hair & scalp — dusk till dawn
Hair that becomes dry, frizzy,
and changes with age.
We often tend to focus on the hair itself when caring for it. However, the Ayurvedic answer is slightly different.
Indian hair oils are
applied to both hair and scalp.
In this article, we will introduce the philosophy behind Nagaraja's scalp and hair oil, from the origins of its formulation, traditional medical insights, modern hair science, and the concept of "relaxing time."
1It all began with
a prescription from a doctor in South India.
The starting point for Nagaraja's scalp and hair oil is a traditional hair and scalp formulation inherited from a female doctor in Tamil Nadu, South India, who helped the developer practice Ayurveda.
In the home of Ayurveda, there are traditional medicated hair oils made by infusing herbs into coconut oil over time, transferring their power into the oil. The formula inherited by the developer was also an infused oil, with herbs steeped in coconut oil. For thousands of years in India, applying this infused oil to the scalp has been central to hair care, both at home and in treatment centers.
We re-designed this doctor's prescription to meet Japanese cosmetic standards and the preferences of Japanese scalp, hair type, and scent. This was a crucial first step in developing the oil, advancing Indian traditions to suit modern people.
2How oil works
from an Ayurvedic perspective
In Ayurveda, the state of the mind and body is interpreted by the balance of three energies (doshas): Vata (air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water).
風
vata / Vata
火
pitta / Pitta
水
kapha / Kapha
Many hair and scalp problems have been thought to manifest as a disturbance in Vata (air), which governs dryness, coldness, and excessive movement. Dryness, a dry scalp, and thin, unreliable hair—many of our modern concerns fall squarely within this realm.
The primary treatment for balancing Vata (air) is applying oil. In Ayurveda, oil itself is believed to have properties. Cooling coconut oil has long been used in South India as an oil to gently soothe easily heated scalps and was the foundation of the inherited formula. To this, warm sesame oil is added to calm conditions leaning towards dryness (air)—this oil is based on coconut oil and sesame oil.
Combined with these is Amla, the fruit most valued in hair care—a symbolic Ayurvedic ingredient called "Rasayana (that which maintains youthfulness)" and central to hair oils. Further, there's hibiscus, known as the "flower of the hair goddess," and cooling sandalwood, an aromatic wood believed to calm the mind. Each of these plants has a specific role for hair and scalp within Ayurvedic classics.
3When compared with
modern hair science
It is interesting that this traditional formula overlaps considerably with modern hair science.
Tradition chose coconut oil and sesame oil.
Modern cosmetic science research has shown that coconut oil has properties that make it more compatible with hair compared to other common oils. The structure of its medium-chain fatty acids, primarily lauric acid, is said to be compatible with keratin, the main component of hair. In fact, many hair care products on the market today contain coconut-derived ingredients.
Tradition called Amla the "fruit of youth."
Modern analysis shows that Amla is a fruit rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, and it is widely researched in both food and cosmetic fields.
Tradition held that "applying oil to the scalp nourishes the hair."
In modern hair care, a dry scalp is considered a cause of itching and dandruff, and moisturizing the scalp is considered a fundamental part of scalp care.
Thousands of years of tradition and modern research findings are converging on the same point from different paths. This is where the meaning of basing practices on traditional formulations lies.
4Relaxation is beauty
—What Shirodhara teaches us
One of the most famous Ayurvedic treatments is Shirodhara—a procedure where warm oil is continuously dripped onto the forehead. It's a deep relaxation often called a "brain massage," and has become so well-known that people often say, "Ayurveda, that's the one where they drip oil on your forehead!"
What Shirodhara symbolizes is that in Ayurveda, the combination of the head and oil, even before being hair care, is an "act of mental relaxation." The time parents in Indian households spent applying oil to their children's heads, and the time adults spent massaging their scalps at the end of the day, were moments of relaxation as much as they were care.
And Ayurveda does not separate this "relaxation" from beauty. The mind and body are connected as one, and mental tension manifests as physical stiffness, while a relaxed body leads to a relaxed mind—this is the fundamental understanding of this medicine from thousands of years ago.
In fact, when you touch your own scalp, you can feel it. When busy days continue, the scalp feels tight and less mobile. Conversely, when you gently massage oil into your scalp with your palms, the scalp softens, your breathing deepens without you realizing it, and the tension in your shoulders eases. When your head relaxes, your mind relaxes. On a relaxed night, you sleep well.
Beauty lies in the accumulation of these moments. A healthy scalp and well-groomed hair come not from a single special night of care, but from daily habits that are pleasant and enjoyable to continue.
We believe that being an oil that you "want to apply tonight because it feels good," rather than an oil you "force yourself to apply because it seems effective," is the shortest path to beauty.
Relaxation is beauty.
Even if you don't have time for a Shirodhara session at a salon, small fragments of it can be brought into your daily few minutes.
Tonight, take a deep breath as you slowly massage oil into your scalp.
The wisdom of 5000 years will begin to reach your hair
from such a small evening.
This article is intended to introduce the traditional and cultural background of Ayurveda and does not indicate the effects or efficacy of the product.
Oil introduced in this article