Everybody wants silky smooth hair. But how can you achieve it? Should you use traditional means like Ayurvedic oil or modern alternatives like hair serums? This has been the talk of the show for decades now, and today we will finally come to a conclusion.

StyleSpeak went through countless sources and compiled this article with specific pros, cons, and why you should pick one over another. So without any further ado, let’s begin.

Definition of Ayurveda and Modern Serums

First, let’s learn the basics: Ayurveda is an old Sanskrit term that means “Science of Life”. Yes, people from 5000 years ago already knew about science; only the verbalism was different, but the intention was always the same. And what came out of it became these traditional medicines that healed us for thousands of years.

Hair oils are also one of those medicines, and their main use was to make the roots stronger while giving shiny hair. There are many modern-day brands like Adivasi, Indulekha, and Avimee that follow the same story and give us a wide range of Ayurvedic hair oils to choose from.

But on the other hand, you have modern-day science, where each ingredient is synthesized and mixed with a bonding agent. For example, dimethicone, which is a silicone-based polymer that sits on top of a structure. Which in this case would be your hair instead of being absorbed into your scalp like oils do. These silicone-based polymers or water-based fluids allow these hair serums to target a specific cause. Sometimes it can be hair fall, sometimes dandruff, and sometimes simply to add volume to your hair. 

Ayurvedic Hair Oils vs Modern Hair Serums

With that out of the picture, now let’s see specific reasons to pick one over another and some famous products in each category. Starting with,

Ayurvedic Hair Oil

Ayurvedic hair oils use something called traditional lipid bases with lipophilic herbs. In simple terms, lipid bases are the actual oil extracts from things like coconut and castor. The herbs refer to Amla and Neem. When combined, these two create a magical mixture that penetrates deep into your roots and strengthens them from within.

It’s a medicine after all, so problems like breakage, dandruff, and any hair-related problems will slowly fade away. And since it’s a thick mixture of hair products, it adds a layer of protection from water and chemicals from shampoos. That’s why most stylists recommend Ayurvedic hair oils before washing your hair or one night before.

Modern Serums

Modern serums follow an entirely different route. Instead of extracting the oil from the source, they take it one step further by synthesizing their own ingredients. Just like dimethicone, which is impossible to achieve by traditional means.

And since these don’t have to be absorbed to show effects, the results are usually instantaneous and don’t have the waiting period like ayurvedic hair oils.

Not having extra baggage also means it’s lightweight and can be used in combination with other hair products. And that’s the biggest reason why modern-day serums are so widely used. You can not only get to reap its benefits much earlier, but also combine it with other items for maximum results. 

Pros and Cons of Ayurvedic Hair Oils and Modern Hair Serums

Modern lightweight serums or all-rounder hair oils, both have their stories to tell. And in this section, you will get an unfiltered version of both sides. Starting with,

Pros and cons of Ayurvedic hair oils

While it’s an all-rounder product, it still does come with its fair share of good and bad sides. Here’s a 3-point list to address the most common ones:

  • Pros of Ayurvedic Hair Oils
    • Excellent root health: Ayurvedic hair oils provide deep nourishment to your scalp that modern serums can’t. Plus, with an added protection from chemical hair products.
    • Herbal infusion: Herbs are known to strengthen the barriers of your individual hair. And depending on which herbal mixture you go for, you will get a wide range of effects.
    • Stops natural oil loss: Each hair wash strips the natural oil from your hair, leaving it in a vulnerable position. Applying hair oil beforehand fixes that while combating dryness and moisture loss.
  • Cons of Ayurvedic Hair Oils
  • Kind of greasy: Hair oils are inherently heavy in nature. This makes it impossible to layer with other hair products.
  • Shampooing is a must: Without shampooing, your hair will feel greasy all day and clog hair follicles. This may cause fungal infections like dandruff and Malassezia. So, shampooing is a must if you are using any sort of Ayurvedic hair oil.
  • Slow results: Since it’s a natural extract, it takes a long time to show reasonable effect. Sometimes weeks or even months, depending on your hair condition.

Pros and cons of Modern Hair Serums

Potency sounds good, but it also has its own downsides. Some are good, some are not, and here’s a common list of what they look like:

  • Pros of Modern Hair Serum
    • Fast results: Hair serums will always show blazing fast results when compared to their counterparts. 
    • Leave-in ready: Unlike hair oils, you can leave hair serums in for as long as you want. They don’t leave any greasy residue, and once dried, that’s case closed.
    • Excellent shield: Most hair serums block pollutants from sticking to your hair. Think of it like a protective layer without feeling heavy.
  • Cons of Modern Hair Serum
  • Limited scalp benefits: While some specific modern hair serums like peptide and salicylic acid do provide scalp benefits, most off-the-shelf ones don’t. They are only for aesthetic purposes and aesthetic alone.
  • Limited Usage: Since most hair serums are only used daily, they run out quicker then hair oils and start showing up in your bills. 
  • Can build up: Frequent use of hair serums can slowly build up in your hair and make it heavy. So washing your hair, even with just water, becomes a necessary task.

Conclusion

If you need long-lasting results and want to fix your problems from the source, Ayurvedic hair oil is the best one for you. But if you need faster results and don’t mind investing regularly, modern serums are the one for you. You can even use both with moderation for an even more magical result. In the end, the choice is yours. And we hope StyleSpeak pushed you closer to that conclusion. And as always, don’t forget to follow us for more interesting topics like this and subscribe to your magazine for an even deeper insight into the salon industry. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adivasi hair oil good for the scalp?

Ans. Yes, Adivasi hair oil is an excellent product for not just your scalp, but your roots too.

If I use rosemary oil for hair, what benefits would I get?

Ans. Rosemary is known to improve blood circulation in your scalp. So if you use rosemary oil for hair, you will get thicker and stronger hair that won’t break easily.

What is the best hair growth oil in India?

Ans. Any hair oil with rosemary will help you with faster hair growth. Peppermint oil has also shown similar results.