How much oil do you put in your hair?

[MamaLou]

The first few times that I oiled my hair I pretty much drowned my entire length in coconut oil, but I had to use so much shampoo to wash it out that it did not improve my hair very much. The last two weeks I've been putting around 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in my hair from my ears down and my hair just soakes it up in around 2 hours, I don't have to shampoo more than usually to clean my hair and it is so soft! I'm curious about your experiences :)

[MamaLou]

I was planning to do a poll with this but I can't figure out how to do that xD

[Corvana]

I don't know... Like maybe 5 or 6 drops? A couple times a week, maybe.

[Joules]

For a pre-poo I drown my hair in oil. I use around 40-50 ml of oil, pour it in a shot glass, put it in a bowl of hot water to warm it up and thoroughly saturate my hair. Yes, I bought a cheap shot glass specifically for oil treatments, lol. I do need more shampoo to wash it out, but it doesn't mean I lose the benefits of oil treatment. I shampoo only my roots and gently spread the suds down my lengths, and by the time I'm done with shampooing my hair my ends are still oily to touch (even when I use harsher shampoos), so everything is nicely nourished and protected from drying effects of sulfates.

After washing I use just a few drops of oil on my ends.

[nycelle]

I haven't done it in a while then last week I tried again.
Did an overnight oil treatment, then washed and conditioned like I normally would. It was an overkill for me. My hair dried limp, flat, and felt over conditioned.

I think my regular conditioner and leave-in are more than enough these days.

[lithostoic]

I rub it in my hands until they look noticeably oily then I spread it onto my hair. So probably like 5 drops of almond oil or a half teaspoon of coconut oil? I use them both. If I'm putting it on my scalp as well then I use more, of course, but it's the same ratio of oil to amount of hair.

[lapushka]

Yep I don't get the oversoaking in oil and then 3x washing it out. It's an operation that cancels each other out. You have to use oil just a bit so that it is still a little softer when you wash it out, but it will wash out. Then it serves its purpose.

And for rinse-out oil you also don't need a lot. When you are type 4 that can be a tad different, but for 1,2,3 types less is truly more.

[MusicalSpoons]

I rarely do anything other than ROO (rinse out) but when I do pre-poo or a heavy oiling I'll use up to maybe a teaspoonful if it's a solid oil, or 2-3 if it's liquid.
For an ordinary dry oiling that I want to soak in, I'll use enough for my palms to look shiny - not quite oily, but more than a sheen.
For ROO I use a medium palmful, which usually leaves a slight ... I don't know how to describe it. The ends will slightly sort of slick together but it doesn't feel oily, and within a day or two just looks and feels like ordinary hair again :shrug: but that keeps the ends happy and moisturised for at least a week, and the slight oiliness at the ends didn't bother me because my hair's always bunned anyway.
If I want to oil just the ends (say, the tassel of a braid) I'll use a fingertip of oil and repeat if necessary until it stops rapidly soaking in.

Edit: if I do a really heavy pre-poo I'll usually use conditioner to get excess out (CWC) or if it's just an ordinarily heavy pre-poo I'll squidge the shampoo suds down the length and, if it's still feeling quite oily, let the shampoo sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

[PixieNixie]

I overly oil my hair for a pre poo treatment. I cap it and sleep with it that way (usually if not I let it soak in for at least 3 or 4 hours) then CWC it out. Conditioning then washing gets out all the excess oil and leaves my hair super soft and moisturized. For a leave in treatment, about 4 to 5 drops. I usually just rub my hands together so they are shiny and start at the underside in the back of my hair and then work towards the front so most of the oil has already been worked into my hair by the time I reach my bangs and such. If I am just applying to my ends, then I usually use one drop at a time.

[chrissy-b]

I use about a quarter-sized amount of olive oil for my pre-wash oiling twice a week and use one drop of argan oil on my "length" (aha my hair is super short) after a wash.

