How Often Should You Oil Your Scalp?

Everyone loves to have healthy hair. Healthy hairs refer to strong and moisture-enriched hair with minimum breakage, hair fall, and dandruff. Proper hair care can make your dream of healthy hair come true. Hair and hair scalp is closely related. One of the most effective ways to maintain scalp health and hair nutrition is to use hair oil. It is a must-have in your hair care routine for giving you healthier, more voluminous, and shinier hair. Using hair oil properly has several amazing benefits from restoring moisture to protecting the hair follicles. No other substitute can so amazingly complete these functions.

Now, using oil sometimes or very often unnecessarily more than required won’t give benefits to your hair. So, it becomes essential to know: how often should you oil your scalp? It will be dependent on your hair type as dry, regular, and oily hair all need different amounts of oil to be put on the hair. This article will help you with necessary guides for using oil on the scalp, gets you introduced with some naturally nourishing oils you can use frequently, and the pros and cons of oiling your scalp very often.

Factors for Varying Frequency of Scalp Oil Application

Too much oil in the scalp decreases the natural oil production within the hair follicles, while very less oil can make your hair dry and dull as well as lose its natural shine. So, the frequency of oil application on the scalp varies from person to person. It is mainly because of the following factors.

1. Hair type and texture
2. Type of the used hair oil
3. Frequency of hair wash
4. Frequency of hair styling
5. Environmental pollution
6. Different lifestyles
7. Stress level

How Often Should You Oil Your Scalp?

The frequency of using hair oil on your scalp will be different for dry, regular, and oily hair. You can oil your scalp in different time frequencies to find out which is effective on you. One of the most important factors behind how often you should oil your scalp also depends on your hair type and which hair oil you are using. You may oil your scalp with a few drops of oil every day if you don’t need to go out. This will result in moisturized scalp and help you get rid of itching, peeling, and irritation. But not all hair oil can be applied every day.

• Regular Scalp: If you have a regular hair scalp, you can oil your scalp one or two times a week. Applying hair oil on weekends is perfect for giving you time to relax. Take out half an hour to one-hour time to cool down your hair before washing it. You can also leave the oil overnight and wash it the next morning. But if your scalp experienced a gap from hair oil, you may start to oil it every day or on alternate days. Then you can reduce it to twice a week. Apply a pre-shampoo treatment or a deep hot oil treatment once a week or on alternate weeks.
• Dry Scalp: Dry hair scalp needs extra care for nourishment. If you have a dry scalp, you need to apply oil on every alternate day. You may regularly do an oil massage for a few minutes and leave it. After that, take a shower. As a result, you will get irritation and rash-free hair scalp. Going for hot oil treatment twice a week or pre-shampoo oiling for every washing will give you better results.
• Oily Scalp: If you have an oily hair scalp, you might want to skip hair oil to avoid extra greasiness and stickiness. But, applying hair oil can be beneficial for your scalp. Since oily hair scalp secretes excessive oil, it affects your hair by shedding. So, apply oil to it moderately. You may do it once a week or once every 15 days. While oil must not be skipped. Apply scalp oiling treatment once a month, and use a dry shampoo for better results.

Using Oil on Your Scalp: Step-By-Step Guide

Using hair oil on your scalp includes the use of two types of oil, such as carrier oil and essential oil. Carrier oil is applied to your scalp directly while essential oil needs to be mixed with water for application on your scalp. Let’s look into the step-by-step guide on how to use oil on your scalp.

Step 1: Select The Perfect Carrier Oil for Your Scalp

There are several carrier oils, such as coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, avocado oil, etc. Select the perfect one for your scalp according to your scalp type. One specific oil may need to use more often for a dry scalp, while it may not need to be used often for an oily scalp.

Step 2: Select The Perfect Essential Oil for Your Scalp

Select the perfect essential oil for your scalp. Essential oils like peppermint oil, rosemary oils, etc should be mixed with carrier oils as they are strong and may cause allergic reactions. With one drop of essential oil, mix one teaspoon of carrier oil.

Step 3: Preheat the Oil

Preheat your oil for some time to make the oil warm before application. Heated oils can easily penetrate your hair follicles as well as lock them to give better nourishment to your scalp.

Step 4: Gently Massage Your Scalp

Massaging hair oil so hard may break your hair. So, gently massage the perfect oil on your scalp using your fingertips in circular motions. Work on your scalp thoroughly for 10-15 minutes.

