How to Oil Your Hair

If you have an overactive scalp that produces too much oil, don't add even more to your hair. If you have naturally dry hair, though, or hair that’s been stripped of natural oils from repeated shampooing, you might want to try oiling. Adding moisture through oil can be a key step to maintaining hair and scalp health.^[1] Oiling your hair can also make it stronger, softer, and shinier.

EditSteps

EditChoosing Your Oils

1. Decide how many oils to use. You can use just one oil on your hair, or two to three oils. It all depends on how much money you want to spend and how intensive you want your oil treatment to be.
   
   • The two basic types of oils are carrier oils and essential oils.
   • Carrier oils are used as a base into which the more concentrated essential oils are mixed.
   • Many people choose to use carrier oil alone on their hair. You don’t need to use essential oil if you don’t want to.
   • Essential oils are more highly concentrated. After diluting them with a carrier oil, you apply them to the scalp and roots only.
2. Choose a carrier/base oil. Whether or not you decide to dilute an essential oil into a base oil, you will need a base oil. There are a wide variety of options to choose from, each offering different benefits and drawbacks.
   
   • Almond oil^[2]: Almond oil is rich in vitamin E and healthy fats that does wonders to the hair.
   • Argan oil^[3]: Argan oil is a Moroccan product rich in antioxidants. Although users swear it produces dramatic improvements to both hair and skin, it can be pricey. Any inexpensive Argan oil you find on the market is likely inauthentic and not worth the money.
   • Avocado oil^[4]: Avocado hair is a favorite among African Americans who wear their hair naturally. It’s loved for its super-moisturizing power, and it’s inexpensive to boot!
   • Castor oil:^[5] Castor oil is thought to stimulate hair growth and decrease hair loss, treat dry scalps, prevent split ends, and increase shine. However, it’s a thick, gloopy oil that many don’t like the feeling of. If you use it, you should dilute it with a thinner oil, like grapeseed oil.
   • Coconut oil^[6]: In addition to adding moisture to hair and scalp, coconut oil is also rich in protein. This can help heal damaged hair, which is composed largely of protein itself. One drawback is that coconut oil stays in a solid state in all but the hottest temperatures. Some people don’t like the added work of having to heat it up to apply it.
   • Extra virgin olive oil^[7]: EVOO is thought to prevent hair loss, treat dry scalp, and improve moisture and shine. It also has antibacterial and antifungal qualities that protect the scalp from problems like dandruff. However, it may be too heavy for thin hair.
   • Grapeseed oil^[8]: Grapeseed oil is a lighter oil that might most useful for people who don’t need a big boost of moisture. If you have otherwise healthy hair, use it as a balancing moisturizer.
3. Choose an essential oil.
   
   • Rosemary essential oil^[9]: Rosemary oil has a wide variety of uses, but it’s known to stimulate blood flow. Applying it to the scalp improves follicle and root health. Rosemary is also a known source of compounds that are frequently found in Minoxidil, it can be useful in treating and preventing hair loss. A tingling sensation is normal when applied to the scalp. Rosemary oil is also one of the few natural oil that actually provide a real moisturizing effect on your hair.
   • Grapefruit essential oil^[10]: This fragrant essential oil is used to stimulate hair growth and balance out oily hair.
   • Rose essential oil^[11]: Rose essential is used to strengthen hair roots and prevent hair loss. Plus, it smells wonderful!

EditApplying Just a Base Oil

1. Prepare your hair. The only general rule to oiling your hair is that you should comb through it to prevent tangling and messy oil application. Beyond that, there's debate over whether hair should be clean when oiled. Some swear that oiling works better when the hair is already a little bit oily and dirty — say two or three days after your last shampooing. Others insist that oiling works best soon after you've shampooed your hair — when it’s clean and bare. Try it both ways to decide what you prefer.
   
2. Protect the area from oil splatter. Especially if you’re new to oiling your hair, there’s a good chance you’re going to make a mess.
   
