Pre-Wash Oil Treatments for Fall: How to Protect Hair from Breakage...

Pre-Wash Oil Treatments: Why They’re a Must During Cooler Months (with Ella Dean)

OCTOBER 13, 2025

A pre-wash oil treatment (aka “pre-poo”) protects hair from moisture swings and shampoo stress, reduces tangles and breakage, and keeps the scalp comfortable when the weather turns cool and dry. For best results, apply our No Time For Flakes (Intense Dandruff Oil) on dry or lightly damp hair 20–45 minutes before shampooing, then cleanse with our Moisturizing & Strengthening Shampoo and follow with Moisturizing & Strengthening Conditioner.

Why hair needs extra protection in fall/winter 
From October through early spring in the Pacific Northwest, we bounce between chilly air, rain, wind, and heated indoor spaces. Hats, scarves, and space heaters wick moisture from hair and scalp, causing:
 
• More tangles + mechanical breakage
• Frizz and dullness from lifted cuticles
• Itch or tightness on the scalp
 
A pre-wash oil treatment cushions strands against these stressors and helps your wash day work with your hair, not against it.

The science-y benefits
Less hygral fatigue: Oil slows excessive water swelling/shrinking in the hair shaft.
Cuticle smoothing: Oil forms a light barrier so shampooing doesn’t strip too hard.
Better slip: Detangling before you shampoo = fewer knots = less breakage.
Scalp comfort: Targeted oils + massage support circulation and soothe dryness.

Which Ella Dean oil should I use?
1) Growth-focused + versatile: Look, But Don’t Touch (Extra Hair Growth Oil) 
Formulated with pomegranate, amla, mustard seed, hibiscus, and watermelon seed oils, LBDT is a lightweight, nutrient-rich blend that boosts slip, adds shine, and supports scalp vitality—perfect for routine pre-poo and for fine–medium density curls/coils.
Use LBDT if: you want a lighter feel, faster absorption, and a growth-supporting ritual that won’t weigh hair down.
 
2) Moisture-rich + protective: Honor Thy Crown (Hair Growth Oil) 
HTC brings a richer, protective finish—great for thicker textures, high-porosity hair, protective styles, or ends that feel parched in colder weather.
Use HTC if: you need extra cushion from wind/heaters, wear hats/scarves often, or your ends feel chronically dry.
 
3) Scalp-soothing reset: So Long, Itch! (Itchy Scalp Oil) 
   
  For anyone experiencing seasonal itchiness or tightness, this herbal blend calms and comforts the scalp—use on its own or layered under LBDT/HTC on trouble spots before wash day.
 
Use So Long, Itch! if: your scalp feels reactive, flaky, or tight once temps drop.

Step-by-step: the perfect pre-wash oil treatment
1. Section first: Part hair into 4–8 sections.
2. Apply oil:
• Fine/low-density: 6–10 drops per section (LBDT).
• Medium/high-density or protective styles: 10–15 drops per section (HTC).
• Itchy areas: 2–3 drops of So Long, Itch! directly on the scalp, then your main oil.
3. Massage (60–90 sec): Pads of fingers, small circles along each part—supports circulation and lifts buildup.
4. Detangle gently: Use fingers or a wide-tooth comb from ends up; add a few drops for extra slip.
5. Process: Clip hair up. Leave on 20–45 minutes (or under a shower cap).
6. Cleanse: Rinse lightly, then shampoo with Moisturizing & Strengthening Shampoo—it cleans without stripping the oil’s protective benefits.
7. Condition & seal: Work in Moisturizing & Strengthening Conditioner; rinse. On damp hair, smooth 1–3 drops of LBDT or HTC over mid-lengths/ends to lock in softness.
 
Pro tip: For very dry ends, “oil-rinse” them—coat ends with a few drops of oil, then let the conditioner sit 3–5 minutes before rinsing.

Make pre-wash your non-negotiable this season. Choose your Ella Dean oil—LBDT for lightweight growth support, Honor Thy Crown for plush moisture and protection, So Long, Itch! for scalp comfort—then lock it in with our Moisturizing & Strengthening Shampoo + Conditioner duo on wash day.