Why Do You Lose More Hair After Oiling and During Hair Wash? The Real Reason Explained

Has it ever happened to you that you lovingly apply warm oil to your hair, massage your scalp for half an hour, and then, after shampooing, pick up a comb only to find a handful of broken strands in it? Or perhaps you have felt your heart sink after seeing a clump of hair collected in the drain while taking a bath. In almost every Indian household, this is such a common sight that hair fall after oiling and washing has become a source of stress for many people. Most of us assume that the oil we used was unsuitable or that our shampoo is damaging our hair. However, the truth is much deeper, more scientific and closely connected to our lifestyle. In Indian society, oiling has traditionally been considered a miracle solution for healthy hair, yet the sudden increase in hair fall after applying oil remains a mystery for many. To understand it, we need to look beyond the age-old belief that oil is the answer to every hair problem and examine the relationship between our scalp and hair through the lens of science and psychology.

When you apply oil to your hair, your fingers create friction against the scalp. Hair naturally follows a life cycle that consists of three stages, scientifically known as the anagen, catagen and telogen phases. At any given time, around 10 to 15 per cent of the hair on our heads may be in the telogen phase, also known as the shedding phase. These are strands that have already detached from their roots and are simply resting on the surface of the scalp. When you massage your head or rub in oil, the pressure can loosen and remove these weak, already-detached strands. In India, there is also a long-standing habit of rubbing oil deeply into the roots, which we commonly call champi. Excessive pressure during a massage can place unnecessary stress on the hair follicles. If your scalp is already weak or you suffer from dandruff, applying too much oil can worsen the problem. The oil may make the hair sticky and cause strands to become tangled with one another. When you try to separate these tangled strands with your hands or a comb, they may break more easily.

Now let us look at hair fall during hair washing. Wet hair is more fragile and vulnerable to breakage. Water can cause the outer layer of the hair, known as the cuticle, to swell slightly and may reduce the hair’s strength and elasticity. When a strong stream of water falls on the head or when we rub the scalp vigorously while creating lather with shampoo, the loose strands in the telogen phase may come out along with the water. People often panic and assume that their hair is falling because of the shampoo, when in reality, the shampoo may simply be helping to remove strands that had already completed their life cycle. If you have applied a thick layer of oil two hours before washing your hair, the combination of oil and water can make the process more difficult. To remove the oil, we may use excessive shampoo and rub the scalp more forcefully. This can strip away the scalp’s natural moisture and leave the hair dry and more vulnerable to breakage.

When we look at Indian society and our changing lifestyle, the difference between the routine of earlier generations and the lives of today’s young people becomes quite clear. During the time of our grandmothers, the air was considered cleaner, food was less processed and people often applied pure coconut or mustard oil once a week before spending time outdoors. Today, pollution, stress and junk food have become major parts of urban and metropolitan life. Dermatologists often point out that applying excessive oil is not beneficial for everyone, especially for people who already have an oily scalp. On an oily scalp, heavy oiling may encourage the growth of a fungus called Malassezia, which is associated with persistent dandruff and conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis. When the scalp becomes inflamed or irritated, the hair roots may become weaker, and strands may come out in clumps during oiling or washing.

There is also a psychological aspect to this issue that is affecting young Indians, particularly in today’s social media-driven world. Everyone wants to have thick, healthy and perfect-looking hair, as seen in reels and carefully edited photographs. When a young person notices 50 or 60 strands in their hand after a champi, they may immediately feel frightened and anxious. This stress can contribute to a condition known as stress-related hair fall or telogen effluvium. Anxiety may increase the level of cortisol in the body, which can push more hair follicles into the shedding phase prematurely. In other words, the fear of hair fall may itself contribute to further hair fall. In today’s commercial and market-driven environment, companies often take advantage of this fear. The market is filled with products labelled as ‘anti-hair fall’ oils, but the reality is that no oil can instantly stop hair loss. Oil mainly helps condition the scalp and hair, while the nourishment required by the hair roots comes from the body’s blood supply and the nutrients we receive through our diet.

Modern technology and lifestyle habits have also affected the health of our hair. Staying up late looking at screens, getting inadequate sleep, eating processed food and using hard water containing high levels of minerals can gradually weaken our hair. When the body lacks iron, vitamin D3, vitamin B12 or protein, the hair roots may lose their strength. In such a condition, even a gentle massage or slight tug may cause weak strands to fall out. At the same time, the benefits of oiling should not be completely dismissed. Applying the right amount of oil in the right way may help condition the scalp, reduce dryness and provide the hair with a protective layer against external pollutants. Problems arise when people leave heavy oil on their scalp overnight or use excessive amounts of thick, sticky oil. This can trap dirt, make the scalp uncomfortable and interfere with proper cleansing.

If we compare the present with earlier times, people in the past often used simpler, more natural oils and followed lifestyles that involved greater physical activity. Today, many young people spend hours in air-conditioned environments, which can contribute to dryness, and then apply heavy, chemically formulated oils to their hair. This imbalance may be one of the reasons behind many modern hair-care problems. We need to understand that oil is not a magical treatment that can bring lost hair back overnight. The right way to use oil is to apply a small amount gently along the hair and scalp about 30 minutes to an hour before washing, rather than rubbing it aggressively into the roots.

Experts in modern trichology, the science of hair and scalp health, believe that the solution to hair fall lies less in applying products from the outside and more in improving our overall health from within. Losing around 50 to 100 strands of hair a day can be a normal part of the hair-growth cycle, and there is usually no reason to panic. Much of the hair that falls out immediately after oiling or washing consists of strands that have already reached the end of their natural life cycle. Therefore, instead of blaming your shampoo or oil every time, start including green vegetables, sprouts and enough water in your daily routine. When you understand the needs of your scalp, use oil in moderation, manage stress and clean your hair properly, the cycle of excessive hair fall during massage or washing may gradually reduce, allowing your hair to regain its natural shine and strength.