How To Select Hair Oil  For Yourself? Choices And Examples

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD
Hair care is a most incoming generating business in the world. Even though shampoo, soap, hair gels, colorants etc have significant amount of share, hair oil also takes major portion in this respect. 

Handsome amount of advertise revenue also generated due to this in all media too.  However the search of a best oil is still continuing with everybody, irrespective of gender and age.

Here is a quick review of classical hair oils and its main indications. Even though this is not ultimate, on due consultation with your personal physician this can be used in future days(because the expert physician will tell the way of its usage and the particular company that can be opted etc)-

Hair oils for Vata Prakriti

For Vata prakriti people – 
Asanabilvadi tailaused in the treatment of diseases related eyes, ear and headache.
Malatyadi taila – used in treatment of alopecia, premature baldness, dandruff and excessive hair fall.
Amritadi taila

Hair oils for Pitta Prakriti

For Pitta prakriti individuals –
Chandanadi taila
 – It is a natural coolant oil. It is used to relieve burning sensation, dizziness, etc.
Triphaladi taila –  used in the treatment of headache, hair fall, grey hairs, etc.
Asanaeladi taila –  used in the Ayurvedic treatment of headache, ear and eye diseases.
Utpaladi taila,
Chandanosheeradi taila,
Brahmi taila,
Doorvadi keram

Hair oils for Kapha Prakriti

For Kapha prakriti individulas-
Asanadi taila,
Asanaeladi taila,
Asanamanjishthadi taila,
Manjishthadi taila,
Doorvadi keram
Read related: Ayurvedic Hair Care – Principles, Herbs, Oils And Medicines

Should I Heat The Hair Oil Before Applying?

Oils for thick hair

For getting thick/dense hair –
Neelibhringadi taila,
Bhringaraja taila / Tekaraja taila,  – Learn how to make bhringaraj hair oil at home
Kayyonyadi taila, Chembarutyadi taila,
Bhringamalakadi taila

Oils to overcome grey hairs

For overcoming the grey hair-
Amalaki taila / Amla hair oil – Learn how you can prepare it at home, easily
Triphaladi taila,
Neelinyadi taila,
Gopatmajadi taila,
Kayyonyadi taila,
Doorvadi keram,
Madhuka taila

Oils to reduce burning sensation of scalp

To reduce the burning of scalp-
Himasagara taila,
Amalaki taila,
Baladhatryadi taila,
Brahmi taila
Read related: Oral Ayurvedic Medicines For Hair Loss And Hair Growth

Oils to reduce itching

To reduce the itching, dandruff of the scalp-
Durdurapatradi taila,
Nalpamaradi taila,
Eladi keram,
Mandara taila,
Marichadya taila,
Dineshavallyadi keram,
Doorvadi keram

Oils to reduce hair root pain

To reduce the pain of the hair roots-
Bala taila,
Ksheerabala taila,
Balahathadi taila

Oils for healthy hair

To get long and healthy hair-
Neelibhringadi taila,
Kayyonyadi taila

Oils for blisters of scalp

To overcome the blisters/boils on the hair root/scalp-
Mahamaricha taila,
Jatyadi taila etc

What a noble thinking of our Acharyas…..!
Each and every detail is inspected and accordingly, suitable oil is prescribed. Individualistic drug approach made Ayurvedic prescriptions unique and more accurate.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD

Heating of oil

Should you heat the hair oil before application? 

As per Ayurvedic principles, once the oil is prepared, it is best not to reheat.

Between hotness and coldness, coldness is healthier for the scalp, hair roots, face and eyes. This is why, Ashtanga Sangraha, an ancient Ayurvedic textbook recommends cold water wash for head and warm water bath for the rest of the body.

So, if you do not live in an extremely cold place, then there is no real need for heating your hair oil. Just apply it as it is.

But if you are living in a very cold place, if the hair oil has a coconut oil base, then it can solidify. Only in this case, it is best to warm the oil a little, before application.

There are two more unrelated points to consider –

Though cold water wash for hair is recommended, if you have applied the hair oil, before hair wash, it is best to use lukewarm water to wash hair. Because the cold water will not get rid of the oil from hair completely.

If you are living in a very cold place, it is not ideal to use coconut oil as hair oil. Coconut oil is a coolant. Remember, for all practical purposes, Ayurveda recommends sesame oil.  Sesame oil is slightly hot in nature. So, generally, sesame oil for hair is best. But for people in extremely hot places, coconut oil, which is coolant is ideal for hair.

Summing up, if your coconut hair oil has solidified due to cold weather, only then warm it a little. During cold winters, it is not ideal to use coconut oil has hair oil. Sesame oil is better.

