Before treating a drum, you should coat it lightly with a few sprits of water. It is very handy to have a water bottle with a spray nozzle when you play a session or a gig, as you might not always have water handy, and a few sprays right before a song can really improve the tone.
Oils should not be applied in a large amount, as they may take time to absorb into the skin. This all depends on the drum, but take my word for it.
You should only apply enough oil to lighty coat the drum. Pour some on a soft cloth, and gently ease it on the head in small circles. Leave the drum be for the time it needs to absorb.
Regular playing will assure that the oils disperse evenly into the skin. A drum's tone actually improves with playing, so play it as much as you can! :)
Oils should not be applied often. If your drum's skin feels dry and thin, it needs oil. This does not happen often on a good quality instrument. If not, applying it twice a year should do the trick! Use common sense.
