Hair Oiling: Not Just for Your Grandma Anymore (But Also, Yes, for Her)
Look, I’ve seen a million “celebrity beauty secrets” pieces over the years. Most of ’em are some variation of “drink water, sleep, and use this $200 serum I’m contractually obligated to shill.” Which, whatever, that’s the game. But when I read that Maitreyi- she’s 24, by the way, still ridiculously young to be this wise about branding- is talking about a lifelong hair-oiling ritual, something her grandmother taught her, I actually paid attention. Not gonna lie, it’s refreshing. It’s real.
Because here’s the thing: hair oiling, particularly in South Asian cultures, isn’t some new trend. It’s generations deep. It’s Sunday afternoons on the floor with your mom or auntie, getting your scalp massaged. It’s a ritual of care, connection, and, frankly, damn good hair. It’s about nourishing from the roots, not just slapping some silicone on the ends to make it look shiny for five minutes. And for Maitreyi to be so openly embracing and championing that, rather than some fleeting TikTok hack? That’s big. Really big.
Breaking the “Western Beauty Standard” Mold
And honestly, it’s important. For too long, “beauty” in mainstream media has been pretty one-note, right? Straight hair, certain skin tones, very specific features. And anyone who didn’t fit that mold was told they needed to “fix” something. Get rid of the frizz. Straighten the curls. Lighten this, cover that. So to have a major young star, someone like Maitreyi who’s already smashing stereotypes on screen (hello, Never Have I Ever!), talking about a traditional practice that celebrates natural hair and cultural heritage? It’s not just a beauty tip. It’s a statement. It’s basically saying, “My grandma knew what was up, and so do I. And you should too.”
So, What’s Fable & Mane Got To Do With It?
Okay, so she’s talking about her grandma’s secrets, right? And then, BAM! She’s the new face of Fable & Mane’s global campaign. Now, if you’re like me, your first thought is probably, “Oh, here we go. Another celeb pushing a brand.” And yeah, that’s usually the case. But with Fable & Mane… it’s actually kinda different.
“It’s like this full circle moment, right? Everything my grandma taught me, all the secrets she passed down, it’s all aligned with what Fable & Mane stands for.”
I mean, the brand itself was founded by siblings who grew up with their own grandmother’s hair oiling rituals in India. Their whole thing is Ayurvedic-inspired hair care, deeply rooted in these same traditions. So, when Maitreyi says it’s a “dream” collab, and that it feels like a “full circle moment,” I actually believe her. You know? It’s not some random pairing. It’s not like she’s suddenly hawking, I don’t know, a line of fast-food burgers or something completely out of left field. This feels authentic. It feels like a genuine connection to her own story and her heritage.
The Meat: Why This Matters Beyond Just Hair
This isn’t just about selling bottles of hair oil. It’s about representation, pure and simple. It’s about validating cultural practices that, for a long time, were considered “other” or “exotic” instead of just… effective. And beautiful. When a global star like Maitreyi says, “Yeah, this thing my brown grandma taught me? It works. It’s amazing. And you can get it now from a brand that respects its origins,” that’s a powerful message.
It’s also a big win for diversity in the beauty industry. For years, we’ve seen brands stumble, trying to figure out how to “include” different ethnicities without actually understanding them. But Fable & Mane, from what I can tell, started from that understanding. And having Maitreyi onboard, someone who embodies that heritage so effortlessly and proudly, just amplifies that message. It says, “We see you. We value your traditions. And your hair is beautiful, just as it is, and can be even more so with practices that honor its natural state.”
What This Actually Means
Here’s my honest take: this isn’t just another celebrity endorsement. This is a moment where a genuinely personal, culturally significant practice is stepping into the mainstream, not as a trend to be appropriated and then forgotten, but as a respected, effective method of self-care. It’s a subtle but mighty pushback against the homogenized beauty standards we’ve all been fed.
It means more people, especially young women of color, are going to see themselves reflected and celebrated. It means that “grandma’s secrets” are finally getting the global stage they deserve. And it means, maybe just maybe, we’re slowly, slowly shifting towards a beauty industry that values authenticity and heritage over just chasing the next shiny, ephemeral thing. So, yeah, Maitreyi and her grandma’s hair oil? That’s more than just a beauty secret. It’s a quiet revolution. And I’m here for it. Every single oily, fragrant, beautiful bit of it.
