Since everyone loved our blog post on the healthy hair secret of using a deep conditioner with a hot oil treatment, we decided to create an in-depth guide all about hot oil treatments!

Hot oil treatments will never go out of style. In this blog, we want to provide you with the ultimate guide to everything hot oil treatments; from their benefits to how you can perform this technique at home.

After learning this secret beauty hack, you will be one step closer to beautifully hydrated and healthy hair.

What Does a Hot Oil Treatment Do?

Hot oil treatments are a great option if you find your hair is:

• Dry
• Brittle
• Prone to breakage

A hot oil treatment soaks into your hair shaft, resulting in stronger, thicker, softer, and shinier hair.

What Are the Benefits of a Hot Oil Treatment?

• Helps seal ends, which is great if your hair is prone to split ends.
• If you have a flaky scalp, hot oil can help relieve dryness and flakiness.
• Promotes moisture retention on both your hair and scalp.
• Helps to circulate blood to the scalp, which will promote hair growth and health.
• If you have frizzier hair, using a hot oil treatment can help tame frizz.
• Hot oil can increase the overall strength of your hair.
• Helps prevent single strand knots.
• Helps prevent damage to the outer layer of your hair strand (cuticle layer).
• Helps prevent mid-shaft splitting and breakage.

Why Are Hot Oil Treatments Good for the Hair?

Out of all the benefits mentioned, using a hot oil treatment can really boost your hair's strength and softness.

Hot oil treatments have been popular for decades because they work! Just make sure you’re using the right oil and applying it properly (more on that later). 

Keep in mind that not all oils will leave your hair beautifully moisturized, and hot oil treatments aren’t perfect for every hair type.

What Oil is Good for a Hot Oil Treatment?

You will want to find the best type of oil for your hair, but remember that you shouldn’t just walk into your kitchen and heat up some vegetable oil. Not every oil will provide you with the same rich benefits of a hot oil treatment.

You want to find an oil that has a low molecular weight (lightweight) as these types of oils have a high absorption rate. The oil needs to penetrate and soak into the hair shaft so that your hair is moisturized, rather than just coated in oil.

If the oil has simply coated the hair... then it may end up looking greasy and weighed down. We don’t want that - we want lush, soft, and shiny hair! 

Coconut oil is a highly favorable choice across the board for a hot oil treatment due to its low molecular weight and high moisture content. Plus, it penetrates the hair shaft with deeper conditioning.

But, if coconut oil isn’t your favorite type of oil, you could also use:

If you would like a lightweight blend of all of these oils, we recommend using the Shedavi Hair and Scalp Growth Elixir.

Will Hot Oil Damage Your Hair?

Since using a hot oil treatment is essentially putting a naturally derived, plant-based oil on your hair, there won't be any damage as long as the oil temperature is ideal.

But, that doesn’t mean that a hot oil treatment is suitable for all hair types and there can be some negative reactions.

If you find that your scalp or skin is sensitive, then a hot oil treatment could actually create an adverse reaction.

It is best to always use an oil that isn’t combined with synthetic ingredients, so look for brands of oil that are 100% natural.

Do a patch test before you place the oil on your whole scalp by applying a small amount of oil to the inside of your wrist. Make sure the oil is unheated.

If you don’t break out in a rash after 24 hours, then the oil should be safe to use on your scalp and hair.

How To Do a DIY Hot Oil Treatment - Step by Step

DIY hot oil treatments are an incredibly popular at-home treatment. You can make a little spa day for yourself with a comfy warm robe, some wine, maybe a face mask, and hot oil treatment. Sounds amazing, right?

So, let’s talk about how to do a DIY hot oil treatment at home: 

• Putting the oil in the microwave for 10 seconds
• Using a double boiler on the stovetop
• Taking the bottle and running hot water over it while you shower to gently heat it up
• Apply the oil at regular room temperature then heat up with a blow dryer on the low heat and low blow setting.
• Apply the oil and sit under a hooded dryer while wearing a processing cap, or sit under a hooded steamer.

The last option is preferred by hair stylists. Whichever process you choose, always make sure the oil is warm and not hot. If it is too hot for your wrist (patch test) then it is too hot for your scalp.

4. Apply the oil and saturate your hair. Then massage the oil into the hair making sure it covers every inch.

5.Keep the oil warm by placing a shower cap over your hair for 20 to 30 minutes. Some people prefer to sit under a dryer. Others prefer to sleep with the oil in their hair and rinse in the morning, which is fine too. 

6. There are a couple of ways to go about finishing your hot oil treatment depending upon your desired type of style. You may have to shampoo your hair to remove the excess oil if you are doing a blowout, flat iron, or silk press.

Should You Use Hot Oil Treatments on Wet or Dry Hair?

It is highly recommended to use hot oil treatment on damp hair. Jump into the shower, wet and wash your hair, then follow the treatment process as listed above. 

Place the oil on slightly wet hair and let the oil work its magic.

