Applying mustard oil on hair overnight can indeed be beneficial for dryness and breakage, but it’s essential to consider a few individualized factors. Mustard oil is known for its warming and penetrating qualities, which can be enhancing if your dryness is due to excess vata dosha. Leaving it overnight might help increase moisture level and improve hair texture over time, but it does depend on your prakriti (body constitution) and current hair condition.
However, given your sensitive scalp, you may wish to conduct a patch test first, applying a small amount behind your ear or on the inside wrist to see if there’s any irritation within 24 hours. While some might worry about overnight oiling clogging pores, especially if you have product build up, it doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone. If there’s significant buildup, just washing or cleansing your scalp on a weekly basis before application is possible advisible to allow better absorption and reduce potential irritation.
Putting a small amount of oil, enough to cover but not saturate the hair, and covering with a shower cap could help prevent heaviness and grease buildup come morning. If your hair is prone to feeling heavy, using the oil as a pre-wash treatment for an hour or so in the evening might suffice instead. Try assessing your hair’s response and adjust accordingly. If any adverse reactions occur, it’s important to discontinue use and consider other hydrating oils like coconut oil which might suit sensitive scalps better.
