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Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. If your hair is currently undergoing what we call the terrible trifecta: feeling dry, brittle and lifeless, then you might need to call in the big guns. When life hands you damaged hair, a hot oil treatment might be exactly what the doctor ordered. We’re mixing a lot of metaphors here, but it’s true. These intensive treatments have been used for centuries to nourish hair and scalp, and they’re experiencing a major renaissance as people rediscover the power of this age-old beauty ritual. Unlike your regular conditioner, hot oil treatments penetrate deeply into the hair shaft to deliver moisture where your hair needs it most. “A hot oil treatment is a technique that involves applying warm oil to the hair and scalp to improve hair and scalp health,” explains Jae-Manuel Cardenas, senior stylist at Ollin NYC Salon by Johnny Ramirez. Whether you’re dealing with damage from chemical treatments, heat styling, or just need some serious TLC for your strands, hot oil treatments offer a solution that goes deeper than surface-level fixes. We consulted celebrity hairstylists to find the best hot oil treatments that actually deliver results. Here’s everything you need to know about incorporating this transformative treatment into your hair care routine. Top Hot Oil Treatments for Hair Best for Dry Hair: Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil Best Overall: Moroccanoil Treatment Most Innovative: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil Best Drugstore: L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment Best Splurge: Kerastase Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil Best for Mature Hair: Color Wow Youth Juice Best for Coarse/Textured Hair: CHI Luxury Black Seed Oil Blend What Is a Hot Oil Treatment for Hair? The basics are simple, but the results are transformative. Michelle Cleveland, a celebrity hairstylist, explains: “A hot oil treatment for hair is a nourishing, deep-conditioning process that uses natural oils, warmed slightly to penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize the scalp. The warmth helps open up the hair cuticles and improves oil absorption, making hair softer, shinier and easier to manage.” Gina Rivera, celebrity hair artist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, keeps it straightforward. “Hot oil is a treatment used to condition and moisturize the hair and scalp. Hot oil is poured onto the scalp and hair gently massaged in for even distribution and deeper penetration.” The key difference from your regular conditioner? It’s all about penetration. While conditioners work mainly on the surface of your hair, hot oil treatments go deeper into the follicle. The gentle heat helps the oil molecules penetrate the hair shaft more effectively, delivering nutrients and moisture right where they’re needed most. Who Should Use Hot Oil Treatments for Hair? The good news is that hot oil treatments can benefit many different hair types, though they’re particularly transformative for certain situations. Cardenas explains: “Anyone who has dry hair and is looking to moisturize, reduce frizz and also promote some scalp health” can benefit from hot oil treatments. Cleveland breaks down the specific hair types that see the most dramatic results: Chemically treated hair: If you color, bleach or chemically straighten your hair, hot oil treatments help replenish lost moisture Curly/coily hair: These hair textures naturally tend toward dryness and benefit enormously from the deep moisture hot oils provide Dry and damaged hair: Whether from heat styling, environmental damage or just genetics, dry hair soaks up the nourishment Frizzy or dull hair: Hot oils help smooth the cuticle and restore shine Dry scalp: The scalp benefits just as much as the hair from the moisture and nourishment Rivera adds that hot oil treatments are “good for hair that has been damaged, hair that is dry and brittle, hair that is frizzy and textured curly hair.” However, there’s one important caveat. If you have fine hair, you need to be more careful. Cardenas notes that “if you have fine hair, hot oil treatment might be a bit much for your hair texture and can cause your hair to be weighed down.” This doesn’t mean you can’t use hot oil treatments if you have fine hair, it just means you need to use them more sparingly and choose lighter oils. Related: This Is Keke Palmer’s #1 Favorite Product To Use on Natural Hair Do You Wash Your Hair Before or After a Hot Oil Treatment? This is one of the most common questions about hot oil treatments, and the answer is: both. Cleveland and Rivera both emphasize the importance of washing before the treatment. “I recommend washing first to help remove dirt, product buildup and excess oil that can block the treatment from penetrating your hair,” Cleveland explains. But here’s what many people don’t realize: you also need to wash after. “I always recommend washing after as well. Most hair oil treatments are very heavy and moisturizing, which if left on for too long can actually have an adverse reaction to hair and scalp, so always read instructions carefully so you know how long to leave it on for,” Cardenas says. “You also want to wash the hair after your treatment to remove the excess oil that was not absorbed,” Rivera explains. “Leaving any excess oil can cause the hair to be limp and lifeless.” After washing out the oil, she recommends using a light conditioner to seal in the benefits. How To Do a Hot Oil Treatment at Home The beauty of hot oil treatments is that they’re surprisingly easy to do at home. You don’t need any special equipment or salon skills, just a bit of time and the right products. Here’s the step-by-step process that Cleveland recommends. Step-by-Step Guide: Shampoo your hair with a gentle or clarifying shampoo Towel-dry until your hair is just damp (not soaking wet) Apply the warm oil from roots to ends Cover with a shower cap and leave it on for 15–30 minutes Rinse thoroughly, then shampoo lightly if needed (especially if you used heavier oils like castor or coconut oil) The key is making sure your hair is damp but not dripping wet, and that you leave the treatment on long enough for it to work its magic—but not so long that it becomes counterproductive. Rivera recommends no longer than 20 minutes for most treatments. Related: The #1 Hair Product Every Woman Over 60 Needs, According to Celebrity Stylists Benefits of Using Hot Oil on Your Hair The benefits of hot oil treatments are what make them worth the extra effort. Cardenas sums it up perfectly, explaining, “Hot oil is incredible because it will definitely penetrate your hair giving you an instant result of moisture and frizz reduction.” Rivera highlights the immediate transformation: “It’s hydrating and moisturizing. It also helps with dry frizzy hair and is great for textured curly, coily hair as well.” Hot oil treatments “help restore shine, strength and softness, especially for dry or damaged hair,” Cleveland says. The treatments work on multiple levels—they moisturize the hair shaft, smooth the cuticle for better shine, strengthen the structure to reduce breakage and can even nourish the scalp to promote healthier hair growth. Unlike some treatments that take weeks to show results, hot oil treatments often deliver visible improvement after just one use. Your hair feels softer, looks shinier and becomes more manageable almost immediately. Related: 7 Best Middle Part Hairstyles, According to a Celebrity Stylist What Are the Disadvantages of Hot Oil on Hair? While hot oil treatments are amazing, they’re not perfect for everyone in every situation. The experts want you to be aware of a few important considerations. Temperature Matters Rivera emphasizes this first: “Make sure the oil is not too hot that it will burn your scalp. I recommend keeping it on the warm side versus hot.” This seems obvious, but it’s easy to accidentally overheat oil, especially if you’re warming it in the microwave. Test the temperature on your inner wrist before applying it to your scalp. Fine Hair Concerns As Cardenas mentioned earlier, a hot oil treatment can weigh down fine hair, so those with fine hair should use them less frequently and choose lighter oils like jojoba or argan rather than heavier ones like castor or coconut. Risk of Overuse But don’t do treatments too frequently. “Too much oil can clog your pores that can lead to scalp irritation and other scalp problems like dandruff,” Rivera says. “Too much oil can cause the hair to become limp which makes it hard to style. This is why it’s important to leave the hot oil on the hair for the proper amount of time.” Heat Styling Caution Rivera says if you’re going to heat style your hair, be sure to wash it and remove any excess oil, sharing, “If there is any oil left on the hair and heat is applied this can potentially cause damage to the hair.” Related: “Why Is My Hair Falling Out?—Here Are 13 Possible Reasons Which Is Better, Hot Oil Treatment or Deep Conditioner? This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is: it depends on your specific hair needs and type. Both treatments have their place in a comprehensive hair care routine. The general consensus? Deep conditioners are great for regular maintenance and can be used weekly or even more often. Hot oil treatments are more intensive and should be reserved for times when your hair needs serious intervention, or for specific hair types like curly, coily hair that naturally requires more moisture. How Often Should You Use Hot Oil for Hair? Frequency matters, and the experts have varying recommendations based on your hair’s condition and type. For Very Dry or Damaged Hair: “If your hair is very dry and damaged you can start doing one every other week and then work down to once a month,” Cardenas suggests. For Normal to Slightly Dry Hair: Rivera takes a more conservative approach: “I recommend once every two or three months if not longer. The hair can only absorb so much so doing this kind of treatment too often can have adverse effects.” For Fine Hair: “If your hair is fine I would recommend it once every couple of months,” Cardenas says. This less-is-more approach prevents the weigh-down effect that fine hair is prone to experiencing. The key takeaway? Start conservatively and adjust based on how your hair responds. It’s better to use hot oil treatments too infrequently than too frequently—you can always add more treatments if needed, but