One of the most important steps of an effective hair care routine is a regular hair oil massage. Apart from the obvious moisturising benefits, oiling your hair helps improve blood circulation in the scalp, stimulating hair follicles and promoting healthier hair growth.
But to reap all these benefits, it is extremely important to oil your hair the right way. If you’re wondering how one can go wrong when it comes to applying hair oil, then this article is for you! We have curated a list of common hair oiling mistakes that prevent you from reaping the maximum benefits of your hair oiling sesh! Read on to find out what they are and how to fix them…
- Mistake #01: Not heating the oil
- Mistake #02: Washing it immediately after
- Mistake #03: Leaving the oil overnight
- Mistake #04: Tying or combing your hair
- Mistake #05: Massaging too vigorously
Mistake #01: Not heating the oil
If you tend to never heat your hair oil before application, then that’s a major hair oiling mistake right there. Cold oil is slightly thick and takes longer to penetrate, and therefore doesn’t deliver enough moisture and nutrients to your strands and scalp. When you heat the oil, it thins down a little bit, helping it penetrate better. But be wary of overheating as that not only kills the nutritional value but could also burn your scalp.
Mistake #02: Washing it immediately after
For your hair oil to show any results at all, it needs to penetrate your scalp and hair shaft. But since oil is thicker in consistency, this process takes a little while. If you wash your hair soon after oiling, your hair would be devoid of enough nourishment. Therefore, ensure that you leave the hair oil on for at least an hour before washing it off.
Mistake #03: Leaving the oil overnight
While washing your hair immediately after oiling is something to avoid, you must also not keep it on for a very long time. Oily hair tends to attract a lot of dust, sweat and other impurities that could clog your pores and lead to stunted hair growth as well as hair fall. The best thing to do is to keep your hair oiled for a maximum for two to three hours for best results.
Mistake #04: Tying or combing your hair
Just like how your hair is the weakest when it is wet, the same is true for oiled hair as well. Surprised, aren’t you? Combing your hair while it is oiled puts a lot of stress on the follicles making them weak and prone to breakage. Tying your hair tightly also has a similar effect. Therefore, it is best to leave your hair open or secure it loosely a claw clip until it’s time to wash it.
Mistake #05: Massaging too vigorously
It is important to massage your hair after oiling it, but it is important to be VERY gentle while doing so. Massaging for a long time or too vigorously could damage your follicles, cause breakage and weaken the strands. Therefore, limit the massage to just about five minutes for best results.
Written by Urvi Dalal on Oct 23, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!