Bali hair oil capsules: what they are, what the colours mean and how to use them

Bali hair oil capsules are small, single-use soft capsules of leave-in hair oil, sold in strips and jars in Indonesian minimarkets and beauty shops. You twist one open, spread the oil through damp lengths and ends and leave it in: nothing is rinsed out and nothing is swallowed. Many of them are Ellips, an Indonesian brand, but other brands sell similar capsules too.

What are the hair capsules from Bali?

Each one is a single dose of hair oil in a soft, sealed shell. An Ellips capsule holds 1 ml, enough for the lengths and ends, so there is nothing to measure and no bottle to leak in your bag. Travellers call these colourful capsules many things: hair oil pods, hair beads, hair vitamins, even hair pills. They are not pills. Indonesian shops list them as vitamin rambut, which means "hair vitamin", but the oil goes on your hair and nothing is swallowed.

On Bali travel forums, people describe them as little oil pods and swap tips on where to buy them. Ellips belongs to PT Kino Indonesia, which says the brand has been on sale in Indonesia since 2005. It is not the only brand. Others sell similar capsules, some with Bali in their name, so not every capsule you saw on holiday was Ellips. The brand and formula name are printed on the pack.

Where do you buy hair oil capsules in Bali?

Minimarkets such as Indomaret and Alfamart stock them, and so do health and beauty shops such as Guardian and Watsons. The usual pack is a blister strip of 6 or 8 capsules, and larger packs and jars of 50 are sold too.

A strip is an easy way to try one formula before you buy more. If one suits your hair on holiday, take a photo of the pack, so you know the exact name when you look for it at home.

What do the colours mean?

Plenty of people remember them as "the pink ones" or "the yellow ones". That works for the 4 Ellips formulas sold in Europe, because each has its own capsule colour:

Pink and pearly pink can look alike on a strip, so read the name. Pro-Keratin is the name of the line, not an ingredient on the label, and "Hair Repair" is a product name, not a promise. Every formula is silicone-based and contains soybean oil, so skip them if you are allergic to soy. Ellips also sells other versions in Indonesia that this shop does not carry, and other brands use their own colours.

How do you use hair capsules from Bali?

For Ellips, it takes about 30 seconds, with one capsule each time. Other brands may differ, so check their pack.

1. Wash your hair and towel-dry it until it is damp, not dripping.
2. Twist the tip off the capsule. If the shell is hard from the cold, snip the tip off with small scissors.
3. Pour the oil into your palm and rub your hands together.
4. Work it through the lengths and ends, not the roots.
5. Do not rinse. Dry and style as usual.

Very fine hair needs only half a capsule, on the ends. The oil also works on dry hair to smooth flyaways. If you blow-dry or straighten, put it in first: the heat protection up to 220 °C only works when the oil is on your hair before the heat. Our guide on how to use Ellips Hair Vitamin goes into more detail.

Why do they suit hot, humid places like Bali?

Bali is hot and humid all year. Hair takes up water and swells as it does. A 2015 review of hair cosmetics in the International Journal of Trichology notes that damaged hair is the most porous, and that worn hair tangles and frizzes more easily. That is one reason dry ends frizz first on a sticky day. The same review describes conditioning products as reducing friction and frizz and making hair easier to comb, and names silicones as the most widely used conditioning ingredient. A silicone-based oil capsule does this job on the lengths: smoother hair frizzes less in humid air.

Sun, salt and pool water add to the dryness, and the effect builds up over a holiday. A hat does more against strong sun than any hair product. Rinse your hair with fresh water when you come out of the sea or the pool, then put the oil on the damp lengths.

Heat does soften the capsule shell. The storage advice is below 30 °C and away from direct sunlight, so leave the strip in your room, not in a beach bag in the sun or under a scooter seat.

Are Bali hair capsules good for your hair?

We can only speak for Ellips. Used as above, a capsule leaves hair smoother, softer and shinier-looking, makes it easier to comb, means less frizz and fewer flyaways, and helps prevent split ends and breakage. Applied before styling, it protects from heat up to 220 °C. Silicones are the base of every formula: they smooth the hair, add shine and help protect it from heat. If you prefer silicone-free products, these capsules are not for you.

Know the limits too. The oil works on the surface of the hair, which is not alive and cannot heal. A split end cannot be glued back together; only a trim removes it. No hair oil changes how your hair grows or how much you shed, so if you are losing more hair than usual, see a doctor or dermatologist.

How many capsules should you pack?

You use one capsule each time, so count how often you expect to wash or style your hair on the trip and add 2 or 3 spares for extra swims. If you plan to wash it 6 times, pack 8 or 9. A small tin or box stops the strips from being squashed, and the same goes for strips you bring home from Bali.

Can hair oil capsules go in hand luggage?

At EU airports, liquids in hand luggage must be in containers of no more than 100 ml, all inside one transparent bag of up to 1 litre. The EU's Your Europe portal lists cosmetic creams and gels among the items this covers. A capsule holds only 1 ml, but security staff may still count it as a liquid, so the simplest choice is to pack the capsules in your liquids bag.

Rules differ between airports and change over time, and Your Europe itself advises checking your airport's website or asking your airline before you travel. Do that for both flights, out and home. For the rest of your washbag, see our travel hair care packing list.

Can you buy Bali hair oil capsules in Europe?

Yes, if yours were Ellips: the same 4 Ellips formulas are sold here as Ellips Hair Vitamin, in jars of 50 rather than strips. Choose by the colour and name you remember. If your capsules were another brand, or an Ellips version that is not in the table above, look for that product from its own sellers: this shop sells only these 4 formulas.

Frequently asked questions

Are Bali hair capsules pills?

No. Indonesian shops list them as vitamin rambut, which means hair vitamin, so they are easy to mistake for supplements. They are a cosmetic leave-in oil for your hair: you open the capsule, spread the oil through your lengths and ends, and nothing is swallowed. Keep them out of reach of children, and if the oil gets into your eyes, rinse with water.

Which is better, Ellips pink or yellow?

Neither is better overall, because they suit different hair. Pink is Hair Treatment, for thin to medium hair, and it helps prevent split ends and breakage. Yellow is Smooth & Shiny, for fine to medium hair that lacks volume and shine. For thick, coloured, bleached or very dry hair, look at the pearly pink Hair Repair or the amber Smooth & Silky instead.

Where can I buy Ellips hair vitamin in Bali?

Try minimarkets such as Indomaret and Alfamart, which sell blister strips, and health and beauty shops such as Guardian and Watsons, where you may also find jars. Similar capsules from other brands often sit on the same shelf, so check the brand and formula name on the pack before you buy. Back home, the same 4 Ellips formulas are sold in Europe.

Why is my hair capsule hard, and how do I open it?

The shell reacts to temperature: it softens in heat and firms up in the cold. Capsules that opened easily in Bali can feel hard at home in winter. Warm one in your hands first, or snip the tip off with small scissors, then use it as usual. Store them below 30 °C and away from direct sunlight.