Best Natural Hair Repair - At-Home Hot Oil Treatments

Who doesn’t want to flaunt luscious, healthy, lively looking hair? Healthy hair is on par with good health and our perception of youth; keeping our hair in optimum condition begins with routinely treating hair at the surface as well as nurturing it from within.

The scalp, like any other skin on the body, must be kept healthy to ensure healthy hair production. The use of hot oil treatments has a conditioning effect on the hair and scalp and can help to restore the hair to its best possible condition. Hot oil treatments also allow beneficial essential oils to infuse into the hair and scalp easily, adding back moisture, strength and vitality.

Custom-blending your own oil treatment to suit your needs can be satisfying and beneficial. By doing so, you can be sure that the ingredients are of premium quality, potent and nutrient-rich, not like many over-the-counter products that often contain harsh ingredients or chemicals.

Applying nourishing oils to your hair as part of your weekly beauty routine can also be combined with a relaxing head massage to improve circulation of the scalp, stimulate hair growth, relieve tension, and restore overall well-being.

To begin, all hair is not the same - in fact, hair is a expression of our diversity. Part of learning how to take better care of our hair is to understand what type of hair we have.

Dry hair does not have enough moisture and oil to maintain its normal sheen and texture. Dry hair appears dull, feels rough and dry to the touch, and responds well to moisture. It often has a thick texture that dries out quickly when styled with hot rollers, curling and/or flat irons, and doesn't hold curl for long. Also, dry hair may be frizzy, with poor elasticity that leads to breakage and split ends. It may tangle easily, and may have excessive dandruff or an unhealthy scalp.

Natural bristle brushes are best for this hair type in order to stimulate the scalp and the sebaceous glands, which in turn produce more sebum to help to create the acid mantle, which is the skin's own protective layer. It is also best to avoid chemical colorants and permanent hair treatments.

Try shampooing less often, maybe once or twice a week and avoid blow drying and harsh styling products; allow the hair to air dry as often as possible. Consider switching to shampoos and conditioners that contain jojoba and almond oils rather than using harsh soaps or products that contain alcohols.

Dry hair may be aggravated by dry air conditions, both indoors and out, hormonal imbalances, or poor nutrition may each contribute to hair loss (75–100 strands per day).

Essential oils for dry hair:

• Rose hip
• Sandalwood
• Ylang-Ylang
• Lavender
• Geranium, and
• Rosemary

~ Carrier oils are sesame, coconut, jojoba, and sweet almond.

Grey hair is more porous and requires even more conditioning, especially if it is chemically treated or colored. Use the oil treatment formulation for dry hair and enhance this blend with essential oils such as chamomile to lighten or sage to darken any discolorations.

Essential oils for damaged or chemically treated hair :

• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Geranium, and
• Sandalwood

~ Carrier oils are sesame, coconut, jojoba, and sweet almond.

Essential oils for dandruff prone hair :

• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Eucalyptus, and
• Geranium

~ Carrier oils are jojoba, olive, coconut and sweet almond.

Oily hair often appears lank, greasy, dull, and limp, lacks body and bounce and has difficulty maintaining a style. This hair type needs frequent washing; allow activated shampoo to remain in the hair for 5-minutes before rinsing. De-greasing shampoos should be avoided, as these will strip the hair of its natural oils making an oily condition far worse.

Use plastic brushes when brushing oily hair rather than natural bristles so as not to stimulate the scalp, and avoid brushing your hair too often or too vigorously.

Select light conditioning rinses to detangle the hair, and begin using regular scalp massage to normalize the oil-producing sebaceous glands.

Beware that hormones affect oil production - a hormone imbalance may be stimulated by stress or birth control pills. Oily hair can also be aggravated by a fatty diet, poor hygiene or washing too often, as well as conditions where the scalp has overactive oil-producing sebaceous glands.

Essential oils for greasy hair:

• Basil
• Eucalyptus
• Cedarwood
• Chamomile
• Lemon
• Lemongrass
• Cypress
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Lavender, and
• Sandalwood

~ Carrier oils are sweet almond, sesame and jojoba.

Normal hair is glossy with a smooth texture and feel, shiny appearance, holds curl well, and has plenty of natural body and bounce. Normal, healthy hair is fairly easy to comb when wet, has good elasticity (hair that stretches when pulled) with no breakage and minimal split ends. This hair type is also neither greasy nor dry, has not been permed or colored, and looks healthy most of the time.

Normal hair responds well to the daily shampoos and conditioning and does well with regular brushing, smoothing, and polishing.

The occasional hot oil treatment will help to maintain healthy hair growth, and keep normal hair nourished and glistening.

Essential oils for normal hair:

• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lemongrass, and
• Rosemary

~ Recommended carrier oils are sweet almond, coconut, and jojoba.

Combination hair typically has oily roots with hair length that is normal or dry, and oftentimes has split ends. Excessive use of products for treating oily hair or those for dry hair may exacerbate this dilemma, as will chemical treatments, using detergent based shampoos too often, and over exposure to UV light.

