Are you Oiling your Hair Correctly? Read THIS to know more

Want to add life to your tresses? Ace your grandma’s fav Champi the easiest way..

Remember those days when our mum & grandmums used to apply oil to our hair and kept going on & on about how good it is for your locks? Well, same!! But we’ve come far away by ignoring those tips & all we’re left with is damaged hair!

Let’s not just sulk about it, and let us help you find the correct way to oil your hair & make your nanis and dadis proud!

What is Hair Oiling?

Hair Oiling is a common ayurvedic practice in South Asia dating back almost 5000 years ago. Thanks to TikTok, it has been rebranded under the name ‘Hair Slugging’ and is widely taking over the hair care industry by storm! 

If you’re new to this concept, hair oiling involves pouring oil into your scalp & hair and massaging it gently. Usually, it’s left like that for a few hours or overnight (up to you) & rinsed after! The benefits are ample, the most common being getting soft & conditioned hair!

What are the benefits of Oiling Hair?

Just like your body, your hair needs essential nutrients to strive & grow! You gotta fuel your hair with oil so that it always stays healthy, strong, and lustrous. Hair Oiling protects your hair from environmental aggressors, daily wear & tear and enhances strength of your locks.

Hair Oiling for Hair Growth

Massaging your hair and scalp with oil boosts blood circulation and ensures that plenty of nutrients are absorbed so that your hair grows long and strong. 

For best results, ask your mum, bae or anyone to give you a relaxing head massage with warm hair oil! Trust us, your stress will just melt away, all with the added benefit of lustrous hair growth. It’s definitely a win-win 😉

Strengthens Hair

If you’re someone whose hair doesn’t stop falling, then hair oiling is one of the best techniques to reverse this problem. Applying a hair oil provides essential minerals to your scalp & prevents any kind of environmental damage. This improves the tensile strength of your hair which is definitely one of the best benefits of oiling hair.

Reduces Hair fall

If hairfall is one of the major hair issues you’re dealing with, pamper yourself with a nourishing hair oil massage. This exfoliates your scalp, gets rid of dead cells & nourishes your hair that completely reverses hair fall & encourages thicker hair growth.

Maintains Hair & Scalp Health

Using products meant for hair may make your hair appear healthy but they usually contain harsh chemicals that lead to product build up. This keeps your scalp & hair away from being healthy. But, as always, hair oiling comes to the rescue as it keeps your hair hydrated & maintains scalp health.

Keeps dandruff in check

Did you know that a majority of the population suffers from dandruff? As common as this problem is, not many know that regular hair oiling can actually help with this issue! Applying a hair oil nourishes your dry scalp & reduces flakiness, thereby curing all your dandruff woes.

How to Oil your Hair?

Oiling your hair the right way is a skill in itself! And we’re absolutely sure that you wouldn’t like to see your efforts go in vain.

Follow these steps & learn how to oil your hair in the best way possible:

Step 1: Heat up the oil

Take a few spoonfuls of oil according to your hair length & warm it on a low flame. A warm hair oil massage will allow the oil to penetrate deeper into your scalp & ensure better nourishment.

Step 2: Part your hair into two sections

Before you start applying hair oil, part your hair into two sections for better application! When you massage hair oil in sections, it ensures that it reaches the scalp & gives better results.

Step 3: Apply Oil

Start massaging your scalp in circular motions for a few minutes. Run your fingers through the entire scalp & spread it to your strands when done. 

Step 4: Wrap it up with a warm cloth

Tie your hair & wrap a warm cotton shirt or cloth around your head. This allows the pores to open up & enhances better penetration of hair oil. 

Step 5: Time to rinse!

You can also leave the hair oil overnight and wash off your hair the next day. Just ensure that you use a mild shampoo & rinse with cold or lukewarm water.

Which Hair Oil to use?

The kind of oil to use widely depends on the type of hair you have.

As per Ayurvedic texts, your hair type is determined by three doshas known as Vata, Pitta & Kapha. If Vata is predominant, your hair will be dry & frizzy and therefore you’ll need a hair oil massage every day. People having high Pitta have oily hair while people with high Kapha have long & smooth hair. 

Don’t know your Ayurvedic Dosha? Read our blog here.