During extreme hot summers, coconut oil is a better choice for hair when compared to sesame oil.

23 comments on “How To Select Hair Oil  For Yourself? Choices And Examples

  • Maah

    26/02/2017 - 7:42 am

    I do not have access to these special oils, i use what i can obtain easily. i have noticed that whenever i use coconut oil on my scalp, my scalp itches like crazy but when i use mustard seed oil or sesame oil, i am fine. What in the coconut oil, or coconut oil combined with my body’s nature would cause this effect? The rest of my body does not get affected like this with coconut oil. Thank you.

    Reply to comment
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

      19/03/2017 - 6:23 pm

      Just the kapha increasing nature of coconut oil is causing the itching. Itching is a classical Kapha symptom. Coconut oil being cold, increases Kapha. Mustard oil / sesame oil being hot decreases it.

      Reply to comment
      • I S

        20/03/2017 - 11:39 am

        Is Olive oil also kapha for scalp?

        Reply to comment
        • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

          20/03/2017 - 6:02 pm

          Olive oil can slightly increase Kapha, but is good for scalp.

          Reply to comment
  • MRamakrishna Sharma

    27/02/2017 - 3:06 pm

    A very nice article. Now a days there are no. of oils advertised in the media. People are in confusion as to which is good and which is not. In such a cross road your guidance is very helpful,Dr Janaradhana sir.

    MRamakrishna Sharma

    Reply to comment
  • I S

    03/03/2017 - 8:24 pm

    My old aunt complains of imaginary insects crawling in her hair. (PSYCHOLOGICAL ). Is there a oil remedy for this condition?

    Reply to comment
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

      04/03/2017 - 5:07 pm

      If she has underlying depression, then brahmi hair oil is useful to some extent.

      Reply to comment
  • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

    04/03/2017 - 5:03 pm

    Hi, when oil is applied over head, lukewarm water can be used for head bath.

    Reply to comment
  • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

    05/03/2017 - 10:39 pm

    Drop what?

    Reply to comment
  • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

    06/03/2017 - 7:18 am

    It is a good combination. Please continue the same.

    Reply to comment
  • Shripriya

    09/04/2017 - 9:23 am

    Dear Doctor, is there any remedy for female pattern baldness

    Reply to comment
  • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

    17/04/2017 - 10:19 pm

    It does not have any side effect on external application.
    Can be used for hair as well.
    Nothing to add more.

    Reply to comment
  • Vidhya

    26/06/2017 - 9:32 pm

    Please also write an article on Neelibringhadi tailam, ingredients and how to prepare at home

    Reply to comment
  • Rohit

    22/11/2017 - 4:19 pm

    Sir, plz tell me any home remedy for serbomic dermatitis. Btw sir, you are doing tremendous job, I am following your website for the past 2 years. Once you suggested kumkumadi tailam, now no more scars with continuous use for 1 year. Many Thanks.

    Reply to comment
  • SG

    02/01/2018 - 1:18 pm

    Thank you for the informative article in identifying types of hair oil for different needs.

    I am having severe thinning of hair along the forehead and back of the head. I started using Neelibhringadi tailam 3 times/week by applying oil 30mins-1hr before washing my hair. I don’t see much difference yet but there is a slight increase in hairfall and itching of scalp.

    Is it okay to continue using the oil?
    I am thinking of mixing Neelibhringadi,Malatyadi and Triphaladi tailam in equal parts and apply before washing hair. Is that good to promote hair growth and stop thinning of hair?

    Thank you very much!

    Reply to comment
    • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

      18/01/2018 - 11:10 am

      Neelibhringadi,Malatyadi and Triphaladi tailam – This combination is good. Please continue.

      Reply to comment
  • Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)

    07/03/2018 - 8:42 pm

    Hi, your oil combination looks good. They do not contain added preservatives.

    Reply to comment
  • V

    22/03/2018 - 4:22 am

    Also, plz list out the correct procedure for making the oil properly

    Reply to comment
  • Kalyani

    23/05/2018 - 4:46 pm

    Hi doctor,
    My hair falls before it grows longer. My scalp remains hot all the time and I’m generally of pitta Prakriti. I have some persistent flaky and itchy spots on my scalp though my scalp gets oily fast. The texture of hair is good.
    I have started using neelibhringadi Keram oil of Kottakkal arya vaidyasala. I keep it for 2 to 3 hours and shampoo. Though it cools my head my hair fall has increased. And scalp is itchy too. What could I be doing wrong? Should I stop using the oil?
    Thanks

    Reply to comment
  • Roshni

    02/09/2020 - 10:35 am

    Due to stress my hairfall ,more stress trigger the more hairloss. Which oil or remedy I can use ??

    Reply to comment

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