How Long Should You Leave Oil in Your Hair?

It's one of the most common hair oiling questions, and you'll hear everything from 'ten minutes' to 'leave it for three days'. Here's a practical answer, based on how oil actually works on hair.

The short answer

Thirty minutes to two hours is enough for most people. Overnight is fine if you enjoy it. Leaving oil in for more than a day isn't recommended.

What happens while oil sits on your hair

Oil coats the hair strand and smooths its outer layer. Some lighter oils can also be absorbed slightly into the strand over time. Most of the benefit, softer, smoother hair that feels less stripped after washing, happens within the first hour or two. After that, you get diminishing returns, and the oil becomes harder to wash out.

By hair type

• Fine or oily hair: 30 minutes to an hour. Longer can leave hair limp even after washing.
• Normal hair: one to two hours, or overnight occasionally.
• Thick, dry or curly hair: two hours to overnight. Richer oils like walnut work well here.
• Coloured or chemically treated hair: one to two hours as a pre-wash treatment helps lengths feel less dry.

By oil

• Apricot: lightest and easiest to wash out. Great for short treatments and fine hair.
• Almond: the all-rounder. One to two hours suits most people.
• Walnut: richest. Best for longer treatments on dry hair; may need two shampoos.

Is overnight oiling good?

For dry hair, an overnight treatment can leave lengths noticeably softer. It's also convenient: oil before bed, wash in the morning. Use an old pillowcase or towel, and plait hair loosely to prevent tangles. If you wake up with an itchy scalp, stick to shorter treatments.

Why you shouldn't leave oil in for days

• Oil on the scalp attracts dust and pollution, especially in dusty cities.
• Some scalps get itchy or flaky when oil sits for too long.
• It becomes much harder to wash out, so you end up using more shampoo.
• Hair can look flat and feel heavy.

Make a short treatment work harder

1. Warm the oil first by standing the bottle in warm water.
2. Massage your scalp for five minutes.
3. Wrap your hair in a towel wrung out in hot water, or wear a shower cap.
4. Leave for 30 minutes, then wash as normal.

Can I use oil as a leave-in?

Yes, but only a tiny amount. One or two drops smoothed over the ends of dry or damp hair works as a light finishing oil. Keep it off the roots.

New to oiling? Start with our step-by-step hair oiling guide, or read about almond oil for hair.