Also, it is important to do a patch best before so that you don’t develop an allergy. Wondering which hair oil to use? Read on:

Aloe Vera Hair Oil

Aloe Vera has a cure for all hair problems!! Yep, truly! Aloe Vera hair oil naturally makes your hair softer, smoother & frizz-free. The proteolytic enzymes in Aloe Vera moisturize your hair & scalp, lessen hair breakage along the shaft & lock in moisture which helps improve overall hair texture. It also relaxes the mind & boosts blood circulation which may activate hair follicles for thicker, stronger & voluminous hair growth.

Bhringraj Hair Oil

According to Ayurveda, Bhringraj is considered to be a ‘Rasayana’ that rejuvenates your hair & improves its longevity. It’s often known as ‘Keshraj’ or ‘King of Hair’ due to its excellent ability to maintain hair health. Being rich in active constituents like Jatamansi and Haritaki, it also helps to maintain your natural hair colour & reduces pigment loss. It also provides a firmer grip on the roots and reverses hair damage so that your hair stays healthy & strong.

Want to reduce hairfall & regrow your hair at the same time? Bhringraj is your go-to hair oil to get the best of both worlds! 

Neem Hair Oil

Looking for a cure for dandruff? Neem Oil is your go-to hair oil! Neem is called a ‘universal healer’ as it is rich in antibacterial and antifungal properties that kill dandruff-causing fungi and provide relief against scalp itchiness & inflammation. 

It also reverses hair damage caused by pollution, strong medications, heat styling & stress, and also prevents breakage along the hair shaft.

Onion Hair Oil

Being rich in sulfur, Onion Hair Oil nourishes hair strands & ensures hair growth. This hair oil also reduces split ends and maintains the overall health of the hair. 

Using onion oil on a regular basis treats baldness & prevents hair thinning. By maintaining the pH level of the hair, it also prevents premature greying and stimulates your scalp to boost blood circulation & reduce hairfall.

Castor Hair Oil

Castor Oil is rich in ricinoleic acid that lubricates the hair shaft & helps minimize hair breakage. It is advised that you use Castor Oil with another carrier hair oil like Olive Oil or Coconut Oil otherwise it will make your scalp greasy.

Coconut Hair Oil

Coconut Oil is one of the most common hair oils widely used by people. Being lightweight, it easily penetrates into the hair shaft & reverses hair damage.

Almond Hair Oil

Almond Oil is a bit thicker than Coconut Oil and contains essential vitamins that encourage hair growth

Argan Hair Oil

Also known as Moroccan Oil, this hair oil contains important vitamins & omega-3 fatty acids that condition and strengthen hair. 

Olive Hair Oil

If you’re looking for the quickest way to condition your hair, then Olive Oil is the best hair oil for that purpose! It also encourages healthier, thicker & luscious hair growth.

Common Hair Oiling mistakes that you should AVOID

Never comb after having a hair oil massage

Combing your hair right after hair oiling will lead to breakage as your scalp is relaxed. If you really need to avoid tangles, comb your hair with a wooden Neem Comb before starting with a warm hair oil massage.

Wrapping your hair with a towel

Never wrap your hair with a warm towel as the fibers are rough which may lead to more breakage. Always use a warm cloth or a T-shirt instead.

Applying oil on wet hair

The reason why you shouldn’t apply oil on wet hair goes back to our 6th grade Science class! Oil repels water & no matter how much hair oil you apply, your hair won’t absorb it at any cost. So, it’s always better to apply hair oil on dry hair so that it penetrates deep into the layers.

Tying hair tightly after hair oiling

Your hair is at a vulnerable stage after a good hair oil massage & if you make the mistake of tying it too tightly, then it will further cause more damage & you’ll end up incurring major hair loss.

Applying Hair Oil every day

If you oil your hair everyday then it would technically mean shampooing it every day too. Leaving hair oil for too long will clog pores, accumulate dirt & dandruff, and cause product build up. However, applying it once or twice a week is highly recommended.

Don’t apply too much oil

When you apply too much hair oil, you’ll end up using a lot of shampoo to wash off excess oil. This will strip off your hair’s natural oils leaving it dry & dull.