Hot Oil Treatments

hot oilSometimes the oldies are the goodies. I have very thick hair, which has an annoying tendancy to go frizzy underneath and I try to avoid straightening it all the time for fear of it falling off my head in superheated clumps. So the one thing I've found that will give me sleek locks (at least temporarily) is hot oil. Traditionally used as an intensive conditioning treatment, it often gets overlooked in favour of new n' fancy treatments, but if you've a birds nest barnet, it works.

If using oil on your hair sounds like it'll make it gross and greasy, fear not, it won't. You use it before shampooing and all it does is give you gorgeous, smooth hair.

And it's got to be the good old original - VO5. If you've never used this stuff, here's the gen: You get a cup of hot water, put the little tube of hot oil in to heat for about a minute, and then it's ready to use. A word of caution - DON'T use boiling water - the oil will scald your head if it's too hot. Wet your hair, apply the oil and massage through. Leave it on for no more than a minute, and then rinse your hair and scalp. Shampoo as normal and you're good to go!

They've also recently launched an in-shower version in a larger tube which apparently is activated by the heat of the shower - but I didn't find this to be as effective as the good old original. Hot Oil costs about a fiver for three applications which is a decent price for a truly effective product. It's one I buy time and time again.

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