Natural Jojoba Hot Oil Treatment For Hair

Over-treated hair can be dry and lifeless and it looks unhealthy. Hair dye, straighteners, permanents, hot-air dryers, and hot curling irons all strip the hair of healthy oils that protect the hair. Hot oil treatments are traditionally used to restore moisture to dry hair and to protect the scalp and hair shaft.

Jojoba

Jojoba oil, which is a wax that is liquid at room temperature, is derived from a small shrub native to the southwestern United States. The wax esters in jojoba oil are very similar to the natural oil, sebum, produced by your skin. In fact, jojoba is used to make synthetic human sebum, according to a study in the February 2009 issue of "International Journal of Cosmetic Science."

Jojoba was a traditional hair treatment for the natives of the Sonoran desert, but was not widely used in the cosmetic industry until the use of sperm whale oil was banned. Jojoba oil retains moisture just as your natural skin and scalp oil do. A study in "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology" in June 2008 reported that jojoba oil is very effective for protecting hair.

Hot Oil Treatment

The simplest hot oil treatment for hair using jojoba oil is to simply heat 1 to 3 tsp. of jojoba oil until it is comfortably warm. Apply it to the dry ends of your hair first, and then work it throughout your hair. If your problem is your scalp, work it into your scalp first and then along the length of your hair. Wrap a warm towel around your hair for 15 minutes or more, and then shampoo as usual. Rinse thoroughly.

Essential Oils

Essential oils, which are the volatile fragrance and healing components of herbs, are extracted by steam distillation. They can be added to your hot oil treatment to complement the effect of the jojoba oil and make your hair smell wonderful.

To a tbsp. of jojoba oil add 10 drops of essential oil, warm the oil as usual, and apply. Use fragrant oils such as geranium, sandalwood, lavender, cedar, bergamot or rose. You may want to add to your jojoba oil base essential oils from the mint, rosemary and sunflower families, which have antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities.

Other Additives

Mix 1 tbsp. of jojoba oil with 1 tbsp. of ripe avocado. Mix into a smooth cream, warm the mixture and apply to your hair.

Mix 1 cup of herbal tea such as chamomile tea or green tea with 1 tbsp. of jojoba oil and warm the mixture. Put a bowl in the sink, stir the mixture rapidly to disperse the jojoba oil through the tea, and pour through your hair 2 or 3 times, catching the hot oil treatment in the bowl. Wrap your hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes and then shampoo as usual.

Considerations

If you have never used jojoba oil before, do a patch test before applying it to your hair or skin. Dab a little of the jojoba oil on your inner arm and cover with a bandage. After 24 hours check for adverse reactions such as swelling, redness or itching, which are symptoms that mean you may be allergic to the oil. Essential oils are concentrated, so patch test any new essential oil as well.