Oils can cause an increase in naturally occurring yeasts that will exacerbate conditions like Seborrheic Dermatitis. Also oils like castor cause an excessive build-up of dirt and which can clog the hair follicles.
Massaging the oil into the scalp increases blood circulation, which may improve hair growth. Applying oil to the scalp may also prevent dandruff . Follow these steps to give hair oiling a try: Apply oil on your scalp and massage with fingertips using a circular motion.
There are several reasons why you could be experiencing dry scalp, and your hair oil could be one of them. While they typically deliver nutrients that prevent flakes and irritation, hair oils can also worsen the problem.
And, overdoing the oil can result in an excessively oily scalp.It can also obstruct the pores of your scalp, causing folliculitis or boils. Furthermore, if you have dandruff on your scalp, oil will worsen the issue. Finally, too much oil can weight down the strands, making them limp appearing.
“You can oil when your hair is damp or dry, but your hair and scalp have to be clean, or the oil won't have a chance to be absorbed,” says Dr Gupta. For heavier oils like coconut oil, applying it on dry hair is best, as the larger molecules may not penetrate the shaft of wet hair as well it can dry hair.
“Hair loss is directly linked to the pH level of your scalp,” says Anker, “So if your hair is dry or overly oily, you'll experience more hair loss.” Adding extra oil to the scalp also messes with the natural oil/water balance on the scalp. “If you put extra oil on it your body will stop producing natural oil.”
Oil your ends
In general, oiling the scalp is not necessary because our sebaceous glands produce sebum. Sebum is a slightly acidic oil that lubricates our strands closest to the scalp and guards against lost moisture. Sebum is able to effectively lubricate straighter hair strands from the root to the end.
If you have seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema then DO NOT use scalp oil until your condition is healed. Applying oil to broken skin can lead to a secondary sensitivity. This means you can develop an allergic reaction to a product you were previously not sensitive to because you applied it to damaged skin.
When your glands are producing too much oil, this can cause your hair and scalp to be overly greasy. Although this seems harmless, excess oil can clog pores on your scalp which can prevent your hair follicles from growing normally! And as a result, you may experience rapid hair loss.
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.
Oiling your hair helps boost blood circulation to the scalp and nourishes your hair strands[2]. It also keeps your scalp moisturized as dandruff prone scalp is usually very dry. However, oils alone cannot combat dandruff. Some oils contain ingredients that can help fight the fungus which causes dandruff.
Unknown to most people, oil should definitely not be your go-to solution for dandruff. It's just going to exacerbate the problem further.
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. - Be it coconut oil or almond oil or onion oil, all oils are good conditioners.
Avoid hair oiling with an oily scalp
But even if you have dry hair and an oily scalp, oiling will seldom lead to any good as it can further clog pores.
However, the natural oils from your scalp are strong enough that you really don't even need to apply any hair oil there. But, if you do, they will absorb into your scalp quickly without leaving any residue.
Hair falling out while oiling is also a common sight. While massaging the oil into your scalp, the fallen hair will stick to your hands. Hair fall during brushing, shampooing or oiling your hair should not bother you as long as the total number of strands that you lose in a day is below 100.
Avoid oiling your hair if you have an oily scalp
“There are high chances of getting an infection if you apply oil frequently on an oily scalp. You can do it once in a blue moon. Also, if you have acne on your forehead then avoid applying oil to the crown region,” she suggests.
Use a hair oil on your scalp and strands before you shower and while in the shower for a deep moisturizing treatment.
"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."
When you apply oil to an oily scalp, it traps the natural oils that are being secreted. Along with this, dirt and germs also get trapped and end up clogging your pores. This allows the dandruff-causing fungus to multiply and increase your itching. This is the answer to 'why does my scalp itch after applying oil'.
Using too much coconut oil can make your hair greasy. It usually doesn't cause hair loss, but it can cause previously detached hair to fall away from your scalp more easily.
It may work best if you have extremely dry skin along with dandruff. Applying oils to the scalp may cause further irritation in people with seborrheic dermatitis. See your doctor about the underlying cause of your dandruff before treatment. This way, you'll know the right products to use, including coconut oil.