Hair-care routines
Oil first, then cleanse: building a weekly routine
Oiling and washing are one routine, not two. How to sequence them across a week, and why the shampoo you finish with matters as much as the oil you start with.
Oiling and washing are one routine
A pre-wash oil and the shampoo that removes it are two halves of a single routine, and planning them separately is why oiling often gets abandoned. Every application of oil creates a wash, so the number of times you oil in a week is decided by the number of times you are willing to wash — not the other way round.
Start from your wash days. If you wash twice a week, you have two oiling slots. Put the oil on an hour or two before each wash, or the night before if that is easier, and the routine fits into a week you were already having.
Two sample weekly schedules
Neither is prescriptive — they are just what the arithmetic looks like at two common wash frequencies.
| Washes twice a week | Washes once a week | |
|---|---|---|
| Oiling sessions | 2 | 1 |
| Typical timing | Wednesday evening and Saturday evening, washed the same night or the next morning | Saturday evening, washed Sunday morning |
| Oil left on | 1–2 hours, or overnight | Overnight is usually easiest |
| Product used | Hair oil, then shampoo | Hair oil, then shampoo |
Which shampoo should follow a hair oil?
A mild shampoo that can lift oil without stripping — which in practice means one formulated for the job rather than a general-purpose clarifying wash. The KESHME Ayurvedic Hair Shampoo is made specifically to follow an oil treatment: it is pH balanced and formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, mineral oil and added colour.
The reason the wash matters as much as the oil is simple. Whatever removes the oil is the thing left in contact with your scalp at the end of the routine, and it stays there longer than the massage did. Choosing an oil carefully and then finishing with the harshest thing in the bathroom is a routine working against itself.
You do not have to use ours. What you are looking for on any label is a mild, pH-balanced formulation — and, if you oil frequently, one you are happy to use two or three times a week.
What does sulfate-free actually change?
Sulfates are the surfactants that produce the thick, fast lather most people associate with 'clean'. A sulfate-free shampoo lathers less and generally cleans more gently, which is why it is the usual recommendation for frequent washing and for colour-treated hair.
It is a formulation choice, not a health claim, and it comes with a trade-off worth knowing: less lather means you may need a slightly longer or a second wash to clear a heavy oil application. That is a good argument for using less oil, not for using a stronger shampoo.
The wash itself
The steps printed on the KESHME Ayurvedic Hair Shampoo pack.
- 1
Wet your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water
Lukewarm, not hot. On an oiled wash, apply the shampoo to the hair before this step instead — undiluted shampoo lifts oil far more easily.
- 2
Apply to the scalp and hair
Concentrate it where the oil was concentrated: the scalp.
- 3
Massage the scalp gently for 2–3 minutes
Fingertips again, and the same light pressure as the oil massage.
- 4
Rinse thoroughly
Until the water runs clear and the hair squeaks slightly at the roots.
- 5
Use 2–3 times a week, or as needed
Which, conveniently, is the same frequency the oil is used at.
Steps as printed on the KESHME Ayurvedic Hair Shampoo packaging.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a special shampoo to wash out hair oil?
- No, but a mild, pH-balanced shampoo makes the routine more comfortable to repeat two or three times a week. The KESHME Ayurvedic Hair Shampoo is formulated for this step specifically — sulfate-free, pH balanced and made to follow an oil treatment.
- How long after applying hair oil should I wash it out?
- At least one to two hours, according to the pack directions. Overnight is fine if that suits your schedule better, but it is a convenience rather than a more thorough version of the treatment.
- Can I use conditioner after washing out hair oil?
- Yes, if you normally use one. Apply it to the mid-lengths and ends rather than the scalp. KESHME does not currently make a conditioner.
- Is it a problem to wash hair two or three times a week?
- For most people, no — washing frequency is largely a matter of scalp type, hair type and personal preference. A milder shampoo is generally the more comfortable choice at higher frequencies.
This guide describes a cosmetic hair-care practice and what is in our products. It is not medical advice. If you have a scalp condition, persistent irritation, sudden hair loss or any other medical concern, speak to a doctor or a qualified trichologist.
The products in this guide
Read next
- How to oil your hairHow much oil to use, how to work it into the scalp, how long to leave it on, whether overnight is necessary, and how often to repeat it.
- How to read a hair oil label in IndiaSix things worth checking on any hair oil pack before you buy it, including ours — and the two that most people never look at.