Women’s Day: Hair Oiling, An Act Of Self-Care For Indian Women Across Eras
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Hair oiling is about listening to what your hair needs, treating your strands with kindness, and showing up for your routine regularly.
A gentle oil massage improves microcirculation and encourages relaxation.
Love shows up in many forms: in the way we speak, in the way we show up for others, and even in the way we care for the parts of ourselves that often go unnoticed. On Women’s Day, it’s a reminder that self-care is not indulgence but strength.
For a woman, her hair is her pride, joy and crowning glory. From a young age, it has been instilled in her that taking time for herself, via her hair, is not just a hygiene issue but also a moment to relax and care for herself or show love to the younger women in the home. Hair oiling is a time for women of the family to come together, to talk, laugh and enjoy a few moments with the feminine energy that not only replenishes your own cup but also others.
A woman’s hair, quietly accompanying you through long days, harsh weather, styling experiments, and life’s chaos. It is one of those parts of yourself that deserves more love than it ever asks for. When you choose to nourish it with intention, it responds with softness, strength, and shine that reflects the care it receives.
We speak to Dr Vaishali Gode, EVP – R&D, Product Development (Nourishment) and Packaging, Marico Limited, and Hair Expert, Parachute Advansed, to understand how hair oiling, a ritual that has thrived in India for centuries, is now being widely accepted in the country and around the world, and its benefits.
Healthy hair doesn’t come from shortcuts or overnight miracles. It’s the result of consistent care, mindful habits, and understanding what your hair truly needs. Just as women’s resilience is built over time, hair, too is made of protein that thrives on consistency. This protein structure gives hair its strength, elasticity, and shine, but it is also vulnerable to external stress.
Daily exposure to heat styling, pollution, sun, and even routine washing can gradually weaken this structure, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. Showing your hair love means giving it what it truly needs, not just what looks good in the moment.
This is where oiling remains one of the most effective ways to care for your hair
When applied regularly, oil forms a protective layer that helps reduce moisture loss and shields it from environmental stressors. More importantly, when the right oil is chosen, it can do more than condition the surface.
Coconut-based hair oils are especially effective because of their natural composition. Rich in lauric acid, coconut-based hair oil is known to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft. This helps reduce protein loss and support stronger, more resilient strands over time. Rather than merely coating the hair, it works within it.
The benefits extend to the scalp as well. A gentle oil massage improves microcirculation and encourages relaxation, something many of us could use more of. Coconut-based hair oil’s natural antimicrobial properties also help maintain overall scalp health.
What makes oiling powerful is not just its functionality but also its simple ritual. Taking a few minutes to warm the oil between your palms, massaging it slowly into the scalp, and allowing it to absorb creates a quiet moment in otherwise busy days. It is both nourishment and a reset. This ritual is love in its simplest form: unrushed, intentional, and quietly powerful.
At its core, hair care is about connection through the simplest ritual. It’s about listening to what your hair needs, treating your strands with kindness, and showing up for your routine regularly. Ultimately, hair care is about awareness and understanding what your hair needs and showing up for it consistently. Small, regular steps such as a simple head massage and mindful nourishment can make a meaningful difference over time.
When you give your hair love – real, thoughtful, consistent love – it gives it right back through resilience, radiance, and a natural shine that speaks louder than words.
March 08, 2026, 13:58 IST
