Around a week ago I wrote about how important deep conditioning is for your hair. Today, a week prior to Christmas, is a great day to treat both your hair and your scalp to a moisture bath. There are many methods of locking moisture into your hair, whether it be hair masks or deep conditioners, but not many of these treatments are good for your scalp. The most important thing to remember when it comes to hair is that a healthy scalp brings healthy hair, so you should really take good care of it.
What can you do to moisturize your scalp and hair at the same time? My favorite hair treatment of all: hot oil. There are tons of different hot oil treatments out there, and it can be difficult to pick the right one. If you go to Walgreens or CVS, chances are you won’t have as many options as you would at a beauty supply store. While VO5 treatments are the most popular and affordable, they aren’t the best you can find.
My favorite hot oil treatment is Proclaim Olive Hot Oil. At $0.99 a bottle (one treatment per bottle) it’s extremely affordable and available from Sally Beauty Supply. Coming from an Italian family, we are taught all the benefits of olive oil in the old country. My ancestors apparently used olive oil for everything…hand and face moisturizer, lip conditioner, even to help keep a regular digestive system…why wouldn’t we put it on our hair too? To use the hot oil treatment most effectively, place the tube you choose into hot tap water to warm up. Shower and shampoo as you regularly do, and towel dry your hair once you’re finished. Open the hot oil treatment and apply liberally to your scalp. Work through with your fingers, again, concentrating first on your scalp, and then working through the rest of your hair. This treatment is even better if you have someone that can rub it into your scalp for you…it’s extremely relaxing, and who doesn’t like a great scalp massage?
Once you’ve worked the oil through your hair (use up the entire bottle) place a shower cap over your head and wait ten to fifteen minutes. If you have long hair, feel free to clip it up so you don’t have to worry about it falling out of the cap. I stay in the steamy bathroom while I wait for my hot oil treatment to finish. The heat in the bathroom helps the oil stay active for a longer period of time than it would if you were in a room temperature atmosphere.
Once your ten to fifteen is up, jump back in the shower and rinse out your hair. IMPORTANT TIP: make sure you soap up your back, shoulders, chest and face so the oil doesn’t sit on your skin and clog your pores. Once you’re finished in the shower, I suggest you give your hair some time to rest. Comb out gently with a wide tooth comb, and if you must blow dry, don’t dry your hair completely.
You will see a difference in your hair’s shine, softness and manageability. Your scalp will feel refreshed and comfortable. I try to do a hot oil treatment at least once a month, but in the summer I treat my hair more frequently to keep my hair and scalp protected from the heat and chlorinated pool water. The results last quite a while, and you will realize how helpful this is once you see the results you get!
Your scalp and hair will be in great shape for Christmas!
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