If you do a pre-shampoo treatment, spray your hair down so that it’s a little damp (not dripping) before you apply the oil—it’ll help the oil stick to your hair better. If your hair is extra dry or if you used a sealing oil for split ends, you might want to leave some of the oil in your hair. In that case, it’s usually better to do your hot oil treatment after you wash your hair since the shampoo will rinse out all of the oil.

Write down the oils you used and the amounts. Then, write down your thoughts on your hair after you rinse all the oil out. It’ll help you figure out the best oils for your hair type. Keep in mind that coconut oil is in a more solid form until it’s heated. If you’re using that, you’ll have clumps at first—totally normal. You can also rub the solid coconut oil onto your hair before you do the hot oil treatment itself. It makes a great detangler![3] X Research source

If you’re doing a hot oil treatment for dandruff, dry scalp, or hair growth, make more sections so you can better target your scalp.

If you used coconut oil, give that applicator bottle a good shake to distribute the clumps.

If you have a scalp condition you want to treat, spend some extra time massaging the oil directly into your scalp, especially at your part lines.

Add a hooded dryer, heated hair cap, or other form of indirect heat for more intense moisturizing. For deeper conditioning, you can leave the oil treatment in your hair overnight. Just cover the plastic cap with a sleeping wrap. It provides more protection for your pillowcase and makes it more comfortable to sleep.

It’s the shampoo that does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to getting the oil out of your hair. Remember, oil and water don’t mix, so just rinsing your hair with water isn’t going to do a lot of good.

If your hair is extremely dry, use coconut oil, which has a denser consistency to provide really intense moisture. You could also use almond oil if your hair is especially prone to frizziness. It’s great for smoothing and conditioning your hair follicles.

Many essential oils, including tea tree oil, are not safe to apply directly to your skin undiluted. They are highly concentrated and can cause irritation and burns on your skin. [21] X Research source

Peppermint oil[23] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Rosemary oil[24] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Lavender oil[25] X Research source

Don’t microwave your oil! Oil doesn’t heat up well in a microwave. [28] X Research source On top of that, there’s some evidence that microwaves can zap the nutrients in the oil, stripping your hot oil treatment of its benefits. [29] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source

Reduction in frizziness[31] X Research source Stronger, more resilient hair that’s less prone to breakage[32] X Research source Improvement in dandruff or dry scalp[33] X Research source Stimulated hair growth[34] X Research source Shinier, healthier looking hair[35] X Research source Improved texture and manageability[36] X Research source

All of the benefits of hot oil treatments are only temporary. To achieve lasting results, you have to commit to doing your treatments on a regular basis. If every week is too frequent for you, start with every other week or even once a month. [38] X Research source