In short, yes, you can use vegetable oil as a home remedy for dry hair. However, the oil must be carrier oil -- the kind derived from the fatty portion of the plant and often used to dilute essential oils -- rather than off-the-shelf cooking oil. Numerous varieties, from almond oil to jojoba oil, condition your hair and give it a healthy shine, but each type caters to a different type of hair. Experiment with oils until you find the kind that's just right for your tresses.
Choose your vegetable-based carrier oil. Jojoba oil serves as a general-purpose moisturizing oil. Heavier extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil work well for thick hair, but may leave fine hair greasy. Almond oil penetrates deeply, but doesn't have a very long shelf life. Other types of vegetable oils that combat dry hair include broccoli seed oil and sunflower oil.
Begin boiling a pot of water, and pour about 2 ounces of vegetable-based carrier oil into a clean jar. Add an extra ounce of oil if you have particularly thick or long hair. Seal the jar tightly. Once the water comes to a boil, remove it from the heat.
Place the jar of oil in the hot water and let it sit for about 15 minutes. As the oil warms up, wet your hair with room-temperature water.
Gently massage the hot oil into your scalp with your fingertips. Comb the oil through your hair from root to tip.
Wrap a clean towel around your head as soon as you've finished combing to lock the heat and moisture in. Do not pile your hair under the towel, as this may lead to tangling or breaking. Keep your head wrapped for 20 minutes to an hour.
Remove the towel wrap and wash your hair thoroughly with a high-quality shampoo.
Tip
Always choose the least processed vegetable-based carrier oil you can find. Do not use cooking or salad oils as a hair treatment. You can find carrier oils at online and brick-and-mortar cosmetic shops or holistic specialty stores and, oftentimes, at retailers that sell essential oils.
Apply your vegetable oil hair treatment once or twice a week for the best results.
References
Writer Bio
Dan combines his decade-long experience as a freelance writer and small business owner with hands-on experience in fashion, mixology, media production and more. Previously, he's published with Chron.com, Charlotte's Book, LIVESTRONG, Civilized Life, Hunker, Fortune, Salon.com, Out East Rose, Samsung, USA Today and others.
