Is Hair-Oiling the Ultimate Game Changer? by Dixita Patel the co-founder of MAYU

Have you ever wondered why South Asians are known to have long, shiny and beautiful healthy hair? Well, their secret is quite simple: hair-oiling. 

Before we recommend the best natural hair care routine, we need to understand the tradition behind it. 

Hair-oiling is an Ayurvedic practice that has been used for over 3 000 years and the tradition continues to be practiced until this day. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest holistic healing systems, which was developed in India. The system is based on the belief that our health depends on the balance between our mind, body and spirit. The goal is to encourage optimal health and well-being. According to this system, there are three life-giving energies (doshas) which circulate in all humans: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. If you have an excess of one dosha, your body will no longer be balanced, which can be seen directly through your hair health. Our scalp has many energy-relieving points named marmas. Hair-oiling then becomes a rejuvenating tool – by oiling and massaging the scalp, any excess dosha will be pulled out and your balance will be restored. When the balance is restored, the positive effects of doshas will prevent premature greying, hair loss, thinning and dandruff. Aside from rejuvenation, the hair-oiling practice has many other advantages such as strengthening your roots, nourishing hair strands, promoting hair growth, enhancing blood circulation and relieving stress. 

This healing system recommends oiling your scalp at least once a week before you plan to wash your hair. If you have a lot of dandruff, the treatment is suggested twice a week. 

The treatment process is a national pastime and family affair. Traditionally, our mothers or grand-mothers will take the following steps: heat the oil to lukewarm and transfer to a bowl, part your hair, dip your fingers in the bowl and apply to your scalp. You continue this process throughout your entire scalp and apply a little to the length of your hair. Once your entire scalp and hair is coated, our mother would massage our scalp in small, circular motions to stimulate blood flow and encourage the oil to absorb, which cools down our scalp and removes excess doshas. This treatment should be done in the evening before bedtime. Depending on your mixture, it can improve the quality of your sleep. Finally, you must shampoo and condition in the morning. 

This treatment is not an overnight solution. It should be practiced at least once a week, or every time you plan to wash your hair. You will see results after 3 months of consistent use. 

Now you are wondering: “What should I use to oil my hair?”. Well, traditionally, each household will create their own blend by mixing different quantities of oils together. Essentially, mothers would just tell their daughters to mix the oils they have at home. In our case, our mother has been perfecting her recipe for many years. Calling her a hair-oiling enthusiast is just not enough – she absolutely loves hair-oiling and you can see the results for yourself.  

As we got older, we joined the hair-oiling enthusiasts team and decided to get together and create the perfect blend in terms of consistency, smell and benefits. Once we got the perfect blend, we realized it did not belong in a single household anymore. Our mother’s blend belongs to the world. For this reason, we decided to create our own brand and name it after our mother, Mayuri. 

By purchasing MAYU oil, you will never need to figure out your own oil blend – we got you covered. Our product includes 8 clean ingredients: Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Amla Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Black Cumin Oil and Lavender Oil. Each oil in our blend was selected for its unique benefits. MAYU oil is also 100% natural, organic, cruelty-free, and vegan. Additionally, it is free from silicone, parabens and sulfate. Did we mention it smells like a lavender field? Our oil truly has the best consistency and smell for your hair-oiling treatments. 

At MAYU, our goal is to spread the ancient legacy of Ayurvedic hair care and make hair-oiling part of your self-love routine. Hair-oiling has truly been a life saver for us and we cannot recommend it enough. 

Nevertheless, hair health also depends on your actual health. A healthy balanced diet is incredibly important to keep your hair strong, nourished and shiny. In other words, what you eat directly affects your hair. If you do not eat enough nutritious foods – you will certainly see the effects in your hair. 

If you wish to transform your hair for the better, we recommend the following tips:

1. Oil your hair at least once a week
2. Eat a healthy balanced diet
3. Be mindful of key ingredients in your hair products
4. Avoid hot tools (if you do decide to use tools, use a heat protectant) 
5. Schedule regular trimmings 

Are you ready to change your hair care routine? If yes, head to www.mayuoilcare.com and purchase your very own bottle – you will not regret it. Once you have your own bottle, you will have access to our family’s secret blend. On that note, welcome to the MAYU family! 

Love, 
Sneha & Dixita
Founders of MAYU