In Kerala, oiling the head is not a beauty treatment. It is a daily habit, as ordinary as brushing your teeth. Classical Ayurveda calls it shiro abhyanga — oil applied to the head — and treats it as a way to calm the mind, settle tension and prepare for sleep.
Most people do it badly: too much oil, at the wrong time, washed out with harsh shampoo straight away. This guide covers how to do it properly.
Why the head, and why oil?
Ayurveda links restlessness, poor sleep and a tight, heavy head to an excess of vata — the principle of movement and dryness. Warm, medicated oil is its classical counterbalance. A medicated oil (thailam) is not plain oil with fragrance added: herbs are cooked into a sesame or coconut oil base over hours, so the oil carries the herbs with it.
What you need
- A medicated head oil — look for one with a drug licence number and named herbs on the pack
- A small bowl of warm water to warm the bottle in
- An old towel or cotton cloth
- Whatever the pack tells you to wash it out with — some oils come with a herbal wash powder or pouch
The routine, step by step
- Warm the oil gently. Stand the bottle in warm water for a few minutes. Never heat the oil directly over a flame.
- Part the hair and apply to the scalp, not the lengths. Start at the crown, then work outwards.
- Massage slowly with the pads of your fingers for 5–10 minutes. Small circles, light pressure. Include the temples and the back of the neck.
- Leave it on for the time the pack gives — usually 30 minutes to an hour, or overnight for a night routine.
- Wash it out gently. Follow the pack. Strong shampoo strips the oil and much of the point of the routine with it.
Morning or night?
Both have a place. Traditional Kerala routines favour the early morning, before sunrise, followed by a bath. A small amount of oil at night, without washing out, is used to help settle the mind before sleep. Some formulations — including our own Thrupthan Ayurvedic Head Oil — come with a specific timed routine: 20 ml around 5:15 am, washed out after half an hour using the herbal pouch in the box, and 10 ml on the scalp at night, for the first three days. Where a product gives its own routine, follow the pack.
Common mistakes
- Using too much. 5–10 ml is enough for most routines unless the pack says otherwise.
- Oiling wet hair. Apply to a dry scalp so the oil can reach the skin.
- Going out in the cold or wind straight after. Traditional advice is to stay indoors until the oil is washed out.
- Giving up after one day. Ayurvedic routines work through consistency, not a single application.
When to see a doctor instead
Head oiling is a wellbeing routine. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please see a doctor, rather than reaching for any oil, if you have a headache that is sudden and severe, comes with fever, a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, vision changes or vomiting, follows a head injury, or is steadily getting worse week on week.
Choosing a head oil
Look for three things on the pack: a drug licence number, the manufacturer's name and full address, and the herbs listed by name. Our guide to identifying genuine Ayurvedic medicine walks through what to check. If you are not sure which product suits you, use our free consultation before you buy.
This article is general information about traditional Ayurvedic practice. It is not medical advice.