Do you use oil on wet hair or on dry hair?

[roryx]

I'm really confused,i always oil my hair when it is wet becouse i read that if you always put oil on dry hair it will dehydrate it.
What do you think?

[Tangerine]

I think it completely depends on what oil you use, what your hair routine is, your hair type and health ... Unfortunately there aren't often straight answers when it comes to hair care ;) That is why the LHC is such a great resource with all its diverse users :)

I personally oil when wet. I've used a few different oils, but at the moment I use Yangu oil straight after my leave-in conditioner. And apply some Shea butter after my hair's been in a turban for a little while. That seems to work fine for me!

But I think dry oiling has its benefits too (as a pre-shower treatment, for instance).
:blossom:

[spidermom]

Everybody is different, so try it both ways. I've decided that I get the best result by applying a little bit of coconut oil to damp hair.

Oil will not dehydrate hair. Essential fatty acids are absolutely essential for flexible, shiny hair, and oils supply it. You get good moisture in hair by drinking water, not by getting your hair wet, so oil absolutely positively does not interfere with or disturb the moisture balance.

[roryx]

Thank you for the answers,i read that oil on dry hair dehydrate it becouse hair is formed by a part of sebum and a part of water,if we add only oil the hair it soake it..

sorry for my bad english >.< i'm italian

[Belisarius]

Yes, I oil when wet too. It works really well.

[Ash]

I oil when wet. I oiled dry hair for several months and then stopped because I got lazy. I'm glad I did because my hair was so dry and crispy that I was afraid I was going to have to cut it off. This may not be the case for you though, some people have better luck oiling dry hair. Perhaps you could dry each way for a couple of weeks and see what you prefer? I would also recommend experimenting with different oils as well.

[Copasetic]

You can oil either way. I think it is mostly a matter of personal preference; one doesn't yield better results in my experience. Lately I have been applying shea butter to damp hair with very good results.

[Beets]

I get different results. Oiling when wet gives me a good feel and shine overall, and it affects the way my hair dries (into chunkier, darker waves). Whereas when I oil my hair dry, I get a more noticeably smooth texture on the top layers and my waves are less likely to distinguish themselves.

[pinchbeck]

For some reason when my hair is oiled wet it will look oily when it dries so I opt to apply it when it's almost dry and dry. I use jojoba or coconut oil to assist with snarls.

[Katurday]

Dry oilings give me crispy hair - I oil damp.
I use Coconut oil.

[Naamah]

Oiling wet works better for me, when I oil dry my hair seems to tangle for some reason.

[Lemur_Catta]

I use coconut oil after my leave in, when my hair is damp, but sometimes I also use coconut or olive oil as a pre-shampoo treatment, on dry hair. I like it either way, for different reasons.

[julliams]

I use coconut oil and use it right before my hair is dry - about 85% dry. I find this works best.

Juliette

[roryx]

Thank you for the answers =)
I use oil as leave in after shampoo but also as a pre-shampoo treatment but always wet!
I damp my hair,put oil and after 2 or 3 hours I wash..

[hmmm]

I've never used oil on wet hair.

[Anje]

I do both. I generally oil my hair wet, post-shower, because it really helps the detangling process. I oil a little more when my hair is dry, if I think it looks a bit dry or frazzled or otherwise in need of oil.

A few years ago, putting coconut oil on dry hair made my hair feel nasty and crunchy. (Coconut oil seems to be particularly implicated in crunchiness for many people, and for me, some oils do this more than others.) My routine is still the same, but I think for me, with improved hair health, now my hair is just fine with coconut oil applied to dry hair.

[CaityBear]

I do both, but I mostly oil right after my shower on damp hair.

[Spike]

I oil wet because I get better/more even distribution that way. Dry oiling leaves my hair clumpy and greasy--I could hair double for Viggo Mortensen in Lord of the Rings.

Personal preference is for Nightblooming's mix from her etsy shop. As always, your mileage may vary. :)

[p3_Arme]

Me personally, I use it on dry hair, the night before I wash it. This is so the hair is protected when I shampoo it (some shampoo's strip the hair of its natural oils and can actually be harsh on hair)

I have dandruff and have to use Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner, I also have fine hair and my hair gets greasy quickly, so I only oil from the hair down.