Preferably use products specifically designed for combination hair or try using a shampoo for oily hair and finish by applying a conditioner to the length of the hair all the way to the ends.

Avoid using hot rollers, curling and/or flat irons too near the scalp and maintain the ends with regular trims and conditioning.

Your hot oil treatment should begin with those oils recommended for oily hair treatment, applying only to the scalp and refraining from working through to the ends.

Essential oils for fine, thinning hair :

• Rosemary
• Lavender, and
• Geranium

~ Carrier oils are sesame and olive.

The head is a sensitive area, so essential oils should be used sensibly and with caution. Exceeding the recommended dose of an essential oil could result in toxicity as well as allergic skin reactions. When in doubt, a patch test can be done by dabbing a small amount of the blended oil to the inside of your wrist or elbow. Wait 24-hours and watch for any unfavorable reaction(s) before continuing on with your hair treatment.

Oils can also be messy to work with so keep a few clean towels on hand, as well a shower cap or plastic wrap to wrap your hair in. As a rule, essential oils should be blended with carrier oils at a ratio of 2-drops to every 10ml (2 tsp); when treating older children or the elderly, a concentration of 1-drop essential oil to every 10ml (2 tsp) carrier oil is recommended. Due to the potency of essential oils, do not use with babies, young children, during pregnancy, or if you suspect you may be pregnant.

The following guide will help you to prepare your formulations - combining up to 3-carrier oils if you wish. Keep in mind that complementary oils, when used together, further enhance the effects that each essential oil has on its own:

• Short hair: 10ml (2 tsp) carrier oil; 2-drops essential oil (1-drop for older children or elderly)
• Medium length hair: 15 ml (1 Tbsp) carrier oil; 3-drops essential oil
• Long hair: 30ml (2 Tbsp) carrier oil; 5-drops of essential oil. Of course, for very long hair more oil will be needed and is best applied in sections, in which case you will need a comb and hair clips.

Needless to say, the amount of oil you will need will also be determined by the thickness and texture of your hair.

Measure the carrier oil(s) into a glass mixing bowl and combine well. Next add the essential oil(s) that you have selected; any remaining oil can be massaged into areas with dry, rough skin such as the elbows, knees, or to the heels of your feet!

Warm oil not only feels delightful but it is able to penetrate the hair and scalp, allowing it to be absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream where it also works to benefit the entire body. To safely heat your oil, place your prepared mixture over a pre-heated bowl of hot, boiling water. Using a microwave or stove top is NOT recommended due the obvious dangers. And, of course, test the oil before application to be sure that it is not too hot - in much the same way that you would test a baby bottle of warmed milk.

Start by washing your hair to remove excess sweat and oil, as well as unwanted products from the hair and scalp.

You may apply the oil (or have a partner do it for you!) by pouring a little of the heated oil directly onto the crown of your head – yummy! Or you may prefer to pour a small amount of the oil mixture into the palms of your hands and work it into the scalp – applying more oil as needed.

Finish by wrapping your head with a hot towel, and leave on for 30-minutes; or use a shower cap or plastic wrap, covered by a towel, to retain body heat and to encourage the oils permeate the hair and scalp.

To get the most out of your oil treatment, allow it to remain on the hair for as long as possible; a minimum of 30-minutes or up to 12-hours - the longer the better. If you are leaving your treatment in overnight, pamper yourself even more with a relaxing aromatherapy bath! If you have included oils such as lavender and chamomile in your blend, these oils will also encourage a restful and restorative night’s sleep, so that you awake feeling rejuvenated. For comfort’s sake, use old towels or sheets to protect bedding while sleeping, leaving your hair loose.

To remove your oil treatment, do not wet your hair - begin by applying the shampoo first. Water may interfere with the breakdown of the oil making it harder to remove. By not adding water, the shampoo will emulsify with the oil making it much easier to rinse out. Don’t be surprised if you find that you need quite a lot of shampoo and have very little lather during the first washes. Rinse and repeat and with each cleanse you will begin to see more lather; continue the process of working the shampoo well into the hair, all the while scrubbing and rubbing to distribute evenly (usually 3-washes). By the final cleanse you should only need a small amount of shampoo to produce mounds of lather and loads of soapsuds. By now your hair should feel entirely free from oil and in tip-top condition. Rinse normally, then dry and style as usual.

1. To avoid heat damage, use heat hairstyling methods such as curling and flat irons, or hot rollers sparingly - only once or twice a week.

2. Let your hair dry naturally whenever possible. If you need to use a hairdryer, towel dry the hair first to remove excess moisture.

3. Use a moisturizing conditioner appropriate to your hair type and condition to help ensure that your hair does not become too dry, or oily, for that matter.

4. Always comb your hair when it is wet or wait until your hair has dried before you brush it to avoid stretching and breaking the hair.

5. Distribute the hair's natural oils throughout the hair by brushing with a natural bristle brush (except in cases of oily hair). The natural bristles effectively distribute the oil at the scalp, throughout the hair, all the way to the tips, ultimately nourishing and protecting all parts of the hair.

6. Hair brushes and combs should be cleaned weekly.

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