How to Do DIY Hot Oil Treatments for Natural Hair

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Deep condition and revive your hair with these nourishing oils
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Are you struggling with frizz, split ends, thinning edges, or just one too many bad hair days? Your natural hair is bold and beautiful, but sometimes it needs a little extra TLC to look its very best. Why not try a hot oil treatment? We talked to hair experts to show you how to do a hot oil treatment safely at home. Plus, we’ll explain the best oils to use for your hair condition and how to customize your hot oil treatment for your needs.

DIY Hot Oil Treatment: A Quick Breakdown

Master cosmetologist Shun Pittman recommends doing a hot oil treatment before shampooing your hair to help moisturize your natural hair without unnecessary product buildup. Then, once your hair is washed, follow these steps:

  1. Choose an oil. Opt for coconut oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil.
  2. Warm the oil. Place the oil in a bottle and warm it in boiling water.
  3. Apply to the hair in sections. Detangle the hair, then soak sections with oil.
  4. Cover for 30 minutes. Leave the oil to set under a cap.
  5. Wash your hair. Shampoo your hair and style it as usual.
Section 1 of 7:

How to Do a Hot Oil Hair Treatment

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  1. 1
    Decide whether to wash your hair before or after the treatment. Whether you wash your hair before a hot oil treatment is entirely up to you! Master cosmetologist Shun Pittman advises to “do a hot oil treatment prior to shampooing so that there’s not heavy buildup of oil afterwards.” However, she goes on to state that the preference is ultimately up to you and your needs. [1]
    • Keep in mind that you’ll need to use shampoo after the treatment to remove excess oil, so if you wash your hair before , you’ll be washing it twice.
    • If you do a pre-shampoo treatment, spray your hair down so that it's a little damp (not dripping) before you apply the oil—it'll help the oil stick to your hair better.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Shun Pittman is a master cosmetologist and global salon educator with over 25 years of experience. One of her many specialties includes hair conditioning treatments.

    Kelsey Morey is a professional hair and makeup artist with over 10 years of experience. She specializes in balayage, hair care, and color care.

  2. Choose oils for your hot oil treatment —experiment until you find what works best for you. Give the applicator bottle a good shake to mix the oils together. [2] Don't worry about making too much. The leftover oil can be used for your next hot oil treatment.
    • Write down the oils you used and the amounts. Then, write down your thoughts on your hair after you rinse the oil out. It'll help you figure out the best oils for your hair type.
    • Keep in mind that coconut oil is in a more solid form until it's heated. If you're using that, you'll have clumps at first—totally normal. [3]
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  3. Detangle your hair thoroughly, then Pittman says to part your hair in half. Pin one half up out of the way, then split the other section into two. Go back to the first section and split it in half as well, so you end up with 4 sections. [4]
    • If you're doing a hot oil treatment for dandruff, dry scalp, or hair growth, make more sections to better target your scalp.
  4. Put the water in a large bowl, then set your applicator bottle with the oil inside for a couple of minutes. The oil should be warm, but not hot—you don't want it to burn your scalp. [5]
    • If you used coconut oil, give that applicator bottle a good shake to help distribute the clumps.
    • Avoid microwaving your oil. Oil doesn't heat up well in a microwave. On top of that, there's some evidence that microwaves can zap the nutrients in the oil, stripping your hot oil treatment of its benefits. [6] Because of this, it’s always best to heat your oil treatment on the stove.
  5. Work the oil through a section of hair until it’s completely saturated, then twist that section up and move on to the next one. Keep going until you've oiled your entire head. [7]
    • If you have a scalp condition you want to treat, spend some extra time massaging the oil directly into your scalp, especially at your part lines.
    • Pittman recommends doing a scalp massage once the oil is distributed through the hair. Not only does it feel good, but it can also help promote healthy hair growth. [8]
  6. The plastic shower cap creates a greenhouse effect that holds the heat in the oil close to your scalp. This helps the oil penetrate each strand of hair and lock in moisture. [9]
    • Add a hooded dryer , heated hair cap , or other form of indirect heat for more intense moisturizing.
    • For deeper conditioning, leave the oil treatment in your hair overnight, but be sure to only put the treatment on your ends to avoid potential burns. [10]
  7. Unwrap your hair and squeeze a small amount of shampoo into it. Professional hair and makeup artist Kelsey Morey recommends using a quarter or a two-quarter size of shampoo. [11] Apply the shampoo directly to the top of your scalp and massage it in. Work your way down to the ends of your hair.
    • The shampoo does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to getting the oil out of your hair. Oil and water don't mix, so you need the shampoo to remove the product.
  8. Ensure all of the suds are out of your hair, and then style it as you normally would. And that’s really all there is to it!
    • If you left the oil treatment in overnight, you may want to shampoo and rinse your hair twice, just to ensure all of the oil has washed out.
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Section 2 of 7:

