The dermatologist stated that hair oil promotes hair growth is a pure myth. Oils may nourish your hair but they cannot initiate hair growth. So, if at all, you think that hair oils stop hair fall and promote hair growth, you are wrong.
Massaging the oil into the scalp increases blood circulation, which may improve hair growth. Applying oil to the scalp may also prevent dandruff .
People with healthy hair can oil their scalp once or twice a week. If you have not oiled your scalp for a long time, you may want to do it daily or alternate days for the first week and return to once or twice a week after that.
Is Daily Oiling Good? We don't recommend doing it daily as too much oil can still be a bad thing. It may end up leaving your hair and scalp greasy, and the excess oil might end up blocking hair follicles on your scalp and cause pimples.
Vitamins B and D factor big in healthy hair. So do zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and the B vitamin biotin. Your doctor can test you for deficiencies. Ask them whether you should take a multivitamin or supplement and how much.
“Other than age, hair can grow slower due to health conditions, vitamin or nutrient deficiencies caused by a poor diet, stress, hormonal imbalances, certain medications and even excessive heat damage from everyday styling,” explains Pierre.
Oiling hair has “a multi-dimensional effect”, says Dr Rohini Wadhwani of Skin Essentials, “It helps by increasing the tensile strength of the hair, reducing the frizziness and preventing breakage.” The oil, by coating the hair, forms a protective layer for the hair shaft.
How long should you leave it on for? While some leave oil in their hair overnight, but usually one-two hours should suffice. “If you apply more oil than you need, thinking you need to coat every strand of your hair with oil, you will need the same amount of shampoo to get it off.
A 2015 study found that oils can help revive hair with a much-needed moisture boost. Another study from 2021 found that coconut oil strengthens hair fibers. Especially for hair that's been affected by intense styling and heat damage, hair oiling can fill in some gaps to keep it moisturized and, in turn, silky smooth.
"Some may need to hydrate once a week while others may need to every day. For some of my patients with psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, I recommend a medicated scalp oil at night, each night, or a few times in a few weeks depending on hair washing preferences."
The short answer is yes! The slightly less short answer is that an oily scalp definitely contributes to hair loss but is often not the sole cause of it. Excess amounts of oils can trap and attract dirt, dandruff, and product build up, which clogs pores and prevents new hair growth.
Olive oil is rich in omega-3 acids and other nutrients that are essential for overall health, including hair health. When applied directly, olive oil helps promote thicker hair. It may also soften the hair and moisturize any dry areas of the scalp.
Oil your hair no more than 1 to 2 times a week. Leave it on for approximately an hour or two but you don't need to leave it on longer than that. When you leave oil on too long you run the risk of zits because oil will run down onto your skin and you also don't add any real benefit by leaving it on longer.
Use a hair oil on your scalp and strands before you shower and while in the shower for a deep moisturizing treatment.
Avoid leaving oil in overnight
The longer, the better — that may be true for some hair treatments but not for hair oiling as the oil can block your hair follicles. Unless an ayurvedic doctor or expert has asked you to leave a medicated oil overnight, wash out the oil within 3-4 hours.
Those with normal hair probably want to keep oil use to around twice a week. Smooth a little through your hair when styling. If you've got oily hair then it makes no sense to use oil as a styling product. However, you can still benefit from an overnight treatment once a week as discussed below.
Many hair follicles stop producing new hairs. Men may start showing signs of baldness by the time they are 30 years old. Many men are nearly bald by age 60.
On average, hair grows about half an inch per month. So, in two weeks, you can expect your hair to grow about one-quarter of an inch or half a centimetre every two weeks.
So, issues like thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, etc. could stunt hair growth. Nutrition (weight fluctuation, crash or restrictive diets, high exercise and not enough protein, iron deficiency, etc.) also plays a role in how long your hair will grow.
The bottom line is that dirty hair does not grow faster than clean hair, so you might as well have a clean scalp and fresh hair. Your hair will look better, feel better, and be healthier as a result.