When it comes to hair care, a routine of deep conditioning can make a huge difference in the health and appearance of your hair and scalp. Choosing the right oils is one of the key parts of this process, so I have broken down some of my favorite oils for hair care and shared a luscious hot oil treatment that I formulated for weekly use. 

I called upon coconut, argan, neem, and castor oils for this blend. These are staples in my household, and I love the versatility of using them for hair care, skin care, and even pest control (as is the case with neem oil).   

Best Oils for Hair Care

• Coconut Oil: While most known as a culinary oil, coconut oil is also a staple in bathroom cabinets across the globe. As a hair oil, it does a great job of penetrating the hair shaft and makes an excellent base for hair oil blends. I don’t prefer coconut oil as a single oil for hair, but I love how it helps with the absorbability of this blend. You can choose unrefined coconut oil if you plan to use the blend as a hot oil hair treatment or opt for fractionated coconut oil if you wish to apply it at room temperature.
  
  
• Argan Oil: Another easily absorbable oil is argan, which contains tocopherols, phenols, carotenes, squalene, and fatty acids. Touted as one of the most luxurious oils on the market, it is often found in skin, nail, and hair care products. Argan can be used as a single oil ingredient for hair treatment. The argan oil we offer at Mountain Rose Herbs is cold-pressed and not deodorized, so this oil does have a slightly pungent aroma. I don’t personally find it to be offensive to my olfactory senses, but it is good to keep in mind.
  
  
• Neem Oil: A standard in Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine, neem oil is used in soaps, hair, and skin care products, and contains skin and hair-loving vitamin E and essential fatty acids. It’s important to note that many people find neem oil to be unpleasant smelling, so you may want to try to mask this with essential oils. In my opinion, its benefits outweigh its minor offense to my nose and I am more than willing to use it.  For those that have sensitive noses, it can be replaced with another oil or omitted completely.
  
  
• Jojoba Oil: Most similar to our skin’s natural sebum, jojoba oil is easily absorbed and makes a great addition to a scalp-care routine. It is particularly known for its deeply hydrating support for curly hair and how it helps to combat frizz and flyaways. While the below recipe calls for neem or jojoba oil, you can also opt for an equal-parts blend.
  
  
• Castor Oil: As the thickest and most luscious of the oils in this blend, castor oil has deeply moisturizing qualities and helps protect the hair from breakage. However, if you are prone to oily hair, you may want to omit this ingredient.  

DIY Hair Oil Treatment for Hair

Makes enough for (1) treatment. 

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. organic coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp. organic argan oil
• 1 tsp. organic neem oil or jojoba oil
• 1 tsp. organic castor oil
• 7 drops organic cedarwood essential oil (or essential oil of choice)
• 4 drops vitamin E oil

Directions

1. Add the coconut, argan, neem, and castor oils to a double boiler and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and thoroughly stir in the essential oil and vitamin E oil. 

1. Pour a little warm oil into your palm and massage it into your scalp and hair, working out any knots that may be present. Add as much as needed to thoroughly coat your hair and scalp. 
2. Cover your head and hair with a shower cap and leave the oil in your hair for at least 20-30 minutes.
3. Shampoo oil out completely.
4. Follow with a conditioner of choice, if desired

• Use a hair treatment weekly for best results.
• Heat deepens the oil’s penetration and enhances its benefits. Sit in the sunshine, next to a fire, or in a sauna. 
• You can substitute or omit the cedarwood essential oil in this blend if you choose. Check out our blog Best Essential oils for Hair Care for inspiration!
  
  
  

Looking for more recipes for natural hair care?

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