Dr. Zeel Gandhi, BAMS inhouse Ayurvedic doctor at Vedix, explains the Ayurvedic Route to address your hair concerns for revitalizing scalp.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘oiling’ is referred to as ‘Snehana’, which also means ‘loving’. What could be a better gesture of self-love than massaging the scalp and hair with nutrient-rich Ayurvedic oils?
For thousands of years, applying oil has been an integral part of Ayurvedic rituals of repairing and revitalizing the scalp and hair. In traditional Ayurveda, the oils that are infused with herbal extracts are massaged into the scalp to deal with hair concerns and promote rich hair growth. These practices from ancient wisdom have been passed on to a later generation.
This primary Ayurvedic hair care regimen is much more relevant for today’s generations as it functions as a corrective measure against contemporary hair damaging factors such as chemical treatments and increasing UV exposure. But to make this long-standing Ayurvedic tradition work wonders, one should know the right techniques to apply hair oil and use ones that suit each hair type and address specific concerns.
The Foundations of Ayurveda: Tridoshas
As per the Ayurvedic concept of tri doshas, the three life-energies – Vata, Pitta and Kapha need to be in balanced proportions in the body for a person to be healthy. An aggravation occurring in any one of these life energies knocks the entire body’s system off-balance and results in different disorders in the body, including those related to the scalp and hair.
The scalp region, according to Ayurveda, is the seat of marmas (multiple energy relieving points) through which these aggravated doshas can be pacified. Hair oils blended with specific herbs can play a vital role in regulating and harmonizing the three life energies in the head and restoring the overall balance in your body. Once the tridosha balance is achieved, the body resolves itself from the negative effects of aggravated doshas.
Choosing The Right Oil
In Ayurveda, we have different go-to-oils, each serving different objectives for the scalp and hair. However, it is important to evaluate the scalp condition, hair type, environment, impact of season, and other things before picking up the right oil for your hair.
Depending on hair type and its preferences, the oil concoctions typically consist of two parts. First is the base oil which helps to balance the specific aggravated doshas on the scalp and the second is concentrated herbal infused booster oils which help to deal with specific hair concerns. You need to choose the oil blend that is right for your scalp and hair needs.
For instance, you may need to go for a booster oil enriched with bhringraj to promote hair growth. You may opt for an oil infused with amla for nourishing and strengthening your hair roots. Similarly, you can pick up a neem-based oil to treat dandruff and hibiscus blended oil to fight premature greying as well as to promote thicker hair growth.
Light oils such as almond, argan or jojoba too are great for oily scalp while slightly heavy oils such as coconut, sesame or castor oil blends are suitable to nourish the dry scalp.
Weather conditions are another important factor that should not be ignored when selecting any hair oil. While warming base oils such as castor, mustard or almond oils can keep your scalp hydrated in cooler temperatures, coconut oil with cooling properties can be a better option in tropical or summer weather.
This way, each herb has specific properties that can help in treating specific scalp and hair needs. The catch is to identify which base and booster oil work best for your scalp and hair.
Besides rejuvenating your scalp and hair from dosha imbalances, oiling hair with the right herbal concoctions offers several added advantages such as nourishing, conditioning, protecting your scalp and hair from environmental damage besides relieving your mind from stress.
The Right Way of Applying Hair Oil
Traditionally, Ayurveda recommends detangling hair using a wooden comb before oil application. Next, you can add a few drops of booster oil to the base oil and heat the mixture slightly on a low flame. Then, massage the warm oil into your scalp and hair generously for a few minutes. This process helps to boost blood circulation and ensure deeper penetration of oil into your scalp and hair tissues.
You can leave your scalp and hair with oil overnight and wash it off the next morning using a mild shampoo. Following this ritual twice or thrice a week can transform your hair and scalp health over time.
New Age Branding: Going Back to Roots
The majority of personal care brands in India are offering hair oils made of liquid paraffin blended with preservatives and synthetic herbal fragrances. Unfortunately, these mineral oil-based products have zero nourishing properties and do not add to your scalp health.
These oils can clog the subtle channels of the scalp too, causing unwanted build-up and greasiness. This is one of the main reasons for the unwillingness of hair oiling habits among Indians over the years.
Thankfully, some of the new age brands in India are breaking this commercial stunt and banking on organic and cold-pressed oils while staying true to the Ayurvedic roots. We see brands such as Vedix which has been offering customized Ayurvedic hair care products, tapping the potential of Ayurveda at the root level.
Recently, Vedix also launched an exclusive range of booster oils that can be combined with base oils. These customized potent oil concoctions address diverse and specific needs of an Individual’s hair type.
