Going above and beyond in your hair care routine can have a tremendous impact. Hot oil treatment is one example of how you can take your hair care to the next level. Plant oils are full of beneficial nutrients and fatty acids that help moisturize your hair and repair damage. However, if done wrong, a hot oil treatment may not be as effective as it has the potential to be.

At WOW Skin Science, we are happy to provide you with the information you need to know to get started with a hot oil treatment and experience all the benefits you can gain from the power of oil.

Table of Contents:

• What Are the Benefits of a Hot Oil Treatment?
• What to Consider Before Receiving a Hot Oil Treatment
• Where To Receive the Treatment
• Your Scalp Sensitivity
• Product Safety
• When To Do a Hot Oil Treatment
• Steps to Follow to Complete a Hot Oil Treatment
• Wash Your Hair
• Heat Up the Oil
• Work the Oil into Your Hair
• Let the Oil Absorb
• Wrap Your Hair
• Wash Out the Oil
• Repeat as Needed
• Which Oils Work Best for a Hot Oil Treatment?
• Castor Oil
• Almond Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Argan Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Onion Black Seed Oil

What Are the Benefits of a Hot Oil Treatment?

A hot oil treatment offers many possible benefits for your hair. The nutrients in plant-based oils work to boost the health of your hair and scalp. Some of the most considerable potential benefits of a hot oil treatment are:

• Improved hair strength
• Enhanced hydration
• Decreased frizziness
• Less damage, like split ends
• Reduced dandruff
• Increased blood flow in the scalp
  

Altogether, the above benefits provide you with healthier hair and improve your hair's overall appearance. Hydrated, flexible, damage-free hair gives you a more lustrous and voluminous head of hair, allowing you to walk around with skyrocketed confidence.

What to Consider Before Receiving a Hot Oil Treatment

When considering a hot oil treatment, you should think about whether you are a good candidate for the treatment and, if so, how you would prefer to receive the treatment. Hot oil treatment is not a one-size-fits-all treatment, so think about what works best for your hair before committing.

• Where To Receive the Treatment

You can choose to complete the hot oil treatment at home, or you can have the treatment done at a local salon. Your choice will likely depend on your hair sensitivity and confidence in correctly carrying out the procedure. If you are uncomfortable with handling hot oil or are worried about applying the oil correctly, then consider visiting a salon.

Meanwhile, completing the treatment at home allows you to save some money, use the product of your choice, and keep the oil in your hair longer for the best absorption.

• Your Scalp Sensitivity

Although a hot oil treatment is largely harmless, there can be some safety risks. For individuals with skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema, hot oil can exacerbate their side effects.

However, everyone is different and may react to the treatment differently. If you have any questions about receiving a hot oil treatment or want to determine if the treatment is right for you, you should consult your dermatologist. Even if you do not have a diagnosed skin condition but have experienced sensitive skin in the past, it may be a good idea to discuss this treatment with your dermatologist first.

• Product Safety

To avoid irritating your scalp, you should avoid using products that are mixed with unnatural ingredients or harsh chemicals, like parabens or fragrances. Always search for a natural hair oil without any unnecessary additives.

Even with plant-based ingredients, some oils can cause a negative reaction in some people. This can often be the result of allergies or sensitive skin. Because everyone is different, it is impossible to predict if someone may experience an unlikely reaction. To be sure that a product is safe for you before use, start by applying a small amount of the oil to a spot on your skin.

Give your body 24 hours to react to the oil. If you experience a rash or itchiness, try a different oil. Otherwise, the oil is most likely safe for you to use.

When To Do a Hot Oil Treatment

Hot oil treatment is a great way to supplement your hair care routine for improved health. The treatment is an excellent choice for dry, brittle, or frizzy hair. In combination with a thoughtful hair care routine, oil treatments can strengthen and repair dry or color-treated hair.

If you notice that your hair is dull, dry, or damaged, then a hot oil treatment can help you revitalize and repair its health and appearance. If you struggle consistently with dry or damaged hair, then consider completing a hot oil treatment between one to two times weekly or every two weeks.

Steps to Follow to Complete a Hot Oil Treatment

One of the most significant benefits of hot oil treatment is that it is a relatively simple process. In just a few steps, you can be on your way to more vibrant and voluminous hair.

Wash Your Hair

Hot oil treatment is most effective on clean hair. Washing your hair with warm water opens up the cuticles and allows the oil to penetrate deeper for a more effective treatment. Use a shampoo like WOW's Activated Charcoal and Keratin Shampoo to be sure you clear out all of the dirt and impurities that can build up.

Heat Up the Oil

Heat up a few tablespoons of the oil by placing it in a pot on the stove, microwaving it in a glass jar, or placing it in a glass jar and submerging it in a bowl of hot water. Before diving all in, you should test the temperature of the oil on your wrist or finger to ensure you will not burn your hair or scalp.

Work the Oil into Your Hair

During this process, you should massage the oil into your scalp to improve circulation to the hair follicles, which will promote healthy hair growth.

Let the Oil Absorb

For best results, you should give the oil time to sit in your hair and penetrate the hair follicles. Do not wash the oil out right away. The treatment works best when the oil is able to remain in your hair and absorb into the scalp and strands. Allow the oil to sit in your hair for between 30 minutes and two hours. For even deeper absorption, you can leave the oil in your hair overnight while you sleep.

