Hair can get dry and brittle, especially in the summer months during time spent outside. Think the beach or swimming in a chlorine laden pool. Harsh hair care products can also damage hair, leading to frizz, breakage, and hair loss. This DIY hair oil treatment helps improve scalp health for healthier, natural hair.

I love that it’s inexpensive and an easy way to get healthy hair no matter your hair type. I even used this hair care routine on my then 4 year old daughter years ago to help make her hair more manageable. Not only did it help make her hair easier to brush, but it also didn’t irritate her tender head. This recipe is so simple it’s hard to even call it a recipe, but I just had to share since it works so well!

It will leave your hair oily, so be sure to shampoo and rinse it out once you’re done!

DIY Hair Oil

I have another DIY hair growth oil recipe that works as a hair conditioner which I keep in a dropper bottle. That rosemary hair growth oil is different from this DIY hair oil, which is more of a deep conditioning treatment. Although both are great for thicker hair and scalp health!

This hair treatment helps improve dry hair with natural oils and has become a regular staple in my hair care routine. It helps reduce hair fall, nourishes hair follicles, and can even help improve dandruff. This DIY hair oil features magnesium rich Epsom salts and conditioning olive oil and coconut oil for a healthy shine.

I’ve also included raw honey for it’s unique ability to help hair. Raw honey promotes skin cell growth, including on the scalp and moisturizes as it adds nutrients to the hair and scalp. Honey is also naturally antimicrobial and antifungal and can be used as a dandruff treatment.

Here’s how to make it!

No ratings yet

DIY Hair Oil Recipe

This easy and inexpensive homemade hair oil naturally improves dry, brittle, damaged hair. Make this luscious scalp massage a regular part of your skincare routine!

Prep Time9

Yield: Hair Treatment

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Immersion blender (or whisk)
Small pot

Materials

2 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP coconut oil (or other carrier oil)
1 TBSP honey
1 tsp Epsom salt (or magnesium flakes)
1-2 drops essential oils (optional)

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and blend well with the immersion blender. If you don't have a blender, or your ingredients aren't combining well, then heat the ingredients (except for the essential oil) over low heat on the stove. Whisk to combine as the ingredients warm.
If not using the stove, then the Epsom salt may still be somewhat gritty. It will dissolve and work into the hair once it's applied.
Add the essential oils to the warm oil if using.
Stir or shake the mixture well right before applying. Over a sink or shower, massage the warm (not hot!) oil treatment through the hair and scalp.
Put a shower cap on (or old towel) and leave the oil blend on for up to 30 minutes.
Rinse the oil off in the shower then shampoo.

Notes

If hair is still oily after washing, massage a small amount of baking soda through the hair to remove or use dry shampoo after the shower.
If you have really long hair you may need to double or triple this recipe.
Some people have the opposite effect from coconut oil and it gives them dry hair. If so, then use more olive oil, or another carrier oil instead. See the section below for substitute ideas.

Ingredient Substitutions

I use olive oil and coconut oil in many of my homemade skincare and hair care recipes because of their omega fatty acids and other benefits. Some people find coconut oil makes their hair or skin dry though. Other carrier oils will also work well. Try sweet almond oil instead of olive oil if you need something a little less oily. Avocado oil is also very nourishing for hair and a great option.

Adding a little jojoba oil, castor oil, or argan oil to the mix are also a great way to treat your scalp! You can even add some antioxidant vitamin E. There’s some evidence that vitamin E can assist with hair growth and a healthier scalp.

Optional Essential Oils

It’s not totally necessary, but you can add some essential oils to your DIY hair oil for more benefits. You only need a few drops as they’re highly concentrated. Be sure to properly dilute and avoid using on young children.

Try a few drops of rosemary essential oil for hair growth. Cedarwood and lavender essential oil also have proven hair growth benefits. Tea tree oil is good for dandruff and peppermint essential oil has a cooling, invigorating effect. Just don’t get it into your eyes!

This DIY hair oil is a great way to give your hair a little extra love and attention!

Have you ever used oil on your hair? How did it work? Leave a comment and let us know!
This hair oil uses olive oil and coconut oil with honey to add moisture and epsom salts for a magnesium boost. This creates a moisturizing conditioner for the hair.