I use Coconut oil and love it, it makes my hair soft, shiny and lovely, that plus my Leave in conditioner, does wonders to my hair.

[Sissy]

I oil on damp or dry hair. I usually try to oil on damp hair as that is my preference. However, sometimes I'm lazy and apply the oil to dry dirty hair put under a plastic shower cap and sleep on it overnight. I have not noticed getting dry or crispy hair from doing this.

[Coriander]

I normally oil on wet hair after a shower, but do sometimes oil on dry hair. I do this for a deep treatment, or a light oiling to keep strands in place. :)

[melikai]

I oil on dry hair. Wet or damp oiling never works out for me, as I can't tell how much I've put on, and I always overdo it.

[Sweetness]

I normally oil on wet hair after a shower, but do sometimes oil on dry hair. I do this for a deep treatment, or a light oiling to keep strands in place. :)

Same here :p

[curlylocks85]

I oil my hair both wet and dry.

[lol21]

I used to use a serum but

it left my hair too greasy.

[Lady Jo]

I always put oil on dry hair ..I'll try it wet and see if it makes any difference

[mowo]

I put oil on dry and sometimes on wet hair. Be honest I have never see any difference between them - both ways are good for my hair :)

[Sammich]

Wet and dry. I put my coconut oil on my hair after I wash my hair, (When it's almost damp.) and then during the days that I don't wash I put coconut oil on to help me to detangle the horrible tangles I get... or if it's feeling particularily icky.

[IttyBittyKitty]

I do both,i use a few drops if i feel my hair needs it and a little bit more after every wash.

[Henrietta]

I put oil on dry hair. I have always thought that since oil is lighter than water it won't get to the hair if there's a water coat on it. But... Maybe I should try oiling when wet just to compare the effects.

[Dragon]

Maybe I should try oiling on wet hair as oiling on dry hair maybe why my hair gets crispy.

[Winterpast]

I oil wet for softer hair. I oil dry if I have a tangle.

[JenniferNoel]

I put oil blends on dry hair, but I put pure oils on damp (not wet) hair. I bun when nearly dry.

[vintersaga]

I oil after I've washed my hair and rinsed out conditioner/treatment, and between the washes (when hair is dry) I oil if my hair tends to get dry and if I'm going to use my BBB. :) I think it both depends on which oil you use, (For example I find some oils are better for use in dry hair than others that tends to leave my hair a little bit crispy or with a funny feeling. I want that silky feeling) and how your hair likes it.:)

[killerpunk]

I use oil on both wet and dry hair. :)

[Astarte_1980]

I use it on dry hair

[mira-chan]

I oil only on dry hair. If I try to oil on wet hair it looks like I have severe buildup. My hair does not like water, misting, or humecants but will soak in oils.

[<3OnHerSleeve]

never have tried it on wet hair. I always put it on dry and wash it out after 1/2 or an overnight oiling and my hair is always so soft if its a good type of oil like coconut or olive

[EverydayMiracle]

If you're oiling wet, are you washing it out the next day? I'm a bit confused.

[JulietCapulet]

I usually apply oil to dry hair or wet hair and let it sit overnight. Then I wash the next day.

[Niwa]

I use it on damp hair. On dry hair, my hair gets crispy. On wet hair, my ends sometimes break because the hair is fragile when wet.

[Lune d'Loup]

I use oil on wet hair to add extra moisture and on dry hair when it needs additional moisture or doing deep treatment.

[christine1989]

I used to do it on damp hair but it is harder to tell how much I am putting on so now I oil on dry hair. I usually just do it on my ends though unless the rest of my hair really needs it.

[jesis]

I oil when wet! I've heard other people say it makes their hair crunchy if they oil it when it's dry. Sometimes I'll do scalp massages with a little dab of oil before I shower.