   • Spread old towels or paper towels around the area where you’re going to work. This includes table surfaces and floors.
   • Have an extra hand rag available for spot-cleaning drippy messes.
   • If you’re going to sleep with oil in your hair, protect your pillows with plastic pillowcase coverings.
3. Treat the roots and scalp. Pour one teaspoon of oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to spread the oil. You’ll be applying the oil mainly with your fingertips, so focus on spreading it there.
   
   • Using your fingertips, work the oils into your scalp.
   • Use a massaging motion to both work the oil in and stimulate the scalp. (Plus, it feels great!)
   • Make sure you cover the entire scalp area, including the back of your head, just above the neck, and behind your ears.
4. Section your hair into two parts. Split it right down the middle of your scalp, and pull one section over your left shoulder and the other over your right shoulder. This will make it easier to apply the base oil to the shafts of your hair.
   
   • You might tie one section into a piggy tail to keep it out of the way while you’re working on the other section.
5. Treat the length of your hair. If you have long hair, you might be tempted to pour a large amount of oil into your hands. This will always result in a dripping mess, though. No matter how much hair you’re working with, pour one teaspoon of oil into your palm at a time, adding more oil when you need it.
   
   • Run your hands through the length of your hair.
   • Don’t neglect the hair on the back of your head.

EditApplying Just a Base Oil

1. Prepare your hair. The only general rule to oiling your hair is that you should comb through it to prevent tangling and messy oil application. Beyond that, there's debate over whether hair should be clean when oiled. Some swear that oiling works better when the hair is already a little bit oily and dirty — say two or three days after your last shampooing. Others insist that oiling works best soon after you've shampooed your hair — when it’s clean and bare. Try it both ways to decide what you prefer.
   
2. Protect the area from oil splatter. Especially if you’re new to oiling your hair, there’s a good chance you’re going to make a mess.
   
   • Spread old towels or paper towels around the area where you’re going to work. This includes table surfaces and floors.
   • Have an extra hand rag available for spot-cleaning drippy messes.
   • If you’re going to sleep with oil in your hair, protect your pillows with plastic pillowcase coverings.
3. Treat the roots and scalp. Pour one teaspoon of oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to spread the oil. You’ll be applying the oil mainly with your fingertips, so focus on spreading it there.
   
   
   • Using your fingertips, work the oils into your scalp.
   • Use a massaging motion to both work the oil in and stimulate the scalp. (Plus, it feels great!)
   • Make sure you cover the entire scalp area, including the back of your head, just above the neck, and behind your ears.
4. Section your hair into two parts. Split it right down the middle of your scalp, and pull one section over your left shoulder and the other over your right shoulder. This will make it easier to apply the base oil to the shafts of your hair.
   
   
   • You might tie one section into a piggy tail to keep it out of the way while you’re working on the other section.
5. Treat the length of your hair. If you have long hair, you might be tempted to pour a large amount of oil into your hands. This will always result in a dripping mess, though. No matter how much hair you’re working with, pour one teaspoon of oil into your palm at a time, adding more oil when you need it.
   
   
   • Run your hands through the length of your hair.
   • Don’t neglect the hair on the back of your head.

EditApplying Essential Oils with Carrier Oils

1. Prepare your hair and work area. Just as you would for a straightforward base oil application, comb through dry hair to work out any tangles. You hair can be just-washed or on its second or third day out from your last shampooing. Spread old towels or paper towels around to protect against oil splatter.
   
2. Mix your carrier and essential oil. Essential oils are too strong to apply in large amounts directly to the scalp. Even with this diluted delivery system, you may feel a strange tingling sensation in your scalp. Don’t worry — it’s perfectly normal. It just means the essential oil is doing its work!
   
   • Pour a teaspoon of your chosen carrier oil into the palm of your hand.
   • Add 2-3 drops of your chosen essential oil.
   • Rub your hands together to mix the oils and spread them over your palms and fingertips.
3. Rub the mixture into your roots and scalp. The essential oils won’t be useful on the shaft and ends of your hair. You should target your scalp, follicles, and hair roots with them.
   
   • Using your fingertips, massage the oils into your scalp.
   • Remember to treat the entire scalp, not just the top of your head.
4. Comb through your hair again and section it into two parts. Using a wide-tooth comb, comb through your hair to both detangle it. This will also spread the oil through any hairs that didn’t get treated by your fingers. Split your hand down the middle so you can work with your hair in two sections, rather than tackling it all at once.
   