Sources

Beoy, L. A., Woei, W. J., & Hay, Y. K. (2010). Effects of tocotrienol supplementation on hair growth in human volunteers. Tropical life sciences research, 21(2), 91–99.
Yaghoobi, R., Kazerouni, A., & Kazerouni, O. (2013). Evidence for Clinical Use of Honey in Wound Healing as an Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory Anti-oxidant and Anti-viral Agent: A Review. Jundishapur journal of natural pharmaceutical products, 8(3), 100–104.
Phong, C., et al. (2022). Coconut, Castor, and Argan Oil for Hair in Skin of Color Patients: A Systematic Review. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD, 21(7), 751–757.
Ezekwe, N., King, M., & Hollinger, J. C. (2020). The Use of Natural Ingredients in the Treatment of Alopecias with an Emphasis on Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: A Systematic Review. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 13(8), 23–27.

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

61 responses to “DIY Hair Oil Treatment”

Jennifer

July 18, 2014

I used this and became a grease ball. I’ve washed my hair 3 times with the detoxing mud shampoo and used a ton of baking soda to try and regain “normal” hair texture to no avail. Any suggestions or at least logic on why this happens to my hair. I feel like I have dry hair, but when I put anything “nourishing” on it such as oil or honey it’s like my hair rejects it and starts detoxing all over again.

For the record, I’ve been commercial shampoo free for almost 4 months and found the mud shampoo to be the best wash around month 2 of this 6 month commitment (which I’m hoping will become lifelong). My hair is a fine blonde and took forever to adjust to no shampoo. Now that it has adjusted, it seems a little dry. I’d love to know what I can do to help nourish it without losing a week to super greasy/oily hair.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 18, 2014
  
  You may have coarse hair, not dry hair. People mistake them for each other because they feel similar, but coarse hair is caused by more protein on the hair shaft, whereas dry hair just lacks moisture. If your hair is coarse but well moisturized, putting extra moisture on it may cause it to feel oily and gross. You could try shea butter-based things, but avoid things that will sit on the hair without absorbing in.
  
  Reply
Amy

February 27, 2014

Epic Fail!
The closest I could get to raw honey in Toronto, Ontario, Canada was organic unpasteurized which is solid, not liquid. I am going to assume that you need liquid honey for this to work. I had to head up the honey to even begin to mix it with the oils and had to apply it to my hair while warm/hot. It solidified on contact. I could not work it through my hair. What I had was a hot, solid mess!!
So, is there any other recommendation to those of us who don’t have access to raw honey other than regular liquid honey? A supplement to add to replace the lost nutrients from using pasteurized, farmed honey? I’d send a picture; but, it was just….bad. Lol!

Reply
Rebecca

January 23, 2014

Hi Katie! I love, love your site and you have made my journey to a more natural-life fun and easy….I’ve really come to trust your recipes! I’ve used too many to list! Thank you for sharing all you do! Just a tip to rinsing out oil treatments (works like a charm, I promise), DO NOT wet hair! In the shower, work in the shampoo as much as possible WITHOUT water and then slowly, slowly add small amounts of water working in and lathering as much as possible before adding more water. Do this until you have a full lather and then rinse thoroughly. Then shampoo normally a second time and condition normally. No greasy hair after 🙂

Also, just a note to those who commented about the coconut oil making their hair “weird”….I noticed the same thing immediately but then by the end of the week I had the super silky, shiny hair everyone else was talking about….weird! So maybe give it a day or two and see? I personally love it!

Reply
Tracey Johnson

September 24, 2013

back in the day we did VO5 hot oil, but now I use a mixture of coconut, sweet almond, castor, jojoba, vitamin e and olive oils. I put all the oils in tip bottle used to apply hair dye, soak hair and scalp put on a thin shower cap like the ones you get from a hotel. Leave that on for several hours while I’m doing housework and chores, even working out. Then I rinsed my hair in warm water and conditioner. Make my hair feels so soft an much more manageable. I have dense thick super spirally curly hair that sucks up the oil mixture. Took a while to find the proper oil balance and combination that helped me. I do this 2 a month.

Reply
1. Leah
  
  December 26, 2015
  
  Hi Tracey
  
  I realize that your post is from 2+ years ago, but I’m wondering if you still use your oil mixture, and if it still makes your hair really soft and manageable. My hair is similar to yours, and I’d love to know what proportions of oils you use.
  
  thanks! 🙂
  
  Reply
Loren Robinson

August 12, 2013

I use oil on my hair on a regular basis. My hair is naturally dry and chemicals dry it even more. I use a variation of your recipe that also includes almond oil and avocado oil, in addition to the oils you mention. I also throw in some Argan oil. I leave the oil in my hair overnight along and cover it with a plastic conditioning cap. Works like magic and makes my hair shiny and soft.

Reply
Tasha J.

