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I was asked a question about hot oil treatment so I thought it was a good idea to share in blog post as well. A hot oil treatment is very nourishing, and it also conditions the scalp and skin in addition to the hair. A hot oil treatment may be considered if your hair is dry or damaged as a result of pollution, chemicals, regular brushing, the use of hair products such as dryers or curlers etc.
As always it is important to investigate any underlying causes to why the hair is in a bad condition. Aim to use non-toxic products and to eat whole foods. Make sure you are not lacking in nutrients or that your hormones are imbalanced. My post Natural Hair Care with Essential Oils provide more information on how to treat your hair naturally. It is important to consider the possibility that dry scalp may be caused by iodine and iron deficiency. If a dry scalp doesn't respond to treatment it is important to look for nutritional deficiencies.
When the scalp is dry the glands are inactive and the scalp lacks oil. Hot oil treatments are usually beneficial until the glands respond to the treatments.
Technique for Hot Oil Treatment
Put one or two tablespoons of oil, or just enough for one treatment, in a small container. Heat it by placing it in boiling water; never put oil directly on heat. Don't let it get too hot. Wheatgerm, olive, or sweet almond oil are excellent oils to use for hot oil treatment.
Part the hair, take a small piece of cotton, dip it in the bowl, and rub it in with circular movements.
Part the hair from time to time, taking a small area between each part. Go over the whole scalp systematically. After the oil has been applied, you may heat the scalp with a heat lamp or by wrapping the hair in hot towels. Apply heat for 7-10 minutes.
You can now perform a scalp massage if you like. The hot oil treatments should be given before the manipulations, so that the scalp will absorb the oils better. Dry and oily scalp usually call for scalp massage treatments. Both conditions are due to poor circulation of the blood in the scalp as well as circulatory disturbances of the body. Massage with essential oils is one of the best ways to restore normal circulation.
Essential oils traditionally used for dry hair are: basil, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, geranium, yarrow and sandalwood.
As always it is important to investigate any underlying causes to why the hair is in a bad condition. Aim to use non-toxic products and to eat whole foods. Make sure you are not lacking in nutrients or that your hormones are imbalanced. My post Natural Hair Care with Essential Oils provide more information on how to treat your hair naturally. It is important to consider the possibility that dry scalp may be caused by iodine and iron deficiency. If a dry scalp doesn't respond to treatment it is important to look for nutritional deficiencies.
When the scalp is dry the glands are inactive and the scalp lacks oil. Hot oil treatments are usually beneficial until the glands respond to the treatments.
Technique for Hot Oil Treatment
Put one or two tablespoons of oil, or just enough for one treatment, in a small container. Heat it by placing it in boiling water; never put oil directly on heat. Don't let it get too hot. Wheatgerm, olive, or sweet almond oil are excellent oils to use for hot oil treatment.
Part the hair, take a small piece of cotton, dip it in the bowl, and rub it in with circular movements.
Part the hair from time to time, taking a small area between each part. Go over the whole scalp systematically. After the oil has been applied, you may heat the scalp with a heat lamp or by wrapping the hair in hot towels. Apply heat for 7-10 minutes.
You can now perform a scalp massage if you like. The hot oil treatments should be given before the manipulations, so that the scalp will absorb the oils better. Dry and oily scalp usually call for scalp massage treatments. Both conditions are due to poor circulation of the blood in the scalp as well as circulatory disturbances of the body. Massage with essential oils is one of the best ways to restore normal circulation.
Essential oils traditionally used for dry hair are: basil, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, geranium, yarrow and sandalwood.
Essential oils traditionally used for oily hair are: elemi, lemon, mandarin, orange, petitgrain, tangerine, rosemary, birch, lavender, cypress and yarrow.
I don't use any essential oils for my hot oil treatments, but some people do. I prefer to add the essential oils to the scalp massage instead. I don't use harsh shampoos when I wash the hair afterwards.
Before you leave:
I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
- Topical Application
- Inhaling Essential Oils
- Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
- How to Dilute Essential Oils
- Vita Flex Technique
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.
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