What happens when you stop oiling your hair?

Oiling your hair is a time-honoured tradition across several cultures around the globe. Touted for its myriad benefits for hair health, our modern and hustling lifestyle leaves little room for such age-old practices. But have you ever wondered what happens when you stop applying oil at all on your hair? Imagine brittle ends and a malnourished scalp leading to immense hair fall. But it’s worse than that.

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Hair oiling has both an occlusive and emollient effect. The occlusive agents create a strong barrier on the surface of our hair, which locks in the moisture. On the other hand, emollients fill in the gaps in the hair cuticle, making the strands feel smoother but more flexible. Oil also penetrates inside the hair shafts to some extent, which thus provides deep conditioning, hair growth promotion, and nourishment for the overall scalp.

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Before exploring the consequences, let’s see the crucial role of hair oil. Hair oiling locks in moisture, preventing dryness and brittleness. It nourishes our strands, providing us with essential nutrients that further strengthen our hair shaft. The oil thus creates a protective barrier against environmental damage, and regular oiling can promote a healthy and nourished scalp, thus preventing dandruff and itchiness issues. Let’s understand now what happens if we stop applying oil.

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Without weekly application of oil, our hair tends to lose moisture more quickly, leading to dry and brittle ends that are more prone to breakage. The protective layer provided by the oil retains the natural moisture, making our hair look fuller and healthier. Lack of oiling means lack of lustre and shine. You might start noticing that a reduction in your hair’s natural sheen will start to appear, as oil helps smooth the hair cuticle, allowing it to reflect the light better.

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Hair oil nourishes the hair shaft with fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Without these nutrients, hair can turn weaker over time, which thus eventually leads to issues like hair thinning and split ends. Absence of these nutrients might slow down hair growth and can affect your scalp as well. Oiling prevents dryness, flakiness, and dandruff. Without oil, the scalp might become dry and itchy, leading to potential scalp disorders and hindering hair growth too.

(Image Credits: Pinterest)

(Image Credits: Pinterest)