6 tips to oil your hair the right way

You might be damaging to your hair if oil is not applied properly to your scalp

It’s painful. It’s annoying. It’s messy. Not to mention your hair is a stink bomb (your brother pinching his nose or frantically waving away the smell whenever you’re near him). But the tug of war that you and your mother partake in while she oils your hair is damaging to your hair if the liquid is not applied properly.

Jawed Habib, a leading hair expert in India who also wrote a book titled Hair Yoga – dedicated to hair care - gives tips on how to apply oil to your hair. Follow them to achieve the best results for your hair:

1. Heat before applying

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Lukewarm oil helps stimulate hair follicles so always make sure that you heat the oil before applying it.

2. Don’t pour on your head

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When oiling your hair, don’t dump the liquid on your head. Instead dip your fingers in the oil (if it’s in a bottle, take it out in a small bowl), make partitions of your hair with your fingers and gently apply the oil with your fingertips. Don’t forget your tips, they do not receive any nutrients from your scalp.

3. Use adequate quantity

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Greasy hair does not equate to a higher nutrient quantity for your hair. The more the oil, the higher the shampoo quantity to wash it off.

4. Massage hair

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There’s a high likelihood that the way you’re oiling your hair is causing them to break. Rubbing oil onto the scalp with your palm will most likely break hair, rather massage hair for 10-15 minutes it will not only improve blood circulation but also have a calming effect. Don’t fight with your tresses, it’s your scalp you’re dealing with.

5. The longer the better

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Sure, it sounds icky, but it’s best to leave oil in your hair overnight so it can fully absorb all the nutrients. However, leaving it on for more than 24 hours will only attract dirt and weaken hair.

6. Steam hair

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After applying the oil, steam it with a hot towel, this will help hair absorb the oil. Leaving it on for 10 minutes should be enough. Be sure the towel isn’t too hot though, too much heat can harm the hair shaft.

Twice a week of oiling should be good enough, but since shampoos these days contain harsh chemicals strip your hair of oils, (sometimes even essential oils), it’s best to apply a little amount to the scalp before heading into the shower. One study has shown that hair damage and breakage was significantly reduced by pre-shampoo oiling of hair compared to using shampoo alone (J Cosmet Sci, pp 203-208, 2011).