How to oil your hair properly
Warm it, part it, massage the scalp and give it time. A ten-minute ritual.
Sending us a hair photo on WhatsApp
What Shalini asks when you send a photo, what she can and cannot tell from it, and what the routine she sends looks like.
Our site invites you to send a photo of your hair and scalp on WhatsApp, and Shalini replies with a simple routine. About 40 people do this every week. If you are thinking of trying it, here is what to expect.
Send two photos in daylight, near a window: one of the full length of your hair from the back, and one close up of the parting at the crown. Do not oil or wash just before. Then answer a few questions she will ask: how often you wash, what you use now, whether your scalp feels oily, dry or itchy, and whether anything has changed recently.
She usually replies the same day, or the next morning if it is late. The routine is short and plain, often only three lines: which oil and how often, which wash and how often, and one habit to change, such as drying in the shade or using a wide-tooth comb on wet hair. She often suggests continuing what you already use, if it suits you, and you are under no obligation to buy anything.
There are limits to what a photo can show, and she will tell you so. She will not diagnose any condition. If you mention sudden hair fall, patches, a painful or red scalp, or changes after an illness or pregnancy, she will suggest seeing a dermatologist first, before trying any oil. Your photos are used only to reply to you, and you can ask us to delete the chat at any time.