Wrap Your Hair

This step is not absolutely necessary to enjoy the benefits of hair oil, but it does provide additional benefits. To improve absorption of the nutrients into the hair and scalp, consider wrapping your hair in a hot towel for twenty minutes after application.

This helps maintain the oil's temperature and keep your hair follicles open for longer during the treatment. Another option is to wrap your hair in and use a blow dryer to keep the hair warm at the same time.

Wash Out the Oil

After the oil has been given a chance to reach deep into your hair follicles, you will want to remove the oil to prevent excessive build-up and the clogging of your pores. The best way to do this is by washing your hair with shampoo. Because of the texture of the oil, you should wash and rinse your hair twice to remove most of it.

Although, washing your hair can be counterintuitive since harsh shampoos can strip too much oil from your hair and leave it too dry. To effectively wash out the oil without drying out your hair and scalp, you should use a WOW shampoo and conditioner to maintain moisture and supplement the nutrients provided by the oil treatment.

A great example of a hydrating shampoo that both cleans and nourishes your hair without stripping its natural oils is WOW's Himalayan Rose Shampoo. Pair this shampoo with WOW's Coconut Milk Conditioner for deep hydration.

Repeat as Needed

Complete this process once to twice a week or every two weeks to help provide your hair with a strength and hydration boost. You can decide to incorporate a hot oil treatment whenever you notice your hair is excessively dry or damaged for an extra boost of nutrients.

Be careful not to get overexcited with this treatment and use it more than necessary. Excessive oil can block your hair follicles and scalp, which may trap impurities and prevent natural oil production.

Which Oils Work Best for a Hot Oil Treatment?

Many nutrients and healthy fats in oil make hot oils great for revitalizing your hair. There are various types of oils to choose from that offer different nutrients and benefits depending on what your hair needs most.

When deciding on oil for your hair treatment, you should strongly consider your hair's natural oil production. For example, if you have a naturally oily scalp, then you should use a lighter oil that contains fewer fats. On the other hand, if you struggle with excessively dry hair, it is best to use thicker oil.

The following plant-based oils are excellent options for your next hot oil treatment.

• Castor Oil

Castor Oil is vegetable oil from castor beans that offers several benefits for your hair. Rich in vitamin E, this oil is great for targeting inflammation on the scalp or other parts of the skin. Castor oil also contains fatty acids, which help to retain moisture in the skin and increase the flexibility of your hair to reduce breakage.

Consider WOW's Castor Oil for your hot oil treatment to hydrate your hair, soothe irritation, and improve its appearance.

• Almond Oil

Almond oil is the perfect choice for individuals with oily hair since it contains fewer fatty acids but provides just the right amount of balance for keeping your hair soft and moisturized. This oil is rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, and E, helping repair damage to your hair and scalp while protecting it from future damage.

• Coconut Oil

Since coconut oil is so thick, it is an excellent option for extremely dry or damaged hair. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which absorbs deeply into your hair for maximum hydration and nutrient infusion. Coconut oil can even prevent protein loss in your hair, allowing your hair to remain strong and prevent damage.  

• Argan Oil

Originated from the argan tree in Morocco, argan oil has several benefits for your hair. This nutrient-packed oil is full of linoleic and omega-6 fatty acids, which hold moisture in the skin and scalp to give you soft, flexible, and vibrant hair.

To rejuvenate thin or dry hair while tackling irritation, use WOW's Moroccan Argan Hair Oil as part of your next hot oil treatment. This powerful formula also contains the added benefits of extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, and castor oil.

• Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil comes from the jojoba plant and is cold-pressed to make the final product. This oil is lighter than others and has a consistency similar to sebum, the natural oil produced by the scalp, making it great for individuals with already oily hair.

The oil is rich in fatty acids that help to hydrate the scalp and hair. Jojoba oil also contains vitamins A, D, and E, which are natural antioxidants that help to nourish the scalp and hair while preventing damage.

• Onion Black Seed Oil

On its own, onion black seed oil is rich in nutrients that promote hair growth and prevent hair thinning. The high amount of antioxidants helps to increase the shine and volume of your hair.

WOW's Onion Black Seed Hair Oil may just provide the most benefits out of any of the above options. This product is formulated with the combined powers of many of the above oils, including almond, jojoba, castor, olive, and coconut oils.

Altogether this formula provides your hair and scalp with essential vitamins and nutrients like A, B, and E vitamins, fatty acids, and lauric acid. This powerful combination helps hydrate your hair, increase flexibility, and retain moisture in the scalp.

Occasional hot oil treatment is a great way to boost your current hair care routine and provide your hair with additional moisture and strength. In just 30 minutes, you can allow powerful nutrients to absorb into your hair. It can be challenging to find trustworthy products and decide on the right ones, but we here at WOW Skin Science can help.

At WOW Skin Science, we are committed to providing natural hair care products that give your hair the nutrients it needs to remain voluminous and beautiful. From our 100% plant-based shampoos to our vitamin-rich hair masks, we have everything you need for a comprehensive, effective hair care routine. Explore our whole collection of hair care products to transform the health of your hair.