Indian weddings tend to lend themselves to head-swivelling bridal beauty moments — think gajra woven hairdos, half-up, half-down styles intertwined with pearl-encrusted hair chains, and even simple, sleek buns that spotlight your features. But how your hair looks on the day of isn't simply an aftermath of your hairstylist's near-magical tools or techniques. The secret to flawless bridal hair lies in your pre-bridal hair care routine. Taking care of your mane in the days leading up to the wedding is crucial, with oiling your hair being one of the most important steps to ensure gorgeous, healthy hair on your special day.
01Why Hair Oiling Should Be Part of Your Pre-Bridal Hair Care Routine
Hair oiling is a timeless beauty ritual that plays a crucial role in preparing your hair for the wedding day. It not only nourishes and strengthens the hair but also promotes healthy growth, ensuring that your locks are in top condition for styling. Oiling deeply hydrates your scalp, helps reduce dandruff, and improves blood circulation, all of which contribute to soft, shiny, and manageable hair. Incorporating hair oiling into your pre-bridal hair care routine will ensure that your hair is healthy, lustrous, and ready for whatever bridal hairstyle you choose. A good ol' champi is the key to happy, healthy hair. This age-old ritual boosts circulation in the scalp, infusing hair follicles with all the oxygen and nutrients they need to prosper. This helps accelerate hair growth and strengthen strands. It even repairs and revives damaged, brittle hair and split-ends, while treating frizz and dryness. The benefits are endless.
But how exactly must you get started? We've got you covered! Read on to find out how to channel your mane character energy on D-day.
Golden Rule #1: Use the Right Amount of Oil
You don't need to drench your scalp and strands in oil. A few drops of Indulekha Bringha Ayurvedic Oil serves the purpose. This is because, when used excessively or too frequently, oiling can clog your pores and trigger issues like dandruff and hair fall. So, begin with a small amount — if you feel like you might need more, you can always work it into your scalp along the way. One to two drops are enough for short hair, while longer hair can benefit from 3 to 4 drops. Remember to warm the oil between your palms before application to maximize absorption and distribution.
Golden Rule #2: Begin at the root
Remember to start at the scalp, eventually moving down to the length and tips. You can then section your hair, using gentle, circular motions to knead the oil into your follicles. To ensure that it's evenly distributed through your strands, reach for a wide-tooth comb and run it through your hair briefly. This will also help detangle your hair before you wash it.
Golden Rule #3: Don't Leave Oil Overnight
Contrary to popular belief, overnight hair oiling doesn't really serve any additional benefits. In reality, it can block your hair follicles, lead to build-up, attract dirt, and cause greasiness, especially in oily, sensitive scalps. All of this can weaken your hair and cause breakage. Instead, swear by a timeframe that suits your particular scalp type. Forty-five minutes is ideal for those with a dry scalp, while thirty minutes is enough for those with a medium to dry scalp. But if your scalp tends to be oily, fifteen to thirty minutes should suffice.
Golden Rule #4: Steam for Better Absorption
If you want to go the extra mile, consider steaming your scalp. — a highly underrated step in any pre-bridal hair ritual. The benefits of steaming hair are plenty: it helps open up the cuticles, allowing your hair oil to penetrate deeper into the scalp and hair shaft for maximum nourishment. Simply wrap your hair in a warm, clean towel for fifteen to twenty minutes, or secure it with a shower cap and step into a warm shower. This step is especially beneficial for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair, as it boosts hydration, enhances the effects of hair oils, and leaves your strands feeling softer, shinier, and more manageable. Remember that the frequency of wash depends on your hair type. For dry, flaky hair, oiling twice a week is ideal. But the benefits of oiling for those with fine, oily hair are best reaped when done once a week.
Golden Rule #5: Pick the right oil
Set yourself up for success by picking the right oil for your hair type and concern. Here's what you need to know.
- For dry, brittle hair: Reach for oils that moisturise your hair and reverse damage. Think coconut oil, olive oil almond oil, or avocado oil.
- For frizzy, curly hair: Castor oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil will seal moisture into your strands and keep curls soft without weighing them down.
- For hair growth: Try this essential oil for hair growth – rosemary, onion, peppermint, or black seed oil. These will strengthen your strands, stimulate new hair growth, and spur regrowth in thinning areas.
- For oily, dandruff-prone hair: Neem oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, and amla oil will control excess sebum production, relieve itching and dandruff, and keep scalp infections at bay. And that covers it! Now, pencil in some time for a nourishing champi, especially if your wedding is just around the corner. Trust us — you'll thank yourself later.