[lenu60]

I love doing a pre poo treatment and use sunflower oil. My hair loves it

[Ylva]

For prepoo I use a generous amount so that my hair looks and feels saturated with oil so that it's clearly weighed down by it and looks oily. Post-wash, I use such an amount of oil that I can clearly feel it on my palms, but it's not dripping or running in any manner. I don't know how to estimate it in drops.

[GrowlingCupcake]

My hair loves oil, and soaks it up like crazy.

Prepoo
A lot. I used to apply it to my scalp, and my lengths but I am trying lengths only now. I use coconut oil currently, and let it sit for at least 2 hours.

I do not overly shampoo since I want some of the oil to remain.

ROO
A puddle applied to the last eight or ten inches of hair. I do rinse some out, though, so I don't know how much actually stays. It is difficult to control the flow with the bottle of oil I am using so I cannot count drops. I'm currently using mineral oil.

Postwash
About three drops to each side of my hair. It is on my ends, and the bottom six or so inches but I also go to about chin height. I use Nightblooming's Fairy Rose oil blend.

Non-wash days
If I use oil, I either do one of the following or both:
1) One to two drops mixed with Nightblooming's Selkie Detangler for easier spreading concentrated on the ends. I use the Fairy Rose blend.
2) An emulsification of water, and five or so drops of oil in a spray bottle. I spray this all over my hair but concentrate on the ends. I use almond oil.

[Natalia_A00]

Actually, a lot (I only use coconut oil once in a while) My hair is thick and I feel that it's never enough lol It's just a sensation though

[Groovy Granny]

For my fine silver I only use 4 drops for ROO during my shower and LOC after.

Using it on dry hair doesn't work for me; I prefer Biosilk Lite Serum instead....it is lighter and non-greasy.

[EmeraldSkies]

For prepoo (once a month) , i would massage 1 teaspoon of almond oil with 1-2 drops of peppermint/lavender eo into my scalp and hair. I will then leave it on for 0.5-1 hour and use CWC with 1.5 times the usual amount of shampoo to wash out the oil. For post wash, i apply 2 drops of oil/leave-in on partially dried hair.

[Margrit]

Hmmmm?
I don‘t know for sure - may be 10-15 Drops?

[sophia_]

I use a whole lot for deep treatments, but I don't do those every day, and most of it gets washed out. I use a fair amount, about 2 tablespoons, of almond oil in the ROO process, and I use about a nickel-sized amount of avocado oil on very very wet hair before it air-dries- if I wait too long it will be applied unevenly so I will forego it and use only leave-in and my ogx cone serums.

[Alibran]

It depends what I'm doing. I don't do pre-poo oiling because my hair is low porosity, and there's no benefit to oiling dry. The oil just sits on the surface.

For rinse out oil, I use about 20 ml of either olive or coconut oil, rinse in a kind of half-hearted way, and then go straight to leave in.

In between washes, I spread a 50:50 coconut oil/conditioner mix through damp hair every two or three days, depending on how dry it's getting.

[Naemaris]

In the summer I tend not to use a lot of oils except for monoï. With the cold air coming though, I apply ~1/2 of a teaspoon to my ends only every evening the last few days before a wash. If my hair is really frizzy, I'll distribute a small palmfull of argan oil all over my hair and scalp.
I've done a hot oil treatment once with olive oil, about 3-4 tablespoons. My hair looked really (really!) oily after that so next time I'll use less of it.

Also, I tend to rotate between argan, sweet almond, monoï and olive oil (rarely because often too heavy).

[Capybara]

During the winter I use about a palmful (quarter cup?) of olive oil on each side of my hair prior to washing. I use just a couple drops of Argan oil otherwise. My hair is a bit porous towards the ends.

I’d love to have a way of spraying/misting my hair with oil! Currently looking for atomizers for this purpose. It’d be great to be able to mist a small amount of oil in the summer.

