A guide to oiling your hair

Indians are known worlwide for their lustrous tresses, and a chunk of the credit has always been attributed to the practice of oiling hair. Every region in India has its favourite oil, and tips on grooming a lustrous crown are handed down through generations.

However, recent research shows that the approach should not be one-size-fit-all, and some caution has to be exercised while oiling hair. We ask a few experts about the right way of oiling hair and other factors that are at play during the process.

Let your scalp guide you

Dr Stuti Khare Shukla, dermatologist and hair specialist, says: “The right way to apply oil is also dependent upon the type of scalp that you have. For example, if a person has very oily scalp, it’s not recommended at all because it can clog the pores and it can actually increase the dandruff and seborrhea further. If a person has normal to dry scalp, it is perfectly okay to oil once a week; keep it for an hour or two and then it can be washed.”

Throwing light on the benefits of oiling hair, she says: “Applying hair oil is beneficial because it helps in hydrating and as well as moisturizing the hair. So it does’t have a great benefit in terms of hairy growth, but it definitely has a great benefit in improving the texture of hair. If somebody has very dry hair follicles, it helps in hydrating, moisturising and providing it more nourishment. So it can help in improving the hair texture for people who have very dry, frizzy or curly hair.”

Choose hair oil wisely

“It’s very important to choose the right oil for you. One can use a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, grapeseed, olive, almond, or avocado oil. If you have a greasy scalp, you can try a lighter oil like grapeseed or almond,” says Yashdeep Sharma, a hairstylist.

He also cautions against excessive oiling. “Oiling your hair can sometimes be harmful, especially if done excessively, as it can lead to dandruff and contribute to hairfall by clogging hair follicles and creating an environment where bacteria and fungus can thrive,” adds Yashdeep.

How to make oiling better

Heat the oil:

“Heating the oil helps, but we can heat only certain oils. For example, mustard oil is good to heat; it helps its penetrability, but then there are certain oils which are more beneficial when you use them as cold pressed oil or without heating them. For example, olive oil — it is not meant to be heated.

Steaming:

Applying steam to oiled hair is a good practice because it helps in entrapping the moisture and hydration, thereby increasing the nourishment it provides to the hair roots.

Salman Shaikh, a hair expert, shares the right way to oil hair:

Correct way of oiling hair

1 Choose the correct oil as per hair requirement

2 Use lukewarm oil on your scalp

3 Apply it with cotton

4 Massage for 15/20 minutes. (In case of sensitive scalp do not massage or rub the scalp more).

5 Leave the oil minimum for an hour

6 Wash it with regular shampoo.

7 Repeat this procedure twice in a week