[nereida]

I have already checked these two methods and I think that the version with damp hair works better for me. When I used to put my coconut oil on dry hair before washing it, my hair wasn't look so shiny and I had some problems with combing it out. Also my hair was much more prone to tangle up during a day.
Now before oiling, I tie my hair in a high ponytail, I tilt my head and put my hair taken into the ponytail under the running water. Then I squeeze it and later I put a huge amount of coconut oil on it. Later I hide it in a small bag and I spend my all day with this :)

[MandaMom2Three]

dry hair + oil = crispy hair for me. If I oil it must be on damp hair!

[Avital88]

i usually use it when my hair is damp so not dripping wet,it works really good.
I use inecto coconut oil for 3 years now, i love it!

[spidermom]

I've changed since I originally posted to this thread. Now I feel I get best results by generously oiling my hair the day (or at least an hour) before I plan to wash it.

[allurose]

So far I've been oiling when I think my hair needs it, like it feels dry that day. Of course it never feels dry when it's wet, duh. I should try that, though. It might be nicer. I usually put on the most oil on days when I didn't wash it.

[LissaJane]

I put oil on not-quite-dry not-quite-damp hair. After a few swishes and airdrying and whatnot.

[laughinglynxie]

I have to oil on dry hair - otherwise I will overdo it. I have fine, straight hair...so it shows up pretty easily if I mess up. :) I think it also depends on the condition your hair is in - for example, if it's damaged from coloring or over styling. There are so many variants!

[Olyve]

I oil on wet hair. I tried it on dry hair and it was stringy no matter how much I used and looked as if it hasn't been washed in weeks. Oiling my hair wet after combing makes my curls more defined, adds shine and it feels wonderfully soft.

[Fethenwen]

Definitely damp, I have started to notice a huge difference in this. I don't use oil as much as a leave in anymore, so I oil my hair the night before washing day on damp hair. I can put quite a generous amount of it nowadays and still have no problems with washing off the excess.

Putting oil on dry hair doesn't seem to do much for me compared to damp oiling.

[Loreley]

Both. But oiling wet hair helps a lot more to me, than oiling when it's dry.

[Wicked Princess]

I use a very, very tiny amount of oil (I gave up on coconut oil) on the ends of my hair when it is 75&#37; dry. Using any on my hair when it is more wet than that leaves me with a weird texture/crunchiness, and using it when my hair is dry doesn't seem to help it at all.

[jesis]

Thank you for the answers,i read that oil on dry hair dehydrate it becouse hair is formed by a part of sebum and a part of water,if we add only oil the hair it soake it..

sorry for my bad english >.< i'm italian

Parlo italiano! Mi dispiace per il mio italiano brutto, sono Americano :D

I use Argon oil when wet, but a few LHCers have told me to use coconut oil as a deep conditioner and I use EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and honey as a deep conditioner. It's all trial and error, as I am learning.

[kteachone]

I use Argon oil when wet...

Does Argon oil have a scent?

I oil wet and dry. I use coconut oil and it makes my hair soooo soft! I use it instead of a leave-in...it's cheaper and works wonderfully.

On wash days, I load up on oil and wash.

[Love23101]

I use coconut oil on dry hair. For maximum absorption, use a hot towel to wrap your hair in. Wet hair is 'okay' at pulling in the oil... but dry hair is much better IMO.

[jesis]

Does Argon oil have a scent?

I oil wet and dry. I use coconut oil and it makes my hair soooo soft! I use it instead of a leave-in...it's cheaper and works wonderfully.

On wash days, I load up on oil and wash.

Well.. to be more precise, I use Healthy Sexy Hair's Argan oil. (Sorry I mispelled it before.) It is full of cones, but the real stuff is expensive and I had bought a new bottle of this right before joining LHC. Whenever I run out, I'm going to go for the real stuff. But I can put a TON of Argan oil in my hair and it won't make it greasy. In fact, I noticed that when my hair was growing the fastest, and I was getting the most compliments, was when I was using HSH's Argan Oil. It really does work!

Coconut oil made my hair INCREDIBLY soft. I've only used it twice, experimenting. I noticed my hair would get a lot more tangled. It was unmanageable. I almost feel like it made my hair have a "cotton candy" look. I would lose all of my curl by the end of the day and I would be left with this mess of frizz. I'm going to try using it in an SMT instead, to see if that might give me better results.

