Treat your locks to paradise with a DIY hot oil hair treatment done right in the comfort of your home. Those strands go through a lot of stress, what with pollutants, harsh weather conditions, and the pains of looking beautiful while using heated ironing or curling products. Sometimes, they simply have no life left after everything we put them through. You may have once found little plastic tubes full of amber liquid. For decades, hot oil treatments have revitalized dry and struggling hair, whether your mane is of the kinky curly type or the pin-straight waterfall.
While you can easily make your own treatment with the oils in your home, particularly coconut, olive, jojoba, and avocado oils, for those who prefer some ready-made concoctions, we’ve put together a great little list to try out! Here are our seven picks of the best ready-made hot oil treatments for hair to use on your own.
Best Hot Oil Treatments Overview
- Best Overall: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Hot Oil Concentrate
- Best Conditioning: Alberto Vo5 Hot Oil Intense Conditioning Treatment
- Best Organic Coconut Oil: Kopari 100% Organic Coconut Melt
- Best Antioxidant: Latinoil Chia and Jojoba Oil for Hair
- Best Serum-Oil: SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Serum
- Best Jojoba Oil: Now Solutions Organic Jojoba Oil
- Best Budget: African Pride African Royale Hot Six Hair Oil
This professional-use hot oil treatment is perfect for almost all hair types, no matter how straight or curly it comes. On the contrary, bouncing curls are a common side effect of this specific concoction, packed with six different oils and boosted with castor oil for a hydrated, smooth, and nurtured finish.
Oils used in the making of this product include castor oil, sunflower seed, coconut, safflower, macadamia seed, sweet almond, grape seed, soybean, and argan kernel, alongside rosemary leaf, and tiare flower extracts. It does, however, include isopropyl alcohol and perfume, as well as a few other non-oil ingredients. These are prone to change, according to the manufacturer. The oil base, though, is incredible in producing perfect results.
It works best on medium to thick hair. Fine hair will not need as much product and will probably need to be shampooed out twice.
To use:
- Place the tube in warm water for a full minute before applying the full ampule to dry hair, covering every inch, from root to strand.
- Leave on for up to two minutes before stepping into the shower for clean-out with your favorite shampoo and conditioner.
It is recommended to use once a week and works incredibly well in hydrating dry, damaged, and even chemically-treated hair. The end result? Beautifully silky tresses for a busy woman on the go. It is extremely oil-rich, however, and the amount used should differ according to your needs. Pick it up from Sephora, or Nordstrom!
Key Features
- Size: 4 x 0.5 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Castor oil, sunflower seed oil
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for all hair types
- Prevents breakage, frizz, and smooths hair
- Deep conditioning
- Easy-to-use
Cons
- Includes perfume
- Not so natural
This is the original tube of hot oil hair treatment that you could find in your mother’s purse! The Alberto Vo5 is considered one of the best on the market and has been for some time now. With a 5-vitamin and 5-protein formula, it does its job of restoring moisture and silky softness to hair exceedingly well.
A pre-shampoo treatment, each box comes with two tubes that offer salon-like intense moisturizing as a top spa hair remedy. For the price, you should be receiving 3 boxes, for a total of 6 tubes. You’ll be saving much and getting almost the same results, if not better than if you did go to your nearby salon.
Most fall in love with this option with a sweet fragrance rather quickly and won’t change it. Ridding your locks of frizz and dryness, you can be sure that your treatment is free of any harmful substances, including parabens and silicone. However, it is not a natural product, though full of vitamins such as biotin, vitamins E, B5, B3, and C. Keratin, amino acids, and proteins are also an important part of the VO5 formula.
To use:
- Place the unopened tube under hot water, either tap or in the shower.
- Use before shampooing for best results. Wet your hair and massage right onto your scalp, running fingers or a brush through to coat strands from root to tip.
- Leave it in for up to a minute, as it works best thus. It’s the shortest time allotted on this list.
