Oiling and Massaging your hair is a traditional secret of healthy lustrous and strong hair of women in India.
Scalp massaging with essential oils is known practise to maintain healthy hair. Our ancestors have known to care for their hair even better than now.
Bringing the lesson learned from the past today where hair loss or hair related issues are quite common, is what one needs to do.
Hot oil massage is the technique or practise is something if you do regularly, it can boost your hair growth, nourish your scalp, prevent hair loss and any infection.
Along with multiple benefits, it also rejuvenates your mind and relaxes you. It is a great way to reboot yourself from a stressful day or days.
Benefits of Hot Oil Massage
If you integrate the practice of hot oil massage into your hair care routine, you will see a plethora of benefits it has to give in different ways.
Here are some primary benefits you get from hot oil massage :
Reducing Hair Breakage
Hot oil massage therapy to your hair need regular application of oil in your hair care routine.
It varies from person to person on how regular you should be with your massage but consistency in oil application on your hair lubricates the hair shaft.
So, it coats your hair with a film that protects it from any hair damage or vulnerabilities preventing the breakage.
It also prevents other issues related to hair breakage such as split ends.
Stimulates Hair Growth
Hot oil massage penetrates through your scalp layers deep enough to nourish the hair roots.
It enhances the blood circulation beneath the scalp epidermis promoting stimulating hair growth by transforming follicles to hair follicles.
It overall acts as a catalyst in the hair growth cycle promotes hair health and also boosts volume.
Boosting Hair Health
The massage nourishes your hair and scalp deeply which helps in the healthy regrowth of hairs.
It also promotes nutrients growth in your hair to make them stronger. When you massage your hair with hot oil, it stimulates the blood flow to the hair follicle.
Strengthening The Hair Roots
The day-to-day life stress is there to block the required amount of blood flow to your scalp.
And since this happens all the time, it keeps your hair roots and follicles undernourished, and that’s where hair grows.
It also one of the causes of thinning of the hair and gradual hair fall as well. When you do a hot oil massage to your scalp, it increases the blood flow and boosts the nourishment of the roots and helps in strengthening them.
Prevents Infection
There can be some major hair problems such as bacterial or fungal infections due to clogging of the skin pores on your scalp.
Dandruff is surely one of the primary results of scalp infections and also gives the perfect environment for the growth of hair lice.
Infections and hair lices further result in hair loss which can be really catastrophic for your long-time hair growth cycle.
Do remember there are always good bacteria present on your scalp to maintain the balance.
So hot oil massages even on every now and then can promote those good bacterias to keep infections away.
Regulates Sebaceous Glands
There are sebaceous glands present on the skin of your scalp that produce an oily substance called ‘sebum’ that acts as a lubricant to your hair.
When you give hot oil massage to your hairs and scalp, it regulates the sebaceous glands for its optimum performance. It helps in maintaining the moisturization of your hair.
Prevents Dandruff
Dry skin is what causes dandruff in your hair. When your hair scalp is dry, it makes the dead skin cells turn into flakes.
These “flakes” are caused by a microscopic organism, a fungus named pityriasis. However, it remains inactive until some triggers such as hormonal imbalances or pH alterations on your scalp and others.
Oiling your hair moisturizes your scalp and prevents dryness, and hence also prevents dandruff. It also relieves the itching in your scalp.
Relieves Stress
Hot oil massage also helps in relieving stress and relaxing your mind. These massages are seen to be improving the serotonin and dopamine levels in your body.
The regular massages elevate your mood and keep you rejuvenated from day-to-day stress.
To back this up, there is a study cited in PubMed.gov, head massages can increase serotonin levels by around 28% and dopamine by around 31%.
Delays Greying
One of the common problems seen today amongst adults, and even in youngsters is premature greying of hair.
This is due to the lack of required nutrients in your food such as vitamins and proteins. However, there are more reasons for premature hair greying such as genetic disposition.
The other reason is being the lack of melanin that determines the color of your hair, just like your skin.
So hot oil massage helps you protect and retain the melanin in your hair. Oil creates a protective layer around the hair strands to keep them away from UV rays, pollution, and other contributors to bad hair health.
Three Major Hot Oil Massage Techniques Promoting Hair Growth
Technique 1: Mobilization Massage
The mobilization technique of massaging with hot oil starts from putting your finger pads on the head.
Then, maintaining a distance between your fingers, you press down the head. You keep rotating while doing it or keep moving back and forth with your hand.
Also, keep moving your fingers in the process and repeat the same with other parts of your scalp as well.
Technique 2: Cupping Massage
While performing the cupping massage, you need to place your hands one on top of the other covering your lower hand with the upper hand.
You need to apply pressure, strong enough to create this “suction” sensation by collapsing the air between your two hands.
Technique 3: Massage in Pinches
Place your hands around just 2 cm apart and keep your fingers tight. Now you have to bring the fingers of your hands together to pinch the scalp. This process shouldn’t be more than 30 seconds. You can repeat the process further to other parts of the scalp.
Best Oils To Choose For Hoil Oil Massage
Coconut Oil
One of the best oils for hair nourishment known for ages to improve hair health. It is a natural anit-fungal and antibacterial oil helps in soothing the scalp.
