EFAs and I try to keep a couple on hand at all times, they are listed in order with percentage EFA content:
Evening Primrose (81% EFA)
Hemp (80%)
Safflower (75%)
Flax (72%)
Grapeseed (71%)
Kukui (69%)
Sunflower (65%)
Corn (59%)
Soybean (57%)
Walnut (56%)
Wheatgerm (55%)
Almond (17%)
Avacado (10%)
Olive (8%)
Coconut (3%)
castor (??)
jojoba (??)
I've the seen the percentages vary a little but not much and was surprised that some of the more common oils used by members of this board (olive, coconut, avacado, etc.) has very low EFA content. I still haven't found the EFA content of two of my favorites: castor and jojoba, only that they "rich in essential fatty acids" so not sure how they measure up with the others. I continue to use what works (castor and jojoba are DA BOMB for my hair!), but have incorporated oils with higher EFA content. I tend to use the low EFAs for pre-treatments and to add to 'poos and condish and save the higher EFAs as part of my leave-in . . . I still love to use castor and jojoba as part of my leave-ins, but have relegated olive and coconut to pretreatments.
As a nexxus junkie, can't resist mentioning that the *botanic oil" is a mix of high EFAs - sunflower, safflower, soybean, corn, etc.). . .
HTH