Hot Oil Treatment For Transitioning And Natural Hair

A hot oil treatment is a process that involves warming up an oil, applying it to your hair, and covering it with a shower cap or conditioning cap for about 30 minutes before washing it out. Different oils may give you different results, but for the most part, a hot oil treatment will soften your hair and help prevent breakage. It can also be great for your scalp’s health. Hot oil treatments are great for all hair types, but they can be especially beneficial for natural and transitioning hair.

The most common way to do a hot oil treatment is to put the oil in a glass or heat-safe container, then place that container in a pot of hot water for about two minutes. Test a drop of oil on a sensitive area of your skin (like your wrist) to make sure it’s not too hot. Then apply the oil to your hair and scalp, making sure your hair is covered from root to tip. You don’t need a lot, just enough to cover your hair. Place a shower cap or conditioning cap over your head and leave it on for 30 minutes to one hour. Rinse well with warm water and wash and condition your hair as you normally would.

Another way to do a hot oil treatment is to apply oil to your hair, cover with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for about 20 to 25 minutes. The heat from the dryer will heat up the oil and help it penetrate your hair strands. Whichever method you choose, you have the option of starting on dry or damp hair that’s been lightly spritzed with water. It’s really a matter of personal preference; you can try both methods to see which one you prefer.

There are many oils you can use to do a hot oil treatment; you may already have some of them in your kitchen. Some of the most popular oils for hot oil treatments are olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. Avocado oil is a great choice because it conditions your hair and can help it look shinier and silkier. Jojoba oil can help condition and relieve dry scalp; in fact, jojoba oil is very similar to the natural oil that your scalp produces on its own. Argan oil is usually a more expensive oil, but may be worth the splurge if you want to incorporate it into your routine. However, hot oil treatments don’t have to be expensive. You can also combine two or more oils to create a custom blend for your hot oil treatment.

If you want to strengthen your hair, castor oil is a great oil to use in a hot oil treatment. This can be a particularly great choice for transitioning hair because the line of demarcation, which is the point where your relaxed and natural hair meet, makes the hair so vulnerable to breakage. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is really popular because its ash content is said to be particularly beneficial to your scalp’s health. Jamaican Black Castor Oil also believed to stimulate hair growth and thicken hair. While it’s debatable whether or not castor oil actually thickens your hair, it definitely has the ability to strengthen your hair and help prevent breakage.

Extra virgin olive oil is cold-pressed, which means it’s extracted without the use of heat or chemicals. As a result, extra virgin olive oil retains all of its nutrients, making it an ideal type of oil to use on your hair. Olive oil moisturizes and softens dry hair and is also rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin E, making it a great choice for hot oil treatments. It may also help relieve a dry, itchy scalp.

Coconut oil is one of the most popular multi-purpose oils available. It’s also a great choice for hot oil treatments. There’s a reason why coconut oil is used in so many hair products: it’s rich in fatty acids that promote healthy hair. Coconut oil can provide moisture, reduce frizz, and even help with dandruff and other scalp issues. It can also help add shine and make hair easier to detangle. As with olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil contains the highest amount of nutrients.

While most people prefer to do a hot oil treatment on dry hair, some people opt to do it after shampooing and before conditioning. If you choose this method, you’ll want to towel dry your hair a bit so that it’s not soaking wet. Apply the oil to your hair and cover with a plastic cap. Again, you can either heat the oil beforehand or just sit under a warm dryer. Rinse the oil out and apply your conditioner as you normally would. Some people prefer this method because freshly washed hair is free of any build-up that could potentially prevent the oils from penetrating your hair. Others prefer to do it before shampooing to ensure that all the oil is washed away.

Natural hair can easily suffer from dryness because unlike straight hair, the oil produced by your scalp is not able to easily travel down the hair shaft. All the bends and curves in naturally kinky and curly hair make it hard for the oil to reach the ends of the hair. Hot oil treatments can help condition dry natural hair. If you have chronically dry hair, you can consider incorporating hot oil treatments into your regular hair care routine, otherwise you can use hot oil treatments once a month or whenever you want to give your hair some extra TLC.

When you are transitioning from relaxed to natural hair, you may experience breakage, tangles, and dry hair. Hot oil treatments can help strengthen transitioning hair and stop breakage. Detangling transitioning hair can also be a challenge because you’re dealing with two completely different textures. Weekly or bi-weekly hot oil treatments can help soften your hair and make detangling a little easier.

You can take your hot oil treatment to the next level by incorporating steam into the process. If you have a hair steamer, you can sit under it to help maximize the effects of the oil. Steam helps lift the hair cuticles to allow the oil to better penetrate your strands, making your hot oil treatment even more effective. Steaming also aids circulation in the scalp and adds additional moisture to the hair. If you don’t have a steamer, you can coat your hair with oil, cover it with a plastic cap, and place a wet towel that’s been soaked in hot water over your head. Then sit under a hooded dryer. The heat from the dryer and the water from the towel will help lift the cuticles of your hair.

• Use a bottle with an applicator tip to make the oil easier to apply
• Use a conditioning cap like this one to intensify the heat retention and make your hot oil treatment even more effective
• Pay special attention to the ends of your hair, as they are the oldest and usually the most damaged part of your hair

If you regularly experience breakage or if your hair is dry or damaged, hot oil treatments might be just the remedy to bring your hair back to life. Even if your hair is in good health, an occasional hot oil treatment can help keep it that way. Keep in mind that not all oils will work for everyone. While certain oils may yield wonderful results for some, they can have less than desirable results for others. You may need to experiment to find the oil that’s right for your hair. You can always test any new oil on a small section of hair to see how your hair responds to it. Whether you’re natural or transitioning, there is sure to be a hot oil treatment that’s just right for your tresses.