Hot Oil Treatment for Natural Hair

Many naturalists have heard the term hot oil treatment, but are unaware of what it is. Do we know exactly how to do hot oil treatments for our natural hair? Sadly, many of us don’t practice this method.

For those of us who have never heard about this hair treatment method, I am here to expand your knowledge and make your natural hair journey a fulfilling one. Many black hair experts view hot oil treatments as one of the best treatment regimes for natural hair.

Before we dive into the components of hot oil hair treatments, we need to have a clear understanding of what it is.

What is a hot oil treatment?

This is a plant-based treatment regime that entails treating the hair and scalp with natural oils. These oils may include castor oil, olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil.

How do you do a hot oil treatment on natural hair

To perform a hot oil treatment, there are some things that should be taken into consideration. You must first be fully prepared to devote to the treatment regime.

You need to decide if you will be creating your own product or if you will be ordering it online. You must select the oil that you will use to do your hot oil treatment.

Gather your materials

After you have fully decided on the method that you will be using, you will gather your materials accordingly.

Items Needed: Natural oil (any of your choice), essential oil, wide tooth comb, heat source, warm water, pot, applicator bottle

Step 1: Wash your hair. This is optional as most persons apply hot oil treatment to their hair when it is dry or unwashed. We will discuss this a bit later. You can wash your hair with your regular shampoo.

Step 2: Section your hair as desired. This will help to evenly distribute the oil on your hair scalp and help you achieve greater results.

Step 3: You can combine all the oils you choose and pour it into a microwavable dish for about 30 seconds or heat the oils in a small pot on the stove. Be sure not to overheat the oil. You don’t want to burn your scalp.

Step 5: Gently massage your scalp with the oil. This is critical as aggressive massaging can result in damaging your scalp. When you massage your scalp, the oil penetrates your roots and will increase blood circulation which promotes healthy hair growth. You can apply the oil that remains on your hair, this will help to reduce hair breakage and strengthen your black hair. You can wait for a few hours before washing out the oil.

Step 6: After you have massaged your hair and scalp, it’s time to cap it. You need to cover your hair, so all the hair is retained in a shower cap. A shower cap is most suitable for this purpose as it will prevent your hair from soiling your bed linens, clothes, and other surfaces that it comes in contact with. If you so desire, you can keep the hot oil treatment in your natural hair overnight, especially if you have low porosity hair.

Step 7: Wash your hair. You can co-wash your hair using a moisturizing shampoo of your choice and lukewarm water. This will remove the excess oil. Remember to apply some conditioner to add more moisture to your hair. After rinsing, you can style your natural hair as desired.

Do you have to wash your hair before a hot oil treatment?

Often times, we are exhausted and may believe that applying hot oil treatment to unwashed hair is more convenient, however, that is a bad practice. The best time to use your hot oil treatment is after you have washed your hair.

When you wash your hair, you are removing oil buildup, chemicals, and hair products that attach themselves to your hair scalp. Not only that, your hair in its unwashed state may be dry and flaky.

This will hinder you from effectively performing your hair care treatment. When you apply hot oil treatment to your dry scalp, it removes the oil and reduces the amount of moisture your hair receives.

Hot Oil Treatment benefits

There are numerous benefits that you can attain from hot oil hair treatments. I have a few to share with you.

Keep your hair moist

This is the number one benefit of performing hot oil hair treatments. Moisture is needed for healthy hair growth.

Oils help to seal moisture in your hair and keep your natural hair looking healthy.

Adds sheen

The oil that is added to your hair helps your hair to retain moisture, thus making your natural hair shiny and alive.

Strength

Hot oil treatment makes your hair a whole lot stronger. This is achieved by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicles which results in an increase of nutrients in your hair scalp.

Increases blood circulation

One may ask, how does hot oil treatment applied to your scalp increase blood flow? And what does increase blood flow do to your hair? Well, it is the action of massaging the oils into your hair scalp that improves blood circulation. When you massage your scalp, you are sending signals to the blood vessels to send blood to your hair follicles.

Blood as we know; is the carrier of many nutrients which are needed for healthy hair growth. These nutrients are deposited to your hair follicles to nourish your hair so that it grows healthy and firm.

This is simply amazing!!! Oh, the power that is stored up in our fingertips.

Prevents split ends

Tired of seeing split ends steering at you every month even after trimming them on a regular basis? Try the hot oil treatment. It strengthens your hair and prevents it from becoming dry and brittle and prevents hair breakage.

Hot oil treatment pros and cons

When performing hot oil treatments for your African American black hair, there are some things to consider.

Pros

Cons

Hot oil treatment for damaged hair

Are you currently experiencing split ends? Does your hair feel as if it’s damaged beyond no point of returning? Don’t worry. Some hot oil treatments are available at your local or online stores that can help you solve those problems.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, you can make your own hot oil treatment for your natural hair. Oils such as avocado oil, coconut oil, and olive oil are highly recommended by many to treat damaged hair.