- Shampoo and condition as you normally would.
It is recommended to use once a week for best results. It does lather, unlike other oils, so you should be aware before you start a wash.
It is not known for killing dandruff as one might expect from most hot oil therapies, however, though you can expect less itchiness and a softer scalp overall. Results will be seen after a single application, and dry, damaged hair should leave you along for as long as you keep up the treatments. Definitely a go-to for women with little time to pamper themselves and a love of healthy-looking voluminous hair! Get it from Amazon!
Key Features
- Size: 6 x 0.5 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamins, biotin, keratin, protein, amino acids
- Fragrance: Sweet organic fragrance
- Cruelty-Free: No
Pros
- Perfect for all hair types
- Moisturizing and conditioning
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Doesn’t treat dandruff
- Not so natural
With nearly 46,000 favorites, this simple organic hot oil hair treatment option is available in both the 2.5 and 5.1 Oz. sizes. It is pure coconut oil and completely cruelty-free. One does not need to wonder about the effects non-natural ingredients may have thus.
However, it is important to consider possible allergies or the possibility of dry skin and redness that may occur due to an adverse natural reaction. The chances are extremely low of such a thing occurring, however, and the dewy flow to your tresses is rather worth the try.
To use:
- Melt a small amount in your hands and warm it up by rubbing your palms together before lathering over the scalp and coating your hair from root to tip.
- It can be used on dry, unwashed hair with ease that you then toss up into a bun and wait for around 40 minutes before jumping into the shower.
- Shampoo and condition normally.
The oil can be used for more than a hot hair treatment, doubling as a body moisturizer, makeup remover, dry shave protector, baby butter, belly balm, and a whole lot more. Grab it online from Sephora, or Nordstrom!
Key Features
- Size: 2.5-5.1 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, fatty acids, lauric acid
- Fragrance: Organic coconut scent
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for all hair types
- Multitasking
- Vegan, gluten-free
Cons
- A bit pricey
An instant hair treatment for damaged locks, this antioxidant and omega-rich product is meant to repair and revitalize, protecting against heat and stimulating growth. It is considered the first of its kind made with chia seed oil and specifically targets men and women with color- or other chemically-treated hair, as well as those with texture, nice curls, or just plain dry locks.
The long-term benefits of enriching the strands with omegas 3, 6, and 9 are immense, protecting against UV and the elements beautifully, while offering an extra shine. The combination of chia seed and jojoba oils is surprisingly lightweight, and the focus is on instant shine and repair, while keeping frizz at bay.
The description of the product states that it is actually an ideal product for those who go through permanent or semi-permanent straightening treatments, ensuring you don’t end up with a damaged mane.
To use:
- Apply a small amount on either wet or dry hair after rubbing it between the palms to warm it up.
- Use a brush to really get it to coat each strand perfectly.
- Wash your hair, but it is ideal to leave in and go about your day, allowing the strands to really absorb he goodness of the oil offered.
- Ideal to use before and after the straightening or curling of the hair. Perfect for use with chemical processes, including adding a drop to dye mixtures before getting started.
It does include perfume and phthalate, so be aware of the product you pick up. However, the 85% 5-star and 0% 1-star ratings make it an amazing find. It is considered a better alternative to argan oil. Each bottle should allow for approximately 20 uses. It is on the more expensive side, and there is a scent to consider, but most reviews state that you most certainly get your money’s worth. Find it online on Amazon!
Key Features
- Size: 2.5 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Chia seed oil, jojoba oil, dimethicone, omegas 3-6-9
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for color-treated, chemically-treated hair
- Antioxidant, nourishing, hydrating
- Prevents frizz, adds volume
- Color-safe
- Lightweight
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Scented
Made with Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter, you can be assured of soft and silky locks with this bottle of nourishment. Your locks will thank you for the revitalization of dull and damaged hair while it ensures moisture reaches and stays on your scalp. Recommended for all hair types, the bottle is small but potent.
