Mustard oil massage: what it does for hair, skin and joints

Mustard oil is the one bottle almost every Pakistani household already owns. It is also the one people use most carelessly: refined oil where cold-pressed is needed, too much on the hair, none on the joints that would benefit. This is the short, honest version.

Kachi ghani versus refined

Kachi ghani means the seed was pressed without heat. The oil keeps its dark colour, its sharp smell and its natural compounds. Refined mustard oil has been heated and filtered until it is pale and mild, which is fine for a frying pan and pointless for a scalp. For anything you put on skin or hair, use cold-pressed. Ours is 100 percent cold-pressed black mustard seed, nothing added.

For hair and scalp

Mustard oil is heavy, so it sits on the scalp and softens it rather than soaking straight in. That is what makes it good for a dry, flaky, itchy scalp and for hair that breaks at the root.

• Warm two to three tablespoons in a bowl.
• Part the hair and apply to the scalp with your fingertips, not the palm.
• Massage in circles for five minutes.
• Leave for an hour, or overnight with a towel on the pillow.
• Shampoo out. It may take two washes.

Once or twice a week is enough. More than that and the hair looks greasy for no extra benefit. For the lengths of the hair, a lighter oil such as coconut works better.

For winter body massage

The classic use. Warm the oil, massage the arms, legs and back before a bath, sit in the sun for ten minutes if you have it, then wash. It leaves the skin soft through the dry months and the warmth loosens tight muscles.

For babies, from about six months, use a little, keep it away from the eyes, and stop if the skin goes red.

For joints

Warm mustard oil massage is the standard joint routine in every village and it still works: ten minutes in the evening on knees, ankles or shoulders. Read our joint pain guide for the full routine and for when a deep-heat rub is the better tool.

What not to do

• Do not use it on broken skin, a rash or a fresh burn.
• Do not heat it on a flame; sit the bowl in hot water instead.
• Do not expect it to be scent-free. The smell is part of the deal and washes out.

A 100 ml bottle is Rs 200, cash on delivery. Half of Pakistan's beauty advice starts here, and most of it is right.