1. Are you using too much oil?
Pouring oil straight onto the head means half of it ends up on your neck and pillow — and you need three shampoos to get it out, which dries your hair. Fix: 1–2 teaspoons for short or medium hair, up to a tablespoon for long, thick hair. Apply along partings, then smooth what is left on your palms over the lengths.
2. Is your champi too rough?
A vigorous champi feels good, but rubbing and pulling wet-with-oil hair causes tangles and breakage. Fix: use the pads of your fingers in small circles, with gentle pressure, for about 5 minutes. Do not scratch with nails.
3. Do you oil overnight when you have dandruff?
Scalp yeast feeds on oil. Leaving oil on a flaky, itchy scalp all night often makes dandruff worse. Fix: keep it to 1–2 hours and wash it out. Read more in our summer dandruff guide.
4. Do you tie oiled hair in a tight bun?
Oiled hair is slippery and heavier, and a tight bun or ponytail pulls on the roots. Done often, that tension can cause hair loss along the hairline. Fix: a loose plait or a soft scrunchie.
5. Are you combing straight after oiling?
Hair is easier to snap when it is coated and stretched. Fix: detangle before oiling with a wide-tooth comb, starting from the ends.
6. Is oil left in after washing?
Leftover oil traps dust and pollution and can leave the scalp itchy. Fix: apply shampoo to the oily scalp before adding much water, rinse, then shampoo a second time.
7. Are you using undiluted essential oils?
Pure rosemary, tea tree or clove oil can burn the scalp. Fix: 3–5 drops per tablespoon of carrier oil, or use a ready blend. See how to use rosemary oil safely.
8. Do you heat the oil too much?
Very hot oil can scald the scalp and break down delicate plant compounds. Fix: warm the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a minute — it should feel comfortably warm on your wrist.
9. Are you expecting results in a week?
Hair grows about 1 cm a month. Fix: stick with one oil for 8–12 weeks before deciding whether it works for you, rather than switching every week.