[TheForestFae]

Once a week I will oiling my hair really heavy with coconut oil to the point that my hair looks wet and oil just dripping through my hair to the ground and I will just leave it overnight, clearly my hair love it and it seem like I dont have any problem with it :> On the other I will put less oil onto my hair and leave it for 45 mins, then I will wash it :3

[TheMandaRose]

Pre-wash I'll put a couple droppers full (I mix my own blends and put them into 2 oz glass bottles with glass droppers) throughout my ends mostly, a very small amount on my scalp. I'm WO right now but when I use oil, I'll "wash" it out with conditioner. Post-wash I'll put about 4-5 drops in my palm then spread it between my hands, flip my hair over and apply to just the ends. If it looks oily by the time it dries (it usually doesnt) it will finish soaking it up within a day or less.

[g_lou]

About 1-2 tbsp of almond oil pre-wash soaks in overnight just about and 4 drops argon oils everyday. Spraying a bit of diluted conditioner on my hair to dampen it first makes it feel softer and less oily

[Cg]

Four drops mixed with conditioner then rinsed out. It seems to work well and I'm too lazy to experiment.

[Doreen]

I only use it as a mask/prepoo and I usually use about 100mL (half a cup) of olive oil from shoulderblades down. Usually I braid it and put the oil-soaked part in a bag, and sit around like that for an hour or two. Sometimes if I'm very lazy, I just put the oil on and sit on the edge of tub with my hair hanging loose.

[MoonChildCurls]

Before shampooing I do a hot oil treatment with castor, coconut and grapeseed on my roots (really slather it on up there) and length. After showering I just put a few drops on my ends.

[gustavonut]

When I use oil I only use a tiny amount, almost the size of a pea since I have short hair now.

[RedStripe]

Looks like I'm in the minority here. I only oil my hair after washing as a leave-in conditioner, and I use very little -- enough to rub on my palms to make them a bit oily, basically just a couple of drops. I stroke this over my hair and then finger-comb through, and then if I am feeling ambitious, I'll massage it through my hair and make sure some gets to the ends. That's all I really need -- my hair isn't super dry.

[Yousra]

Pre-poo : A lot! on my scalp and lengths, twice a week.
Daily: About two or three drops only on lengths

[Begemot]

1-3 drops maybe. I never drown my hair in oil because it's hard to get off.

[giraff]

Interesting that people are so different with this!

For the past few years (non-LHC), I've used about a pump or two (each pump being around 1/2 teaspoon) in my hair post-washing once it's halfway dry. I'm now experimenting with oil treatments, and trying to figure out what's a good amount.. Today I tried about 3 tablespoons. My hair doesn't feel completely soaked, but I think I've covered everything :)

[blackgothicdoll]

I prepoo with oil, about 50 ml. It only takes one wash to get out, so it seems my hair uses all of it. I also may use CWC to make it even easier to get the oil out, but I can typically manually remove the excess with my fingers under the water before shampooing.

Throughout the week, just little puddles in my palm, concentrated on my ends.

[Zesty]

For pre wash quite a lot, though I've never paid attention to measurements. I dunk the last 5 or so inches in coconut or sunflower oil and then spread more from the ears down with my palms, until it looks quite wet.

For ROO, a dime sized amount of amla or straight mineral oil.

For a non wash day leave-in, 2-3 drops. I've been using the Innate Life rose elixir most often for that purpose.

[MusicalSpoons]

Since my original answer (https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=148064&p=3608345&viewfull=1#post3608345), things have changed (of course).

I heavily pre-poo most weeks with babassu oil, and I use a full cupped-hand-palmful and a half (ish, maybe more) from ears down. I CWC so it comes out easily.
For ROO I use any cheap liquid plant oil a puddle in my palm about 3-4cm wide, for my whole lengths from the neck down. It rinses out perfectly like it's supposed to (it didn't before when I used slightly more).
Any other dry oiling is rare and depends on the reason and how long it is until the next wash. I'll usually start with a little - a sheen on my palms - and keep adding a little until I'm satisfied. Pretty much any plant oil except coconut.