Hot oil treatment at home

You don’t have to go to a hair salon to get your hot oil treatment done. All you need is a little patience and your personal home oasis for treating your natural hair and you will be good to go.

Hot oil treatment at a salon

Many naturalists believe that a hair salon is only a place for doing major hairstyles such as cutting and coloring your hair, however, there is more to it. Going to a hair salon may be an excellent idea for a few reasons.

The cosmetologist is more knowledgeable about natural hair care and will be better able to assists you with determining the best hot oil treatment for your hair. Your personal hairstylist knows your hair pattern and will be able to identify if some of the selected oils for the hot oil hair treatment causes more harm than good.

In addition to that, your hair stylist will be able to massage the oil into your scalp thoroughly. So why not sit back, let your hair down and get that hot oil treatment with a difference!

Hot oil treatment overnight

You may just happen to have a very long day at work or at the park, and you decide to do your hot oil treatment. You may be too tired to wash out the oil from your hair.

You can simply let the hot oil treatment remain in your hair overnight. Yes, you can sleep on it.

The overnight hot oil treatment yields the same benefits as the day hot oil treatment. The only difference is that it will sit on your hair and scalp for a longer time and will increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Hot oil treatment for hair growth

Hot oil hair treatment is known to increase natural hair growth. As discussed earlier, it increases blood circulation and adds a large volume of moisture to your hair which in turn assists with hair growth.

Hot oil treatment on permed hair

If you have permed hair, a hot oil treatment can do a lot for you. It can add a lot of moisture and sheen to your hair.

If you are currently experiencing hair breakage, you can use a hot oil treatment to help prevent further hair damage. You can consider using a hot oil treatment at least once or twice per week.

This will keep your hair looking healthy.

Hot oil treatment to straighten hair

Do you have curly hair and desire naturally straight hair? If yes, you can use any hot oil treatment to achieve this look. Apply and massage oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil to your scalp.

Then get a warm towel and use it to wrap your head for a few minutes. After a few moments expect to see amazing results.

Straightening your natural hair can be as easy as 1, 2, 3 using hot oil treatments.

Hot oil treatment to remove color

If you are a DIY hair expert, this is great news for you. If you like to change your hair color regularly, you can use a hot oil treatment to help you transition from one color to the next.

Hot oil treatments can be used to remove various types of dyes from your hair. This can be achieved by using a conditioner of your choice to your hair while lightening it, and after use a hot oil treatment to your hair.

Massage the hot oil treatment into your hair and scalp, then cover your hair with a shower cap. After a few minutes, rinse your hair with warm water, and you will see those colors coming out of your hair.

Before drying your hair, section as desired. If you are concerned about this method causing damage to your hair, you don’t need to be worried about it.

Why? It actually provides excellent nourishment for your hair.

Hot oil treatment under weave & braids

You can still have your hot oil treatment when you wear braids. Simply start by blending your desired oils and place it in an oil applicator bottle.

Apply hot oil treatment to your hair thoroughly by massaging it on your scalp. Shampoo your hair, then dry with a blow dryer.

This can be done at least once per month.

Hot oil treatment for type 4 hair

Get a jar of extra virgin coconut oil this is the number 1 seller in natural hair oil treatments. It can also be used for other purposes.

To perform a hot oil treatment for type 4a, 4b, and 4c hair, just warm a bottle of coconut oil to melt. Before co-washing your hair, gently apply the oil to your hair and scalp.

Which hot oil treatment is the best

This may be a personal based decision as we all have our own preferences. Some hot oil treatments may not work for you while it may work wonders for someone else.

I have done thorough research to determine the best hot oil treatments, and I have come up with 5 of which we will discuss briefly.

Coconut Oil: This is the most popularly used hot oil treatment for naturalists. It helps to soften and nourish your hair and increase hair growth. Coconut oil is available in any local or online stores.

Olive Oil: This is one of nature’s best hair and skin product. It contains a variety of vitamins that are used to retain moisture in your natural hair. It adds sheen, softens your hair and a whole lot more.

Avocado Oil: This is a moisture locking hot oil treatment that is rich in vitamins A, vitamin B, vitamin D, and vitamin E that are needed for healthy hair growth. It also adds shine to your natural hair.

Almond Oil: This oil helps to prevent hair loss and helps you to achieve beautiful shiny hair. This is an excellent carrier oil if you want to mix this oil with a heavier oil to thin it out a bit. It is available at your local hair or online stores.

Jojoba Oil: This oil helps to keep your hair scalp healthy. It also has antibacterial properties that assist with healthy hair growth. Jojoba oil has the same properties as our own hair sebum, this oil actually penetrates the hair shaft it’s also used to treat dry scalp.

Where to buy hot oil treatment for hair

You can purchase oils for your hot oil treatments for your hair at any hair or herbal store near you. Also, you can shop online at Amazon and Walmart for awesome prices for your hair products.

