The age-old practice of hair oiling is gaining new adherents, but not every oil works for every hair type and condition
Long before hair oiling was trending on TikTok, it was a sacred beauty practice passed down like family silver. “In South Asian households, it meant sitting on the floor while your mother or grandmother massaged warm oil into your scalp, telling stories as they went,” says Dubai-based Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Anjali Devi. Fast-forward a few centuries and the global beauty industry has finally caught on. Today, hair oil is being reimagined through luxe elixirs and blends that stress their sensory nature – thoughtfully crafted formulas featuring traditional ingredients like jasmine and paying homage to a practice that’s been around for generations.
The problem is that, somewhere along the way, the meaning got diluted. Say “hair oiling” today and most people will think of a styling step: rubbing a few drops into damp ends to calm the frizz. But what we’re talking about is the original version: a pre-wash ritual whereby warm oil is applied to the scalp and hair, left to soak in, then washed out to deeply nourish from root to tip. It’s a full ritual that begins long before the lather.
