How to Apply Hair Oil

If your scalp already produces a lot of oil, don’t add more oil to your hair. However, if your hair is dry or has lost its natural oils through many shampoos, try applying a hair conditioner. Applying oils to your hair to add moisture is an important step in maintaining healthy hair and scalp. ^{[1] X Research Source} Your hair will be stronger, softer and shinier with an oil treatment.

Table of Contents

Choose an oil

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/89/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-1-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-1-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/89/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-1-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-1-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Decide how much oil to use. You can use just one oil or two to three to condition your hair. This depends on how much you intend to spend and how deep you want to condition your hair.

The two basic types of oils are carrier oils and essential oils.
Carrier oils are used as a base for blending with concentrated essential oils.
Many people just use carrier oils on their hair. You don’t need to use essential oils if you don’t like them.
Essential oils are more concentrated. Only apply essential oils diluted with a carrier oil to the scalp and hair roots.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e6/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e6/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-2-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-2-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Select carrier/base oil. A carrier oil is always a must-have, whether you plan to mix it with a carrier oil or not. There are a variety of carrier oils to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Almond Oil ^{[2] X Source of Research} : Almond oil, which is rich in vitamin E and healthy fats, works great for hair. Almond oil is especially effective in treating flaky scalp and dandruff.
Argan Oil ^{[3] X Source of Research} : Argan oil is a Moroccan product that is rich in antioxidants. People who have used argan oil have confirmed that this oil helps improve skin and hair significantly. However, argan oil is quite expensive. Any argan oil product on the market for cheap is likely to be of poor quality and not worth buying.
Avocado Oil ^{[4] X Source of Research} : Avocado oil for hair is very popular with African Americans with natural hair due to its super moisturizing properties and affordable price!
Castor Oil: ^{[5] X Research Source} Castor oil is said to stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss, treat dry scalp, prevent split ends, and give hair shine. However, this oil has a thick and sticky consistency that many people don’t like. If using castor oil, you should mix it with a thinner oil, such as grapeseed oil.
Coconut Oil ^{[6] X Research Source} : In addition to moisturizing the hair and scalp, coconut oil is also high in protein. Hair is inherently protein-based, so coconut oil can repair damaged hair. Coconut oil has a disadvantage that it will solidify when it is cold. You can warm the oil in the palm of your hand before applying it or heat it in the microwave for 2-3 seconds.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil ^{[7] X Research Source} : Extra virgin olive oil helps to prevent hair loss, treat dry scalp, and increase moisture and shine of hair. Olive oil also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help prevent oily skin problems, such as dandruff. However, this oil is too “heavy” for thin hair.
Grape Seed Oil ^{[8] X Source of Research} : Grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil and is very useful for hair that does not need a moisture boost. If you have already healthy hair, you can use grapeseed oil to condition and balance your hair.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/45/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/45/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-3-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-3-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Choose essential oils. You may think essential oils are just fragrance oils, but they are actually much more than that! Each essential oil has its advantages and can help improve hair health. With the right essential oils, you will have fragrant and attractive hair.

Rosemary Oil ^{[9] X Research Source} : Rosemary oil has many uses, and one of them is to stimulate blood circulation. Rosemary oil can help improve hair follicle and root health. It is known that rosemary is also a source of compounds commonly found in the drug Minoxidil, which can treat and prevent hair loss. A slight burning sensation when applying essential oils to the scalp is normal. Rosemary oil is also one of the few natural oils that actually effectively hydrates hair.
Grapefruit Essential Oil ^{[10] X Research Source} : This refreshing essential oil is used to stimulate hair growth and balance oily hair.
Rose Oil ^{[11] X Research Source} : Rose oil has the effect of strengthening the hair roots and preventing hair loss. Plus its scent is amazing!
Carrot seed oil. Carrot seed oil is high in vitamins and can stimulate hair growth by promoting cell turnover.
Lavender oil. Lavender can soothe the scalp, while reducing dryness, itchiness, and dandruff. In addition, its fragrance is also very pleasant.
Blend of lavender and tea tree oils. The blend of these two essential oils helps to dissolve products that are still on the hair that make the hair heavy. In addition, it has a soothing effect, helping to reduce inflammation while retaining moisture in the hair.
Roman Chamomile Oil. Chamomile has a soothing and nourishing effect on the hair, in addition to having a mild, relaxing scent.
Eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus also stimulates hair growth, in addition to cleansing hair. Eucalyptus oil is most effective when used occasionally as a hair conditioner, especially for oily or dandruff-prone scalps. In addition to other benefits, eucalyptus oil also helps to add shine to the hair.
Sandalwood essential oil. Eucalyptus oil is a great choice for dry hair, plus it helps stimulate hair growth. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Apply carrier oil