Choosing the Best Oil for Your Hair Condition

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  1. Use olive oil , avocado oil , or coconut oil for dull, dry, or frizzy hair. You likely have these oils already lying around your house! All of these oils provide plenty of moisture for dry, frizzy hair and can help restore your hair's shine. [12]
    • Avocado oil is the lightest and tends to penetrate better than other oils.
    • Coconut oil is a great choice if you have extremely dry hair, as it has a denser consistency and can provide intense moisture.
  2. Jojoba oil is a great treatment oil because it's so similar to the sebum your scalp naturally produces. It can also be used as a treatment for scalp conditions, including psoriasis. [13]
    • If you have psoriasis, make sure to talk to your doctor before doing a hot oil treatment, just to ensure the treatment won’t make your symptoms worse.
    • Jojoba oil is also a great overall conditioner and works well for any hair type, including fine hair.
  3. Sealing oils lock in moisture and protect the outer layer of your hair, which can help mask and treat split ends. [14] Castor oil , Jamaican black castor oil , and grapeseed oil are popular sealing oils with additional moisturizing properties.
    • How can you tell if an oil is a sealing oil , rather than a moisturizing oil? If the "polyunsaturated fat" listed on the nutritional label has a larger amount than the saturated and monounsaturated fats, it's a sealing oil.
    • Using castor oil also reduces frizz, eases tangles, and adds shine to your hair due to its high amounts of vitamin E and antioxidants.
    • Using Jamaican black castor oil also treats dandruff and dry scalp due to its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties.
  4. Argan oil can protect your hair from damage normally caused by heat styling and the environment. [15] Think of this oil like a protective shield over your hair.
  5. Sunflower oil is packed full of vitamins and fatty acids. It also contains emollients that can soften your hair without leaving an oily residue behind. [16]
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Section 3 of 7:

How to Customize Your Hot Oil Treatment

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  1. Steep dried chamomile or a chamomile tea bag in your hot oil for at least 15 minutes. The chamomile can help ease irritation or itchiness on the scalp. [17]
  2. Rinse your hair and scalp with witch hazel before doing your hot oil treatment. It's a natural astringent that easily removes buildup on your hair and scalp, and also helps with dandruff. [18]
  3. Add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to your treatment oil. Putting a couple of drops of tea tree oil in your shampoo can also help, but no more than that! Tea tree oil is incredibly strong, so you don't need very much. [19]
    • Many essential oils, including tea tree oil, are not safe to apply directly to your skin undiluted. They are highly concentrated and can cause irritation and burns on your skin, so use them cautiously. [20]
  4. Massage your scalp with aloe vera gel either before or after your hot oil treatment. Aloe vera gel can stimulate new hair growth and is used to treat alopecia and other hair loss disorders. [21] You can also add just a few drops of any of the following essential oils to your main oil:
  5. Mix a little shea butter into your hot oil for an extra moisturizing boost. You can also coat your hair with shea butter after your hot oil treatment for deeper conditioning. [22]
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Section 4 of 7:

Is hot oil treatment safe?