July 24, 2013

I have struggled with SEVERE dandruff/eczema on my scalp for quite some time, saw a dermatologist and spent 28.00 on a shampoo that was supposed to help…IT DID NOT! 2 nights ago I put coconut oil on my scalp/hair, put my hair in a bun, and slept with it on. Next morning I washed my hair thoroughly, and now my scalp is almost completely gone of eczema and dandruff!! I could not believe it! Not to mention, how soft my hair is now!

Reply
Tammy Cothran Garrett

July 18, 2013

Can u use this hair oil recipe on color treated hair? I just colored my hair & don’t want the recipe to strip the fresh color. Thanks. Tammy

Reply
Nicole Zettle Ray

June 6, 2013

Just did this with a few tweaks and loved it. Fabulous to do once a week.

Thanks!

Reply
Kim

May 31, 2013

I have used hair oil since childhood. From experience, I have learn that any oil that you can lay your hands on works just well. I have used sesame, olive, almond, coconut, safflower, etc. I generally apply oil to the hair and scalp and leave it overnight. If I have the time, I damp a towel in warm water and wrap it around my hair for 15-30 minutes. This makes my hair softer and less dry (which otherwise tends to be dry and static-y. I need to shampoo twice in order to remove the oil thoroughly though.

Reply
1. judy castleberry
  
  February 26, 2016
  
  I use hair rinse or soda and water to get the oil out before I shampoo. Not bso hard to get oil out.
  
  Reply
Zoe Molina

May 24, 2013

Would the Epsom salt irritate sensitive skin?

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  May 25, 2013
  
  I haven’t heard of anyone having trouble with it, but you can certainly omit it…
  
  Reply
2. Anthea
  
  June 25, 2016
  
  I have eczema and I use Epsom salts all the time. I put it into my bath or use it as a face scrub (rarely). However I don’t use it when I have flair ups as it will dry out my skin even more and cause intense pain.
  
  On a different note, I have had the coconut oil reaction as mentioned in previous posts, where my hair gets hard and weird.
  
  Reply
Traci Bowman

May 21, 2013

i have fine thin hair and coconut oil makes it really dry. it’s been a week since i tried it and it seemed to change my hair…i can barely comb through it. it’s not quite to my shoulders. it’s not really tangled but just…weird. I don’t know what it did to my hair. I feel like i should cut it off now.

Reply
1. Jeannie Marie
  
  May 22, 2013
  
  surprised at your comment, and glad you mentioned that. i’m new to coconut oil and have been using on skin for fabulous results, but on the hair, i have also noticed it’s not quite tangled but weird is exactly the word. it’s not dry, not oily, but it’s just not the result i was expecting or hoping for. not happy, healthy looking or feeling hair :/
  
  Reply
2. Michelle
  
  August 25, 2013
  
  Your hair may be sensitive to protein. I have read that coconut does not contain high levels of proteins, but it helps keep protein in your hair. My hair always felt dry after using it, but everyone has always claimed how wonderful it was for their hair… So I decided to leave an ayurvedic herbal
  blend in a base of coconut oil on my hair overnight to really see the benefit. Upon washing it out, my ends felt like straw, I trimmed 3 inches off and tried all kinds of clarifying treatments. Nothing helped; I eventually had to cut another 6 inches off. Looking back I should have known – when I would use commercial high protein shampoos and conditioners, my hair would feel great for one or two uses – and then it would start to take on a hard feeling and I would have to stop using the product, I did not realize that it was protein sensitivity at the time. Protein Overload… I have learned my lesson well – no matter how
  good something works for one person, does not guarantee it will do the same for me or anyone else. I now proceed with caution with anything new that I try. One of the reasons I love this site and making my own products – I know exactly what goes into my products, and if I have an adverse reaction, it is much easier to pin-point.
  
  Reply
3. Yvonne
  
  May 13, 2015
  
  We have the problem at the salon when a client is using drug store bought shampoo & conditioner. The non water soluble silicone in them make it impossible for penetration so, the hair gets gummy from the extreme build up. There is hardly any protein but it is possible you do not need protein & causing the dry feeling as well!
  
  Reply
Monica Wilkins

May 20, 2013

Can I use fractionated coconut oil?

Reply
1. Monica Wilkins
  
  May 21, 2013
  
  Or even shea butter?
  
  Reply
Ginrei

May 20, 2013

This sounds lovely… but is the honey a necessary ingredient? I’ve heard that it can bleach hair, and I don’t want to lose my natural red color faster than I already am!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  May 21, 2013
  
  You can leave it out 🙂
  
  Reply
Joyce Pettiford Manning

May 20, 2013

I oil my hair and scalp regularly (every other day) and my hair is still dry.

