Applying the oil while the hair is wet will nourish and protect it from frizz and pollution as it dries into a subtly shiny version of its natural texture. Once the hair is dry, you may pump a touch more oil into your palm, rub it between your hands and smooth it over your lengths and ends.
Oil repels water. If you apply oil to wet hair, water will repel it and won't allow for deep penetration. This will make it ineffective. Water forms a layer on your hair and scalp that does not allow the oil to pass through it.
Applying hair oil on dry hair is best if you want to address specific surface or texture issues, like combatting frizziness or masking damage. The oil will smooth and add shine immediately because it sits on the surface of your strands rather than soaking in.
In general, it is not recommended to leave oil on for more than 6-8 hours, as that might make things tricky. The oil can attract a lot of dirt, dust, grime and get them to stick to your hair! So, it will take a lot more effort to wash your hair with all this added stuff to wash off.
Use a hair oil on your scalp and strands before you shower and while in the shower for a deep moisturizing treatment.
Oil your hair no more than 1 to 2 times a week. Leave it on for approximately an hour or two but you don't need to leave it on longer than that. When you leave oil on too long you run the risk of zits because oil will run down onto your skin and you also don't add any real benefit by leaving it on longer.
“Hair loss is directly linked to the pH level of your scalp,” says Anker, “So if your hair is dry or overly oily, you'll experience more hair loss.” Adding extra oil to the scalp also messes with the natural oil/water balance on the scalp. “If you put extra oil on it your body will stop producing natural oil.”
“You can oil when your hair is damp or dry, but your hair and scalp have to be clean, or the oil won't have a chance to be absorbed,” says Dr Gupta. For heavier oils like coconut oil, applying it on dry hair is best, as the larger molecules may not penetrate the shaft of wet hair as well it can dry hair.
Macadamia Oil
Macadamia oil is extracted from macadamia nuts and is enriched with fatty acids. These fatty acids make it one of the best hair oils for dry and frizzy hair. If you frequently style your hair with heat tools, using hair masks with macadamia oil can deeply nourish your hair.
If you've applied it while hair is wet or after just drying it, you're on the right track to smooth hair. If though, you've let hair dry and left it for several hours then applying oil you risk creating frizz. This is because as time passes the hair cuticle opens up.
“Oiling hair is good and has its benefits— it boosts nourishment to the scalp, reduces hair frizz and dryness, strengthens the hair, reduces dry, scaly dandruff and can stimulate hair growth," says Dr Chytra Anand, cosmetic dermatologist and founder, Kosmoderma Clinics and chief formulator, SkinQ.
Try Anti-Frizz Salon Treatments
Products with keratin can help eliminate frizz that can sometimes make hair look dull, such as Eksperience™ Reconstruct Phase 1 – Keratin Filler.
Avoid leaving oil in overnight
The longer, the better — that may be true for some hair treatments but not for hair oiling as the oil can block your hair follicles. Unless an ayurvedic doctor or expert has asked you to leave a medicated oil overnight, wash out the oil within 3-4 hours.
Oils like castor, peppermint, onion, coconut, jojoba, argan, amla, olive, grapeseed, rosemary, and tea tree are often recommended for hair growth. They help boost blood circulation and strengthen hair.
Wrap your hair in a silk scarf or gentle fabric to keep the oil off your pillow covers, and let the treatment do its magic while you sleep. The very next morning, don't get your hair wet or shower!
As a regular practice, it is natural to reach out for your comb right after oiling your hair to remove tangles. But this is a common mistake and you should avoid it. After a good oil massage, you scalp becomes relaxed and fragile, combing your hair immediately after can cause hair breakage and hair loss.
The dermatologist stated that hair oil promotes hair growth is a pure myth. Oils may nourish your hair but they cannot initiate hair growth. So, if at all, you think that hair oils stop hair fall and promote hair growth, you are wrong.