Homemade hot oil treatment for hair and scalp

It's Saturday, so I figured I would indulge a little and add some simplicity to a great spa experience for my hair ... a homemade hot oil treatment!

Hot oil treatments are fantastic for dry and dull hair - they will nourish the proteins that make up your hair shaft and also seriously moisturize your scalp, making problems like dandruff or itchy scalp a thing of the past.  For best results, you should shoot for doing a treatment at least once a week.

First, start off by preparing your hot towel.  I place a damp towel in the dryer on high heat for about 20 minutes - just enough time for it to be hot & ready for me after I've made and applied the hot oil treatment.

You can make your hot oil treatment with the oils you have around the house - oils I like and use routinely are extra virgin olive oil, MCT/coconut oils, or sweet almond oil.  I make up a large batch and store it for up to 6 months in a sealed jar.  In general, I don't follow a recipe but add about 4-5 ounces of oil with several drops of essential oils.  Mixing different essential oils and base oils is where it gets fun.  The most recent batch I made was 4 ounces MCT oil, 1 ounce olive oil, and 4 drops each of tea tree, lavender, jasmine, and sandalwood oils.  Be creative!  You can also add dried herbs like sage, lavender, and rosemary to infuse the oil.

After creating your oil, boil water in a small pan and place the oil in a glass jar or measuring cup inside this pan to indirectly heat it.  Or, if you want to get started faster, you can microwave your oil to get it hot - but be very careful!! - you only need 15-20 seconds.

Add the hot oil to your hair starting at the scalp by dipping just your fingertips in the oil and using a massaging motion.  If you pour the oil on your scalp, this wastes oil and makes a mess!  I massage my scalp all over by dipping my fingers in the oil over and over for about 5 minutes or so.  After I feel like my scalp is well covered, I very lightly run my fingers/hands over the ends of my hair.  You just want to cover your hair with the oil, not make it sopping or dripping.  If you use too much oil, you will find it harder to wash out later.

After applying the oil, I relax for 1-2 hours with the towel on my head.  You'll smell the essential oils under the hot towel and it will be very relaxing!  Alternatively, you can run a hot bath and soak in there with the towel on your head.  If the towel needs rewarming, you can dip it in the bath water and wring out. 

When you're ready to rinse the oil out of your hair, start by either dipping your head in the hot bath water (if you are in the bath) or by running hot shower water on your head.  The hot water will give the oil one last chance to soak in while you wash and do your other shower cleaning duties.  Use your favorite shampoo and lather well.  You might need to do this twice to get all of the oils out of your hair - you'll know by feeling it.  For the final rinse of your hair, use tepid water - it will rinse better than hot water.  You will find you likely won't need any conditioner after this treatment since your hair will be so luxurious and smooth.

Have any good ideas for a homemade hot oil treatment recipe?  Comment below!