How often should you do a hot oil treatment

The amount of time you allow your hot oil treatment to process is up to you. You know more about your life schedule more than anyone else.

You may be a very busy wife and mother of 2 and is only able to perform one hot oil treatment per month. However, experts recommend that you do hot oil treatments at least once or twice per week.

How long does a hot oil treatment last

If it is one of those days in which you are not in a hurry, and you can relax and let your hair down do a hot oil treatment. A hot oil treatment should be about 2 hours long.

You can also sleep on it until the next day.

Caps for hot oil treatment

You can buy shower caps for your hot oil treatment at a local store near you. They are very easy to get.

Here are some good caps that you can use.

Hot oil treatment vs. pre-poo

We have already discussed hot oil hair treatment in depth, so I want to discuss it in relation to a pre-poo. What is the pre-poo or pre-shampoo treatment? According to The Science of Black Hair defines pre-pooing as “a conditioning treatment done on the hair just before shampooing.

Conditioners and Oils are commonly used as pre-shampoo treatments on the hair to increase its moisture content.” It is important to note that a hot oil treatment can be a pre-poo. However, not all pre-poos are hot oil treatments.

Let’s make a comparison between hot oil treatment and pre-pooing.

Pre-poo	Hot oil treatment
1.Can be done before shampooing your natural hair.	1. Can be done before or after shampooing your natural hair.
2. Prevents harsh stripping of hair strands during shampooing.	2. Adds body, sheen, and moisture to dry scalp.
3.Can remain in your hair for an hour or even overnight.	3. Can stay in your hair for 2 hours or even overnight.

Hot oil treatment vs. relaxer

If you have relaxed hair and want to touch up the unrelaxed edges, you can simply use a hot oil treatment a week before relaxing your hair. You can use a combination of oils, which may include castor oil, coconut oil, or olive oil along with rosemary or any other essence oil.

Some persons with relaxed hair perform hot oil hair treatments regularly after relaxing their hair. This practice is fine as you want to achieve all the benefits that hot oil treatment has to offer.

Hot oil treatment vs. hair mask

You may be wondering, what is a hair mask? Well, a hair mask is a hair treatment that involves the application of oils and products to your hair without the use of heat. The hair mask is left in your hair for a period of time before washing it out.

So, what is the difference between hot oil treatment and hair mask? Hot oil treatments involve the use of oils only, while a hair mask is just a conditioning mask or it can contain a mixture of oils and ingredients such as coconut milk, lemon juice, honey, Aloe Vera, carrot oil that contains keratin, you name it. Both, hot oil treatments and hair masks work best with heat.

You may be curious as to which is most effective at helping your hair to achieve a healthy look. However, they are both equally valid in doing so. Not only do they add shine and moisture to your naturally textured hair, but they also provide a surplus of nutrients that is needed to keep your hair alive and beautiful.

Hot oil treatment vs. deep conditioning

Deep conditioning your hair is equally as important as hot oil treatments. Deep conditioning is applying conditioner to your hair for a desired period of time (20 to 30 minutes).

It is crucial that you don’t over condition your hair as this can result in undesired results such as a weak, mushy hair. You can apply direct heat to your deep conditioner to boost its effect.

Heating is best with a hooded dryer or a plastic shower cap. Both hot oil and deep conditioning treatments are essential towards attaining healthy hair growth. Ignoring one can be problematic, so why not do both?

Here are a few deep conditioners that you can use when deep conditioning your natural hair.

: This deep conditioner contains one of the best natural oil that is used in achieving healthy hair health, you got it right, coconut oil. This conditioner helps you achieve fresh and healthy hair. Also, you can use other shea butter conditioners to condition your hair.

 

: Did someone say tea tree?!!! This is a fantastic product that is excellent for hair growth, and it also has great antibacterial and antifungal properties. This product can be used for all hair types.

 

: This deep conditioner helps to revitalize dry and damaged hair.

: softens, detangles and gives your hair a lot of moisture. Here is what a reviewer on Amazon has to say about this product.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!! I looked everywhere to choose the best product that wasn’t too expensive but had excellent results, and this product exceeds my expectations! When I read that it makes your hair easy to comb through when you immediately put it on your hair, I had to give it a try. And it is absolutely TRUE! Easy to comb through (I use denman brush 5 rows). The smell is amazing and makes your hair feel ultra soft. I am a year and a half from my big chop…I was nearly bald.”

: A rich and creamy hair product that makes your hair super soft and manageable.

Hot oil treatment vs. protein treatment

Protein treatments are the application of protein-based products to your natural hair. You can go to your hair salon or stay in the comfort of your home to do a protein treatment.

You can do both a hot oil treatment and a protein treatment at the same time. You can use eggs along with other protein-based products for your DIY protein treatment or a store brought treatment.

I do hope this article answered most if not all of your questions about the topic.

So, Queens, get it right, start your hot oil treatment today. Your hair will thank you. Have a hairific day!!!