Reply
1. Taniel Barbi Holness
  
  May 20, 2013
  
  Don’t oil your scalp, you will cause your pores to become blocked. Oils do not moisturize the hair so you won’t get moisture by oiling the hair. It will only cause build up. Using the oils as a hot oil treatment before washing is a better idea if you are going to use oils or just put a little in your palm from time to time just to add a little sheen to the hair. You can try avocado. It’s also dependent on the products you are using in your hair. Avoid products with petroleum/petrolatum, mineral oil etc. Those just seal the hair so nothing can penetrate it. Try deep conditioning maybe every two weeks or so and get a mild shampoo that is sulfate free. Maybe you also need to get your hair stripped to get rid of any buildups
  
  Reply
  1. Yvonne
    
    May 13, 2015
    
    Coconut oil does inside the cuticle of the hair & moisturizes the hair. Also- Paul Mitchell’s new marula oil. The oil molecules in both are tiny enough to penetrate into the hair shaft. Most oils have silicone in them- these do not. That’s why you can use coconut oil on the skin and its moisturizing! 🙂
    
    Reply
Vivienne

May 20, 2013

I love using home remedies for my hair, it’s super
curly and frizzy. I also tend to splurge on good quality products like pro
naturals moroccan argan oil hair mask, at least I know they work 🙂

Reply
RacheL H.

May 20, 2013

I’m curious. Have you ever tried this without applying to your scalp/head? I am wondering if this would be a good recipe only for hanging hair. [I have below-waist length curly/wavy hair. When I’ve tried oil masks I have SUCH a difficult time getting the oil out!]

Reply
Monique Brown

May 19, 2013

thank you for the tips, I’ll try that, I also use argan oil from pro naturals which is really good for hair, leaves it soft, shiny and healthy.

Reply
Denise Bartus

May 19, 2013

I’ve experimented with oils on my hair in the past and found olive oil hard to wash out but coconut oil seems to absorb better. The honey sounds like a nice touch. Presently, I warm a bit of coconut oil between my palms after every shower and lightly apply it to the dry ends of my hair while it’s still wet. Absorbs right in and you hardly know it’s there once your hair’s dry, except that it’s healthier looking!

Reply
1. Allen
  
  October 2, 2014
  
  I do that too — I don’t use shampoo, or any other non-food products, on my body. So putting in too much oil and then having to use soap that dries in order to get out the oil makes no sense to me. I use coconut or avocado oil on my face and hands, then use a little left over to rub through my hair. If I accidentally get too much (rare), I rub it with a clean towel.
  
  Reply
  1. Katie Chivington
    
    November 13, 2014
    
    I am curious what you do use to clean your hair? Anything other than the oil?
    
    Reply
    1. Jody
      
      August 23, 2016
      
      I don’t wash my hair- even if you od use shampoo -you hair shouldn’t be actually washed with a soap product but once -maybe twice a month.. I use a conditioner I made everyday in place of soap. Do a baking soda detox on your hair to get all the product off and you don’t need shampoo– even oily hair can use cornstarch on their roots/scalp to adsorb excess oil..
      
      Reply
Schagné Venter

May 19, 2013

I have dry curly hair and often use oils. Coconut is my favourite for dry hair, but you must wash it out properly afterwards. You can
Use any oil on your hair that can be used on your skin. I also sometimes use an Indian almond oil mix on my hair instead of product as it gives me awesome, sleek curls.

Reply
1. Julie Allen
  
  May 20, 2013
  
  could I have your recipe as I have curly hair too !!!
  
  Reply
Jennifer L.

May 18, 2013

My toddler has a brownish cradle cap layer under her thickest part of hair and behind her ears. I was going to rub some olive oil on it today to see if it would come of easily. It worked well on my other daughter when she was small, but she had oily hair for a few days because I couldn’t get it to rinse/wash out. I tried some of the Morocco Method hair oil once and could not get it out of my hair. By the time I was done trying to get it out my hair was anything other than softer than when I started! Maybe I’ll experiment on my husband–he has very curly hair that absorbs anything.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  May 19, 2013
  
  I think it does depend on hair type somewhat, so probably a good idea to experiment on a small piece of hair or on his hair first…
  
  Reply
  1. Jennifer L.
    
    May 19, 2013
    
    I tried it last night and the olive oil/coconut oil blend worked great. I was able to use a soft brush to get rid of the build-up. I just washed her hair as usual and it came out super soft and shiny! Hooray for a clean head!
    
    Reply