Why should you oil your hair? | Benefits and History | Kama Ayurveda

With its roots in Ayurveda, hair-oiling is a centuries-old, Indian hair care ritual. Now, as Ayurveda gains traction within the modern wellness movement, the rest of the world is catching on to the many benefits of Indian head massage and hair-oiling.

Why Hair-Oiling?

Using the regenerative power of natural oils, a head massage can help stimulate circulation in the scalp, delivering nutrients to the roots of your hair to promote growth, fight premature greying, combat dandruff and split ends as well as reduce the toxic load on your hair. Regular hair-oiling adds volume and thickness leaving you with strong, glossy and healthy-looking hair.

Scalp massage also eases tension in the neck and shoulders and can be a surprising cure for headaches and insomnia by stimulating the pineal gland and encouraging the mind to switch off and relax. The majority of {marma} points, used in Ayurved, to stimulate healing are found in the scalp so focus on massaging these for added therapeutic benefits.

Going beyond beauty, hair-oiling is also a bonding tradition in Indian families centred around love ‘sneha’, the Sanskrit word for ‘to oil’ also translates as ‘to love’. In India, parents and grandparents lovingly oil their children’s hair until and often into adulthood.

Bringadi: Our Herbal Hair Powerhouse

At Kama Ayurveda, we add a potent blend of Ayurvedic wonder herbs to our signature Bringadi Scalp & Hair Oil. This all-in-one nourishing formula contains 13 botanical extracts. {Bhringraj}, sanskit for False Daisy, is the master ingredient naturally encouraging hair growth, while Balloon Vine relieves an itchy scalp, Indigo prevents inflammation and Liquorice works as a strongly antifungal and antibacterial that can help prevent dandruff. This powerful blend of photoactive molecules work together to balance hair and invigorate the scalp.

How to Use Hair Oil for the Best Results

1. Warm the oil in your hands before applying.

2. Start at the very top of the head the crown chakra is an energetic power point and massage the oil gently into the entire scalp using your fingertips to stimulate blood circulation. Remember to take your time and think of oil massage as a mindful activity that can alleviate stress and tension from the roots.

3. ‘Comb’ the hair by running your fingers through the hair in long strokes, distributing the oil evenly from the roots to the ends. Place both hands around your head in an L-shape and apply pressure. Repeat several times.

5. Leave the oil on for at least 20 minutes. For the best results, leave it on overnight (place a towel on your pillow so it doesn’t stain). Never go outside, exposed to the elements with oil in your hair.

6. When it comes to washing the oil out, apply shampoo, massage it in and then rinse. We recommend Bringadi Balancing & Reinvigorating Shampoo as the ideal companion to hair oiling.