What Do Hot Oil Treatments Do For Natural Hair?

Hot oil treatments have become a well-liked choice for reviving dry, brittle, frizzy and color-treated strands. A hot oil treatment typically involves use of a warmed plant-based oil like olive or coconut to coat the strands. Continue reading to learn why these treatments work so well for natural hair, as well as how to execute a hot oil treatment by yourself.

Benefits of Hot Oil Treatments

By pampering your hair with a hot oil treatment, you can enjoy these benefits:

1. Deep moisturization: The incorporated heat in the treatment opens up the hair cuticles, allowing the oil to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft and nourish it effectively. This intense hydration combats issues of dryness, reviving the hair’s vitality.
   2. Improved hair elasticity: Hot oil treatments moisturize and strengthen the hair shaft, enhancing the hair’s elasticity. Hair elasticity is the ability of hair to stretch and return to its original shape without breaking. Increased elasticity helps the hair withstand tension and styling without breakage.
   3. Reduced breakage: If you’re having trouble retaining length, a hot oil treatment can help with that. By effectively moisturizing the hair and enhancing its elasticity, hot oil treatments strengthen the hair’s structure, preventing breakage.
   4. Prevention of split ends: The oil in the treatments add slip to the hair, preventing friction of hair strands with other materials, reducing the chances of split ends occurring.
   5. Boosted scalp health: The plant-based oils used in hot oil treatments not only benefit the strands but the scalp as well. The oils used can help soothe a dry, itchy scalp and stimulate healthy hair growth.

Who Can Benefit From a Hot Oil Treatment?

Everyone can benefit from a hot oil treatment one way or the other, however, they’re especially beneficial to curly and coily hair types like 4B and 4C. These hair types are susceptible to dryness and breakage.

People with color-treated hair can also benefit greatly from the treatments. Color-treated hair tends to become dry and brittle; performing a hot oil treatment can help boost moisture levels and positively transform the hair’s texture.

How To Do A Hot Oil Treatment

According to Healthline, the best way to execute a hot oil treatment is by starting with clean hair. For the oil to better penetrate your strands, make sure your is clean by shampooing it.

Choose an oil. Opt for a natural oil such as coconut, olive, or jojoba, avocado, or argan oil. These oils are rich in nutrients and have excellent moisturizing properties.

Afterwards, microwave 3 to 6 tablespoons of the oil in a microwave-safe bowl for 10 seconds. Before you can apply the hot oil to your damp hair and scalp, test a small amount of the oil on your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.

To protect your clothing, place a towel over your shoulders. If you prefer, you can do the hot oil treatment in the shower or over the sink.

Apply the oil evenly throughout your hair and massage it into your scalp. Thereafter, cover your head with a shower cap and wait up to 20 minutes.

While the oil is still in your hair, you can use the opportunity to remove any knots and tangles as detangling is much easier at this point.

Once 20 minutes are done, completely rinse out the oil from your hair, and follow up with your normal conditioner. Your hair will be left nourished, soft, and more manageable.

Bottomline

Hot oil treatments are a nice way to pamper and revive the strands. By adding these treatments to your haircare routine, you can enjoy the benefits of stronger and more vibrant curls.