Experts reveal how time-tested haircare secrets like champi, combined with these ingredients are a goldmine for hair

Use simple haircare tips that combine old methods with modern science. Choose natural ingredients for healthier, more beautiful hair!

For generations of Indian women, hair has carried deep personal significance, reflecting delicate femininity and beauty, a bold identity, and self-expression. These women have carried forward the love and legacy of their wisdom through haircare habits learned, inculcated and then reinvented by every new generation. The basic rules have remained in place: patience, little daily rituals and consistent routines to nourish and maintain the mane.

You must be using all kinds of products on your hair, but still have hair problems. It is because you are missing a few important rules. (Adobe Stock)

By Tavishi Dogra

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust.

Career journey and experience
Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon.

From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?”

Subject expertise
With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions.

In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.

Education and professional background
Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.

Editorial Philosophy
I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

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The golden rules of hair care?

Most of us can rattle out the rules of haircare without blinking. "Avoid combing wet hair, braid your hair before bed, oil-champi once a week, and use kitchen ingredients to nourish and pamper your hair", dermatologist and cosmetologist Dr Ashini Bhatt tells Health Shots. However, youngsters are reinventing this age-old knowledge by using modern, science-backed products that extend the haircare wisdom passed down by their ancestors.

What to put in my hair before styling?

This is the most important lesson and the foundation of everything your hair represents, so we must do everything we can to keep our hair strong and healthy. "Eating nutritious food, drinking enough water, and getting regular trims to avoid excessive heat, whether from hot water or styling irons, are as essential as the ingredients or products we apply to our hair", says the dermatologist.

What are the dos and don'ts of hair care?

Traditional habits like oiling, regular trims, avoiding wet-hair combing, and gentle handling remain relevant, reinforcing prevention over correction. "We need to always remember that the healthier your hair is, the fewer styling and damage-control products it requires", says the doctor. So, listen to your mothers when they hound you to focus on building inner strength, rather than on outward appearances.

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The importance of oiling

Among the most memorable rituals that Indian mothers and their children share is the classic Sunday champi! For many Indian households, oiling is not just a scalp-care ritual, it is an emotional bonding experience. "It is that precious time of being pampered by your mother’s touch and of catching up on gossip, with a warm olive/argan oil massage that stimulates your soul and scalp, improves circulation, and reduces dryness", explains Bhatt.

Benefits of massage your scalp every day

While it may feel nostalgic, there is real science behind this ritual too. Gentle scalp massages help boost circulation around the roots, and oiling nourishes and soothes dry or flaky scalps by reducing moisture loss and preventing over-dryness. "Modern Hair Science also reminds us that not every scalp concern is the same, oiling can help with dryness-related flaking, and dandruff caused by fungal overgrowth may require targeted anti-dandruff care instead", hair expert Ritu Vijayvergiya tells Health Shots.

How to get silky hair with natural ingredients?

These rituals are great to follow, as they are backed by science, and many of the ingredients are known for their nourishing and strengthening properties.

"Natural ingredients like curd, rice water, amla, methi, honey, banana, and hibiscus have long been a part of the haircare legacy passed down to nourish the scalp and strengthen the strands", says the hair expert. While they work beautifully for some, they can also be messy and time-consuming. They may not suit every hair type, but they create a unique space where traditional wisdom meets modern science.

Today, this traditional wisdom is being reinvented through science-backed formulations that combine traditional ingredients with advanced actives like argan oil, proteins, ceramides, and scalp-balancing ingredients, making haircare more effective, targeted, and convenient for modern lifestyles.

"Modern haircare has also helped us better identify core hair issues. For example, today we know that if you have dry scalp flakes, you need to focus more on hydration and oiling. Still, if you have dandruff, it is a fungal issue that will be made worse by oiling," shares the hair expert.

What are good habits for hair growth?

Beautiful hair is never about quick fixes but about practising small, mindful daily habits. Trends evolve, products are innovated, and rituals are reinvented. Still, the one rule that will never change is that there are no shortcuts to achieving that lustrous, healthy mane of hair, no matter which era you live in.

• The four-step haircare ritual has to be followed diligently: cleanse, hydrate, protect, and repair.
• By combining inherited rituals with informed, personalised care, modern science is helping refine traditional wisdom.
• By including ingredients such as argan oil, panthenol, hydrolysed keratin, and UV filters in their products, modern haircare companies are offering consumers the best of both worlds.

(Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek your doctor's advice with any questions about a medical condition. For this feature, the expert has only recommended the oils, not the products. The product selections were made independently by the editorial team. Listings are not ranked in any order of preference or priority.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, concerning the products.)