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The history of hair oiling dates back to the Egyptians, where women would use a combination of castor oil and almond oil to promote hair growth by massaging on the scalp. They would also use creams made of animal and plant fats as hair moisturisers. Oiling the scalp helps in regulating the sebum production and prevent the scalp from getting dry and itchy, while it improves hair growth when applied regularly. Massaging warm oil on the scalp helps improve blood circulations and helps maintains healthy hair.

We all have our regular hair oiling routine, but how do you know what best works for you? Identifying your hair scalp type is essential. Seasonal changes can play havoc with our hair, humidity triggers an oily scalp, so don’t over oil your hair when you are suffering from dandruff as it creates and layer over the scalp and chokes the pores aggravating it more.

According to Ayurveda, oiling is advised for headaches. Applied in the evening helps as its said to be associated with Vata, as we divide the day into three parts, the last is dominated by Vata. As it also helps in enhancing good sleep, and widely known to help in controlling baldness, greying, hair fall and also relaxes the senses.

The right way to oil your hair

Although we all think we know the basic about hair oiling and how imperative it is, sometimes we do not realise that, they are many little things we can include in our daily routine that are incredibly beneficial. So, I have listed down a few of the important Do’s and Don’ts of hair oiling that you might have not heard of whether your hair is dry, oily or dandruff ridden hair, following these basic norms would help you attain a healthy crop of hair.

Do’s!

1. Always gently massage the scalp while applying oil.

2. Comb your hair after applying oil, his help the oil to distribute evenly and improves blood circulation making you feel relaxed.

3. Covering your hair with a hot towel after oiling, allows the oil to seep into the roots nourishing it and allow the stems of the roots to open up and absorb the oil quicker.

4. Oil should always be lukewarm when applying it to the scalp, as lukewarm oil helps stimulate the hair follicles.

5. Allow oil to stay on your hair at lease overnight, this makes it absorb all the nutrients. Leaving it on for more than 24hours would attract dirt and weaken your hair.

6. Oiling hair twice a week is sufficient, in case of an oily scalp during seasonal changes once a week would suffice.

Don’ts!

1. Applying hair oil to the tips of the hair does help soften it, but doesn’t really have any major effect.

2. Never be rough or quick while applying oil, this can cause damage to the follicles and make hair fall out

3. Don’t pour oil on your head, instead always use a cotton swab to gently allow the oil to evenly spread and penetrate your scalp or use your fingertips to apply oil evenly.

4. Never over oil your hair, excessive oil would lead you to shampoo it repeatedly, thus robbing your scalp of its moisture making it dry again.

This guide will have 4 parts to it and we will be linking each part here.

Part 1 "Myths Vs. Facts"