Step 5: Cover Your Hair with A Warm Cloth All Over

First, make a bun on your hair. As towels are rough, try to avoid that and use a soft and warm cotton cloth to cover your hair all over. As a result, your pores and cuticles will open up. This will give even more penetration of hair oil on your scalp. You can also use a shower cap instead of a warm cloth.

Step 6: Wash Off the Oil with Shampoo

Usually, one or two hours is enough for absorbing the oil on your scalp. Although, still you may want to leave it overnight. Whatever you do, wash it off with shampoo so that no oil is left on the hair. Use normal or cold water to wash your hair.

12 Natural Nourishing Oils You Can Use Frequently on Scalp

1. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is the most common oil and is excellent in nutrients. The oil will naturally protect you through deep conditioning. It will help you with healthy hair whatever the type of hair. Applying it daily will make your scalp greasy. So, you can use it two to three times per week.
2. Castor Oil: Castor oil is an essential ingredient for increasing hair growth. It prompts blood circulation to your scalp as well as hair follicles and the hair follicles need blood and nutrients to produce beautiful and shiny hair which it does with this oil. You can use it frequently but not more than once a week. Since the oil is heavy, it can cause buildup on your scalp.
3. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil can also increase hair growth, and help to reduce hair loss. Peppermint menthol can give a fresh smell and give an itchy sensation on the scalp. You can use peppermint oil three times a week. Its more frequent application can be harmful to your scalp.
4. Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil helps to control your dandruff by giving a cooling sensation to your scalp. It increases hair growth and lessens the chances of graying early. You can apply rosemary oil on your scalp every day but it is recommended to use it 3 to 4 times per week. Excessive use of the oil can cause itching and burning on the scalp.
5. Almond Oil: Almond oil is lighter than sesame oil and thicker than coconut oil. It has three types of vitamins, such as Vitamin B, K, and E. Vitamin B7, known as biotin, increases hair growth and vitamin E minimizes oxidative stress. You can apply almond oil every day and it works on both dry and oily scalps. However, do not apply almond oil before heat styling.
6. Sesame Oil: Sesame oil contains vitamin B1, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. It moisturizes the scalp, and it is great for nourishing and deep conditioning the hair and scalp. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties which helps to reduce dandruff. You can apply sesame oil daily if you have a dry scalp. But it is good to use it once or twice a week. Otherwise, it can clog your pores.
7. Olive Oil: Olive oil has antioxidants and vitamins which help in the nourishment of your scalp. It is good for all hair types but is the ideal comfort for a dry, itchy scalp. You can apply olive oil every day. However, for oily scalp, it should be used twice a week. Also, do not leave it on your scalp overnight.
8. Argan Oil: Argan oil contains vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, and fatty acids. The oil gently conditions your hair, removes dandruff, and itchiness, and makes it stronger. since applying argan oil one time gives such a shiny effect that you do not need not apply the oil every day.
9. Jaborandi Oil: The oil derives from an herbal plant which by nourishing the dry scalp of hair promotes hair growth and prevents gray hair. It is used largely in shampoos and gels. You can apply jaborandi oil on your scalp twice a week. You can also leave it overnight.
10. Moringa Oil: The oleic acid in moringa oil works as a good moisturizer for hair. It is good for dry scalp. You can apply moringa oil on your scalp twice a week. While it may irritate a sensitive scalp.
11. Amla Oil: Amla oil contains antioxidants to fight free radicals and minimizes hair damage. It also has vitamin C which promotes hair growth. So, the oil minimizes dandruff and helps to prevent gray hair. You can apply amla oil on your dry scalp twice weekly but not more than that. Because it would not give a very pleasant smell.
12. Burdock Oil: Burdock oil contains tannins, vitamins, and amino acids to reduce irritation and hair loss. Iron and potassium in it help blood circulation. You can use the oil two-to-three times a week. While it can cause allergic reactions if you have sensitivity.

Pros and Cons of Oiling Scalp Often

There are many benefits of oiling your scalp, so here are some of those benefits that you might find useful!

