With all of that shampooing, styling, coloring, heat and so many other things we put our hair through, it’s no wonder that many of us are suffering from lackluster, damaged hair. Thankfully, Mother Nature has given us natural ingredients that can help, including oils. In fact, some of those very same oils you like to cook with can also be used to help enhance the health and beauty of your hair, especially when used as a hot oil treatment.
Here’s why:
Rescuing dull, dry hair
If your hair feels like straw and lacks shine, a natural hot oil treatment can come to the rescue. That’s because natural oils like sunflower and olive oil are very rich in nutrients and antioxidants that work together with essential fatty acids to restore and revive your hair, making it shine once again. Hot oil treatments help oils get deposited back into the hair and prevent dryness that can contribute to breakage as well.
Help protect against dry scalp & dandruff
Many people struggle with dry scalp and dandruff. It occurs when dead skin sheds from a dry, very oily or microbe-infected scalp, resulting in redness, itchiness, flaking and general irritation of the scalp. To restore balanced moisture, a dry and dehydrated scalp produces excess sebum, which consequently blocks the hair follicles. These hair follicles attract microbes, leading to a bacterial and fungal infection of the scalp, and ultimately causing dandruff, or seborrhoeic dermatitis. Applying a natural oil through a hot oil treatment before you shampoo your hair is a very effective way to prevent both a dry scalp and dandruff.
Extend time between salon visits
If it’s been awhile since you’ve been to the hair salon, a hot oil treatment can help, as it’s able to hide signs of neglect. The oil soaks into any split ends and helps in smoothing those ends down until you can get in for that trim. If you do this once a week, you’ll be able to put off that appointment for several weeks.
Deep conditioning to minimize damage from styling and coloring
All of those tools you use on your hair, like curling and straightening irons, blow dryers and so on, not to mention coloring your hair, can do a lot of damage. All hair types are prone to cuticle damage from coloring and hot styling tools, making regular, deep conditioning a must. It will help minimize damage and keep colored hair looking more vibrant for longer. Remember, when your hair loses oil, the result is dull, lifeless hair, but a regular, once a week hot oil treatment can make a dramatic difference.
Prevent or control frizz
Frizz is especially common in the winter and summer months, particularly in high humidity areas, but it can strike at any time. A hot oil treatment can control frizzy hair, or prevent frizz in the first place, without weighing it down.
Increasing blood flow, encouraging hair growth and preventing hair loss
By massaging the hot oil into your scalp, the oil is able to deeply penetrate the scalp, as well as nourish the hair follicles and stimulate blood flow to encourage hair growth. Using natural oils can also help prevent the thinning of hair and treat hair loss, baldness and alopecia areata, characterized by round bald patches.
Preventing greys
As natural oils are rich in antioxidants, they can help battle free radicals that can damage healthy cells and even cause premature graying. At the same time, they also work to protect the hair follicles to keep them healthy and strong.
The Best Oils You Can Use for a Hot Oil Treatment:
So, which type of oil should you use? There are a number of oils that can be effective, but these tend to be the very best.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is excellent for all hair types. And, as a bonus, if you have dandruff or flaking, using coconut oil as a hot oil hair treatment will quickly come to the rescue. It’s rich in antioxidants and provides antiviral, anti fungal, and antibacterial properties. It helps to improve the health of the scalp, fights infection and fungus, support hair growth, and, add volume as well as shine.
Hempseed oil
Hempseed oil is known for improving blood circulation and preventing scalp infections, which often results in healthier, longer hair. It also helps to thicken the texture of hair, prevent dandruff, and reduce hair loss.
Olive oil
Olive oil is rich in fatty acids, including oleic and linoleic acids, that are especially nutritious for the hair and scalp. It works to coat the shaft of hair strands to keep it healthy and protected. If the outer layer of your hair is damaged by coloring, hot styling tools and so on, it helps to coat those damaged layers, giving your hair a smoother, sleeker and healthier appearance. Olive oil is particularly outstanding to use for preventing gray hairs, due to its high level of antioxidants.
Argan oil
Argan oil comes from the fruit of the native argan tree in Morocco and is famous for enhancing beauty due to its powerful ability to nourish the hair, thanks to being jam-packed with vitamins antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids, and linoleic acid.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil offers especially rich moisturizing effects on your hair thanks to its wide range of nutrients, including vitamins like A, B, C and E and minerals like iron, potassium, and calcium, along with antioxidants and essential fatty acids that make it especially beneficial. Sunflower oil contains a particularly high level of oleic acid, one of the essential acids that are necessary for your health and also helps to naturally stimulate natural hair growth while helping to prevent hair loss as well as breakage and brittle hair.
How To Make Sunflower Hot Oil Treatment
Sunflowers make everyone happy, even your hair. Try this amazing hot oil treatment for luscious locks that your friends will be envious of. Plus, don’t forget to visit our YouTube channel to see more of our DIY health and beauty videos.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil (optional)
- 1/4 dried organic sunflower petals
- glass heat-proof jar
Pack a heat proof jar with the dried sunflower petals, coconut oil and jojoba (if using).
Place in a sauce pan with two inches of water. Heat on simmer for 2 hours. Alternatively, you can heat the oil and petals in a slow cooker on low.
Once the oil is infused, let it cool slightly and strain out the petals. Cover and store at room temperature.
How To Use:
Pour a small amount of the infused sunflower petal oil into a glass cup or jar. Set the cup in larger bowl of hot water (not boiling). Let the oil warm up for five minutes or so. Message the oil into your hair starting with the tips. Work your way up to your scalp. Rub it into scalp if it’s dry. If you tend to have oily scalp, stop two inches away. For a deep intensive treatment, wrap a towel around you hair and let it sit for thirty minutes to an hour. Wash and dry as usual.
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