I bought into the hype because Deepika Padukone’s hair looks like a CGI filter. Six weeks later, my 2A waves smell like a fancy chai latte, but are they actually better?
The bottle is gorgeous on my shelf — but so is my candle collection, and that doesn’t grow hair either.
Fable & Mane sells the “HoliRoots” pre-wash oil at $28 for 3.4oz. The claim: Ayurvedic herbs + ashwagandha to “strengthen and revitalize” hair at the root. I’m a sucker for ritual, so I bit.
Pre-Wash System
You massage this in 20 minutes before shampoo, which means I now plan my showers like a workout schedule.
Scent Profile
Smells like a turmeric latte — warm, earthy, zero “perfume counter” cheapness.
Glass Bottle
Heavy, premium, and 100% guaranteed to shatter if you drop it in the shower (I didn’t, but my grip was sweaty).
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
It’s not a gimmick — the ingredient list is genuinely good. The hero is Ashwagandha (that adaptogen your yoga friend won’t shut up about), but it’s the blend that does the work. This is a lightweight oil, not a grease bomb, which shocked me.
Photo: Greg Trowman / Unsplash
Texture is shockingly light — like a dry oil that disappears in 2 minutes, not 20. No greasy halo around my face after rinsing. First week, my scalp felt… calm? Less itchy, which I didn’t expect.
Week 3 was the “ugh” phase. No visible growth, no baby hairs. I almost quit. Week 5 is when my hair started feeling denser at the roots — not thicker, but less breakage when I brush. That’s the quiet win.
Photo: Taylor Smith / Unsplash
My waves look shinier and my ponytail feels heavier at the base. What didn’t happen: no miracle growth, no overnight transformation. The biggest change? Less hair in my shower drain. I’ll take that.
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
HoliRoots is a solid “yes” if you want stronger, shinier hair with a self-care ritual attached. It won’t regrow your edges, but it’ll stop the breakage that’s making you panic.