Ayurvedic Hair Oils

Ditimoni Goswami Beauty + Skincare, Herbal Remedies 6,180 Views

If you want long, strong, shiny, and healthy locks, then according to Ayurveda, you must oil your scalp and hair regularly. Ayurveda offers many Ayurvedic hair oils for promoting hair growth.

Massaging the scalp and hair with hair oil not only improves hair quality and promotes healthy hair growth, but it also enhances the quality of sleep, relieves headaches, and keeps you calm.

Right before bedtime is the perfect time for oiling the scalp and hair. This promotes hair growth and prevents premature graying and split ends.

For promoting hair growth, you can apply Ayurvedic hair oils to the scalp, the root of the hair, and along the length of the hair.

Plan to oil your hair according to your hair washing schedule. You can oil your hair at night and wash it off the next day. You can do this twice or three times a week.

Read More: Ayurvedic Hair Conditioners + Remedies

Applying hair oil right after washing your hair isn’t advisable. Oily hair attracts dust which makes it rough and brittle.

If you want to oil your hair during the daytime, you can cover your hair with a scarf or cloth. Even prolonged sun exposure can damage hair and make it dry and brittle. Let’s see what are the preferred Ayurvedic hail oils for hair growth.

Ayurvedic Hair Oils For Hair Growth

Sesame Oil

In Ayurveda, sesame oil or tila tailam is the preferred oil for promoting hair growth. It is even used for scalp massages. Sesame oil is also known as gingelly oil.

It is enriched with Vitamin E, B-complex, and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and protein that strengthens the hair from the roots and deeply nourishes.

In Ayurvedic medicine, regular head massages with sesame oil help in relieving headaches, preventing hair loss and premature greying of hair, strengthening the roots, calming the mind and enhancing the quality of sleep.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil promotes hair growth, improves hair quality and strength, nourishes the hair root. The Ayurvedic scholar Sushruta, in his text Sushruta Samhita, described the benefits of using coconut oil for hair.

He stated that coconut oil has a sheet virya which means that it has a cooling potency and it acts as a natural coolant.

Sushruta also mentioned that it is an aphrodisiac and promotes hair growth, calms Vata and Pitta, and supports Kapha. Coconut oil has wound healing properties as well.¹

Coconut oil deeply conditions the hair when applied overnight. It softens frizzy hair and prevents or minimizes dandruff.

Amla Oil

Amla oil is an excellent hair conditioner. Amla oil deeply conditions the scalp and hair follicles. It is beneficial for healthy growth and hair shine. This miracle oil has been used for centuries by both men and women for the haircare.

Coconut oil when used with Amla oil helps prevent loss of protein from the hair shaft.

The flavonoids and polyphenols present in the amla oil prevent premature graying of hair. This mixture can be very easily prepared at home.

Almond Oil

Almond oil softens, strengthens, repairs, and promotes hair growth. Almond oil contains high amounts of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants help combat environmental stress to make your hair look younger and healthier.

Almond oil can help with scalp conditions. Almond oil can also be used as a treatment for a flaky scalp (seborrheic dermatitis) and psoriasis.

Almond oil has been used to treat dry scalp and dryness-related conditions in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries

Castor Oil

Castor oil has been an age-old remedy for hair and skin related issues. It is an elixir for beautiful hair and supple skin.

Castor oil contains Vitamin E, proteins and Omega 6, and 9. These constitute the key components responsible for good hair and skin.

It helps in reducing hair fall, premature greying of hair, fighting any scalp related problems along with accelerating hair growth.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is known to be a very good smoothening agent. Olive oil helps to smoothen and soften dry hair. It also helps in making the roots stronger and healthier thus promotes hair growth.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a known disinfectant and antibacterial Ayurvedic hair oil. It prevents hair thinning by reducing scalp infection and dermal condition. Neem oil can be used with other herbal extracts.

Bhringraj Oil

Bhringraj oil is actually one of the best Ayurvedic hair oils. Bhringraj is made by combining the goodness of False Daisy or Eclipta alba with sesame oil.

It is considered to be greatly beneficial in reducing the hair loss and premature greying. Moreover, it also promotes hair growth.

Brahmi Oil

Also known as Gotu Kola or Indian pennywort, it is used for preventing premature hair loss and increased thickness and volume of hair.

Brahmi oil is made by mixing it with sesame oil or other carrier oils which is then applied to the hair and scalp.

Brahmi helps in calming down the mind and nervous system in addition to deeply nourishing the hair.

The Root Cause Of Hair Problems In Ayurveda

The root cause of hair problems as in the case of skin problems could be due to an aggravated dosha. Hair types are also made on the basis of the doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha as per Ayurveda.

Most likely, your hair will be similar to your prevalent dosha. Let’s see how these doshas affect the quality of your hair

Vata Hair: If your hair is thin, dry, frizzy and prone to split ends.

Pitta Hair: If your hair is thin and fine, and prone to premature greying

Kapha Hair: If you have thick and oily hair

A person’s Ayurvedic hair type can be Vata, Pitta or Kapha or sometimes even a combination of these.

Take This Dosha Quiz To Determine Your Ayurvedic Body Type

Over time, your hair type may change because of external factors like climate, diet, and lifestyle habits or environmental pollution. Hormonal changes may also affect your original hair type.

Such deviations in your natural hair type, according to your prakriti or dosha type, should also be taken into account when choosing a hair oil.

If you have questions or doubts, ask for an assessment with an Ayurvedic expert.

Make Your Own Ayurvedic Hair Oil Combinations

You can make your own Ayurvedic hair oils combination as well, according to your hair type.

Boiling curry leaves in coconut oil is very good for hair growth, preventing hair loss.
You can mix coconut oil with castor oil and almond oil for long shiny hair.
Almond oil with sesame oil as the base is said to be good for those with Vata hair type, as both oils are very nourishing for the scalp and help reduce stiffness in the scalp.
For the Pitta hair types, cooling coconut oil may be the ideal choice, as coconut is pitta-pacifying and can solve hair problems associated with aggravation of Pitta dosha.
For those with Kapha hair, sesame or olive oil are good choices, as olive oil has purifying properties that help keep pores open.
Kapha hair types should opt for hot towel steam after oiling their hair. It will open the clogged pores.

It is believed that head massages or hair oil applications during the evenings are most beneficial. When you divide the day’s timings according to the three doshas, evenings are dominated by the Vata Dosha.

Read More: How Ayurvedic Massage Works + Ayurvedic Massage Oils

However, if sesame oil is applied in the evening, it can calm down the increasing Vata dosha. Coconut oil is best applied in the morning, as it has the tendency to increase Kapha and Vata when applied at night.

People prone to regular coughs and colds should apply coconut oil 30-45 minutes before showers instead of leaving it on overnight.

To improve the quality of hair, promote hair growth, and prevent early greys and split ends, it is best to apply hair oil at night and wash it off the next morning.

For even better hair growth, oil can be applied to the scalp, hair roots, and length of the hair. It is good to heat the oil a little bit before applying as it helps with absorption.

Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before trying any Ayurvedic hair oil or home remedies for hair.

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