Now, we’re seeing another buzzword popping up on TikTok that’s similar but different: hair slugging. No, hair slugging does not mean applying an occlusive jelly to your strands. In fact, you may have even heard of this practice already. Hair oiling, at its root, is an ancient Ayurvedic technique used to encourage hair growth and tend to the scalp while simultaneously providing a few mindful moments. “There is an element of it that is so familial,” explains Lisa Mattam, founder and CEO of the Ayurvedic beauty brand Sahajan, who has been oiling her hair since she was a child. “Most people have stories of their moms and dads sitting around and oiling their hair on a weekly basis.” So why are these two terms seemingly interchangeable in common slang? Well, slugging essentially involves incorporating another occlusive layer of moisture in order to rehydrate the skin—and hair oiling entails a similar process.