5. Apply the base/carrier oil to the length of your hair. Pour a teaspoon of your base/carrier oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together again to spread it out over your palms and fingertips.
   
   • If you are using castor oil, mix ½ teaspoon of castor oil with ½ teaspoon of a thinner, lighter oil (like grapeseed oil). Castor oil is thick and gloopy on its own.
   • Run your fingers and palms through your hair to transfer the oil.
   • Begin where the essential and carrier oil treatment ends, closer to your scalp.
   • Run your hands down to the ends of your hair.
   • Work your way all the way through one section of hair, remembering to pay attention to the hair on the back of your head.
   • Give the second section of hair the same treatment.

EditOiling Your Hair for Different Purposes

1. Oil your hair lightly for daily treatment. If you have particularly dry hair, you may need daily oiling. For example, many African Americans with natural hair find daily oiling beneficial. It increases the hair's moisture and shine.
   
   • Don’t apply oil to the scalp every day. The scalp produces its own oils, so the hair closest to it is usually fairly healthy. Applying extra oil on a daily basis might hurt more than it helps by causing oily hair at the roots.
   • Apply a thin layer of oil to the shafts of your hair, focusing on the tips. The oil from your scalp works its way from the root down to the tip of your hair. It's a longer trip for people with long hair, though, so the ends are often dry and brittle. Curly hair also tends to dry out at the bottom because the curls and kinks stop oil from working down the strands.
   • Don’t over-oil your hair if you’re applying it on a daily basis. You hair should not be completely saturated. You don’t want to walk around with flat, greasy hair all the time!
2. Spray oil onto your hair as a daily leave-in treatment. Buy a small spray bottle that will allow you to diffuse the oil over a wide area of hair. This will give you a fine mist instead of the thick coat from your fingers. Dilute the oil with water so it won’t clog up the spray nozzle.
   
   
   • Spritz the oil and water mixture throughout your hair immediately after your daily shower. Your hair should still be damp.
   • Comb through your hair to work out tangles and spread the oil throughout the strands.
   • Let your hair air-dry, and go about your day.
3. Use the oil as a leave-in conditioner.^[12] Once a week or once every two weeks, you should do a deep-conditioning mask treatment with your oil.
   
   • Saturate your hair with the oil. For daily oiling, you might just use a light coating of oil, but for a leave-in treatment, you want your hair thick with it.
   • Tie your hair up into a bun. This will protect the shoulders and back of your clothing from the oil.
   • Cover your hair with a shower cap if you’d like. This is especially useful if you don’t have a plastic cover for your pillowcase.
   • If you don’t use a shower cap, cover your pillow with either a vinyl case or with two layers of old towels to protect it from oil stains.
   • Leave the oil in for at least eight hours, or until you take a shower the next day.
4. Oil particularly brittle hair when it’s damp. Many find that dry, brittle hair benefits most from oiling when the oil is applied to damp hair. Apply a base oil in place of your normal conditioner twice a week, immediately after you’ve rinsed the shampoo from your hair. Shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry. This is a good time for a moisture boost.
   
   • Shampoo and apply the oil as soon as you begin your shower. Let the oil soak into your hair for the rest of your shower, as you go on with the rest of your shower routine.
   • Try to leave the oil in from 5-10 minutes.
   • Placing a shower cap over your hair to protect it from the water will help prevent washing it out before you’re ready.
   • Be careful applying oil in the shower. When you rinse it out of your hair, the tub can get very slippery.

EditVideo

EditTips

• Massaging your scalp with oil can increase hair growth.
• Try to keep the oil from coming in contact with your face as this could cause breakouts.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make a Frizzy Hair Mask (Honey and Almond Oil)
• Make Your Hair Less Oily
• Have Healthier Hair Using Olive Oil
• Care for Short Hair Using Jojoba Oil
• Use Coconut Oil on Your Hair and Skin
• Apply Castor Oil for Hair
• Use Oil to Make Hair Less Dry (for Guys)

EditSources and Citations

• Videos provided by Debasree Banerjee

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