Pros

• Maintains Scalp Health: A gentle oil massage to your scalp can help to minimize your hair fall helping in exfoliation. So, it works for maintaining scalp health. For example, coconut oil and olive oil gives you healthy hair by reducing scalp irritation.
• Gives Manageable Hair: Dry hair is especially tricky to manage. While oiling it can make it easier to manage. As a result, you will easily make different trendy hairstyles if you want.
• Gives Natural Sparkle and Shine: Oiling your scalp regularly can give sparkle and shine to your hair which is not possible with any other substitute.
• Prevents Breakage and Split Ends of Hair: Since hair is made up of keratin, it is necessary to keep it hydrated. Applying hair oil will fill the need for moisture which in turn will prevent breakage and split ends of your hair.
• Prevents Premature Graying of Hair: If you oil your scalp very often, regular massage will help its antioxidants to prevent premature graying of hair.
• Reduces Dryness of Hair: If you oil your scalp very often as you need according to your hair type, it reduces extra dryness from your hair scalp.

However, with every benefit, there are also drawbacks to oiling your scalp too often. So here are some of the cons that you might face when doing so.

✨ You May like: Can A White Person Use A Hair Relaxer?

Cons

• Gives Oily and Greasy Hair: Over-oiling the scalp can make the hair appear oily and greasy. This greasiness attracts dirt and dust, making it difficult to maintain clean and healthy hair.
• Gives Unpleasant Smell: If you apply excessive oil on your hair scalp, your hair may start smelling unpleasant due to a build-up of oil and sweat on your scalp. It can be difficult to get rid of this smell without washing your hair.
• Results in Clogged Pores: Excessive oil can also clog the pores on your scalp, leading to hair fall or breakage. When there is an excess of oil, it restricts airflow to the hair follicles, thereby suffocating them.
• Cause Difficulties in Styling: Excessive oil can make hairstyling challenging as it makes your locks heavy, which can affect the volume and texture of your locks.
• Can Cause Skin Irritation or Allergies: People with sensitive skin or those allergic to certain oils may experience skin irritation or allergies due to over-oiling their scalp frequently. For example, the rosemary oil.
• Can Attract Insects: Oiling your scalp too often can also attract insects like lice and mites that thrive in a greasy environment on the scalp.

Can You Leave Hair Oil Overnight: Good or Not?

It is a very common question. Different oils and hair types need to be left on for various lengths of time. You can leave hair oil on your scalp overnight while it’s not good for your scalp to leave it for longer than one day. Even one day is not advised because it might result in an extra layer of oil forming on your scalp, clogging your pores, building up dandruff, and absorbing dirt. In addition, it will cause your scalp to feel greasy and dirty all the time.

If you want to oil your scalp often regardless, here are some suggestions that you need to take into account so that you understand everything about your scalp and how the oil interacts with it.

1. Use natural hair products along with oil, such as shampoos, jade combs, etc.
2. Using excessive oils will not give you extra benefits, so use those in a safe amount.
3. Do not use excessive shampoo since it may remove the natural oil from your hair.
4. Do not apply oil on wet hair since it won’t absorb the oil effectively.
5. Do not tie your hair tightly since it may cause damage to your hair.
6. It is better not to brush your hair since it becomes very fragile after an oil massage.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

There is no alternative to proper care to maintain scalp health and for proper care, the application of hair oil on the scalp is a must. You should use hair oil on your scalp as often as it needs to be applied.

Although the frequency of oil application on the scalp varies from person to person, it depends on hair type and texture, type of the used hair oil, frequency of hair wash, frequency of hair styling, etc. For regular scalp, oil the scalp one or two times a week, for dry scalp, oil on every alternate day, while for oily hair scalp, use it once a week or once every 15 days.

Oiling your scalp very often as you need can help you maintain your scalp health, and gives you manageable and shiny hair by preventing breakage and split ends of hair. On the other hand, oiling very often more than required can leave you with oily and greasy hair, and cause skin irritation or allergies.

Key Points

• The frequency of oil application on the scalp depends on hair type and texture, type of the used hair oil, frequency of hair wash, frequency of hair styling, etc.
• The frequency of using hair oil on your scalp will be different for dry, regular, and oily hair. For regular scalp, oil the scalp one or two times a week, for dry scalp, oil on every alternate day, while for oily hair scalp, use it once a week or once every 15 days.
• Applying coconut oil daily will make your scalp greasy. So, use it two to three times per week.
• You can apply almond oil every day and it works on both dry and oily scalps.
• Oiling the scalp very often as you need maintains your scalp health, gives you manageable and shiny hair, and prevents breakage, split ends of hair, as well as premature graying.
• Oiling very often more than required can give you oily and greasy hair, clogged pores, and cause skin irritation or allergies.

✨ Next Attraction: What Can I Use Instead Of Hair Developer?