Oiling your hair has long been recommended as a solution for hair loss, dryness, and frizzy hair. But you need to learn how to oil your hair the right way to get the best results.
I remember my grandmother being very insistent on oiling my hair every weekend. While this really annoyed my teenage self, I now recognize how right she was!
Giving your hair an oil massage is a recognized Ayurvedic practice for long, healthy hair. It’s a part of the hair care routine of many South Asian women too.
But what’s the right way to oil your hair? And is there a right way at all? The answer is yes.
You need to learn how to oil your hair the right way to ensure it penetrates the strands thoroughly and does not clog your pores.
How To Oil Your Curly Hair
If you want to know how to oil your hair in a way that benefits your tresses the most, read these tips below.
If you have low porosity hair, check this out by HAIR EVERYDAY
Choose The Carrier Oil According To Your Hair & Scalp Type
Before we can even start discussing how to oil your hair, you’ll need to first buy hair oil.
Wait, can’t you just use coconut oil and call it a day. Nope. Coconut oil is fantastic for hair health, but it might not suit everyone.
You need to keep in mind your scalp type and hair type if you want to find the right oil.
Some of the most commonly used carrier hair oils include:
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Jojoba oil
- Argan oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Castor oil
Among these sweet almond oil and castor oil can get really heavy and might not suit people with fine, straight hair or already-oily scalps.
Coconut oil is in the middle, it’s very moisturizing and good for dry, dehydrated hair. It’s not very heavy and suits most hair types.
However, some users find their skin breaking out after applying coconut oil. So if this is your case, wear a bonnet after using the oil and don’t leave it overnight.
Jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, etc. are lightweight and suitable for all hair types.
Add A Few Drops Of Essential Oils
I love adding essential oils to my selected hair oil. It helps you tailor the oil to your hair issue.
For example, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil or lemongrass if you’re having a problem with dandruff, itching, or fungal infections.
Lavender essential oil is good for hair growth while eucalyptus essential oil helps keep the scalp feeling fresh and clean.
Heat The Oil
Don’t heat the hair oil to a very high temperature as this can break down the proteins in the oil and reduce its nutrient value.
Instead, just warm it enough to help it open up your hair follicles and penetrate through the strands.
Heating the oil also helps increase the blood flow to the scalp. It also feels so soothing!
Massage It On Your Scalp
Now take the oil and massage it gently onto your scalp. Remember to use your fingertips and not your nails to massage the oil.
Keep on massaging your head for at least 10-15 minutes. There are also several hair massaging combs you can use for this purpose.
Apply The Rest On Your Hair
Don’t forget your hair ends! Once you’re done with your scalp massage remember to use the hair oil on your strands as well.
Pay special attention to the ends of your hair as they often get left out.
Use Hot Towel/Cap For Deep Conditioning
After you’re done massaging the hair oil on your head, tie your hair back in a bun. This will prevent the oily strands from making your face greasy.
I usually wrap a hot towel over my head for an hour before I go take a shower. The heat from the towel helps open up your hair cuticles and the follicles on your scalp.
This makes the oil penetrate the space between the cuticles, reducing frizzy hair and making your tresses like smooth.
To make your hot towel you can simply dip a towel into hot water and use it after draining excess water.
Or you can invest in a thermal cap that will do the trick. Like a mini-version of the hair caps used for deep conditioning in hair salons.
Shampoo and Rinse Hair As Usual
I usually leave my hair overnight and wear a bonnet or hair cap to prevent my pillowcases from getting oily.
But my hair’s a coarse, type 4c texture, so it requires extra nourishment. If you have straight, thin hair leaving the hair oil on for just an hour or two.
I use a mild, sulfate-free shampoo to wash my hair right after the oiling session. Shampoos with harsh surfactants can be very damaging and may undo all the good work of your hair oil.
If you’re worried about your hair remaining greasy after shampooing maybe you can use a more clarifying shampoo with charcoal, clay, or other such ingredients that help reduce oiliness.
You might not find it necessary, but conditioning your hair after shampooing is a must. It’s not something you can skip just because you’ve used oil pre-shampoo.
Again, you can use a hair conditioner with lightweight ingredients if you fear your hair’s going to get too greasy.
But do remember to spread the product all through your strands and detangle hair in the shower, especially if you have a curly hair texture.
Benefits Of Oiling Your Hair
Hair Growth: The massaging movement on your scalp when you’re oiling your hair increases blood circulation to the scalp, boosting hair follicles to enter the growth stage.
Protection against damage: Oils or rather the lipids in oils, fill in the gaps between hair cuticles protecting against harsh surfactants when you’re washing your hair.
Heat protection: You can use hair oils with a high smoking point (such as pure argan oil) as a heat protectant before using a flat iron or curling wand. It protects hair from damage due to high temperatures.
Hydration: Regular oiling locks in moisture and prevents hair from becoming dehydrated.
Frizz-control: Oiling your hair also helps smoothen the hair cuticle, making it lie flat. This stops hair from getting frizzy.
Strengthening: Hair oils contain a bounty of vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients that help strengthen hair strands from their core.
FAQs About Applying Hair Oil
Why does my hair fall after applying oil?
Oiling your hair doesn’t directly cause hair fall. You naturally lose from 50-150 strands of hair per day.
When you’re oiling your hair, the movement of your fingertips on the scalp causes the loose hair to break free and it appears as though you’re having a lot of hair fall.
On the other hand, if you’re being too rough with your locks while oiling them, or massaging your hair with your nails instead of your fingertips, it can cause additional hair loss.
So be gentle!
Can I oil my hair every day?
Yes, you can oil your hair everyday but there are a few conditions you need to follow.
You can use a few drops of hair oil on your strands instead of a leave-in conditioner or serum everyday.
Just make sure you’re not overdoing it as having oily, greasy hair can cause dirt and product build-up which will clog your hair follicles.
Also, make sure you’re using a mild but clarifying shampoo to get rid of the dirt every alternate day or at least 2-3 times a week.
Is it okay to leave hair oil for 2 days?
Nope. Leaving an oil mask on your hair even for one whole day is a bad idea, let alone two days!
The extra oiling time doesn’t really help but instead it helps dirt, dust, and other impurities get trapped on your scalp and hair follicles.
This can lead to scalp troubles like folliculitis and slow down hair growth.
Should I apply hair oil to wet or dry hair?
You can apply hair oil to both wet hair and dry hair. I suggest using hair oil on wet hair if you have a curly or coily hair type.
This helps lock in moisture and increases curl definition as well.
For straight, fine hair you can either use hair oil on dry hair as a “pre-poo” conditioning treatment or just add a few drops to the ends instead of hair serum.
The latter helps reduce frizzy hair but make sure to not overuse oil as your hair can appear limp and greasy.
By learning how to oil your hair the right way, you can make sure your weekly hair oil sessions are providing maximum results.
Selecting the right carrier oil is also an essential part of hair oiling. Once, you’ve got the right oil, you can follow the steps I’ve mentioned above.
Following this hair oiling routine at least once a week will help make your hair soft, shiny, and frizz-free in just days!
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