We recommend washing your hair first before performing your hot oil treatment. The reason is that clean hair lets the oils soak in, while dirty hair can block absorption, leaving the oil sitting on top.

The simple steps for your hot oil treatment are: Wash hair, add oil, allow the oil to work its magic, rinse, then condition. 

Can You do a Hot Oil Treatment & Deep Conditioner at the Same Time? 

Hot oil treatment and a deep conditioner are both important steps in a haircare routine, but remember that one does not cancel the other out. 

Both of these processes are unique and provide great benefits to the hair. 

The best part is, you certainly can do a deep condition and hot oil treatment at the same time! Deep conditioners are designed to penetrate the hair shaft as well, so you can add your hot oil to your deep conditioner and let the pair work wonders while you sit back and relax. 

For an amazing deep condition, we recommend using the Shedavi Crowned Protein Masque, this mask will promote growth, strength, thickness, and length retention.

What’s the Difference Between Hot Oil Treatment and a Deep Condition?

Hot oil treatment and deep conditioners have different benefits, and, as explained above, when used together they are a perfect match.

But what does a deep conditioner do for your hair that hot oil treatment doesn’t? 

The benefits of a deep conditioner are:

• Help repair heat damaged hair
• Help to improve curl definition
• Revitalize and add volume to natural curls 
• Repairs hair bonds
• Easier detangling session

While both of these options will provide you with hair health and strength, hot oil treatment is excellent for sealing in moisture from the scalp down. When our hair is freshly washed, some of the natural moisture is lost. 

But with a good hot oil treatment, the oils will be infused into your hair and scalp, replenishing the moisture. 

Then, you can use your deep conditioner to work on repairing damaged hair. If you use hot tools on your hair, a deep conditioner will reconstruct and strengthen the hair that has become damaged.

Difference & Similarities Between a Pre-Poo & a Hot Oil Treatment

Pre-poo is essentially a before-shampooing technique used to prevent dryness. Similar to a hot oil treatment, a pre-poo will help protect your hair and give it added moisture that might be stripped away after shampooing.

Both a pre-poo and hot oil treatment can yield similar benefits, including: 

• Improved hydration, especially for porous hair and ends
• Promotes flexibility, softness, and strength 
• Protects hair from harsh shampoos
• Seal ends with less breakage 
• Helps with the detangling session

A pre-poo is typically a mix of a rinse-out conditioner and oils. However, it can also be an oil or conditioner by itself just as well... For a blend of oils that will work great for your pre-poo, we recommend the Shedavi Hair & Scalp Growth Elixir.

The main difference between a pre-poo and hot oil treatment can be found in their processes. A pre-poo is applied before shampooing to protect the hair from being stripped of its natural oils and from harsh shampoo ingredients like sulfates. Even if the shampoo is sulfate-free, many believe that pre-pooing is great for length retention and protecting the hair from the shampooing process. Often, heavy oils that "coat" rather than penetrate are great for pre-poo, serving as a protective barrier.

On the other hand, a hot oil treatment is great when you want the fatty acids in the oil to penetrate the hair shaft and smooth the cuticles which is why it is done after shampooing. All build up needs to be removed from the hair so the oil can penetrate.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Hot Oil Treatments

Q: Do you use a hot oil treatment before or after conditioner?

A: The best way to use a hot oil treatment is right after you shampoo, but before you condition your hair.

Q: Is a hot oil treatment good for curly hair?

A: Yes! It can lock moisture into your natural curls - preventing split ends, adding  shine, and protecting them from sun damage.

Q: Do you shampoo after a hot oil treatment?

A: After you have applied your hot oil treatment, it is safe to shampoo and/or condition per your normal routine.

Q: Do you wash out the hot oil treatment?

A: After you have allowed the hot oil treatment to sit for the suggested amount of time, you can follow up with your normal routine of shampooing and/or conditioning.  

Q: Can I leave a hot oil treatment in my hair overnight?

A: Yes, especially if you have low porosity hair. 

Q: Does a hot oil treatment make hair grow?

A: Because massaging the oil into the scalp stimulates blood flow, hot oil treatments do promote hair growth.

Q: Can I use olive oil as a hot oil treatment?

A: Most definitely. Olive oil will help retain moisture. Plus, it contains vitamin E and vitamin A. 

Q: Can you do a hot oil treatment on locs?

A: Hot oil treatments are great for all hair types and styles.If your locs are feeling dry, a hot oil treatment is perfect for locking in moisture.

Q: How often should you do a hot oil treatment?

A: Performing a hot oil treatment should typically be done once a month. However, it can be done every wash day. 

Conclusion

Now that you know the benefits of hot oil treatments, are you excited to do one at home? Let us know your favorite oils to use in the comments and how you like to do your DIY hot oil treatment at home.

Grab your Shedavi Elixir before starting your hot oil treatment and try our other products to complete your healthy hair routine.