If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, one thing you can’t have failed to miss is the hair oiling take over. With just shy of 200 million views, as of the time of writing, it looks like oiling is one of the season’s hottests hair care trends. But how do you use hair oil and why is oil good for your hair?

Now, we will preface this by saying that those of you who are Asian, or of Asian descent, will be well within your rights to pick us up on the use of the word ‘trend’. 

Asian girls (and guys) in the know have been oiling their hair since long before the West started sharing how to use hair oil tips on social media.

But now that the world is seemingly going gaga for hair oil, you might have a few questions about when to use hair oil and how often you should oil your hair. Let’s take a look.

How to Use Hair Oil

Knowing how to use hair oil is key to a successful result. After all, your aim here is to nourish the hair and leave it feeling glossy and silky. 

Oiling your locks correctly is a must if you want to avoid getting greasy hair and we’ll take a look in a moment how often to oil hair.

But first, follow these steps to use hair oil properly:

– Wet or dampen your hair and apply the oil to your scalp. Deeply massage it into your head in a circular motion using your fingertips. 

– Run the lengths of your hair through your palms to absorb the rest of the oil that’s left on your hands.

– Cover your head and hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it overnight – or at least for a couple of hours.

– In the morning, apply shampoo to your dry hair before rinsing thoroughly.

– Then use your favourite conditioner before styling as normal.

When to Use Hair Oil

There are no hard and fast rules about when to use hair oil but if your hair is noticeably drier and more damaged than usual or your frizzy hair is in need of a little TLC then hair oil might just be the answer.

There are, however, a couple of instances in which you should avoid using hair oil:

• If You Have Dandruff

Dandruff can be caused by an irritated, dry, itchy or oily scalp, so adding more oil to the situation is not going to be helpful. Instead try getting back to basics first by using a shampoo that has been formulated to tackle dandruff or Aveda’s Invati Advanced™ Exfoliating Shampoo Rich which thoroughly cleanses both hair and scalp.

• If You Have Spots on Your Scalp

If the hair follicles on your head become infected, this can lead to damage of the surrounding tissue. Adding oil to the mix is only going to exacerbate the condition and can lead to further bacterial infection. If you have more than one boil on your scalp that is refusing to go away, we suggest that you talk to your doctor about it.

• If You Have Forehead Acne

Similarly, having spots or acne on your forehead or along your hairline is not a good foundation for using hair oil. The oil can seep into your skin, clogging pores further and worsening the problem. Waiting until your acne has cleared is a must before starting to use hair oil.

Why is Oil Good for Your Hair? 

If you’ve made even a basic Google search on how to use hair oil, when to use hair oil and how often to oil hair, you’ve probably also come across any number of articles telling you why oil is good for your hair.

And probably a couple more telling you when not to use hair oil – as outlined above. But let’s get to the point: why is oil good for your hair?

If you’re in any doubt, just ask anyone over the last 3,000 years who has practised ayurvedic medicine and they’ll probably give you any number of reasons why oil is good for your hair.

Okay, we realise that might not be practical, so we’ve listed some of these reasons here for you instead!

– When you massage the oil into the scalp you’re helping to increase blood circulation, which can in turn stimulate hair growth.

– Oil lubricates the hair’s shaft, increasing its strength, and helping prevent breakage and split ends.

– It also results in glossier, shinier hair and can even enhance your hair colour.

– Oil hydrates the hair and can reduce frizziness and dryness.

– It creates a protective layer along the shaft, helping to lessen the damage caused by hair dryers and heated styling tools. 

– The act of massaging the scalp can reduce stress – one of the causes of hair breakage and loss.

How Often to Oil Hair?

Some practitioners of ayurvedic medicine, of which hair oiling is a part, recommend oiling your hair on a nightly basis. Although for many this will likely be too much of a commitment.

The good news is that when it comes to knowing how often to oil hair, just once or twice a week will still see benefits. The best time to oil your hair, naturally, is on a night before you plan to wash it in the morning.

What Hair Oils to Use?

There are a mind boggling array of different hair oils out there on the market – but not all are created equally. 

Given that hair oiling has its roots in ayurvedic medicine, we think it makes most sense to use hair oil that has been formulated by a company that was founded on the same beliefs. A company that embraced the principles of ayurveda and holistic treatments.

And yes, the clue is in the name: we’re talking about Aveda.  

First of all, we love their Nutriplenish™ Multi-use Hair Oil which has multiple, customisable uses: as a leave-in, pre-shampoo or overnight oil treatment, as a scalp massage oil, or as a post-styling shine gloss.

Or if you’re constantly battling against dry, frizzy or fly away hair, Aveda’s Dry Remedy™ Daily Moisturizing Oil is your new go-to. This daily leave-in treatment will instantly moisturise the hair’s shaft and ends with Buriti oil to leave your locks looking and feeling softer, shinier and more supple than ever before.

Get the Gloss at Strand & Lock London

Hair trends come and go, but when something’s been around for thousands of years – and is guaranteed to be around for thousands of years after TikTok’s popularity has waned – you know it’s worth investigating!

If you have any questions about how to use hair oil, when to use hair oil, how often to use hair oil, or want to know more about why oil is good for your hair and what it can do for you, at Strand & Lock, we’re always happy to help.

Book your appointment today and let’s get your hair looking in the best shape of its life!