Hair oiling is the practice of pouring natural oils onto your hair and massaging it into the scalp to increase shine, moisture and overall health. Hair oiling may soften the hair and provide vitamins and minerals that get stripped from frequent washing.
The practice of hair oiling has been used in India for centuries and is recommended in Ayurvedic medicine but hair oiling has gained traction recently in the world of natural hair care. Many people use hair oiling to maintain the health and vibrancy of their hair and it may even reduce hair loss, according to some experts.
Benefits of hair oiling
The main goal of hair oiling is to hydrate your hair and make up for any vitamins or minerals your hair may be missing after repeated washing.
Oils play an important role in protecting hair from regular wear and tear. Oiling hair regularly reduces hydral fatigue, or the swelling and drying of hair, reducing the hair damage caused by chemical products. 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.
Some of the many benefits of hair oiling are:
Adds nutrients and vitamins to the scalp and hair follicles.
Strengthens hair follicles to promote hair growth and lustrous hair.
Reduces frizz in the hair.
Nourishes hair roots and keeps hair soft and hydrated.
Essential oils like tea tree oil and rose oil target specific scalp and skin issues.
Prevents dandruff.
Prevents premature greying of hair.
Offer stress relief.
Reduces the risk of lice.
Fights hair fall.
There are some specific techniques to hair oiling and we've got some tips to make sure you get the most out of your hair oiling.
1 - Brush hair before you apply your hair oil
Never brush your hair after oiling as brushing or combing oiled or wet hair causes breakage due to the hair being in a sensitive state.
Instead prep your hair by brushing or combing before oiling in order to avoid any tangling. Brushing your scalp with a soft scalp massager prior to oiling hair is also encouraged as it will stimulate your scalp. By stimulating your scalp, you are essentially waking up the blood vessels and encouraging circulation in your scalp.
2 - Apply hair oil before washing
Hair oil should be applied before washing your hair for 2 key reasons.
Firstly, oil repels water. If you apply oil to wet hair, water will repel it and won’t allow for deep penetration making it less effective. Water forms a layer on your hair and scalp that does not allow the oil to pass through it. Hence, you must ideally apply oil to dry hair for it to be able to nourish the deeper layers of your scalp and hair
When your hair comes in contact with water (i.e. every time you wash it), it swells up. As you dry it, it contracts again. This phenomenon is called hydral fatigue and it’s not good for hair. All that swelling and contracting makes your hair dry, weak, and prone to breakage.
When you apply hair oil before washing, the oil reduces the amount of water your hair soaks up during washing, reducing hydra fatigue. Hair oil also protects the scalp from any harsh chemicals that may be in your shampoo and conditioner.
That said, it's also important to ensure that your hair isn't too sweaty or dirty when you apply hair oil. You want to reap the benefits of your hair oil, without having to deal with dirt trapped inside your pores.
3 - Don't use too much oil
When it comes to applying oil to your hair, a little bit goes a long way. The more oil you use, the more shampoo you need to rinse it out and this can make your hair dry and undo all the benefit of using hair oil in the first place. Plus residual oil in hair can clog pores and make your scalp dehydrated and oily. Using extra oil does not mean extra benefits and you just need to use enough to cover your roots with oil.
As a general rule, the oilier your hair, the less oil you need. A few drops are more than enough but if you have extremely dry hair then you can apply more liberally as your thirsty hair will soak more up.
4 - Heat your hair oil before applying
Warm oil penetrates better. Oil molecules are very big and it is not easy for them to seep inside your scalp. Warming the oil helps in breaking these molecules, allowing for deeper penetration through your hair cuticles.
Plus when you heat oil up, it becomes less fluid, meaning it will spread throughout your hair more easily and evenly.
Top Tip - Make sure the oil is warm, NOT hot, when you apply it on your hair
5 - Leave oil on for an hour before washing but not overnight
One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving their hair oil in overnight. Overnight hair oiling can clog our pores and can also attract dust and dirt to collect in your hair which can block the hair follicles and lead to scalp infections.
But equally you need to allow the oil enough time to do its job, so we recommend allowing the oil to sit on your scalp for at least one hour in order to let the oil penetrate through the follicles and nourish your scalp.
6 - Massage your scalp
Massaging your scalp stimulates the blood vessels beneath the skin which bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. Nourishing hair follicles, encourages healthy hair growth.
Gently massage the oil into your scalp for a few minutes using circular motions. Work your way across the entire scalp for 10-15 minutes. Don't massage too vigorously. Massaging your scalp too fast or vigorously can break your hair and can also result in more knots which could cause breakage later.
After you have finished massaging your scalp, gently use your fingers to work the oil down to the ends of your hair.
7 - Don't tie your hair up too tightly
Tying your hair up can make your hair prone to breakage. Your hair is in a vulnerable state and is already weighed down by the oil. The strain from tying it up can easily damage it.
8 - Wrap a warm towel around your hair
Wrapping a warm cloth around your forehead causes your pores and cuticles to open up, allowing for deeper penetration of the oils into your scalp and hair follicles. But don't use a towel as towels are rough and can break your hair when it is soaked in oil. Use a warm plain cotton cloth or shirt instead.
Top Tip - Don’t wrap your hair too tightly as it may cause breakage
9. Don't overuse your shampoo
Washing off all the excess oil is important but a lot of us tend to overuse our shampoo in an attempt to get rid of the excess oil. Using too much shampoo on your hair can remove its natural oils and cause more harm than good.
Try using normal or cold water to rinse your hair.
10. Use a mix of good oils
If you're going to all this effort to oil your hair, it's important to use the right oils. The oil you choose should depend on your hair needs but one of our most popular scalp oils is the Pre Wash Scalp Oil with rosemary and biotin from American beauty brand Kitsch which has been called a 'miracle oil'.
Why not give hair oiling a try?
Many of us are always looking for ways to give our hair some much needed R&R. Regular oiling can help prevent hair from the damage caused by pollution and chemicals present in shampoo. It may also increase moisture, lustre and shine and may also help prevent hair loss.
For the best results, follow the tips we have shared and healthy, beautiful hair will follow.
HairlossPal stocks the following hair oils:
as well as a variety of products to help with hair maintenance and hair growth.