The Benefits of a Hot Oil Treatment for Hair—and How to Do It Yourself (2025)

With all the focus on hydrating skincare, your dry, damaged hair might have taken a backseat when it comes to getting some much-needed TLC. Sure, you can try moisturizing shampoo to remedy the situation. But a hot oil treatment for hair is a hair stylist-recommended way to practice self-care and bring life back to your locks.

Before you go pouring a bottle of steaming oil over your head, give this guide a read. We asked stylists the burning questions about hot oil that you'll need to know—plus they explained how to execute the treatment safely and effectively.

What Is a Hot Oil Treatment for Hair?

A hot oil treatment for hair utilizes warmed oils, whether store-bought with additives or ones found in your pantry. (Some common hair-friendly household oils include olive, almond, or coconut oil.) You or someone else massages the warmed-up oil into the scalp and along the hair strands to deeply moisturize and nourish them.

A hot oil treatment is intended to strengthen the hair, repair dead hair, and add shine. "The warm oil seals the cuticle by adding moisture to the hair follicle, which can help repair and prevent split ends," explains hairstylist Jana Rago.

Considerations Before You Get Started

First off, pay attention to the temperature of the oil—if you make it too hot, you could easily scald your scalp. Also, "don't apply [a hot oil hair treatment] to dry or dirty hair—when the hair is wet, the cuticle is slightly open, so it's the best time to accept oils and conditioners," says hairstylist Leigh Hardges.

Ideal Hair Types

Hot oil treatments aren't ideal for all hair types and scalp situations, like thinning hair or damaged scalps, according to Rago. Instead, hot oil hair treatments are ideal for anyone with normal to dry frizzy hair. Due to the high porosity of curly, textured hair, these locks drink up the oils from a hot oil treatment faster than someone with straighter hair.

"People who have frizzy, curly, and/or textured hair will see better results versus those with straight or thinning hair," explains Rago. "The oil can be overpowering for thin hair, so to use it well, you must apply a smaller amount to the scalp."

Patch Testing

Before applying a new oil to your hair and scalp for the first time, make sure you do a patch test in the area close to your scalp to see if your skin has any adverse reactions.

"It's important to understand which oil is right for your hair type to ensure you don't have any unfavorable reactions to the oil, especially if you have sensitive skin," says natural hair educator Jessica Morrobel. "As a natural hair educator, I recommend that anyone new to hot oil treatment check with their doctor or dermatologist before applying hot oil all over their scalp."

How Often to Do Hot Oil Treatments

Depending on your personal preference, a hot oil treatment can be done once a week or every other week. Doing these treatments too much can do more harm than good. Doing it daily, for example, can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause build-up.

How to Do a Hot Oil Treatment at Home

Luckily, you don't need to head to the drugstore. As long as you've got a plant-based oil—like olive, almond, or coconut—on hand, you're already halfway there. Just give yourself enough time to properly do the hot oil hair treatment.

"Depending on how much oil is used, your hair may require two washes for the product to be fully removed from the hair and scalp," says Rago. "It's best to do an at-home oil treatment like this when you have downtime and are not going out right after. Hair always looks the best a few days after a treatment like this."

What You'll Need

• An oil blend (like grapeseed, hemp seed, avocado, olive, or coconut oil)
• A heat-safe bowl or glass container
• A larger bowl
• Hot water
• A plastic shower cap
• Shampoo and conditioner

Instructions

1. Scoop a small amount of oil into a heat-safe bowl or glass container.
2. Place the heat-safe bowl or glass container in a larger bowl with hot water, allowing the smaller one to be partially submerged for a few minutes.
3. Once the oil has reached the appropriate temperature, test the oil on your wrist before applying it to your hair.
4. Rub your hands together to spread the warm oil around to the ends of your fingers.
5. Apply the oil to the scalp, massaging the scalp in small circles with your fingers all over from your hairline to the back of your neck and down to your ears.
6. Once the oil is distributed throughout the scalp, take a wide-tooth comb and pull the product to the ends of your hair
7. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and leave the oil in your hair for 15 to 30 minutes.
8. To remove the oil, wash and shampoo your hair. Finish with conditioner if desired.
   

Top Benefits of Using Hot Oil on Your Hair

Don't worry about hot oil dragging your hair down or making it look greasy. Hot oil treatments are supposed to infuse oil into the hair—not sit on top of it—so that shouldn't happen as long as you're using the right type (and proportion) of oil. Using the right hot oil hair treatments has many benefits beyond treating dry hair and a dry scalp.

Treats Scalp Flakes

A hot oil hair treatment can help with scalp issues, but only if the flaking is being caused by having a dry scalp (as opposed to fungus-related dandruff). That's because applying a hot oil hair treatment to your scalp can help stimulate blood circulation and release flaky, dry skin sitting on top of the scalp, leaving your scalp moisturized and refreshed once it's washed out, says Rago.

"Keep in mind that there are other culprits that may cause dandruff-like product build-up or certain medical conditions like seborrheic dermatitis," adds Hardges. The latter typically requires more advanced dandruff treatments.

Softens Frizzy or Textured Hair

Those with frizzy or textured hair actually benefit the most from a hot oil hair treatment since these hair types are naturally on the drier side. "As someone with textured hair, I'd recommend hot oil treatments, as they can be used for deep conditioning, especially during the winter dryness," explains Morrobel. "One of the best perks of hot oil treatment for textured hair is that it protects the hair and makes it softer/more manageable."

Adds Shine

A smoother, shinier mane is a major perk of hot oil treatments. "A proper hot oil hair treatment, including a scalp massage and allotting enough time for the oil to seep into the hair and scalp, can result in shiny, smooth hair once washed and dried," says Rago. "I like to joke and say that a hot oil treatment is like Botox for the hair—it helps give hair its luster back and strengthens the cuticle from the root."

Promotes Growth

Hot oil treatments are great for stimulating blood flow in your scalp, which has been shown to encourage hair growth from the roots. Hot oil treatments can also help bond split ends, which can promote length because it keeps hair from breaking shorter. Be careful not to use hot oil too often because stripping your hair of its natural oils can damage the hair, which can stunt healthy growth.