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Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia

Hair oiling is a ritual that demands slowing down, handmade oil preparations, and relying on tried-and-tested techniques. These hair oils inspired by Ayurveda are not only calming but also deliver results

@purearth

Hair oiling in India has always existed somewhere between grooming and ritual. The champi is less a beauty hack than a cultural inheritance—a practice that treats the scalp as a site of care rather than correction. Long before hair serums promised overnight transformation, Ayurvedic traditions mapped stress, circulation and nourishment through touch. 

For centuries, oils infused with amla, neem, bhringraj, hibiscus, and  ashwagandha were prepared at home, folded into weekly rhythms that linked grooming with recovery. 

A woman applying the best hair oil and massaging with wooden massager
Ayurvedic traditions mapped stress, circulation and nourishment through touch.
Photograph: (www.kamaayurveda.in)

What changed was infrastructure, not appetite. Urban schedules no longer allow slow kitchen infusions, yet the desire for the ritual persists. The best hair oils in India exist within that tension. They translate botanical tradition into ready formulas that preserve intent while adapting to contemporary times. Their appeal isn’t driven by mere nostalgia. Regular oiling restores hydration, reduces mechanical breakage, and reintroduces a rare moment of deliberate stillness into routines organised around speed and immediacy. 

The best hair oils in India for scalp, strength, and shine

A backshot of a woman with the plate with a bottle of oil
Photograph: (fableandmane.com)

Fable & Mane HoliRoots: Best lightweight hair oil in India

The brand took Ayurveda’s most staple ingredients and made a luxurious hair oil out of them. This fragrant blend features amla, ashwagandha, brahmi, and bhringraj, along with oils such as sesame, castor, olive, jojoba, grape seed, and safflower, making it the best hair oil for every type of mane and scalp. 

Priced at ₹3,550

Available at Nykaa.com

A bottle of the best hair oil with 63 herbs
Photograph: (Instagram.com/oldschoolrituals)

Old School Rituals 63 Herbs Hair Oil: Best herbal oil for thicker hair

One of the rare hair oils on the market to combine over 60 herbs and ingredients, this preparation benefits both the scalp and hair. For days when stress is at its peak, warm up some of this oil and indulge in a head massage—let the herby scent do its trick. Besides inducing a sense of calm, expect this hair oil to strengthen locks and improve hair texture.

Priced at ₹1,400

Available at Oldschoolrituals.in

A bottle of inde wild, the best hair oil for champi
Photograph: (Instagram.com/indewild)

indē Wild Champi: Best oil for hair growth

A pleasant whiff of jasmine upon uncapping this hair oil is an instant mood-lifter. Its benefits are deeper—from strengthening and hydrating hair to clearing up dandruff and scalp build-up. A mix of over 16 Ayurvedic herbs—including castor oil, hibiscus extract, bringraj, tulsi, marigold, neem, fenugreek, licorice, and rosemary—are fused with carrier oils like almond, argan, and coconut to deliver a rich champi experience. 

Prices start at ₹355

Available at India.Indewild.com

A backshot of a woman with curly hair holding a bottle of the best hair oil
Photograph: (Instagram.com/ranavat)

Ranavat Fortifying Hair Serum Oil: Best hair oil for softness and shine 

Clinically proven to render stronger, more resilient hair, this hair serum-oil hybrid is a naturally fragrant, nourishing fix to dry, frizzy, brittle hair. Its formula for softness and shine is headlined by amla and sunflower oil and scented by fresh jasmine, but the highlight is its weightless texture that seeps right in, and doesn’t necessarily demand a subsequent hair wash. Use it for a head massage or to create a slick-back updo.

Priced at ₹9,200

Available at Ranavat.com

A bottle of indulekha hair oil in a woman's hand being applied on the head
Photograph: (Instagram.com/indulekha_care)

Indulekha Hair Oil: Best drugstore hair oil for hair fall

The brand endorses this hair oil as an Ayurveda-inspired medicinal treatment for thinning and shedding hair. Pumped with ingredients like bhringraj, svetakutaja, amla, and virgin coconut oil, this is among the best drugstore hair oils in the Indian market, holding its position for decades. The bottle comes with an in-built comb-like applicator for even application, and the blend offers anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-hair loss benefits. 

Priced at ₹432

Available at Indulekha.co.in

A bottle of hair oil with ingredients kept on the side
Photograph: (www.forestessentialsindia.com)

Forest Essentials Ayurvedic Japatti Head Massage Oil: Best hair oil to repair hair

Loaded with cold-pressed oils, this is one of the best hair oils to tame frizz, alleviate dryness, and aid thinning hair. Infused with a therapeutic aroma, this green-hued hair oil combines basil, bakuchiol, coconut milk and coconut oil, hibiscus, jasmine, and sesame seed oil for a seriously replenishing head massage. 

Priced at ₹1,645

Available at Forestessentials.com

A bottle of the best hair oil
Photograph: (www.kamaayurveda.in)

Kama Ayurveda Bringaras Scalp & Hair Oil: Best Ayurvedic hair oil for stronger roots   

Among the brand’s bestsellers, this hair oil sits at the top. The potent blend contains natural ingredients and is enriched with herbs to promote scalp health, retain the natural pigment of the hair, and boost its thickness. It is, however, a thick hair oil, which means getting rid of it requires a few rounds of washes. 

Prices start at ₹615

Available at Kamaayruveda.com 

A bottle of the best hair oil made with Ayurvedic ingredients
Photograph: (Instagram.com/purearth)

Purearth Kesha Hair Oil: Best luxury hair oil for champi 

Think of this potent hair oil blend as a well-rounded treatment for your mane—scalp and hair included. It is prepared with ingredients that have traditional wisdom’s stamp of approval, including amla, ratanjot, bhringraj, nirgundi, and nagarmotha in a nourishing carrier base featuring coconut, sesame, castor, and sunflower seed oils. This makes the flesh-toned concoction one of the best hair oils for a weekly champi.

Priced at ₹3,600

Available at Purearth.asia

Hair oiling persists because it offers something that modern beauty often forgets: time. The act slows down the body, restores circulation, and reconnects grooming with touch. Whether framed as Ayurveda or simple hair care maintenance, the best hair oils in India function as both cosmetic care and cultural memory. In a market obsessed with immediacy, the champi is deliberately slow.

Frequently asked questions about the best hair oils

Which is the best hair oil in India for hair growth?
The best hair oil India from hair growth can be found from brands like Indulekha, Ranavat, and Fable & Mane, which feature Ayurvedic ingredients that strengthen roots and prevent hair fall
How often should you oil your hair?
You can oil your hair as often as you wish. However, if you do feel the need to follow up with a hair wash, make hair oiling to a weekly or bi-weekly ritual. 
Is Ayurvedic hair oil better for scalp health?
Yes, Ayurvedic hair oil is considered to be better for scalp health since they're made of naturally-derived ingredients and offer therapeutic benefits. It is interesting to note that most hair oils do incorporate the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda in the form of carrier oils and botanical ingredient infusions.
Can hair oil make hair thicker?
Applying a hair oil doesn't directly make the hair thicker. However, regular hair oiling encourages blood circulation in the scalp, strengthens the hair follicles and stimulates the area. Together, these benefits result in thicker, fuller hair.
Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia
Ria Bhatia is the associate beauty editor at The Established. She explores beauty and wellness through industrial, cultural, and social lenses, with bylines in Femina, ELLE India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Masala UAE, and VOGUE India.

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