When I was younger, everyone told me greasy hair was the worst thing you could have. You were supposed to wash it every single day, no matter what. If it looked shiny, that meant you didn’t wash properly. I remember someone once asking why my hair looked “wet” when I’d just skipped one wash. I felt embarrassed, like I’d done something wrong. It stuck with me.
Now, it’s the complete opposite. Hair oil is everywhere. People on TikTok are rubbing it into their scalps and calling it self-care. There are whole routines built around it including warming it up, massaging it in, wrapping your hair in a towel like it’s some kind of ritual. It’s funny because the thing we used to be told was dirty is now being sold as luxury.
I haven’t tried it myself. My hair gets oily enough on its own. The idea of adding more oil just sounds like a recipe for disaster, but I get why people like it. It looks soothing. The bottles are pretty. There’s something calming about watching someone take time to care for themselves even if it’s just for a few minutes.
What gets me is how easily things get flipped. For years, I tried to get rid of every trace of oil. I bought the shampoos that promised to fix it, the dry sprays that said they’d make me fresh again. None of it really worked. Now, the same thing I was trying to wash away is being bottled and sold back to me with gold labels and fancy names.
I don’t hate it. It’s smart, honestly. People figured out how to turn insecurity into a business, but I think what’s really going on is that everyone just wants a moment that feels like care. Maybe that’s what hair oil really sells: a small sense of peace.
I still won’t buy it. My hair makes enough of it already, but I understand it. Maybe it’s not about fixing anything. Maybe it’s just about feeling okay for a little while.
