Does your hair feel dry and frizzy even after you had oiled them the night before and shampooed them the next morning? Think before greasing your hair the next time. An ancient way of moisturizing your hair, hair oil has been there ever since. Herbal oils, medicated oils, perfumed ones, oils that would make your hair black, oils that would add shine to your hair, oils that stop baldness… is it all actually happening? If we go back in the history, our grandmothers and great grandmothers did have those sturdy long manes. So, how did they do it? Read on to find out why applying oil every time before shampoo remains only a myth now:

Favorable Conditions for the Grand Mamas:

1. The weather conditions were different and so was the quality of water. Today the water we use for washing our hair is full of chlorine content that promotes hair loss.

2. Our great grandmothers never knew of hair straighteners, hair dryers and other hair mousses that we use today to get the look we want to.

3. Less temperature fluctuations and less pollution levels. Oily strands are a huge turn off and can make you look like Ugly Betty! People with natural oily scalp should avoid hair oil. Our scalps have a natural reservoir of oil for hair strands every time the scalp goes too dry. This is Sebum that keeps your hair moisturized. On the contrary, hair loses its natural sheen if you keep massaging oil every night on your head vigorously. This can damage your hair in two ways: Make hair strands more brittle and make it more dry the minute you shampoo it off, bringing you back into the same vicious circle.

Let us get the basics straight first! No oil can prevent dryness. So, what should one actually do? One cannot do without shampoos and old habits of dabbling oil in your hair die hard.

What we need Today:

1. Buy a non-sulphate shampoo and use it two times a week.

2. Conditioning your hair is the trick. Deep condition your hair thrice a week and wrap a hot towel around your head for 30—40 minutes. Rinse with cold water and see the smoothness seep into your hair texture in no time!

3. Conditioning also prevents split ends and hair breakage and adds bounce to hair texture. No oil would do that! Opt for the ones that have protein.

Natural Substitutes for Hair Oil:

Curd and Fenugreek (methi) hair masque

Honey and Papaya masque

Hair oil forms a layer on your scalp that does not promote the moisture intake of the skin naturally. This chokes the pores leading to formation of flakes and dandruff.

So, the next time your mom screams at you for not oiling your hair, you need to tell her about the new hair revolution!