Hair oiling softens the hair and gives vitamins and minerals that get stripped from frequent washing
Remember those good ol’ days when your grandma or mom made you sit and massage your hair with coconut or sesame oil? Besides showing their affection to their children, hair oiling is a practice used in India for centuries. Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine, highly recommend hair oiling. Hair oiling is the practice of applying oil to hair and massaging it to the scalp. It increases moisture, shine and luster.
Hair oiling helps maintain the health and vitality of the hair. It reduces hair loss, too. Massaging oil onto the scalp helps increase blood circulation, which in turn promotes hair growth. Hair oiling also prevents dandruff.
How to oil your hair?
- Apply oil onto your scalp. Massage with fingertips in a circular motion.
- Apply the oil on your palms to your hair.
- Wear a shower cap or wrap with a towel and leave it on all night.
- The next day, shampoo your hair.
- Rinse thoroughly and condition as normal.
- You can use Earth Mantraa’s Herbal Anti-Hair Fall Hair Oil, which is enriched with Ayurvedic herbs.
Benefits of oiling hair
Oils help protect hair from regular wear and tear. Regular oiling reduces swelling and drying of hair. Oils protect the follicle.
Different oils have various vitamins. The commonly used hair oils include coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, bhringraj, neelini and amla.
Ayurveda states that the hair’s texture and health are influenced by the doshas. We know them as Vata (wind), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water and earth).
Ayurveda says that when Vata is high, the hair will be thin, frizzy, and dry. Such hair needs regular oiling.
According to Ayurveda, people with high Pitta have a mix of oily and dry hair. They are prone to premature greying and alopecia. Those with high Kapha have oily, thick, long, and curly hair.
Coconut oil
Cold-pressed coconut oil is the most commonly used hair oil. It is full of lauric acid. It can easily enter the hair shaft. This makes it one of the best oils to reduce protein loss from all types of hair.
Coconut oil can deeply condition, provide natural protection, and is generally a good choice for most hair types.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil works well with Vata-type hair, as it reduces frizziness and prevents split ends. Sesame is high in vitamin B1, calcium, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. Sesame oil also deeply conditions the scalp and smoothens the hair shaft. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties prevent dandruff.
Almond oil
Almond oil is lighter than sesame oil but slightly thicker than coconut oil. It’s a good oil for pitta types. Almond oil is rich in vitamins B, K, and E.
While vitamin E reduces oxidative stress, B7 or biotin helps support hair growth.
Bhringraj oil
Using bhringraj oil is ideal for the pitta hair type. It offers a cooling effect and balances Pitta dosha.
Amla oil
Amla oil is used for the Pitta hair type. It has a cooling effect and helps balance the pitta dosha.
Earth Mantraa offers a formulation, especially for hair oiling, that contains neelini, amalaka, and other herbs in Sesamum indicum.
Earth Mantraa Herbal Anti-Hairfall Hair Oil nourishes the scalp for hair growth. It adds strength and elasticity to dry and brittle hair. It protects hair from damage, breakage and split ends.
