An oil bath can offer (very) many benefits to hair. Vegetable oils are, in fact, valuable treatments that quickly provide hydration and shine to the hair. But then, how to make an oil bath? And how often? We take stock.
An oil bath can be a very good beauty reflex to adopt when caring for your hair. But then, how to achieve it? And which oil to choose?
Why do a hair oil bath?
There are many reasons to try hair oil baths. First, vegetable oil deeply hydrates the hair and smoothes its scales. It also protects them from external attacks (hair dryers, straighteners or repeated dyes, for example) to which they are subjected regularly. As such, it helps limit breakage of curly, frizzy and/or damaged hair.
Finally, invigorated, hair is shinier, more supple and softer.
When to do an oil bath?
The oil bath can offer a myriad of benefits to the hair. But overusing them could, on the contrary, risk damaging them. So what is the right frequency to perform oil baths? “Ideally, you should do an oil bath on your hair once or twice a month,” explains Gianni Coppa, hairdresser in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. Before adding: “To succeed in these baths, we favor pure, transparent and cold-pressed vegetable oils.”
Furthermore, amber vegetable oils are not recommended for bleached hair. They could, in fact, tarnish their color.
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How much oil on hair?
If the name of this beauty technique may suggest that you have to empty a bottle of oil on your hair to get results, in reality it is advisable to apply it very sparingly. Too much oil can actually weaken your hair by suffocating it and making it greasy.
The right dose?
- 1 tablespoon for short, normal or oily hair.
- 2 tablespoons for dry, damaged or long hair.
How to apply an oil bath to your hair?
Applying your hair oil is similar to that of many treatments:
Step 1: we advise you to start by dampening your hair to facilitate the penetration of the product.
Step 2: make sure to soak the lengths with oil. Pay particular attention to the ends, especially if you have split ends.
Step 3: if you are ready for all the sacrifices, do your bath in the evening and keep it all night by wrapping your hair in a towel, a cap or plastic film; otherwise, an hour or two of exposure time already offers very good results.
Step 4: To get rid of oil residue, use a mild, natural shampoo (you may need to try twice to remove excess oil). If after this double shampoo you still have too much oil in your hair, you have used too much.
Step 5: Rinse the hair thoroughly, preferably with cold water to close the scales and boost shine.
Repeat this hair treatment once or twice a month for optimal results.
Please note: do not leave your oiled lengths stuck to your back, this can indeed lead to the appearance of small pimples. It is better to use a towel or make a fairly loose braid.
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Which oil should I choose for my hair?
Many brands offer ready-to-use hair oils. But if you don’t want to empty your wallet and prefer to avoid silicones and various chemical products, the ideal is still to turn to organic vegetable oils.
A quick overview of the different oils to apply depending on your hair type:
- For fine hair: hazelnut oil
- For medium to thick hair: coconut oil
- For frizzy and curly hair: papaya or Abyssinian oil
- For dry and split hairs: sweet almond , avocado or cottonseed oil
- For weakened hair: Amla oil
- For colored or highlighted hair : apricot kernel oil or hibiscus oil
You can also combine two or three oils to increase the effects. You will prepare your own homemade masks, depending on the needs of your hair. A lemon zest for shine, a spoonful of honey for sweetness… It’s up to you.
Which oil bath for frizzy hair?
We know it only too well: frizzy hair needs a lot of attention and maintenance. It is therefore essential to provide them with hydration and nutrition on a daily basis to enhance them. And it turns out that oil baths can be real beauty allies for this hair type.
“For frizzy hair, you can do an oil bath daily,” says hairdresser Gianni Coppa. “On the oil side, we will prefer Macadamia oil which is very moisturizing and particularly rich.” Apply small layers of this vegetable oil to your hair, always being careful not to add too much (the hair should not be dripping). Leave it on for 20 minutes, or overnight, if possible. Then rinse twice. shampoos.
The expert’s advice? “If your hair is dry and thick, it is recommended to leave your oil bath on for a long time, ideally overnight” explains Gianni Coppa. But if your hair tends to get greasy quickly, avoid applying the oil directly to your scalp and leave the bath on for a few minutes.
Oil baths to stimulate hair growth?
It’s a question that we all ask ourselves: is there a miracle (and natural) recipe to promote hair growth? It seems so.
“Oil baths can promote hair growth, you just have to choose the right oil,” explains hairstylist Gianni Coppa. “Borage oil and castor oil are preferred for this type of oil bath,” he advises. Then apply a few drops of one of these two oils to your scalp. Massage gently, using circular movements. Before rinsing, rub the scalp to stimulate growth. To obtain visible results, perform this oil bath once or twice a month.
