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I’ve tried my hand (and my hair) at many hair oils, some thicker and stinkier than others, but my latest buy has me hooked. If it wasn’t for my Instagram algorithms and our phone’s abilities to read our minds, I probably wouldn’t have discovered the magic potion that is Zojja Inc’s Ancestral Hair Oil.

But during one of my many doom scrolls, I came across an ad for this product and figured I should give it a try. Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe in false advertising and taking everything on the internet with a pinch of salt. But I had a gut feeling about this one, or should I say, ahem, my roots were calling.

So I purchased a 125ml bottle, which is priced at Rs1,800 and is currently on sale for Rs1,399.

It was delivered to me within a week and when it came to trying it, I was a bit concerned. It claimed to solve ALL of my hair problems — a herculean task, might I add. The oil is a combination of 20 plus ingredients, including other hair oils like coconut, mustard, almond, sesame seed and pumpkin oil.

We all know that herbs like rosemary, fenugreek, black seed, nettle and lavender are reliable hair growth solutions while curry leaves and amla are known to nourish and hydrate your hair. Meanwhile, hibiscus is rich in essential nutrients that strengthen hair follicles. So I figured, how bad could an oil containing all these goodies be?

Pouring a generous amount on my palm, I gently massaged it on my scalp. I made sure to coat my frizzy locks generously and left it on for 90 minutes, as instructed on the packaging. I washed my hair with cold water. Despite its thick consistency, it was rather easy to remove and didn’t stink much either!

The whole process left my hair feeling nourished and bouncy. You can choose to condition your hair after washing it but I don’t when I have already oiled it because that usually weighs it down.

Having used the oil four times by now over three weeks — although you’re supposed to apply it twice a week — my hair feels much stronger. I am also noticing baby hair growing where a bald patch used to be so I guess the Ancestor Oil is truly a marvel.

If you notice sudden hair fall and unexplained balding, you need to see a dermatologist and perhaps also a nutritionist. But if you’re a hypochondriac like me and getting an expert opinion isn’t enough, you can buy this product from the Zojja website and use it on the side.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This article is part of an ongoing series on supporting local products. All the products are independently evaluated and reviewed by a member of the Images team and reflect their personal opinions. If you’re a local business and would like to be featured, reach out to us at imagesdawndotcom@gmail.com.