[owlathena]

I use coconut oil on wet hair. I often overdo it though if I'm not careful, and and up with oily, stringy hair once it dries.

[Pifkin]

Both. Oiling my hair when it's damp makes it much silkier and smoother than oiling dry, so I always oil after a shower, but I add a little to my ends on days when I don't get my hair wet too. It's almost impossible for me to over-oil; my hair eats that stuff up.

(I use coconut oil.)

[Henrietta]

Dry, before washing. Oiling wet hair doesn't work for me. I don't have any benefits.

[rosek]

I use conditioner on wet hair, and oil on dry hair. I find oil makes my hair harder to comb out if I apply it to wet hair.

[caadam]

I oil my hair when it's dry.
If I put oil on my wet hair, my hair will be greasy-looking for days.
But if I put oil on my hair when it's dry, my hair is soft and shiny. ♥

[jujube]

I only use oil as a pre-wash treatment (my hair is too short to use it after I shower), so I apply it to my dry hair and wrap with a scarf. Last night I colored so today after a BS wash/ACV rinse, I used a 50/50 EVOO-conditioner moisture treatment on my damp hair, wrapped it in a scarf, and I'll wait a few hours till I wash again. Then I won't wash for a few days.

[caadam]

I only use oil as a pre-wash treatment (my hair is too short to use it after I shower), so I apply it to my dry hair and wrap with a scarf. Last night I colored so today after a BS wash/ACV rinse, I used a 50/50 EVOO-conditioner moisture treatment on my damp hair, wrapped it in a scarf, and I'll wait a few hours till I wash again. Then I won't wash for a few days.
Oooh!
Did you henna your hair? *_*
Are you going to take pictures? ♥

[thatjengirl1]

I use coconut oil on damp hair. i wash my hair and all that. let it dry for 15 mins, then apply coconut oil from my ears down. not too much though. if i put even just a bit too much, my hair is super greasy and my hair turns into a lint trap. like the oil makes lint and dust go in my hair and stick.

[T.L.T.]

I use it as a prewash - put it on overnight or a couple hours before I wash.

[QMacrocarpa]

Pretty much only on dry hair, since I've had the greasy, stringy result from oiling just-washed hair that some others have mentioned. I usually put a little jojoba oil in my hair on non-wash days.

[Choctaw]

I oil my scalp whether hair is damp or dry. I seal my ends when hair is damp. My hair is soaked when I add oil to do an oil rinse. I pre-oil for deep conditioning on dry hair.

[Veer666]

I only oil my hair when wet

[Anywhere]

I do both, mostly dry hair though because I don't like running my hands through wet hair, it disrupts my curl pattern.

[Lianna]

I do it both ways. It nourishes when dry, but really moisturizes when wet/damp.

[CurlySoleil]

I use oil on damp/wet hair. If I put it on dry hair it just sits on top of my strands and makes my hair feel dirty. :(

[lingxi]

It depends; I oil on damp hair to seal in the moisture and on dry hair for extra shine.

[boudica]

Have been oiling using argan oil the day before washing and sleeping with it tied up in a braid. Am going to try oiling it wet.

Am also going to put some oil mixed with water in a mister. I intend to shake it well before spritzing, which will allow me to add both water and oil when my hair is dry.

Oiling dry does not make my hair crispy. My hair loves it!

PS What's a serum?

[halfbroke]

I oil my hair only when it is damp.

[virgo75]

I oil my hair lightly when it's damp, lightly again while it's in between washes, and more heavily on dry hair before I wash it again.

[anodyne_ame]

I have to admit I hadn't even thought about this...I've only used it on dry hair so far but now I really want to see how oiling affects my damp hair.

[CarpeDM]

I only apply oil to dry hair because I feel it is absorbed better that way.

[Freki]

I generally oil whenever I remember to, but I have noticed that my hair feels softer when I've oiled it while it's damp.

[Nsaki911]

Dry oilings give me crispy hair - I oil damp.
I use Coconut oil.

I've been using castor oil with lavender essential oil. It is definitely helping me fill in some spots that were starting to get thin. I wasn't happy with the thickness of the oil though. It is a little overwhelming. I decided to try using coconut oil in the blend while adding rosemary essential oil as well because like lavender it also stimulates hair growth. I'll give it a month and report on how it works.

[DweamGoiL]

I oil lightly when damp exclusively. I just don't oil every single wash, but when I feel it needs it.

[lithostoic]

Dry hair. I use it in between washes when my ends get grabby, which isn't very often anymore. I'll probably start using it more often again since the weather is cooler.

[Rowdy]

Only on dry hair right before I wash it.

[Rebeccalaurenxx]

On dry and wet hair. I prefer dry because I have more control over products that way. When my hair is wet, I somehow always over oil.

[Ligeia Noire]

I use argan oil on my scalp before washing, so when dry and I add castor oil or jojoba to my deep conditioning masks after shampooing, so when wet. I mostly need to moisturize my hair so I add it when damp or wet.

[patches]

I use it on both wet/damp and dry hair. Pretty much whenever I feel like it needs it. Most often it is when it's damp though. And coconut oil is by far what I use the most.

[lapushka]

Oils & serums always on wet or damp hair. I am going to be using the oil I got in Lidl this week (a more natural baby oil, without MO & silicones) for my rinse-out oil this Sunday.

[Miruku]

I do both! I oil often actually, because it helps me keep my detangling process as painless as possible. For dry oiling, I'll use my argan oil twice a day; once when combing my hair in the morning, and then at night before I go to bed. On wash days I'll do a pre-oil scalp massage with some olive oil, and then when I get out and LOC I'll use the tiniest drop of argan again. If it's not super small then my hair ends up pretty oily. As always though, ymmv :o this just works for me.

[RottenMango]

I always use it on wet hair to seal in the moisture. I never apply hair products to dry hair. That is a recipe for disaster for me.

[Begemot]

Damp or dry. It's more difficult to say how much to apply when my hair is wet, I end up using way more than I need. Oil applied on damp hair is best for me (after washing or after using water based leave-in).

[Groovy Granny]

I use it on WET hair as ROO or a leave in; applied to dry hair, it leaves my fine wispies looking weighed down and greasy.
If needed to tame frizz I spritz my hair with water to dampen it and then apply a couple drops to the ends.

[pinkypoo]

I do both, on wash days I put oil on over a leave in and on regular days I'll smooth a little over my dry hair at night.

[The-Young-Maid]

I use oil on both wet and dry hair.

[silentlotus]

I prepoo using oils on dry hair but after washing after using leave in conditioner I like to use argan oil, my hair is soaking wet but it is still damp

[Bat]

I like to gently towel dry before oil, it makes me use less oil to cover it

[curly girl fla]

Usually dry at night, straight up oil on my ends. I use a homemade growth mix, Jamaican Black Castor Oil-based, on my scalp.

[baanoo]

Historically, I have put a little oil in my hair when it's damp. This week, however, I tried out a pre-wash argon oil treatment before my last wash and currently have a coconut oil pre-wash treatment wrapped up waiting for a shower to see how it goes.

[sipnsun]

I do both... If I oil when wet, it looks greasy until I wash again but it's very moisturized. If I apply it when dry and doesn't look oily but I have to do it more often.

[MiaShaylee]

I always use oil on my wet hair - I've found that it helps prevent breakage and also helps to tame a bit of my frizz. If I'm getting way to much volume (happens on super humid days) I'll use a tiny bit more on dry hair. Occasionally I will do a oil mask on dry hair before washing and haven't had any issues with drying.

[Dominga]

If I use coconut oil I use it on wet hair so it locks in the moisture..
If I use shea butter, I use it on dry hair It won't get greasy on me

[andreea_since95]

I use oil on damp and dry hair, never on soaking wet hair.

[GoatLady]

Wet or damp hair.

[Glitch]

Both! A bit right when my hair is damp after washes, and then as needed on dry hair as long as I'm not going out the next day. Both of these only involve the length of my hair, never the scalp.

[Fiorentina]

I use oil on damp and dry hair, but never on soaking wet hair.

[Frida177]

Both... whenever its dry.