Safflower seed oil, olive oil, macadamia seed oil, carrot seed oil, coconut oil, and peppermint extract, among others, can also be found in the ingredients. The Jamaican black castor oil repairs damage to chemically-treated locks, the coconut oil replenishes the natural oils and minerals from your scalp, the peppermint rejuvenates and promotes hair growth, while the shea butter softens each strand to perfection.
As with others, it’s best to use before a shower, putting a small amount on hands, rubbing palms to warm it up, and then letting the strands soak it up before hopping in to shampoo out the oils.
Reviews state a lack of dandruff as a major plus. It does, however, have a strong scent that might put some people off. With so many oils mixed in, that is completely understandable. The good thing is that it works! You can find it online on Amazon, and Ulta.
Key Features
- Size: 2 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, coconut oil, peppermint oil
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for chemically-treated hair
- Moisturizing, nourishing, healing
- Promotes hair growth
- Natural, organic
Cons
- Strong scent
A 100% pure moisturizing oil meant to be used on skin, hair, cuticles, and body as a whole, this mostly inexpensive option can be a great one to use for a hot oil hair treatment and so much more. Expeller-pressed and hexane-free, this organic product has all the certifications necessary to prove its worth. The company is a family-owned and operated one for the past half-century and certainly worth looking into.
For a deep conditioning treatment:
- A quarter-size amount is more than enough to apply to wet hair. The wet is preferred here to really increase the conditioning efforts.
- Leave in for 5-10 minutes before shampooing it out.
After a shower, you can use the oil to seal in the moisture by applying to the rest of your body. It is 88% loved by reviewers, with another 8% giving it 4-stars, making it one of the top-rated hot oils offered on Amazon. You might want to transfer the oil over into a dropper bottle, however, to make it easier to use. Pick it up from Amazon!
Key Features
- Size: 4-8 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for all hair types
- Multi-purpose oil
- Moisturizing
- Natural, organic
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- A bit unpleasant scent
- Not so practical bottle
This is a combination of top oils in a larger bottle than most and almost completely natural. With ingredients such as olive oil, canola oil, wheat germ oil, sweet almond oil, safflower oil, castor oil, and sesame oil, it’s one of the best options for an awesome hot oil hair treatment today. Lots of vitamins to consider, as well, including E, A, and D, all combining for a very nourished and conditioned mane. It is surprisingly light for its ingredient-heavy formula and works wonders on hair, scalp, and cuticles without heavy buildup of oils.
To use as a hot oil hair treatment:
- Clean your hair first. While some options do not need this, this formula requires it for the best effects. Shampoo hair and towel dry.
- The oil should be placed in a container that sits in hot, though not boiling, water until it heats up nicely itself.
- Evenly apply the oil to your scalp and hair, making sure to coat each strand well.
- Cover with a moist and warm towel for 3-5 minutes before rinsing out the oil. You do not need to shampoo again.
- Use before styling with any hot tools.
You can opt to simply rub it in your hands instead of warming it up so much, as well, but this option makes for a better treatment. Rub into skin and cuticles as needed. It is safe to use on a child as well as an adult.
There is a scent, as is to be expected, but most reviews on Amazon seem utterly unperturbed by it. One even claims it to be amazing. It may not be for all, but most don’t seem to have a problem with that particular aspect. Be careful when opening the box upon arrival, for it might leak, however. Otherwise, it truly works wonders as a hot oil hair treatment! Get it from Amazon!
Key Features
- Size: 8 Oz.
- Key Ingredients: Olive oil, canola oil, wheat germ oil, sweet almond oil, safflower oil, castor oil
- Fragrance: Yes
- Cruelty-Free: Yes
Pros
- Perfect for all hair types
- Multi-purpose oil
- Lightweight
- Natural, organic
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- The scent might not appeal to everyone
- Not so practical bottle
Photos via Sephora, Amazon
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