Heat is bad for the hair so why is "hot" oil treatment good?

[Dreamkitty]

I know that heat is very bad for the hair, whether it is flat ironing, blow drying, washing hair with hot water etc.

But I hear that warm/hot oil massage is good for the scalp and increases blood flow. I don't understand this concept because if oil is hot, wouldn't it damage the hair because of the heat?

[Fethenwen]

Well it's not really that hot to do any damage, I would call it more like warm oil treatment. The oil penetrates the hair better if it's a bit warm.

[littlenvy]

Well it's not really that hot to do any damage, I would call it more like warm oil treatment. The oil penetrates the hair better if it's a bit warm.

*nods head*
I agree. The oil is actually warm not burning hot.

[aenflex]

One thing heat does is open the cuticles a little. This helps the oils penetrate a little deeper. I don't put them on warm, I put my oil on dry hair then if I want heat I just put on a plastic cap and do some shots with the blow dryer.
Now using an iron on oiled hair, nother story entirely. Very bad...

[2peasinapod]

I agree. Most heat styling tools are so hot, you would get burned if you touch them.

[CaityBear]

It's all a matter of heat as everybody else has said. Burning hot=bad. Warm=good. And obviously when we're doing hot oil treatments you don't want it to be burning your scalp.

That's why a lot of people say if you absolutely have to blow dry your hair (say, it's winter and you shower in the morning and your hair will freeze if you go outside! It's happened) then use the lowest setting and the Cool button if you have one.

[spidermom]

Agreed; hot oil treatment = warm oil treatment. If you had truly hot oil, like as hot as a flat-iron gets, for example, you wouldn't want it anywhere near your hair.

I almost always use some coconut oil in the bottom half of my length when I'm going to blow-dry. I don't use the hot setting, only the warm and cool one, which I think helps the coconut oil to penetrate and nourish my hair.

[curlymarcia]

So much hot the oil should be? Not as hot to burn your hand? can I make a hot oil treatment with any oil (olive oil for example)? sorry if these is so basic, but I'm new in the world of the oils.

[BrightEyes7]

I agree with everyone else... it really should be called a warm oil treatment.

Now using an iron on oiled hair, nother story entirely. Very bad...

Truer words have never been said... and of course most of us found out the hard way!

[nellreno]

I think the oil would have to be much hotter than what most people use on their hair to be harmful to the hair, probably to the point that it would be burning the scalp (and no one wants that!).