Why, When & How Should You Apply Oil To Your Hair?

Did you know that there are golden rules for oiling your hair? You have probably heard enough about its benefits growing up. But, are you doing it correctly?

“As per Ayurveda, oiling your hair the wrong way can do more harm than good. You need to oil your hair rightly to stimulate growth and enhance the quality of your hair,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

To know what else Ayurveda says about hair oiling, let's delve deep!

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“As per Ayurveda, oiling your hair the wrong way can do more harm than good.’’

-Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• Why Should You Apply Oil To Hair?
• How To Apply Oil To Hair As Per Ayurveda - A Step By Step Guide
• Should You Apply Oil To Hair Everyday?
• When Should You Apply Oil On Hair And How Long Should You Leave It Before Hair Wash?
• Should You Apply Oil On Wet Or Dry Hair?
• Is Overnight Oiling Good For Your Hair?

Why Should You Apply Oil To Hair?

As per the Ayurvedic theory of tridoshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (the three vital life energies present in the body) control the health and well-being of humans. Aggravation of any energy will disturb the balance of your entire body’s function. And, the manifestation of different hair problems is one of its consequences.[1].

‘Marmas’ [2], the pressure points present across your scalp act as the junction points for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Massaging the scalp with Ayurvedic oils infused with dosha-specific herbs activates these marmas, through which the accumulated excess doshas can be balanced. This in turn automatically resolves your hair problems.

Besides maintaining a healthy dosha equilibrium, below are some of the other benefits of applying an Ayurvedic oil to your scalp and hair:

A. Boosts new hair growth by strengthening your hair roots.

B. Nourishes your hair shaft by adding the necessary vitamins and minerals.

C. Controls frizz and dryness by deep conditioning your hair and imparting a soft texture.

D. Protects your hair from harsh environmental conditions such as UV radiation from the sun.

E. Improves blood circulation in your head region, which in turn relieves you from stress and induces good sleep.

F. Ayurvedic oils with dosha-specific herbs can resolve your hair issues like premature greying [3], scalp acne, dandruff, itchy scalp, inflammation, etc.

How To Apply Oil To Hair As Per Ayurveda - A Step By Step Guide

Applying hair oil is one of the key steps in your hair care regimen. Here is a step by step guide to oil your hair the right way, according to ancient Ayurvedic scripts.

What Will You Need

• Oil
• Hair clips

The whole procedure may take around 15-20 minutes.

Step 1: Heat Oil

Take a few spoons of hair oil sufficient for your hair volume and length in a small bowl and heat it on a low flame. Do not overheat the oil; leave it warm. You may also add oil to your hands and rub your hands together to warm it.

Step 2: Part Hair In Small Sections

Part the hair on the top region of your head in the middle. This will keep your hair away from troubling you while applying the oil. Applying oil on your hair section by section also ensures a better reach of oil to the scalp and gives the best results.

Step 3: Locate Crown Chakra

Now, locate the ‘crown chakra’ point on your head which lies eight fingers above the center of your eyebrows. The crown chakra is considered a spiritual center for enlightenment and wisdom and it opens your consciousness.

Step 4: Apply Oil

Put some oil on the crown chakra and then tap on it gently using your palm 8 times. Apply about a dime-sized amount of oil to this area. Doing so can help increase circulation and trigger cuticle growth.

Step 5: Gently Massage The Oil

Rub the oil with your palm on your crown chakra point slowly. Make sure you use gentle strokes while massaging the existing oil into your crown chakra.

Step 6: Locate The Apex Point

Next, locate the apex point on your scalp, which is at four fingers distance behind the crown chakra point. Then, pour a dime-sized amount of oil into the apex.

Step 7: Massage Oil Gently

Massage your apex point with warm oil in a similar way as you did at the crown chakra point. Massage the oil with your fingers using small circular patterns.

Step 8: Put Oil Evenly On The Scalp

Apply the oil to your entire scalp and massage it with the palm of your hand. Use the rest of the oil and distribute it evenly into your hair.

Step 9: Give The Scalp A Gentle Massage

Starting from the apex point, gently massage your scalp stroking down along the middle line on either side of the apex point.

Step 10: Massage The Oil In Reverse Direction

Now, start massaging in the reverse direction, i.e, starting from the center of your sides to the apex point.

Step 11: Use Circular Motions

Similarly, massage your scalp across the front, back and sidelines around the apex point gently in circular motions, using your finger pads.

Step 12: Massage Well

To complete your hair massage, go back to your crown chakra and massage it again with your fingers.

Step 13: Apply Oil To Hair Shaft

Finally, apply the remaining oil to your hair shaft and give it a slow and gentle massage. Detangle your hair with fingers. You can then allow the oil to work for 1-2 hours.

Note:

Don’t let the oil sit for hours as it tends to collect dirt that mixes with your scalp’s natural oil.

Should You Apply Oil To Hair Everyday?

As per ancient Ayurvedic science, ideally, you should oil your hair every day. But, with today’s increased pollution levels and usage of artificial hair products, oiling hair every day may result in an unwanted buildup of products and dirt on your scalp and hair. This, in turn, will lead to clogging of your hair follicles, cause dandruff [4] and hair loss.

“You may need to shampoo every day if you are applying oil to your scalp and hair daily. This may affect people with dry scalp and hair conditions. Thus, it is better to limit your hair oiling regime to twice or thrice a week,’’ says Dr. Zeel.

When Should You Apply Oil On Hair And How Long Should You Leave It Before Hair Wash?

As per Ayurveda, it is better to oil your hair at night and take a head bath next morning. If you don’t feel like leaving your hair with oil overnight, apply it half an hour to 1 hour before your hair wash.

Ayurveda also suggests a compulsory hair wash after physical exercise. So, if you are a person who is involved in regular exercising, then you can oil your hair an hour before your workout and wash it afterward.

Vedix Tip: Avoid applying hair oil, especially heavy oils such as coconut oil, during conditions like fever, sinusitis, cough, and cold.

Should You Apply Oil On Wet Or Dry Hair?

It is always recommended to apply oil when your hair is dry. The larger molecules of oils may not be able to penetrate your scalp and hair tissues in damp conditions. Also, Ayurveda recommends applying warm oil as it increases the penetration capacity of oil.

Is Overnight Oiling Good For Your Hair?

Massaging your scalp and hair with warm oil before bedtime and leaving it overnight results in a promising level of oil absorption into your hair and scalp tissues. It gives enough time for the Kesha dravyas [5] or carrier oils to deliver the essence from the herbal ingredients to the deeper tissues of your scalp. Also, it enhances your sleep quality.

Important Note:

Consult your doctor or Ayurvedic practitioner before following any of the procedures and remedies mentioned in the article.

The Last Word

Your hair may undergo a lot of trauma daily due to several factors such as pollution, extreme temperatures, poor habits and lifestyle, improper diet, etc. One thing which really relieves your hair from most of the setbacks is the regular application of hair oil. Treating your hair with Ayurvedic oils that target your elevated doshas is your need of the hour. And, that’s exactly what you can achieve through Vedix's customized Ayurvedic hair care regimen.