How to Apply Hair Oil

If your scalp tends to produce a lot of natural oils, it's best not to add extra oil to your hair. However, if you have dry hair or if frequent washing has stripped your hair of its natural oils, applying hair oil could be a great way to restore moisture. This step is essential for maintaining healthy hair and scalp. Hair oil treatment can leave your hair stronger, softer, and shinier.

Decide how many types of oils you'd like to use. You can stick with just one oil or mix two or three oils, depending on how much you're willing to invest and how deeply you want to nourish your hair.

• The two basic types of oils are carrier oils and essential oils.
• Carrier oils are used as a base to dilute and blend with more concentrated essential oils.
• Some people use only carrier oils to treat their hair, and that's perfectly fine if you prefer not to use essential oils.
• Essential oils are more concentrated. Apply diluted essential oils, mixed with a carrier oil, to your scalp and hair roots.

Choose a Carrier Oil. Carrier oils are essential, whether you plan to mix them with essential oils or use them alone. There are various carrier oils available, each with its own set of advantages and drawbacks.

• Almond Oil: Packed with vitamin E and healthy fats, almond oil is highly effective for your hair. It's particularly useful for treating a flaky scalp and dandruff.
• Argan Oil: This Moroccan oil is rich in antioxidants. Those who have used it claim it significantly improves both the skin and hair. However, argan oil is quite expensive, and any cheap argan oil on the market may be low quality and not worth purchasing.
• Avocado Oil: A favorite among African-Americans with natural hair, avocado oil is known for its excellent moisturizing properties and affordability!
• Castor Oil: Castor oil is believed to stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss, treat dry scalps, prevent split ends, and make hair shinier. However, it’s thick and sticky, which some find off-putting. If you use castor oil, it’s best to mix it with a lighter oil like grapeseed oil.
• Coconut Oil: In addition to moisturizing your hair and scalp, coconut oil is high in protein. Since hair is primarily made of protein, coconut oil can help restore damaged hair. A downside is that it solidifies in cooler temperatures, but you can warm it up by rubbing it between your palms or microwaving it for 2-3 seconds.
• Pure Olive Oil: Olive oil helps prevent hair loss, treat dry scalps, and adds moisture and shine. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can prevent scalp issues like dandruff. However, it may be too heavy for fine hair.
• Grapeseed Oil: This lightweight oil is great for hair that doesn’t need additional moisture. If your hair is already healthy, you can use grapeseed oil to nourish and balance hydration.

Choose an Essential Oil. You might think essential oils are just fragrances, but they offer much more than that! Each essential oil has its own benefits and can greatly improve your hair health. With the right essential oil, you can enjoy fragrant, healthy hair.

• Rosemary Essential Oil: Known for stimulating blood circulation, rosemary oil can enhance the health of hair follicles and roots. It also contains compounds similar to those found in Minoxidil, which can treat and prevent hair loss. A slight tingling sensation when applied to the scalp is normal. Additionally, rosemary oil is one of the few oils that effectively moisturizes hair.
• Grapefruit Essential Oil: This refreshing oil helps stimulate hair growth and balances oily hair.
• Rose Essential Oil: Known for strengthening hair roots and preventing hair loss, rose oil also has a delightful fragrance!
• Carrot Seed Oil: Rich in vitamins, carrot seed oil can boost hair growth by promoting cellular turnover.
• Lavender Oil: Lavender oil soothes the scalp, reducing dryness, itching, and dandruff. Plus, it has a relaxing scent.
• Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Blend: This combination is excellent for breaking down product buildup, lightening the hair, and soothing inflammation while retaining moisture.
• Roman Chamomile Oil: Chamomile nourishes and calms the hair, with a gentle, relaxing aroma.
• Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil stimulates hair growth and cleanses the scalp. It works well as an occasional hair rinse, especially for oily scalps or dandruff. Additionally, it adds shine to your hair.
• Cedarwood Oil: A great option for dry hair, cedarwood oil also promotes hair growth.

Prepare Your Hair. The only rule when applying oil is to ensure your hair is tangle-free before you begin. There is some debate over whether it’s better to apply oil to clean or slightly dirty hair. Some people find oil works better on hair that still has a bit of natural oil and is slightly dirty—typically applied 2-3 days after shampooing. Others believe oil is most effective when applied to freshly washed hair. Try both methods to see which one suits you best.

Protect the Area from Oil Spills. It's very likely that some oil will spill or drip while you're applying it, especially if you're new to the process.

• Place a towel or newspaper around your workspace, including the table and floor.
• Have a rag handy to wipe up any spills.
• If you're leaving the oil in overnight, make sure to protect your pillow with a plastic pillow cover.

Massage the Scalp and Hair Roots. Pour one teaspoon of oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to evenly distribute the oil. You will primarily use your fingers to apply the oil, so make sure to concentrate the oil on your fingertips.

• Gently massage the oil into your scalp using your fingertips.
• Use a circular motion to massage and stimulate the scalp (it feels great, too!).
• Be sure to cover the entire scalp, including the back of your head, the nape, and behind the ears.

Divide Your Hair Into Two Sections. Part your hair down the middle of your head, pulling one side over your left shoulder and the other over your right. This makes it easier to apply the carrier oil along the lengths of your hair.

