Yes, hair oiling works, but not the way most social media posts suggest. Applying oil to dry hair before you shampoo can coat the strand, reduce the amount of water your hair absorbs during washing, and cut down on the swelling and friction that causes breakage. It won't make hair grow faster or repair split ends, but as a pre-wash protective step, it's a genuinely useful addition to a winter routine.
Why This Old Ritual Is Trending Again
Hair oiling is an Ayurvedic practice (Ayurveda being the traditional system of medicine and wellness that originated in India) with roots going back thousands of years across South Asia, traditionally done as a scalp massage ritual using warmed oils before washing. It's had a resurgence on social media over the past couple of years, often stripped of its cultural context and rebranded as a quick fix for growth or shine. Hairhouse stylists see a spike in questions about it every time it recirculates online, usually from people wanting to know whether it's actually doing anything or just adding a greasy step to wash day.
The honest answer sits in the middle. Oil can't penetrate the hair shaft deeply enough to "repair" damage from the inside, and it won't speed up growth, since hair grows from the follicle, not the length. What it does do well is reduce hygral fatigue, the swelling and shrinking hair goes through every time it gets wet, which weakens the cuticle over repeated washes. A pre-wash oil coats the strand and slows water absorption, meaning less swelling and less friction-related breakage at the basin.
Australian winters make this more relevant than the trend cycle suggests. Indoor heating and lower humidity dry out both scalp and hair faster than most people expect, and a lot of that dryness gets misread as needing more shampoo or heavier styling products, when what the hair actually needs is more oil and less stripping.
How Do You Actually Do a Pre-Wash Oil Treatment?
The traditional method is simple: warm a small amount of oil between your palms or in a bowl of hot water, section dry or slightly damp hair, and massage the oil into the scalp first before working any excess through the lengths and ends. Leave it for at least twenty minutes, or overnight if your scalp tolerates it, then shampoo it out thoroughly, usually with a double cleanse since oil needs a proper surfactant to fully lift off.
Expert Tip: Hairhouse stylists recommend focusing oil application at the scalp and mid-lengths to ends rather than saturating the roots to the point of looking wet. Fine or oily hair types generally do better with a shorter treatment time and a lighter oil, while thick or coarse hair can handle a heavier oil left in longer.
The biggest mistake people make is skipping the massage step. A few minutes of scalp massage with the fingertips, not the nails, increases blood flow to the follicle and is genuinely relaxing, which is arguably as valuable as the oil itself for anyone using this as a wind-down ritual rather than a strictly clinical treatment.
Which Oil Should You Actually Use?
Not all oils behave the same way on hair, and this is where a lot of the online advice gets vague. Argan oil is a reliable, lightweight starting point for most hair types and is the base of the Moroccanoil Original Treatment 100ml, which works equally well as a fast leave-in for everyday shine or a pre-wash treatment left on for twenty to thirty minutes before shampooing. For finer or colour-treated hair that needs something lighter, Eleven Australia Smooth & Shine Serum 60ml is an Australian-made argan oil blend that absorbs quickly without weighing hair down. If breakage or chemical damage is more of a concern than dryness, Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil 30ml is currently one of the most talked-about options in this space, since it's formulated to reinforce the hair's internal bonds rather than just sit on the surface.
If dryness is really showing up at the scalp rather than the lengths, a dedicated pre-shampoo scalp oil does more targeted work than a general hair oil. Malia Hair Restore & Nourish Peppermint Hair Growth Oil 30ml is an Australian-made pre-shampoo treatment designed to be massaged into the scalp before washing, which lines up closely with the traditional oiling method rather than being a leave-in oil repurposed for the job.
How to Get the Best Results From Hair Oiling
Getting real benefit from this ritual comes down to technique rather than product hype: warm the oil slightly before applying it, since heat helps it spread more evenly and feel less heavy; massage into the scalp with fingertips for two to three minutes to support circulation; use a scalp massage tool like the Hairhouse Scalp Stimulating Therapy Brush to work the oil through without irritating the skin; leave it on for at least twenty minutes rather than rinsing immediately; and always follow with a proper shampoo rather than trying to rinse oil out with water alone, since oil needs a surfactant to fully lift away.
Hairhouse's in-store colour and treatment consultations can also help if you're not sure whether your hair actually needs a pre-wash oil or a different kind of treatment altogether, and appointments can be booked online at stores across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hair oiling actually make hair grow faster?
No. Hair grows from the follicle beneath the scalp, and no topical oil can speed up that process. Scalp massage during oiling may support circulation to the follicle, but the growth rate itself is governed by genetics and overall health, not what's applied to the surface.
How often should you do a pre-wash oil treatment?
Once or twice a week is enough for most hair types. Daily oiling can lead to build-up at the scalp and won't provide extra benefit over a weekly treatment, especially for fine or oily hair types that only need light, occasional use.
Can hair oiling repair damaged or split ends?
No. Oil can smooth the cuticle and reduce breakage during washing, but it can't reverse structural damage or reseal a split end. Bond-building treatments and regular trims address existing damage more effectively than oil alone.
What's the difference between a hair oil and a scalp treatment?
A hair oil primarily coats and smooths the strand, while a scalp treatment is formulated to address the skin itself, such as dryness, flaking or excess oil production at the root. If the main issue is at the scalp rather than the lengths, a targeted scalp treatment usually works better than a general oil.
Should you oil your hair before or after washing?
Before. A pre-wash oil treatment reduces water absorption into the strand during shampooing, which lowers friction and swelling-related breakage. Applying oil after washing, as a leave-in, serves a different purpose: adding shine and taming frizz rather than protecting the hair during the wash itself.
Ready to build a pre-wash routine that suits your hair type? Explore Hairhouse's full range of hair oils and pre-wash treatments in-store or online, or book a consultation with the team to work out what your hair actually needs this winter.