Oldest Hair Oil Brands

Hair oiling is a common beauty and wellness practice in South Asian countries, though it has recently become popular in other parts of the world. However, the practice of hair oiling was something that was done at home! Many people made their own oils at home and used natural ingredients, and didn’t have access to the wide variety of brands available today. 

If you were to search the internet for a hair oil brand, you’ll find hundreds at the click of a button. However, we’re going to look more closely at some of the world’s oldest hair oil brands, and their origins. Let’s dive right in. 

6. Biotique

Photo Source: Biotique

Biotique is one of India’s most widely loved and used hair and skincare brands. This company sells a huge range of products, one of which is its hair oil. This company uses traditional, ancient Ayurvedic ingredients and science and combines them with the modern technology available to use today. 

Vinita Jain founded this company by turning her love for natural medicinal practices into a multi-million dollar business! She studied ancient Ayurvedic texts after learning Sanskrit, and after several years of hard work, Biotique was born. 

Did you know? 

Biotique is one of the most influential skincare brands in India.

5. Parachute by Marico

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Harsh Mariwala started Marico in 1990 with the intention of starting a business dedicated to refined edible oils and coconut oil. A year after launching the company, Marico launched a product called Hair & Care, which was a non-sticky hair oil. As the company grew and the brand gained more recognition, they began to set up offices around the world, with their first international office being set up in Dubai. 

Marico’s product range includes Parachute, a coconut hair oil brand that is one of the most popular and widely used brands in India. This company also sells grooming products for men and women, edible oils, skincare and fabric care products, and even healthy foods. 

Did you know

Parachute coconut can be used for cooking and oiling hair!

4. Keo Karpin

Photo Source: Keo Karpin

Keo Karpin is another of the oldest hair oil brands in India! This company was founded and launched way back in 1941, but it had a humble beginning. B. N Dey started a small medical store in Calcutta, and as it grew, he began to supply medicines to other parts of India. He even helped provide medical aid during World War 2, helping both Indians and soldiers in other parts of the world. 

The company made a name for itself in the hair oil industry. A few decades after the company was launched, Keo Karpin reformulated and rebranded its hair oil to be seen as a product that could be used for both nourishment and styling. 

Did you know? 

Keo Karpin has won multiple awards for being India’s most trusted brand in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

3. Himalaya Wellness Company

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Himalaya is a pharmaceutical and personal care company that was first established in Dehradun, though its headquarters are located in Bangalore today. Mohammad Manal loved nature, and wanted to take his love for Ayurveda and natural practices to the market and commercialize it. His goal was to take Ayurvedic products and tailor them to suit modern needs, which was how the company was started. 

As the business gained traction and success, Himalaya moved its headquarters from Dehradun to Mumbai. In the following decades, the company expanded its product range, and today, it sells a wide variety of wellness and beauty products, including hair oil. 

Did you know? 

Himalaya’s neem face wash is the second-largest face wash in all of India.

2. Dabur

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Dabur is the oldest hair oil brand in the world! While this company sells hair oil and various other products today, it’s worth noting that Dabur first started out as a company making Ayurvedic products, like medicines and other natural products. Dr. S. K. Burman started to sell natural medicines from his bicycle that treated diseases like cholera and malaria, and as his success grew, he went on to open his company. 

As time went on, the company grew and expanded its product range. In addition to medicines, Dabur began to sell fruit juices under the subsidiary Dabur Foods; the brand is called Real. Dabur also expanded into selling hair oil and digestive tablets as well. 

Did you know?

The name Dabur is a portmanteau! ‘Da’ comes from daktar (meaning doctor), and ‘bur’ comes from Burman. 

1. Jabakusum

Photo Source: Indiamart

Jabakusum is a hugely important brand in Bengali culture. As we mentioned in the introduction, the practice of oiling hair has been around for several centuries in India, and Jabakusum has contributed significantly to it. 

Chandra Kanta Sen came from a family of Ayurvedic practitioners. His uncle had already founded a hair oil brand that made oils using traditional Ayurvedic methods, but Chandra Kanta wanted to create his own brand and exploit a larger section of the market by manufacturing high-quality hair oil. He eventually went on to manufacture his own hair oil that had hibiscus, coconut oil, castor oil, and marigold, as well as aloe vera. 

Did you know?

Jabakusum was India’s first hair oil brand to make an advertisement! The advertisement was made by Hiralal Sen, who is widely considered to be one of India’s first filmmakers.

Conclusion

In this article, we walked you through a list of some of the oldest hair oil brands in the world. It’s worth noting that while all the brands mentioned on this list are of Indian origin, they have since become more popular in various other countries all over the world. It’s also important to note that even though we’ve mentioned brands that are only from India, there are several other newer brands from other parts of the world. However, since hair oiling has been a popular cultural practice in India for several centuries, it is why most of the older hair oil brands originated in India.