• You can tie one section of hair up to avoid it getting in the way while you apply oil to the other section.
• If you have thick or curly hair, it's best to divide it into four sections to ensure even distribution of oil. Start by parting your hair down the middle, then split it horizontally as well.

Be Careful When Applying Oil to Long Hair. With long hair, you might feel the urge to pour a large amount of oil onto your hands. However, this could lead to a mess. No matter how long your hair is, start with just one teaspoon of oil at a time. If needed, you can add more.

• Apply the oil along the entire length of your hair, starting from the scalp and working your way down to the tips. If your ends seem dry, apply more oil until they become shiny.
• Don’t forget to treat the hair at the back of your head.

Prepare Your Hair and Work Area. Just like with the carrier oil, make sure to detangle your hair before applying the oil. You can either apply oil to freshly washed hair or hair that's been washed 2-3 days ago. Lay down an old towel or newspaper around your workspace to protect against oil drips.

Mix Carrier Oil and Essential Oil. Essential oils are too potent to be applied directly to the scalp in large amounts. Even when diluted, you might still feel a tingling sensation on your scalp—don’t worry, this is completely normal and signals that the essential oil is working!

• Pour one 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 blend the oils evenly, covering your palms and fingertips.
• If you want to make a larger batch, you can mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of essential oil with ¼ cup (60 ml) of carrier oil.

Apply the Mixture to Your Hair Roots and Scalp. Essential oils are not effective on the hair shaft or tips, so focus on massaging the oil into your scalp, hair follicles, and hair roots.

• Use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp.
• Be sure to cover your entire scalp, not just the top of your head.

Comb Your Hair Again and Divide into Two Sections. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair while evenly distributing the oil that may have been missed during the fingertip application. Part your hair down the middle of your head and comb through each section separately instead of all at once.

Apply Carrier Oil Along the Length of Your Hair. Pour one teaspoon of your chosen carrier oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to evenly distribute the oil across your palms and fingertips.

• If you're using castor oil, mix ½ teaspoon of castor oil with ½ teaspoon of a lighter oil, such as grape seed oil, as castor oil can be thick and sticky on its own.
• Use your hands and fingers to gently run the oil through the length of your hair.
• Start at the section closest to your scalp, where you just applied the essential oil and carrier oil mix.
• Glide your hands from the roots down to the tips.
• Make sure to apply the oil thoroughly to the entire section, including the hair at the back of your head.
• Repeat this for the remaining sections of hair.

Apply a Small Amount of Oil to Your Hair Daily for Nourishment. If your hair is extremely dry, you may need to apply oil daily. Many African Americans use oil daily because they notice positive results. Oil helps improve both moisture and shine.

• Avoid applying oil directly to your scalp every day. Your scalp produces its own oils, so the hair closest to the scalp is generally quite healthy. Daily application on the scalp may do more harm than good by increasing oil production at the roots.
• Apply a thin layer of oil along the hair shaft, focusing on the ends. Oil naturally moves from the scalp down the hair shaft, but with long hair, the journey is long, so the ends can become dry and brittle. Curly hair often has dry ends because the curls hinder the oil from traveling down.
• Don’t use too much oil if applying it daily. Avoid slathering your hair with oil—you don’t want to walk around with flat, greasy hair!

Spray Oil onto Your Hair as a Daily Leave-In Treatment. Purchase a small spray bottle to evenly distribute the oil over larger sections of hair. A spray bottle will mist the oil in a fine layer, unlike using your fingers to apply it directly. Be sure to dilute the oil with water to avoid clogging the nozzle.

• Spray a mixture of oil and water on your hair right after showering, while your hair is still damp. Focus on the ends, not the roots.
• Use a comb to detangle and evenly distribute the oil through your hair strands.
• Let your hair air dry and continue with your daily routine.

Use Oil as a Leave-In Conditioner. Once a week or biweekly, you should treat your hair to a deep conditioning mask with oil.

• Saturate your hair with oil. When using oil for daily nourishment, you only need a thin layer, but for deep conditioning, apply a generous amount.
• Wrap your hair up to keep the oil off your clothes and shoulders.
• Wear a shower cap if desired. A shower cap is particularly useful if you don’t have a plastic pillowcase cover to protect your pillow from the oil.
• If you don’t have a shower cap, use a vinyl pillowcase cover or double-layer towels over your pillow to prevent oil stains.
• Leave the oil in for at least 8 hours or until you shower the following day.

Apply Oil to Damp Hair If It’s Especially Dry and Brittle. Many people find that applying oil to damp hair works best for dry, brittle hair. You can replace your regular conditioner with a carrier oil twice a week, right after rinsing out shampoo. Shampoo removes the natural oils from your hair and dries it out, so this is when it’s best to add back moisture.

• Shampoo your hair and apply the oil right after you begin your shower. Let the oil absorb into your hair while you continue showering.
• Try to leave the oil on for 5-10 minutes.
• Wear a shower cap to prevent the water from rinsing out the oil before you finish showering.
• Be cautious when applying oil in the shower as the floor can get slippery when rinsing it out.