How to do a hot oil treatment for natural hair

Hot oil treatment is most beneficial if you want to give your natural hair some nutrition and enhance and revive it. This hair remedy has been used and is still widely used by this generation. This helps you maintain the shine and iconic hair growth on your hair and minimizes situations where your hair breaks easily. Our guide below shows you how to do a hot oil treatment on your hair at home using natural products.

What is Hot Oil Treatment

Hot oil treatments are preferred, especially for natural hair, because they are very effective in hair care. Because they possess the ability to effectively penetrate the hair shaft, these oils are used for hair conditioning, knot removal, softening, and strengthening. They also soften the hair cuticle where the nutrients would otherwise hardly penetrate, enhancing the hair shaft.

The advantages of hot oil treatment for natural hair

1. Improved hair elasticity

2. Enhanced moisture retention

3. Reduced frizz

4. Tangled-free hair

5. Reduced split ends

6. Improved hair growth

What You Will Need

To perform a hot oil treatment at home, you'll need the following items:

1. Any carrier oil you prefer: coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil.

2. Fragrance essential oils and therapeutic properties (lavender, peppermint, etc.).

3. A deep conditioning hair mask 

4. A heat cap or plastic wrap

5. A shower cap or towel

6. Wide-tooth comb

How to Do a Hot Oil Treatment

Step 1: Choose Your Oil

One of the most vital steps is choosing the carrier oil according to the hair's nature and texture. Coconut oil is one of the most preferred oils as it contains antimicrobial and emollient properties. However, you can also use olive oil, castor oil, or any other oil that may be appropriate for your hair.

Step 2: Heat the Oil

In the hot oil treatment, the oil has to be slightly hot but not scalding hot, you know, the kind of heat you didn’t use to be comfortable with. The precaution you should take is to measure the necessary amount of oil correctly and pour it on a heatproof plate. Put warm water in a pot and place the bowl in the pot and then the bowl will warm up. You can also heat the oil using a double boiler for a much more manageable way.

Step 3: Test the Oil Temperature

As a precaution against the oil overheating, use your wrist to check the temperature. It should feel warm, not hot. If it's too hot, cool it for a little while before applying it to your hair.

Step 4: Apply the Oil to Your Hair

Divide your hair into four parts, and apply the warm oil starting from the roots to hair ends. When applying the oil, also ensure that you are doing this with a lot of circular motions to the tip of your fingers and over your scalp so as to facilitate blood flow and healthy hair growth. That is why you can reduce your exposure to such mess with gloves.

Step 5: Cover Your Hair

Pull your hair back in a pony tail with a shower cap or a towel. This then traps the heat, and is good, because it’s going to keep the oil going deeper into the hair shaft.

Step 6: Sit back and enjoy while the oil does its job

After that, let the oil in your hair for about thirty minutes, or even better, you can leave it there all night. While you are waiting, you can sit and read a book, have a bath, or simply watch TV.

Step 7: Wash Out the Oil

Once you are finished rinse with the water and remove the shower cap or towel and wash your hair with your washcloth or your fingers. With this you can help to wash off any dirt, grime, or any of the accumulative products that may be on the actual surface of the skin.

Step 8: Rinse and Condition Your Hair

Finally, in washing your hair, use the lukewarm water to make sure that all that shampoo residue is finally washed out. This should be accompanied by a deep conditioning hair mask to give the hair that is needed boost for nourishment and hydration. Keep the mask in your hair for at least 10 minutes then wash out with cold water.

Step 9: Style Your Hair

After washing and conditioning hair, one can set them in any required style. Lucky are those whose hair do not turn fluffy as soon as they get wet. You may require a leave in conditioner or a curl cream for defining the curls of hair besides making the hair softer and shinier.

Tips and Tricks

1. Hot oil treatment can be done every week or twice in two weeks, depending on the needs of your hair.

2. As for more delicate hair types, especially if they are lifeless, the oil is best used in combination with a light-weight conditioner.

3. To boost the nutritional value of the oil, you can put a tablespoon of honey or aloe vera gel into the oil.

4. However, one should always do a patch test before using them.

5. Do not wash hair immediately after a hot oil treatment as the oils will keep your hair protected and moist.