How to Oil Hair : Step by Step Guide
Hair oiling is the practice of pouring oil onto hair and massaging it into the scalp to increase moisture, luster, and shine. Hair oiling may soften the hair and provide vitamins and minerals that get stripped from frequent washing.
This practice has been used in Sri Lanka for centuries and is recommended in Ayurvedic medicine.
Hair oiling has spread beyond Ayurvedic practices, and many use it to maintain the health and vibrancy of their hair. It may even reduce hair loss, according to some experts.
There are also specific techniques to hair oiling, as well as different oil types you can use to get particular benefits.
Growing up in Sri Lanka, most of my Sunday evenings as a schoolgirl were spent putting oil in my hair. My grandma would bring out our traditional herb infused coconut hair oil, a fixture in most Sri Lankan homes. She would then proceed to give head massages to each of my sisters and me, one by one.
It was a sweet, attentive way to show her care for us.
While I and many South Asian women oiled their hair as a cultural tradition, there’s a fair amount of science behind the practice.
How to oil your hair
Massaging the oil into the scalp increases blood circulation, which may improve hair growth. Applying oil to the scalp may also prevent dandruff, at Sinha Hair, we have formulated a special oil for treating dandruff.
Follow these steps to give hair oiling a try:
- Apply oil on your scalp and massage with fingertips using a circular motion.
- Apply the oil left on your palms to your hair.
- Cover with a towel or shower cap and leave on overnight.
- The next day, shampoo hair while dry. Rinse thoroughly.
- Do not condition your hair after oiling. Your hair already has enough moisture from the treatment and too much product can block pores and cause more harm.
Benefits of oiling hair
Oils play an important role in protecting hair from regular wear and tear. Oiling hair regularly reduces hygral fatigue, or the swelling and drying of hair. Oils protect the follicle from surfactants by filling the gap between cuticle cells.
“Oil helps in scalp health. When you gently massage the scalp it helps in exfoliation and sometimes that helps in reducing hair fall,” says Dr. Khushboo Garodia.
Garodia is a certified trichologist, or hair and scalp expert. She explains that oils have fatty acids that help replace lipids in the hair. These are lost due to chemical treatments, styling, or even pollution.
“Lipids play a very important role in making the hair look and feel healthy. They help maintain the shine and gloss of hair,” she says.
According to Garodia, oil helps strengthen the hair shaft, especially in case of frizzy and dry hair. It’s most beneficial when the oil is left in the hair overnight.
