One way to hydrate and boost the moisture content of your strands is to do a hot oil treatment.
A hot oil treatment involves massaging the scalp and moisturizing the hair with a single or a blend of warm oils.
Keep on reading to learn how to do a hot oil treatment and the benefits it has on hair.
How to do a Hot Oil Treatment
Here is an in-depth step-by-step process of how to do a hot oil treatment:
What you will need:
- 1 or 2 moisturizing oils
- A gentle shampoo
- A rat tail comb
- Butterfly clips or hair elastics
- Plastic shower cap
- Hair conditioner
- Hot water in a basin
- A small applicator bottle
- Funnel (optional)
Step 1: Cleanse
First, you need to ensure that your tresses are clean so that they can be able to absorb the moisturizing oils well. Furthermore, your cuticles are raised, hence allowing for your hair to receive maximum nourishment.
Use a gentle but cleansing shampoo to wash your hair. Rinse with warm water then proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Section the hair
Before sectioning, ensure that you have dried your hair until it is damp. It can be quite a tricky situation to try and work with wet hair.
Using the rat tail comb, divide your hair into manageable sections. The number of sections will depend on the length and volume of your hair. Some may have as little as four or you may go as many as eight sections.
Step 3: Prepare the hot oil treatment
Despite the fact that the name is ‘hot oil treatment’ you are not going to use very hot oil as this will burn your scalp and we don’t want that. Instead, we are going to use warm oil.
When it comes to the oils you want to use, you can really get creative. You may choose to stick to one oil.
Another option would be to mix a carrier oil like Olive oil and essential oil like Lavender oil.
The proportions to use will highly depend on your hair, but a good rule of thumb is to use a smaller amount of essential oil. This is due to the fact that a small amount goes a long way.
3rd option is to use two carrier oils and an essential oil.
As you can see, the options are so many. If you are mixing the oils, use a funnel to pour them into an applicator bottle. If not, you can then go ahead and just place your oil in the applicator bottle.
Place the applicator bottle in the basin with hot water for it to warm up. Keep checking every five minutes until the oil reaches your desired temperature. You can test this by pouring some drops on the back of your hand.
Step 4: Get comfortable
Applying oil to your scalp may be messy and also take a good chunk of your time. As such, you may need to be prepared in case the two situations occur.
First, place a towel around your shoulders, to prevent the oil from dripping down onto your clothes. Second, make sure you get a comfortable place to sit. You may also watch your favorite series or YouTube video as you work on your hair.
Step 5: Apply and Massage
Using an applicator bottle, apply the oil to your scalp and gently massage using the tips of your fingers. This helps to stimulate blood in your scalp.
Work your way to the ends of your hair shaft, ensuring that the oil is evenly distributed. Clip back the section and move on to the next.
In order for the oil to do its magic, you need to let it sit for 20-45 minutes. The heat allows the hot oil treatment to penetrate the hair shaft faster and more effectively.
There are several options to choose from when it comes to covering your hair:
- For 30 minutes, put on a plastic shower cap.
- Use a hooded dryer.
- Use a natural hair steamer, for around 20 minutes.
Step 6: Rinse and condition
After the oil has soaked into your hair properly, continue with your usual deep conditioning routine.
Benefits of a Hot Oil Treatment
1. Moisturizes the hair
Curly hair is prone to dryness. Using a hot oil treatment helps prevent that and gives an extra hydration boost to your curls, keeping them bouncy.
2. Improved blood circulation
The massaging motion when you are applying the oil helps to stimulate an increase in blood flow to your scalp. An increase in blood flow ensures that your strands are well nourished.
3. Prevents split ends and breakage
Split ends occur when your hair ends split into two or more, as a result of several factors.
A hot oil treatment strengthens and improves the flexibility of your strands, preventing them from becoming fragile and splitting
4. Prevents scalp infections
Having scalp problems such as dandruff, and itchiness may prove to be a nightmare at times.
Adding oils that have inflammatory and antibacterial properties, such as peppermint oil to your treatment may help deal with such problems. [1]
5. Adds shine and strength to your hair
After doing a hot oil treatment several times, you will notice that your hair will begin to look shinier. Additionally, the oils contain various nutrients that nourish hair strands, helping to strengthen them.
6. Promotes hair growth
A hot oil treatment contributes to several small facets of your hair’s health. When all these are combined together it leads to the growth of your hair.
Conclusion
A hot oil treatment has numerous benefits to your hair such as giving you that extra hydration, promoting the growth of your hair, and adding strength to your hair strands.
Now that you have an in-depth guide on the process of doing one to your hair, you can go ahead and add it to your hair care regimen.