It has anti-inflammatory properties that are ideal to counter any scalp inflammation caused due to hair loss, itching, lices, infections or any other reasons.
Buy Here : Virgin Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Olive oil is already known for its non-heated consumption and tropical applications.
It has a tremendous amount of nutrients such as essential fatty acids that keep your scalp nourished, strengthen your hair roots and promote hair health.
It contains oleic acid that penetrates through the hair shaft and locking the moisture in for keeping your hair nourished for longer durations.
Not to forget the abundance of vitamin E which is ideal for overall hair growth and quality.
Buy Here : Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Argan Oil
Argan oil is also known as Moroccan oil, used in the prevention of hair loss and rejuvenation of dry and dull hairs.
The kernels of the argan tree are the source of this oil. It is rich in tocopherols, antioxidants and polyphenols that combats oxidative damages.
It contains unsaturated fatty acids that promise to help in treating dry hair. It basically moisturizes your hairs, an ideal choice if you have dry and dull hairs.
The argan oil reduces inflammation, rejuvenates your hairs and renew the skin promoting hair growth and strength as well.
Buy Here : Argan Oil
Almond Oil
This is the best oil for people who prefer non-sticky, light, fragrant oil to nourish your hair keeping it alive and rejuvenated.
Some elements in Almond oil such as mono-unsaturated fatty acids called lipids, vitamins and proteins may help in overall boost in hair quality.
It primarily contains the vitamin E and fatty acids helps in treating the split ends and moisturize your hair roots.
Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe your scalp inflammation, itching and dryness.
Buy Here : Almond Oil
Jojoba Oil
If you are someone suffering from hair follicles, jojoba oil is the best essential oil which is a wax ester to condition your hair. It also has inflammatory properties and helps in treating dandruff. It also relieves you from itching or any scalp discomfort in the case of infections or allergies.
Buy Here : Jojoba Oil
Castor Oil
Castor oil is quite a popular cosmetic oil known to be working wonders on hairs. If you are suffering from hair loss that happens due to excess of the PGD2 hormone in your body, there is substance found in castor oil which helps to inhabit it.
Buy Here : Cold Pressed Castor Oil – Pure & Virgin
Sesame Oil
Sesame Oil is best to treat the scalp infections and allergies. Especially in the case of hot oil treatment, this oil works the best for conditioning your hair.
It nourishes your scalp helping in treating dandruff and other bacterial or fungus-caused allergies or infections.
Buy Here : Sesame Oil
Step-by-Step Method to Massage Your Hair With Hot Oil
- First things first. Make sure your hairs are washed and cleaned before you use hot oil for massaging.
- Now, you use a hairbrush or a wide toothed comb to remove all the knots and tangles in your hair.
- Use a towel to cover your neck and shoulders to protect the oil staining your clothes.
- Use your fingers to apply the hot oil on your hair by dipping it. Rub your hands gently together to spread the oil evenly.
- Massage your scalp using your fingers moving it gently in the circular motion for a few minutes.
- Once the oil is applied throughout your scalp, you can apply the remaining to your hair strands and roots.
- Now, tie your hair up making a bun. Put up a shower cap.
- Give some time to make the oil sit in your hair. The scalp will absorb some oil which takes some time. You can give it at least an hour or best if you leave it overnight.
- Wash your hair with shampoo. Use a conditioner as well. It is better to use warm water to remove the oil from your oil before shampooing.
Tips For Hot Oil Massage
- Make sure you don’t dump the oil on your head rather dip your fingers with oil and comb through your hairs making partitions.
- Be gentle with oil application onto the scalp and smooth hand movements through hair. Apply the force or pressure only as much as required.
- You need to avoid the hot oil scalding while applying it onto the scalp and hair. It is because too much heat from the oil at the spot can burn the scalp and cause damage to hairs.
- You can also consider oil dabbing to the scalp using a cotton piece. It is a more gentle alternative than your fingers.
- Make sure you have removed the hair knots and tangles before oil massaging the head. If not, it can cause pain and more hair breakage.
- Find or try to go for organic, natural, and virgin oils as compared to chemically-processed oils.
- Hot oil massage works best when you have clean, untangled hair and scalp. So make sure you have washed your hair before massaging.
- Always remember to do a patch test with the hot oil before beginning. You can try a patch test inside of your forearm.
- Make sure you are oil massaging your hair regularly to attain the maximum benefits. However, doing it more often can also cause harm. So it is better to do oiling not more than twice a week.
- The head massage makes your hair roots loosen up so make sure you avoid tying the hair up tightly because it might aid hair fall.
- Always wait some time giving your hairs to absorb all the oil before you go for shampooing. At least 30 minutes will be good to wait.
- There are two types of massage techniques- effleurage and petrissage. Effleurage is about using strokes and circular movement of hands whereas petrissage is where you do lifting and kneading the scalp.
- Any wrong step in the procedure or improper massaging technique might lead to hair breakage. So make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
- One of the important rules to massage your hair is never to use your fingernails.
- Avoid heat styling of your hairs.
- Choosing essential oils according to the specific hair problems will help you better. For example, almond oil is specifically good for preventing dandruff as it is nourishing whereas argan oil is an ideal choice for frizzy hairs.
