Hair Oiling: Benefits And How To Do It

If you have never oiled your hair, then you are seriously missing out. An ayurvedic practice which became a tradition in almost every Indian household is now gaining popularity all over the globe. Hair oiling has been associated with Ayurveda and is a secret to good and healthy hair. But it’s not just confined to your hair and scalp, it has more to it.

Hair oiling is a simple practice in which you massage your scalp and the length of your hair with the oil of your choice. And then let the oil do its magic! It’s that simple! However, this simple practice holds so benefits that you be surprised.

Hair oiling may seem like a tedious and messy task but believe us it’s not. Your hair needs external care from the damage it faces. The damage to the hair can be caused due to internal or external reasons. Internal reasons are when your body lacks sufficient nutrients and vitamins to promote good hair health whereas external means the factor that causes hair damage externally. It can be either due to products we use on our hair, heat that we apply, pollution, sun or sometimes eve

Hair oiling is a great method to restore your hair’s lost health. It’s very hassle-free and easy to do.

Benefits Of Hair Oiling

1. Makes locks more vibrant

Oils play a key role in providing hair with the hydration they need. They keep your hair moisturized, nourished, strong and healthy. The oil helps to keep the moisture locked in your hair which gives they a very vibrant and shiny look.

According to research from 2015, oils help prevent hygral fatigue (repeated swelling and drying that can damage hair). lower hygral fatigue (repeated swelling and drying), a factor that can damage hair. The oil can fill the gap between the cuticle cells and prevent the penetration of aggressive substances such as surfactants into the follicle. Applying oil on a regular basis can enhance the lubrication of the shaft and help prevent hair breakage.

2. Improves scalp health

A healthy scalp means healthy hair. That is why it is very important to keep the scalp of your hair healthy and clean to promote hair growth. If your scalp isn’t healthy, the chances of hair breakage, thinning or falling increase.

Your scalp secrets oil which is absolutely normal help to protect and support healthy hair. But the sebum can build up on your scalp and can trap a lot of dirt and pollution into the scalp. This needs to be cleaned in order to maintain good scalp health.

According to research, using coconut oil in particular may enrich the scalp microbiome. This happens because of the exceptional quality of the coconut oil to provides your hair with essential vitamins and amino acids.

3. Prevets dryness and dandruff

Dandruff is the enemy of your hair which is caused by a dry scalp. Dryness though gives an open invitation to dandruff, oiling can help you revoke that invitation by combating the dryness. Regularly oiling your hair will give it the hydration and nourishment it needs to keep your scalp dandruff-free.

4. Might promote hair growth

Oiling your hair regularly can promote hair growth and we aren’t just saying it for the sake of saying it. Studies support our saying and suggest that using rosemary oil, peppermint oil, and red ginseng oil in particular may help in hair fall and prevent hair loss.

And according to research from 2016 and 2019, even scalp massage can result in improving the thickness of your hair.

This can easily be a ‘told you so‘ moment for us once you use the benefits of hair oiling yourself!

5. Relaxing and De-stressing

If you had a long day or you are stressed, hair oiling can really help you de-stress and feel better. Using warm oil and giving your head good massages with it using your fingers just works like a magic and you can instantly feel the effects of it. Believe us, a good hair massage can teleport you to a blissful land.

6. Help Support the Growth of New Hair Follicles

Some hair oil can help to support the growth of new hair follicles. If your follicle isn’t dead there is a chance of hair regrowth from them. If you regularly massage your scalp using oil, it could activate that follicle and revive the growth of your hair. Additionally, it is also noticed that oiling regularly can also help to prevent premature greying of hair.

How To Do It

There isn’t any rocket science behind oiling your hair. It’s a simple method of self-care where you can show your hair how much you love them. These are a few basic steps to help you if you are new to the hair oiling game.

Follow these steps to give hair oiling a try:

Apply a few drops of oil on your scalp and massage with your fingertips using a circular motion. You’ll notice some amount of hair is absorbed while there is a significant amount of oil left.

Apply the oil left on your palms to your hair. Ensure you are not too aggressive with it.

Cover with a towel or shower cap and leave on overnight. If you are doing it during the day, make sure your atleast leave the oil for 3-4 hours to do its work.

Wash your hair with a good shampoo hair. Make sure to get rid of all the excessive oil.

Use the conditioner of choice as usual and voila! You are done!

Which Oil To Use

You can literally use any hair oil for your hair oiling but Ayurveda determines which oil is the best for you. According to Ayurveda, the texture and health of the hair are determined by the doshas- vata (wind), pitta (fire) and kapha (water and earth). These are believed to be bioenergy or life forces that make up the constitution of the body.

If vata is high, the hair appear to be thin, frizzy, and dry. In this case, any oil will work for you. While if the pitta is high, then the hair will be a mix of oily and dry hair. They may also be more prone to premature greying and alopecia. Those with high Kapha have oily, thick, long, and curly hair. And picking up the right oil by any Ayurvedic expert will largely depend on it.

There are multiple options to choose from like coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, sesame oil, olive oil and even mustard oil.

Our Final Thought

Hair oiling is a good practice for your hair in order to keep them strong and healthy. It does not have any side effects and is an inexpensive method of hair care. It is highly recommended to apply and massage oil in your hair as it will give your hair the nourishment and care it needs. A practice worth trying!

Let us know if you have tried hair oiling before and if has it worked for you using @pycklepedia on Instagram. We’ll love to see your hair!

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