Amla Oil's Hair Health Benefits, Broken Down By Our Trichologist
We all know that hair health starts from the roots and if it's not already, scalp serums should be a staple in your haircare. Paying special attention to our scalps not only yields better-looking locks but also prevents hair loss. Oxidative stress, which can be exacerbated by pollution and harmful chemicals, occurs when there are too many free radicals in your system and not enough antioxidants to balance them out. This particular type of stress plays a big role in hair loss — and taking better care of your scalp can improve growth. Aside from hair loss, which can add even more emotional stress to your body, many are plagued with other annoying scalp ailments like dandruff and psoriasis.
You've probably heard of DIY coconut oil masks or may be familiar with doing a scalp facial at home. However, a little-known secret in the haircare world is amla oil, which can do wonders for your hair. We spoke exclusively to IAT-certified trichologist, Taylor Rose, who broke down exactly what amla oil is and why you should be using it for a healthier scalp.
Amla oil can target several hair health concerns
If you're looking for a product that can relieve several hair issues, look no further than amla oil. As Taylor Rose shared exclusively with Glam, "Amla oil comes from the Indian gooseberry fruit (aka Phyllanthus emblica). It is becoming more popular in the haircare sphere right now in correlation with the rise of the popularity of Ayurvedic medicine to treat hair loss and other hair concerns."
According to Rose, amla oil is believed to help with hair growth and boost the health of your scalp, while improving the skin. "It has also been said to help prevent premature greying by nourishing hair follicles and preventing oxidative stress, which can contribute to greying," Rose stated. Since oxidative stress, which causes a host of skin issues, can also affect hair health, it's important to counteract the negative effects with a nourishing amla oil scalp massage.
How to use amla oil
To get the most benefits out of amla oil, it should be concentrated on the scalp. "To use, part your hair in sections and apply the amla oil to your scalp using your fingertips and give yourself a gentle scalp massage at the same time to help stimulate blood circulation," Taylor Rose exclusively advised. The hair expert added, "You can apply the oil to your ends as well if they are dry. Leave on for at least 30 minutes, but up to three hours, then shampoo and condition hair like normal. Repeat one to two times a week for best results."
Because there's a chance amla oil can cause buildup on the scalp and hair, Rose suggested using a clarifying shampoo when you need to give your hair a reset — at least every other week, she told us. "I also recommend adding in a weekly hydrating hair mask if you are dealing with dry ends or lackluster hair," the trichologist added.