What is a hot oil treatment and how is it done?
The main purpose of a hot oil treatment is to repair and moisturize the hair cuticle, making it stronger and resulting is less breakage. The heat from the oil will open the hair cuticle and allow the oil to enter and absorb into the shaft. This will nourish hair more deeply and thoroughly than a regular oil treatment.
A hot oil treatment is right for you if your hair is dry, frizzy, chemically damaged, and of course, curly. Hot oil treatments can also be applied to the scalp for boosting blood circulation. A hot oil treatment will help:
- Strengthen hair and reduce breakage
- Prevent split ends
- Moisturize the hair follicle and scalp
- Reduce dryness of hair and scalp
- Reduce dandruff
- Increase blood flow to the scalp
A hot oil treatment is not recommended if you have any skin conditions such as as psoriasis or eczema. In such cases, it is best to consult your dermatologist to discuss if the oil is safe for your scalp.
Some precautions
It is recommended to use 100% pure oils such as jojoba, almond, or lavender. You can also incorporate essential oils into your mixture of oils. Make sure none of the oils are synthetic or mixed with other ingredients. The Coco Curls Hair Growth & Anti-Frizz Oil, made of 100% pure oils, is safe to use for hot oil treatments.
If you want to do a patch test first, apply some oil to your elbow. If there is no rash within 24 hours, it should be safe to use on your skin.
Make sure you do not warm the oil for longer than 10 seconds in the microwave. Let it cool down before you apply it to prevent burning your skin. You can try some oil on your wrist to make sure the temperate is right.
How to do a hot oil treatment?
Choose pure oils such as jojoba oil, almond oil or lavender oil (a pure blend of these oils and more can be found here).
Take 5-6 tablespoons of oil depending on the length and volume of your hair.
Warm it for 10 seconds in the microwave. Make sure it is not too hot. Do your due diligence to make sure the oil has cooled down before you touch it. Alternatively, you can put the oil in an applicator bottle and put the bottle inside hot water to warm it.
Make sure your hair is dry.
Divide your hair into sections.
Take a section of your hair and massage into your scalp. Apply it to your strands but don’t cover or drench the strand in oil. A little goes a long way. Apply from the roots to the ends.
Repeat with all sections of your hair.
Place a shower cap on your hair by 15-30 minutes.
You can sit under a hooded dryer or streamer if you have access to one. If not, it’s completely fine not to do so. This step is just to apply extra heat to the treament. You can also apply some extra heat using a blow dryer at low speed.
Rinse and wash thoroughly with a shampoo or co-wash.
Apply a leave-in conditioner and style as usual.
You can repeat this treatment once a week and up to 3 times a week.
Are you going to try a hot oil treatment? Let us know how it goes!