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/16/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-4-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/16/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-4-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:258,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:409,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Prepare the hair. The only rule when applying oil to your hair is to brush your hair so that it doesn’t get tangled and greasy when applying oil. There is a lot of controversy about whether to clean hair when applying oil. Some people think that it is more effective to apply oil to already slightly oily and slightly dirty hair, that is, apply the oil 2-3 days after shampooing with shampoo. Others claim that the oil is most effective on freshly washed hair. Try both ways to see which works for you.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b0/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b0/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-5-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-5-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Cover the area where oil may fall. Chances are the oil will be sticky during the application process, especially if you are not used to it.

Spread towels or newspaper around the work area, including the countertop and the floor.
Have a rag ready to wipe up when the oil drips.
If you plan to leave oil in your hair when you go to bed, protect your pillow with a plastic pillowcase.

Treatment of hair roots and scalp. Pour 1 teaspoon of oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together to spread the oil evenly. You will mainly be using your fingers to massage the oil, so you should concentrate the oil on your fingers.

Use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp.
Use massage movements to both oil and stimulate the scalp (And it feels great!)
Remember to cover the entire scalp, including the back of the head, just above the nape of the neck, and behind the ears.

Divide your hair into 2 sections. Part your hair down from the center of your head, pulling part of it over your left shoulder, and the rest over your right shoulder. This will make it easier to apply the base oil to the hair shaft.

You can tie one part of your hair up so you don’t get in the way when you apply the oil to the other part.
If you have thick or curly hair, you should divide your hair into 4 sections to make it easier to distribute the oil evenly. Part the hair vertically from the center of the head down, then part it again horizontally.

Apply a mixture of essential oils and carrier oils

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/76/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-9. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/76/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step- 9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Prepare your hair and work area. Just like when applying a base oil, you need to brush your hair so that there are no tangles. You can apply the oil on freshly washed hair or 2-3 days after shampooing. Spread old towels or newspaper around the oiled seat to prevent oil from spilling.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4a/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-10. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/4a/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step- 10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Mix carrier oil and essential oil. Essential oils are too strong to be suitable for applying large amounts directly to the scalp. Even when diluted, you may still experience a tingling sensation on your scalp when applying essential oils. Don’t worry – this is completely normal. That’s a sign that the head essence is working!

Pour a teaspoon of your chosen carrier oil into the palm of your hand.
Add 2-3 drops of your chosen essential oil.
Rub hands together to mix essential oils and carrier oils, spreading over palms and fingertips.
If you want to make a large batch, you can mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of essential oil with ¼ cup (60 ml) of carrier oil.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3f/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-11. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3f/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step- 11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Apply the mixture to the hair roots and scalp. Essential oils have no effect on the hair shaft and ends, so you need to focus on the scalp, hair follicles and roots.

Use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp.
Remember to apply the entire scalp, not just the top of the head.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/54/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-12. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/54/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-12.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step- 12.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Comb your hair again and divide it into 2 sections. Use a wide-tooth comb to both untangle your hair and spread the oil over the hairs that are missed when you apply the oil with your fingers. Part your hair from the center of your head down to brush each section of hair in turn instead of combing it all at once.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6b/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-13. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6b/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step- 13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div> “}

Apply a carrier/base oil throughout the length of your hair. Pour 1 teaspoon of carrier/carrier oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to spread the oil all over your palms and fingertips.

