Q&A for How to Oil Your Hair

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How many times a week should I oil my hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    This depends on your hair type. Coarse hair can take daily oiling. Finer hair does best with a weekly treatment.
  • Question
    Is applying oil every day good for hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    This depends on your hair type. If you have coarse, curly, or kinky hair, you can use oil every day. Applying oil too frequently will make your hair limp and lifeless.
  • Question
    Is putting oil in your hair good?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Oil will provide moisture and shine to your hair, but if you use it too frequently it can also make hair look greasy or limp. Lightweight oils like argan are easiest to use and suitable for most hair types.
  • Question
    Can you sleep with oil in your hair?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, but you will probably want to wrap it in a scarf, plastic bag, or towel. This will help the oil stay warm and protect your pillows.
  • Question
    Can I leave the oil in overnight?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, leaving it on overnight can increase the benefits for your hair and is recommended.
  • Question
    Can l use any type of cooking oil?
    Laura Martin
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.
    Licensed Cosmetologist
    Expert Answer
    Any type of oil will add moisture to your hair. However, some oils may be too heavy for fine or straight hair.
  • Question
    Will oil help my dry scalp?
    Community Answer
    Yes it probably will. You could try rosemary oil and castor oil, as these have good effects.
  • Question
    Is it good to comb my hair immediately after oiling?
    Community Answer
    Use a wide toothed comb to help distribute the oil over the length of your hair.
  • Question
    If I leave oil overnight on my scalp, in the morning should I shampoo?
    Community Answer
    It's better to wash it off, because keeping it on for too long can attract dirt.
  • Question
    Does this make my hair shiny?
    Community Answer
    Yes, the oil will moisturize your hair and smooth the cuticle, making it healthy and shiny. If you use too much oil or you already have oily hair, it will make it look greasy.
  • Question
    If I massage my scalp with oil and I leave it in overnight, should I shampoo in the morning?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you will need to wash it out.
  • Question
    What should I use for split ends?
    Community Answer
    The best treatment for bad split ends is a trim/ cut. Split ends can be prevented by applying castor oil once a week.
  • Question
    Do I wash my hair with shampoo or just regular water?
    Community Answer
    Use shampoo as a rinse will leave the oil on your hair and it will look heavy and attract dirt.
  • Question
    What oil should I use to stop my hair from falling out?
    Community Answer
    A cold pressed castor oil mixed with Geranium, Tea Tree, and peppermint for circulation. Hold your head upside down and massage for 5-10 minutes. Then cover and let sit as long as possible. Rinse with an all-natural Argan oil conditioner. Start by doing this three times a week, and try to allow the hair to dry naturally as often as possible, as this holds moisture.
  • Question
    Should my hair be wet or dry when I apply oil?
    Community Answer
    I believe it's better to apply the oil on dry hair, because oil and water don't mix.
  • Question
    Can I use many oils mixed together to apply to my scalp and hair?
    Community Answer
    You could, but it generally won't add much extra benefit. Most of them have pretty similar benefits and it doesn't make much difference whether you use one or a mix. It might be a better idea to try different oils at different times and see if any of them seems to work better for you than the others.
  • Question
    For how many hours oil should be applied overnight or in the morning?
    Community Answer
    Leave the oil in for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes. You can leave it in overnight if you want. However, you may want to put a towel on your pillow because the oil may go everywhere.
  • Question
    How do I apply oil to frizzy, 'Indian' curls?
    Community Answer
    I have curly "Indian" hair, and I get my mom to put oil on my hair. I have tried applying the oil to my hair, but I haven't had a good experience. I always feel like I apply way too much. Mostly, I would recommend getting help from a friend or relative - especially someone who has done this before. I don't do anything special. You should definitely comb/brush your hair first, getting out all the knots and tangles. Yes, it will be super frizzy! But once you apply oil to the lengths, in my experience, the fizziness typically subsides because the oil is heavy and will thwart the frizzies.
  • Question
    Can I use cooking olive oil for dandruff?
    Community Answer
    Olive oil is good for dandruff, but if you have thin hair, it might be too heavy. Coconut oil is also recommended for dandruff, and it has a lighter consistency.
  • Question
    Can I oil my hair and leave it in all day?
    Community Answer
    You can leave the oil in for up to 8 hours overnight. Over a long period of time during the day, the oil might attract dust and dirt, which would do your hair more harm than good!
  • Question
    Will oiling increase the density of my hair?
    Community Answer
    It can. The oils most likely to do this are castor oil and coconut oil.
  • Question
    Can I leave the oils in my hair until the next morning and wash my hair with shampoo?
    Community Answer
    You can, but avoid using a shampoo that may dry your hair or the natural oils will be lost.
  • Question
    Should I apply oil to my scalp when I have dandruff?
    Community Answer
    No. If you want to get rid of dandruff, use a salicylic acid shampoo. Don’t use conditioner.
  • Question
    What should I do if i have dandruff and hair fall?
    Community Answer
    Apply oil to your hair and scalp to moisturize it.
  • Question
    Can I use coconut oil with a leave-in conditioner? As in, can I apply them together after I wash my hair? Do I have to remove the oil after I apply it?
    Community Answer
    You can, but some oils may not work as good and it might cause damage and hair loss. You don't have to remove the oil completely, you just have to give it a rinse.
  • Question
    Can oil cure dandruff?
    Community Answer
    Yes, oil can cure dandruff. Go for a deep conditioning with a good oil once a week and wash it off generously the next day. Make sure that the oil is gone. Also, try an anti dandruff shampoo.
  • Question
    Oil made my hair fall out. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Avoid using any products in your hair until it starts to grow back.
  • Question
    Can I use oil just before washing my hair?
    Community Answer
    There's no point in using oil just before a wash. Oil needs time to penetrate into the scalp. Wait at least 15 minutes after oiling before you wash your hair.
  • Question
    How do I put coconut oil in my hair safely?
    Community Answer
    Test it out on a small chunk of hair. If your hair reacts, then it is not the best oil for your hair. You could then try different types of oils and see about those.
  • Question
    Should I oil my hair when using hair lotion?
    Community Answer
    You can, but it depends on how dry your hair is.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article