Hair Care Cool is a scented herbal hair oil from the Sheershapathi ("total head and hair care") range made by Link Natural in Sri Lanka. It blends nine plants used in Ayurveda with natural menthol and natural vitamin E, so the first thing you notice when you massage it in is a distinct, lasting coolness on the scalp.
What it feels like. Menthol, the compound that makes peppermint feel cold, triggers the skin's cold-sensing nerve endings without actually lowering its temperature. That is the "cool" in the name, and it is why many people in Sri Lanka's heat reach for this oil after a long day under a helmet or straight after a haircut, which is when Link Natural itself suggests using it. The scent is fresh and minty rather than floral.
What the maker says it does. According to the pack, with daily use and massaging it delivers a cooling and relaxing sensation, provides relief for headaches, keeps you feeling refreshed through the day and nourishes the hair. These are Link Natural's descriptions; the product has not been clinically tested for them, and a headache that is severe, sudden or keeps coming back is a reason to see a doctor rather than to reach for a hair oil.
The nine herbs, as listed on the carton:
- Keekirindiya (Eclipta prostrata), the false daisy long used in South Asian hair oils
- Nil avariya (Indigofera tinctoria), the indigo plant
- Gotukola (Centella asiatica)
- Aralu (Terminalia chebula)
- Bulu (Terminalia bellirica)
- Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica), Indian gooseberry
- Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessilis)
- Madatiya (Adenanthera pavonina)
- Savendara (Vetiveria zizanioides), vetiver root
Alongside them the carton lists natural menthol and natural vitamin E. Link Natural's own product listing also names coconut oil as the base and adds tea tree oil, neither of which is printed on the outer carton, so bear that in mind if you know you react to tea tree oil.
How to use it. Apply directly to the scalp and hair and massage in gently, as the pack directs. A small amount worked in with the fingertips goes a long way; most people leave it on for a while and then wash it out.
Before you use it. The pack is marked for external use only. Keep it away from the eyes, where menthol stings, and off broken or irritated skin. Try a little on a small patch of skin first if you have sensitive skin or allergies. The pack gives no guidance for children or for use during pregnancy, so ask a doctor first in either case.
In the box. One 100 ml bottle of oil in a printed carton. Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd makes it at its factory in Kapugoda; the carton describes the company as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and GMP certified and HACCP certified, and the product as registered with Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda. For the older, better-known oil in the same range, see Sheershapathi Akalapalitha.