If using castor oil, you should mix ½ teaspoon of castor oil with ½ teaspoon of another thinner, lighter oil (such as grapeseed oil). Castor oil will be thick and sticky if used alone.
Run your hands and fingers through the hair to spread the oil evenly.
Start from the area near the scalp where you just applied the essential oils and carrier oils.
Sweep from top to bottom.
Thoroughly massage an entire section of hair, paying attention to the hair at the back of the head as well.
Do the same for the rest of the hair.

Apply oil to your hair for a different purpose

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/68/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/68/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-14-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-14-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Rub a little oil into your hair daily to condition it. If your hair is too dry, you may need to oil your hair daily. Many African-Americans apply oil to their hair daily because they find it effective. The oil helps to increase the moisture and shine of the hair.

Don’t apply oil to your scalp every day. The scalp also secretes its own oil, so the hair close to the scalp is usually quite healthy. Applying oil to the scalp daily can do more harm than good because it creates more oil at the roots.
Apply a thin layer of oil to the hair shaft, focusing on the ends. Oil from the scalp will move down to the ends of the hair, but with long hair this is a bit far, so the ends are often dry and brittle. Curly hair is also often dry at the ends because the curls prevent the oil from flowing down.
Don’t use too much oil if you apply it daily. Do not saturate your hair with oil. You don’t want to go out with your hair always flat and greasy!

Spray the oil on your hair as a daily conditioner. Buy a small spray to disperse the oil over a wide patch of hair. The spray bottle will spray a thin mist onto the hair instead of a thick layer like when using fingers to apply oil. Dilute the oil with water so that the oil does not clog the nozzle.

Spray the oil and water mixture all over your hair right after your daily shower and your hair is still damp. Only spray the oil on the ends of the hair, avoid spraying on the roots.
Comb your hair to untangle and distribute the oil evenly across the strands.
Let your hair dry naturally and continue with your daily routine.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/04/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/04/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use the oil as a dry conditioner. Once a week or every 2 weeks, you should use the oil to make a deep conditioning hair mask.

Soak the oil in your hair. When conditioning your hair daily, you should only coat it with a thin layer of oil, but for deep conditioning, you need to apply a thick layer of oil.
Tie your hair up so that the shoulders and back of the shirt don’t get greasy.
Put a shower cap over your hair if you want. Shower caps are especially useful if you don’t have a plastic pillowcase to protect your pillow.
If you don’t use a shower cap, you can use a vinyl pillowcase or cover the pillow with two layers of towels to prevent oil from staining the pillow.
Leave the oil in your hair for at least 8 hours or until showering the next day.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/35/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-17-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair- Step-17-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/35/Oil-Your-Hair-Step-17-Version-3.jpg/ v4-728px-Oil-Your-Hair-Step-17-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:” <div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Apply oil while your hair is still damp if your hair is particularly dry and brittle. Many people find that applying oil to damp hair is most beneficial for dry, brittle hair. You can use a carrier oil instead of your normal conditioner twice a week, right after rinsing the shampoo out of your hair. Shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils and dries it out, and it’s time to add some moisture to your hair.

Wash your hair with shampoo and apply oil right after you start showering. Let the oil soak into your hair while you shower.
Try to let the oil stay on your hair for 5-10 minutes.
Cover your hair with a shower cap to prevent water from washing away the oil before washing.
Be careful when applying the oil in the shower. The bath will be very slippery when you drain the oil from your hair.

Advice

Massage the oil into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
Try not to let the oil get on your face; Oil can cause pimples.

Steps

Choose an oil

Apply carrier oil

Apply a mixture of essential oils and carrier oils

Apply oil to your hair for a different purpose

Advice

Related Posts