Great Indian Oil Therapy for Hair

We Indians love passing down secrets and traditions from generation to generation. One such tradition I enjoyed as a child and love passing it on to my kids is oil therapy for hair.

Hair is a very important part of our body that we focus on it as much as we do on our faces. The thicker, voluminous, shiny, lustrous hair, the better we feel, and who would not want that!

Haircare does depend a lot on the foods you eat; however, you can always improve the quality through massaging different oils on the scalp.

So, I wanted to share with you my oiling technique which I apply at least once a week on all the kids and on myself too. Remember, there are no right or wrong oils or techniques and each Indian family will have different recipes for oils. So, you make the judgment on deciding what oils are good for you.

It is also a time of connecting with your kids. When you are oiling your child’s hair for least 10-15 minutes, it creates a bond between you two where they have your full attention and no one to disturb you guys.

I generally use oils laying around the house. My main base is coconut oil. Then I add 1 spoon of olive oil, 2 spoon of almond oil, 1 spoon of castor oil, curry leaves and fenugreek seeds. I will boil these mixtures. Once the mixture cools down, I will strain it and store it in a glass jar.

Also, before applying it on the hair, I will warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop till it is lukewarm. The warmer the oil, the easier it will absorb in the scalp, and the easier it will be to apply warm oil than cold oil. In the end, I have shared a video of the oil I make at home.

Benefits of Oils:

Coconut Oil – This is the staple oil that all Indian households will have and use. It is quite a light oil, rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, protects from the heat, and repairs any hair damage. It also works best for any type of scalp or hair you have. It has a greasy look and feel to it. It is a very safe oil compared to other oils since it does not cause any breakouts or allergic reactions. I use @Trader Joe’s or @Parachute (Indian brand) for coconut oil.

Almond Oil – It has the highest content of Vitamin E, rich in fatty acids, protein, and antioxidants. It also seals in the moisture which helps reduce hair breakage and hair loss. It is a great solution for dandruff and dry scalp.

Olive Oil – It is great for dry skin with lots of Vitamin A and E and helps to regenerate skin cells. Olive oil acts as a conditioner for hair and nails. Olive oil like coconut oil penetrates deep into your roots, moisturizing your hair and stopping your hair from becoming too dry. I use @Costco extra virgin olive oil which is used for cooking also.

Castor Oil – This is a very sticky, heavy oil so it is better to combine with another oil. I feel it is the king of oils because it strengthens the roots and the hair also becomes thicker and darker in quality. It can stimulate hair growth. Also, if you like fuller eyebrows or thicker lashes, castor oil does the trick. Of course, the results may not be instant, however, after a few months, you will start seeing the differences.

Argan Oil – Often referred to as “liquid gold,” argan oil is one of the favorites when it comes to moisturizing hair that is dull, dry, or fizzy. It is a packed lot of fatty acids that nourish the hair.

The next two are not oils, but they are excellent in allowing hair to grow. You can mix them in with the oils, boil them, or create a paste to apply on the hair.

Curry Leaves – Often known as kadi patta or limdo, it prevents graying, thinning of hair, and hair fall. It also creates thick quality hair due to antioxidants and proteins it has.

Fenugreek Seeds – It can be called methi and is great for curing scalp issues and hair fall.

How to apply:

Remember this is all a trial and error process where you have to test out one or two oils for few months and if you do not feel the result is there, you can change to another oil.

According to an article, “The Best Hair Oils for Every Hair Type,” the author lists a few steps on how to apply oil.

• Adding a few drops of oil to your shampoo or conditioner
• Applying several drops of oil to the ends of damp hair before blow-drying/styling
• In another article in Vogue Magazine, “The best way to oil your hair to get the most out of the soothing ritual,” Dr.Gupta has quite a few pointers. First, use your fingertips to massage the oil gently onto a dry, clean scalp. Wet hair generally won’t absorb the heavy oil molecules.

• Next, you should also use some form of heat to help the oil sink into your scalp such as warm oil or applying a hot towel on your hair after you have applied oil. You can also stand in a warm steam shower.
• Lastly, you need enough oil to cover your hair. You can leave it overnight or 1 or 2 hours before washing it. I like to leave it in kids hair for 4-5 days till most of it is soaked in.

Remember, always research and thoroughly understand which oil is good for you. Then try it out for a few months to see the result. If you do not see the result, always feel free to try another one out because what works for you may not work for another person.

Here is the video on how to make the oil –

https://youtu.be/Qdep7hKdtxo

Do you have any traditional hair secrets that you use?