Srinagar, Dec. 21 -- In most Kashmiri families, two scenes often unfold together- parents closely examining their child's hair and quietly questioning life choices. One look at a Gen Z or Gen Alpha hairstyle- wolf cut. Curly mullet, shaggy mullet, broccoli haircut, coloured streaks, curtain bangs, baby braids-and the reaction is almost instinctive: "Yeh kya banaya hai sar ko?" "kalas kya chi kormut"

In Kashmiri culture, hair has always been a serious matter. A well-oiled head was proof of good upbringing. Natural oils such as coconut, almond, or mustard oil were commonly used. These products served both aesthetic (adding shine, aiding styling) and practical purposes (nourishing the scalp. Applying oil was an emotional insurance. Hair was...