Hair oiling 101: how to revive the ancient ritual that transforms your hair

Sep 20, 2025

Slow down and apply products such as Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Scalp and Hair Youth-Oil-in Serum – your hair will thank you later. Photo: Handout

The age-old practice of hair oiling is gaining new adherents, but not every oil works for every hair type and condition

Once brushed off as an old-school habit tucked among childhood memories of coconut-slicked foreheads, hair oiling has made a quiet but shiny comeback – only now it’s got better lighting and much fancier packaging. What used to be a generational holdover is now splashed across Instagram in slow-motion videos and perched proudly between bottles of gold-laced serum. No longer hidden on the bottom shelf of speciality beauty stores, oil has been rebranded and repackaged as a haircare staple. But behind all the gloss and hype is a ritual that predates every dry shampoo, heat tool and glossy hair serum in your beauty cabinet.

The Care Codes Bond Smart Oil. Photo: Handout

Long before hair oiling was trending on TikTok, it was a sacred beauty practice passed down like family silver. “In South Asian households, it meant sitting on the floor while your mother or grandmother massaged warm oil into your scalp, telling stories as they went,” says Dubai-based Ayurvedic practitioner Dr Anjali Devi. Fast-forward a few centuries and the global beauty industry has finally caught on. Today, hair oil is being reimagined through luxe elixirs and blends that stress their sensory nature – thoughtfully crafted formulas featuring traditional ingredients like jasmine and paying homage to a practice that’s been around for generations.

Hair oiling 101: how to revive the ancient ritual that transforms your hair

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The age-old practice of hair oiling is gaining new adherents, but not every oil works for every hair type and condition

The age-old practice of hair oiling is gaining new adherents, but not every oil works for every hair type and condition