Hot Oil Treatment For Hair: Benefits & Guide

If you're dealing with hair that's dry, brittle, color-treated, or prone to split ends, you’re likely in need of a protective and hydrating hot oil treatment. A hot oil treatment is the answer to reviving frizzy curls and dry, damaged hair. If you have dry strands, naturally coarse hair or heat damage from blow drying or other styling tools, a hot oil hair treatment will bring life back to your locks. Hot oil treatments are an easy DIY way to get smoother hair. And this isn’t some new TikTok beauty trend. Hot oil treatments have been around for several decades, because they work. We’re telling you everything you need to know about repairing hair with hot oil, including all the benefits of hot oil treatments ahead.

They absolutely are. A hot oil treatment involves using heated oil to nourish your strands — root to tip. The heat helps to refine the oil making the molecules finer to penetrate the hair strand. Once inside the hair shaft, the fatty acids in the oil deposit moisture to the hair follicle, helping to repair and prevent split ends, and strengthening the cuticle from the root by sealing the cuticle.

Yes, all hair types from fine and straight to thick and curly can benefit from a dose of hydration in the form of a hot oil treatment for hair. But especially those with frizzy, curly, dry and damaged or natural hair; since these hair types are naturally on the drier side. Because of the high porosity of curly, textured hair, it absorbs the hot oil treatment faster than someone with straight hair. So those with frizzy, curly, textured or brittle hair will see better results versus those with straight or thinning hair.

Hot oil treatments use plant-based ingredients, so it’s possible for some people to have an adverse reaction to the oil, especially if you have sensitive skin. To reduce the risk of a reaction, choose only high quality oils that aren’t combined with synthetic ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, place a drop or two of your oil onto the inside of your elbow, then leave it there for 24 hours. If you don’t develop any rash or itchiness, the oil is probably fine to use. If your skin gets irritated, try using a different oil.

There are so many benefits of a hot oil hair treatment. The basic gist is that they work to seal your hair cuticles, nourishing strands and helping to strengthen, protect, and moisturize your hair. Here’s a breakdown of all the benefits of a hot oil treatment for hair.

• It makes your hair strands stronger.
• It repairs damage and protects against future breakage.
• It leads to fewer split ends. 
• It restores vibrancy and shine to color-treated hair.
• They moisturize dry hair and a dry scalp.
• They reduce frizz and flyaways.
• They aid in relieving dandruff.
• It increases blood flow to the scalp, promoting healthier hair and aiding in hair growth and hair loss.

You’ll get the most bang for your buck out of your hot oil treatment by applying it to freshly washed hair. Hot oil works best on clean hair. This allows the oil to deeply penetrate the hair cuticle. If your hair is dirty, and your follicles are blocked by sweat, debris or product buildup the oil will just sit on top of your hair. Applying your hot oil treatment right after you shampoo is the best time to apply. So is it better to do a hot oil treatment on wet or dry hair? For the best results, you should always apply hot oil to damp hair. You’ll leave your treatment on for 30 minutes and shampoo it once again, before following with conditioner.

Hot oil treatments encourage healthier hair by increasing blood flow to the scalp, but they also help with hair loss and breakage. The process of massaging the oil in during the hot oil treatment enhances blood circulation in the nerves beneath the scalp. This stimulates dormant follicles, aiding in hair growth. If your hair is thinning try a hot oil treatment for hair growth. A few more tips for dealing with hair shedding or thinning include eating a well balanced diet, exfoliating your scalp, and air-drying your hair when possible.

The best hot oil treatments for hair are made of plant-based oils, like jojoba oil, argan oil, moringa oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. Select an oil based on what your hair needs. Coconut oil helps to nourish your hair and promote healthy growth, so it’s great for any hair type. Olive oil helps your hair retain moisture and contains vitamins E, so it’s great for damaged hair. And argan makes a great hot oil treatment for natural hair. Once you’ve chosen your oil, follow these steps to do at-home hot oil treatment.

Overusing heat styling tools, like blow-dryers, flat irons, and curling wands can make your hair dry and more prone to breakage. This makes your hair more likely to fall out, especially if you use heat every day. 

Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of your oil of choice into a heat-safe bowl. Fill up a large pot with water and put it over high heat, then bring it to a boil. Make a double boiler by placing the bowl of oil into the pot, balancing the bowl over the water. Stir the oil for 2 to 3 minutes until it’s warm. Please note that if you can avoid it, you shouldn’t heat your oil in the microwave. The intense heat from the microwave can cause oil to break down, heating it unevenly.

Brush out your hair and split it vertically down the middle, creating 2 equal sections on either side of your head. You can split those sections into 2 more to make them a little smaller. Clip all the sections up except one with a claw clip to keep them out of the way.

Start at the top of your hair and work your way down, using your fingers to rub in the oil. Bring it up to your scalp and gently massage it into your hair strands. Lift sections of your hair up to get underneath them, and cover all of the roots in that section. When you finish, repeat this on the other side. 

Grab more oil and massage it into the mid-shaft of your hair, dragging your fingers down to the ends. Do this until you’ve coated your entire head in oil.

Cover up with a shower cap or a plastic bag to keep your hair contained while you wait. Let the oil absorb for at least 30 minutes so it has time to hydrate and repair your hair.

After your hot oil treatment, use a build up removing shampoo. If you feel like there's still oil in your hair, use the clarifying shampoo again; otherwise, follow up with a hydrating shampoo. When the oil is gone, follow up with a conditioner to leave your hair feeling healthy and hydrated.

If you have natural hair, curly hair, bleached or damaged hair, you can use hot oil to add moisture and shine every other week. If your hair is fine or tend s to get oily fast, it’s best to do a hot oil treatment once or twice a month.

You can get a hot oil treatment at any Davines salon (see our salon locator here) or you can use one of our favorite hair oil products to do your own treatment at home, including:

• Nourishing Oil: This hydrating organic hair oil moisturizes the tips of particularly dehydrated hair and gently nourishes the face and body. The hair is soft, shiny and silky, the skin of the body is nourished and velvety.
• OI Oil: This anti-frizz oil for dry hair adds shine and softness to hair while also detangling and fighting frizz, working especially well on coarse or dry hair. The hair structure is left protected, without weighing it down.

A hot oil treatment is the answer to reviving frizzy curls and dry, damaged hair. If you have frizzy curls, dry strands or naturally coarse hair a hot oil treatment is an easy DIY way to get smoother hair. Remember to use only high quality hot oil products for the hair, like the ones in the Davines family. All our formulas are free of harmful toxins and made from natural ingredients. Our products are made with renewable energy and packaging that minimizes the environmental impact. Our hair care isn’t just good for your hair, it’s good for the planet.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor