Hair oil bath: the step-by-step guide to nourish your lengths

Heating, wind and woolly hats dry hair out as soon as autumn arrives. A hair oil bath is the simplest treatment to bring back softness and shine: a plant oil, a little time and a gentle shampoo. Here is how to get it right first time.

What is a hair oil bath?

A hair oil bath means applying a pure plant oil to dry or slightly damp hair, leaving it on, then washing it out with shampoo. The oil coats the hair fibre, limits water loss and softens the ends. For the treatment to work, choose a virgin, cold-pressed oil: it keeps its fatty acids and vitamin E.

Which oil for your hair type?

Hair type	Recommended oil	Why
Dry, thick, coily	Organic avocado oil	Rich and very nourishing, ideal for long applications
Dull, damaged, split ends	Organic argan oil	Brings shine and softness
Brittle, lacking density	Organic castor oil	Thick and coating, to blend with a more fluid oil
Fine hair, oily scalp	Organic jojoba oil	Light, does not weigh down the roots
Normal, coloured	Organic hemp oil	Fluid, absorbs quickly, washes out easily

To go further, read our guide which plant oil for dry hair, or our comparison castor oil or avocado oil for dry hair.

The oil bath in 6 steps

1. Detangle dry or barely damp hair.
2. Measure: 1 tablespoon for short hair, 2 for medium-length hair, 3 for long hair.
3. Warm the oil between your palms, or put the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.
4. Apply section by section, from the ends up to mid-lengths. On the scalp, only with a light oil such as jojoba, massaging with your fingertips.
5. Leave on for at least 30 minutes under a warm towel or a cap. For very dry hair, leave it overnight with a towel on your pillow.
6. Rinse: apply shampoo to dry hair, work it in with a little water, rinse, then shampoo again lightly.

Our ready-to-use blends

• Very dry hair: 2 spoons of avocado + 1 spoon of argan.
• Brittle hair: 1 spoon of castor + 2 spoons of organic sweet almond oil, more fluid and easy to rinse. Everything about castor oil in our article castor oil for hair.
• Fine hair: jojoba alone, left on for 30 minutes.
• Dry or itchy scalp: a few drops of black seed oil massaged into the scalp before the bath. See our guide black seed oil for hair.

The dry and damaged hair oil pack brings together the oils you need for these blends.

How often?

Once a week in autumn and winter, once every two weeks the rest of the year. Adjust your routine through the months with our article adapting your oil routine to the seasons.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using too much oil: hair stays heavy even after two shampoos.
• Wetting hair before shampooing: water slides over the oil and rinsing becomes difficult.
• Using a refined or fragranced oil: fewer nutrients, more risk of irritation.

More pitfalls are listed in 10 mistakes to avoid with plant oils.

FAQ

Can I do an oil bath on wet hair? Yes, on towel-dried hair, but the oil penetrates better on dry hair.

Can I leave the oil on overnight? Yes, it is even recommended for very dry hair. Just protect your pillow.

Is an oil bath suitable for oily hair? Yes, if you stay on the lengths and use a light oil such as jojoba. Discover all its uses in our article organic jojoba oil: benefits.

Build your hair routine: -10% from 2 oils, -15% from 3, applied automatically in your basket.