it’s harder to reverse the greasy, limp look of over-oiled hair. 7 Best Hot Oil Treatments for Hair, According to Celebrity Stylists Best for Dry Hair: Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil, $30 Both Cleveland and Rivera independently recommend Olaplex No. 7 as the best treatment for dry hair, which tells you everything you need to know about its effectiveness. Cleveland explains why it’s so good: “Olaplex No 7 is great for overly dry and porous hair. This amazing oil works to strengthen hair and rebuild broken bonds from within.” This highly concentrated, weightless styling oil provides heat protection too, making it perfect for those who use hot tools regularly. Just 2-3 drops boost shine and softness instantly while strengthening hair to reduce breakage. Best Overall: Moroccanoil Treatment, $50 Rivera calls this the best overall hot oil treatment, and it’s easy to see why this has become the gold standard. This is the original argan oil treatment that started the worldwide buzz on argan oil and pioneered oil-infused hair care. The multitasking formula is infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and shine-boosting vitamins to detangle, condition, speed up drying time and boost shine. It works on damp or dry hair, smooths frizz and flyaways and provides heat protection. The signature Moroccanoil scent—a blend of spicy amber and sweet florals—has become iconic. This is versatile enough to use as a conditioning treatment, styling product and finishing tool all in one. Most Innovative: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil, $65 Both Cardenas and Cleveland recommend K18 as the most innovative treatment available, and it’s easy to understand why once you learn about the technology behind it. This biotech-engineered weightless oil works on all hair types to strengthen, repair damage and reduce frizz at two levels of the hair fiber while improving shine. According to their website, K18PEPTIDE works to address deeper level damage that causes frizz by repairing and strengthening damage at the innermost layer of the hair fiber. On the surface, natural oils like avocado and sunflower oil plus hemisqualane and squalane smooth frizz and flyaways while improving color vibrancy and providing heat protection up to 450°F. Best Drugstore: L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment $23 Cleveland loves this affordable option and explains why it’s such a great value, explaining, “For about $15-$20 this drugstore oil treatment is a close mimic to the pricier Kerastase brand (which is owned by L’Oréal!)” This lightweight flower oil formula instantly transforms dry hair strand by strand into nourished, silky and shiny hair. Enriched with six flower extracts, the non-greasy formula is versatile—use it before shampooing for deep nourishment, before styling to protect and transform or as a finishing touch for exceptional shine. Plus, it provides heat protection. Best Splurge: Kerastase Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil, $62 This is the ultimate splurge and Cleveland explains why it’s worth the investment, sharing, “This is a lightweight formula that doesn’t leave the hair feeling greasy. It smells amazing and does the job when it comes to taming frizz, making the hair shinier and stronger. The price tag is a bit high ($62) but worth the price.” This luxurious oil treatment is formulated with precious oils including argan oil, camellia oil, maize oil and pracaxi oil. It absorbs quickly without leaving any residue, making hair visibly smoother, shinier and more luminous. It works on all hair types and can be used in multiple ways—as a pre-shampoo treatment, on damp hair before styling or as a finishing touch on dry hair. The subtle, sophisticated fragrance is an added luxury, and the results speak for themselves. If you’re going to invest in one premium hair oil, this is the one. Best for Mature Hair: Color Wow Youth Juice, $46 Cleveland specifically recommends this for mature hair, and the benefits are impressive. “It nourishes the scalp, promotes the appearance of new baby hairs and reduces shedding without weighing hair down or making it feel greasy,” she explains. As we age, our hair naturally becomes thinner and more fragile, and the scalp produces less oil. This treatment is specifically formulated to address these age-related changes. The lightweight formula won’t weigh down thinning hair while still delivering the nourishment both hair and scalp need. It’s designed to be used regularly to help maintain hair density and promote a healthier scalp environment for hair growth. For anyone experiencing age-related hair changes, this treatment offers targeted support. Best for Coarse/Textured Hair: CHI Luxury Black Seed Dry Oil Blend, $28 Rivera specifically recommends this for coarse hair, and it’s formulated to handle the needs of thick, textured strands. Black seed oil has been used for centuries for its nourishing and strengthening properties, and CHI’s luxury blend harnesses these benefits in a modern formula. This rich treatment penetrates deeply int0 thick hair to deliver intense moisture and nourishment. It helps strengthen the hair shaft while providing the deep conditioning that textured hair craves. Up Next: Sources:
