How to use hair oil – before or after washing?

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Too much, in the wrong place or at the wrong time – and your hair quickly looks heavy or greasy. Yet hair oil is really simple once you know how. Here you'll find the right amount, the right timing and a little scalp ritual to help you unwind.

1What does hair oil actually do?

Plant oils wrap around the hair like a fine protective film. This means:

  • Your hair becomes more supple and easier to comb.
  • It gets a natural shine – without a silicone film.
  • On the scalp, oil helps prevent dryness – especially in autumn and winter, when heated indoor air dries everything out.

2Before washing: as a treatment

Ideal for a dry scalp or damaged lengths. The oil cares intensively and is then washed out – so nothing feels weighed down.

  • apply to dry hair and scalp
  • leave on for at least 30 minutes, or overnight if you like
  • for overnight: put an old towel over your pillow

Tip: When washing it out, apply shampoo to the dry, oiled hair first and only then add water. This makes the oil much easier to wash out.

3After washing: for shine

  • rub 1–2 drops between your palms
  • apply to towel-dried or dry hair
  • only on the lengths and ends – not on the roots
  • tames flyaways and frizz

4The evening scalp ritual

Just a few minutes – and simply soothing after a long day:

  1. Prepare: brush through your dry hair once and roughly divide it into sections.
  2. Apply: put a few drops of hair oil on the scalp along the partings.
  3. Massage: with the bamboo brush, work in small circles over the scalp from the nape upwards – for 2 to 5 minutes.
  4. Distribute: use the brush to draw the oil from the scalp down to the ends.
  5. Leave on: overnight or for at least 30 minutes, then wash as usual.

Your fingertips work too – but with the brush the oil spreads more evenly and the massage feels more intense.

5How much oil do you need?

  • Short hair: 2–3 drops for the scalp
  • Shoulder-length hair: 4–6 drops for scalp and lengths
  • Long or thick hair: 6–10 drops
  • Just for shine: 1–2 drops

Important: Start with a little and add more if needed. Too much oil is the most common reason hair looks greasy.

6How often?

  • As a treatment: 1–2× a week, more often for very dry hair
  • For shiny ends: daily if you like
  • Fine hair: use less, ideally as a pre-wash treatment
  • Curly or thick hair: can take a little more, also as a leave-in

7The 5 most common mistakes

  • Too much at once – better to work in small amounts
  • Leave-in on the roots – for shine, only on lengths and ends
  • Not leaving it on long enough – allow at least 30 minutes for a treatment
  • Water first, then shampoo – the other way round, the oil washes out more easily
  • Too impatient – the difference shows with regular use

CONCLUSION

Hair oil is really simple: as a pre-wash treatment for intensive care, or sparingly afterwards for shine. Combined with a short scalp massage, it becomes a little moment just for you.

MONATURE RECOMMENDS

Your scalp ritual

Our hair oil made from six plant oils – vegan, silicone-free – and the bamboo massage brush in its velvet pouch. Together they also make a lovely gift.

To the hair oil →To the bamboo brush →

← All topics: Skin & Hair Knowledge