Aromatherapy is stretching its reach and it’s finally being appreciated for its many benefits. Hand in hand with it, came the rediscovery of essential oils. Inhaling their perfume is always a pleasant experience, but did you know you can also use essential oils for hair?
No, the goal is not to perfume it, although that’s not a bad thing either. In reality, these oils can bring several benefits for your locks, from stimulating its grow to support a softer and shinier hair.
Best essential oils for hair
Using essential oils for hair can be a natural and safe trick to achieve the dreamy locks you always wanted. Nevertheless, not every oil can be used in the hair or have the wanted effect.
A research from 1998 already confirmed which ones are the best essential oils for the hair and why, as they were the most efficient ones successfully helping with the treatment of alopecia areata.
There are innumerous essential oils, but these are the ones you should be looking for when it comes to your hair:
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- .Peppermint
Benefits of essential oils for hair growth
What groups the best essential oils for hair loss and hair growth is their capacity to increase blood circulation over the scalp, thus providing a better supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles.
However, each of them also has specific effects that make them ideal to treat these issues.
Lavender
This essential oil is one of the most vastly used for its soothing properties. From treating headaches to sunburns and sleeping, this is a multitasking oil.
When applied over the hair it improves blood circulation, which can help both with hair loss and hair growth. This oil also has antiseptic, antibacterial and moisturizing properties. For this, it helps balance the scalp and treats any skin problems so the hair doesn’t have its strength and beauty affected.
Cedarwood
Despite the clear differences in aroma, cedarwood has a similar effect to lavender when applied over the scalp.
It also improves blood circulation and has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that promote a healthy and inflammation-free scalp. Its effect over fungal problems is more efficient, though, which makes it a more suitable oil to treat issues like dandruff.
Rosemary
Rosemary oil is packed with antioxidants, which fight free-radicals thus helping to prevent aging and damages to healthy cells. For this reason, is very effective at preventing thinning and greying hair.
It also improves blood circulation in the scalp, thus promoting hair growth.
Thyme
Thyme is a frequent ingredient in shampoos for the way it smooths the hair, leaving it shiny and soft. It also increases blood circulation, helping to prevent hair loss and promoting hair growth.
Be careful when buying this essential oil. Red thyme has thymol which can irritate sensitive skin. Look for thyme linalool instead.
Peppermint
This was not one of the essential oils for hair used in the 1998 study, but a much recent research from 2014 has proved that by increasing the blood flow over the scalp and in the hair follicles, this oil promotes hair growth.
Furthermore, the researchers suggested it can also be used as a preventive alternative for hair loss.
How to use essential oils
The most important thing you should know is to never apply any essential oil directly over the skin. The nutrient concentration of these is very high and can be toxic, leading to rashes and inflammations.
They always need to be mixed with a carrier before application. The most common carriers are olive, almond, jojoba and coconut oils.
Recipes can vary, but the thumb rule is 1 oz. of the carrier oil for 10 drops of essential oil.
How to mix essential oils for hair growth
Below you can find 5 recipes of essential oils for hair growth so you can try them out without having to worry about which carrier to use and in which quantities.
Lavender for hair growth
Ingredients
- 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil
- 4 teaspoons of a carrier oil
How to use it: mix the oil and the carrier very well and use it to massage your scalp with soft movements. Leave it on for some hours, preferably during the night. Wash your hair normally in the morning.
Fighting dandruff
Ingredients
- 2 – 3 drops cedarwood essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
How to use it: warm the coconut oil a bit for it to become liquid and mix it with the essential oil. Use the creamy oil to massage your scalp and your hair, starting from the roots. There is no need to rinse it.
Thinning hair
Ingredients
- 10 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
How to use it: mix both oils and apply the blend directly on the scalp and over the hair, starting at the roots. Dip a towel in hot water to warm it up, remove the excess of water and wrap it over your hair. Let it work for 30 minutes before washing your hair with your normal shampoo.
For it to be effective, you should apply this blend once a month.
Beauty and growth
Ingredients
- 2 drops of thyme essential oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
How to use it: blend all the oils and apply the mixture over your scalp. Let it work for 15 to 20 minutes before washing your hair normally with shampoo.
Peppermint for hair growth
Ingredients
- 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of warm coconut oil
How to use it: mix the oils and apply them over the scalp. Let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with shampoo.
Warning: peppermint can irritate sensitive skin. Try the blend on a small hidden patch of skin to check for any reaction before applying it to the scalp.
Be patient
Essential oils can help your hair recover its strength and beauty but be aware. The effect is not immediate and it can take a long period of frequent use to finally see any results. However, even if invisible, during that time your hair will be growing stronger.
If you’re looking to prevent hair loss but also want to infuse your hair with nutrients that will make it shine beautifully, check the video below to learn how to do an essential oils mask.