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  1. As long as you use a safe, plant-based oil as a carrier and control the temperature of your oil, you'll be fine. Always test the oil on the inside of your wrist before putting it on your head. If it's too hot, let it sit for a minute and cool, then test the temperature again. [23]
Section 5 of 7:

What does a hot oil treatment do?

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  1. If your hair is dry, brittle, or frizzy, a hot oil treatment may be the perfect fix! Hot oil treatments have been used on natural hair for centuries to moisturize hair and soothe the scalp. The biggest benefit is that the hot oil opens the hair shaft (or hair cuticle) to allow the hair to fully absorb the oil’s moisture, leading to long-lasting results. Along with this, a hot oil treatment can: [24]
    • Reduce frizziness.
    • Strengthen hair.
    • Improve dandruff and dry scalp.
    • Stimulate hair growth.
    • Add shine.
    • Improve texture and manageability.
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Section 6 of 7:

Do you do a hot oil treatment before shampoo?

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  1. Whether you wash your hair before or after a hot oil treatment all depends on your personal preference. After the treatment, you will need a little shampoo to remove the excess oil, so it's really a question of whether you want to wash your hair after the hot oil treatment or both before and after. [25]
    • Pittman does recommend doing a hot oil treatment before washing your hair to prevent heavy oil buildup on clean hair. However, she does preface that there’s no right or wrong way—it’s all about preference. [26]
Section 7 of 7:

How often should I do a hot oil treatment?

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  1. If you typically wash your hair once a week, simply incorporate the hot oil treatment into your regular wash day routine. You'll notice results immediately after your first treatment. [27]
    • The benefits of hot oil treatments are only temporary. To achieve lasting results, commit to doing your treatments on a regular basis. If every week is too frequent for you, start with every other week or even once a month.
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      Tips

      • Leftover oil from your hot oil treatment makes a great sealant. If you go for a protective style after your treatment, use it to seal your braids or twists. [28]
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      • Have sensitive skin? Dab a little of the oil you want to use on the inside of your wrist to do a patch test. Wait 24 hours—if there's no reaction, you're good to go!
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      Warnings

      • If you have sensitive skin, make sure you're using 100% natural oils to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction.
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      • If you have a chronic skin condition, such as psoriasis or eczema, talk to your doctor or dermatologist before doing a hot oil treatment. They'll tell you if the oil you plan to use is safe for your scalp. [29]
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about hair treatments, check out our in-depth interview with Kelsey Morey .

      References

      1. ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=367
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/577qu3u0WzY?t=124
      4. ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=367
      6. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/resources-you-radiation-emitting-products/microwave-oven-radiation
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=374
      8. ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=384
      1. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/hot-oil-treatment-for-hair
      2. ↑ Kelsey Morey. Professional Hair and Makeup Artist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100AW8W.PDF?Dockey=P100AW8W.PDF
      4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197201/
      5. ↑ https://www.kurleebelle.com/post/moisturizing-oils-vs-sealing-oils-understanding-the-differences-and-benefits-for-your-hair
      6. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35226791/
      7. ↑ https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100AW8W.PDF?Dockey=P100AW8W.PDF
      8. ↑ https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100AW8W.PDF?Dockey=P100AW8W.PDF
      9. ↑ https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100AW8W.PDF?Dockey=P100AW8W.PDF
      10. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
      11. ↑ https://www.umojamagazine.com/article/10-potent-essential-oils-to-boost-black-hair-health/
      12. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
      13. ↑ https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/P100AW8W.PDF?Dockey=P100AW8W.PDF
      14. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a33969334/hot-oil-treatment-for-hair/
      15. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=91
      16. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/hair-care/hot-oil-treatment-for-hair
      17. ↑ Shun Pittman. Master Cosmetologist. Expert Interview
      18. ↑ https://youtu.be/1xjVzhIhTQI?t=129
      19. ↑ https://napturallycurly.com/hot-oil-treatments-on-natural-or-transitioning-hair/
      20. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a33969334/hot-oil-treatment-for-hair/

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