[Siv]

A good size amount for prepoo (coconut oil) and a couple of drops of argan on my ends whenever I feel I need it. Oil doesn't sink into my hair readily, I think I'm fairly low porosity. I used to do coconut oil on my ends as well but I think argan works better! I also use aloe vera and a silicone serum in conjunction with the argan oil.

[sidhartha2004]

I oil my hair two or three times a week and shampoo next day morning ��

[Arciela]

Sometimes I take a pea size for when I am going to soak it in oil, but normally its just a tiny bit, I scrape it under my finger nail..that is how small :flower:

[iforgotmylogin]

None. Could probably use some, I dunno

[unheardletters]

I have never oiled my hair. I fear oil would just bead up and drip off my hair like water does, and i don’t want drops of oil on my clothes.

[0xalis]

None! My sebum does just fine. I'll consider it if I think my hair really needs it.

[Prerna23]

I do an overnight oil treatment with warm mustard oil whenever I wash my hair. I've been doing this since I was a teen. This is a tried and tested technique from my mom who has very pretty TBL hair. I usually use extra extra oil and wash twice to get it all out, but it leaves my hair soft and shiny

[Gumball]

When I realize I'm having trouble getting a comb through comfortably, I'll oil it anywhere from a bit to generously. It's kind of like cooking with garlic. I measure with my heart! :p My hair is up in a bun of some sort nearly 100% of the time, so I'm no worse for wear when I go heavy.

[AnyaWK]

I put an oil called hibiscus oil I find it really good for hair, I also use coconut oil from link Kesha brand, I also use silicon oil conditioner for my hair

[Kat-Rinnè Naido]

For a pre poo I do a heavy oiling.
After wash my oil for LOC is about half a teaspoon. It May seem a lot but my curly hair needs it. Thereafter third day after wash for daily maintenance just a sheen on my hand and I section different area to help balance and distribute it throughout my hair.
Katrinne

[jenn14]

I use about a tablespoon of coconut oil in my hair the day before i shampoo. I then put about a teaspoon of caster oil in my hair after i'm done washing. I'll put oil in my hair anytime it starts feeling like it needs it, if it'd days before i plan to wash i'll probably only put in a half tablespoon at a time.

[LadyLong]

Recently, since is it now a mild winter where I live, I have been massaging lightly Castor Oil at the roots of my scalp to see if it will encourage more hair. I mix it with a lighter Jojoba oil so that it spreads easier, but use just a little. I never mind the length of my hair, it is always long enough, but what I am concerned with is the natural loss of hair due to age. We shall see the results in maybe six months! Hope it works, because this is more of a natural remedy.:rolleyes:
On the other hand, keeping my long hair soft, silky and shiny, do try adding a couple of Tablespoons of Honey to your hair condition. You will notice the difference.

[The-Young-Maid]

I always put several drops x2(I divide my hair in half) on damp hair after washing. Then I add a couple drops x2 of a mineral oil based hair oil. After it's dry I'll add a couple more drops to it before braiding for the day. Before bed I'll take my makeup off with coconut oil and spread the extra over my hair before washing. So lots of oil I guess lol

[Glitch]

Several drops of jojoba oil on damp hair length after washes, and then as needed (or not needed, so then I won't use it) on dry hair (the ends at least) until my next wash.

[angel-baby]

A couple drops on the midlengths + ends each day. Pre-wash scalp oiling with The Innate Life rosemary treatment twice a week.

[Fiorentina]

For me just a few drops are fine, whenever it is needed.

[mochichichi]

Pre-poo I use probably 1/4 cup.
Daily I put 2-3 drops on my ends and mids.

[GoatLady]

Not much. It's really easy to over-do it.

[tuanyiji]

Two drops on my palm, warm it on my fingers, then massage my scalp and the ends. I do this every day.

[cherrymerry]

A couple of drops for the ends when they're feeling dry and half a teaspoon to mix with my conditioner after shampooing