There are many essential oils for hair but what are the top 5 essential oils for healthy hair & scalp, their benefits & how to use? Find out in this article!
Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile liquids extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, roots, bark, fruit, resin, etc of aromatic plants. They are very potent and have powerful medicinal properties that make them excellent natural remedies for many health conditions. In this article, we shall look at the top 5 essential oils for healthy hair and scalp including benefits & how to use.
Note: Avoid essential oils during pregnancy and nursing. If you have any serious or chronic health conditions, please consult your doctor before use.
Top 5 Benefits of Essential Oils for Your Hair & Scalp
From stimulating hair growth to balancing scalp sebum, there are a myriad of benefits of essential oils for the hair and scalp, however in this section, we’ll be talking about the TOP 5 benefits of essential oils and how they promote healthy scalp & hair:
► Promote Hair Growth. There are certain essential oils, including rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, cypress, etc, that have scalp stimulating properties that promote hair growth. When you apply these essential oils, you will notice a pleasant tingling sensation on your scalp, which stimulates the hair follicles, thereby awakening sleeping or dormant hair follicles and encouraging hair growth. Essential oils also increase circulation to the scalp when applied which brings nutrient-rich blood to every hair follicle, nourishing them and promoting hair growth.
► Reduce Hair Fall & Shedding. If you’re experiencing hair shedding or hair loss, using essential oils can help by strengthening the hair follicles, correcting hormonal imbalances, reducing stress, fighting off scalp irritation and so much more.
► Soothes Scalp Inflammation, Itch & Irritation. The powerful antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiseptic properties of many essential oils are effective in treating scalp irritation, reducing dandruff and eliminating itchy scalp issues. Some essential oils have skin soothing properties that calm inflamed, itchy and sensitive scalps.
► Balance Scalp Sebum. For treating both oily and dry scalps, essential oils can be used as a natural and effective remedy! Essential oils such as tea tree & rosemary are astringents, meaning they remove excess oils from the scalp and hair. Other essential oils hydrate scalps that are dry and flaky as well as seal moisture in dry brittle hair.
► Treat Damaged Hair. Due to overuse of heat tools, harmful UV rays & environmental pollution, hair strands can get damaged leading to dull, limp and lifeless looking hair. Essential oils such as carrot seed and helichrysum have incredible healing properties that restore moisture and shine to damaged hair.
Top 5 Essential Oils for Healthy Hair and Scalp
There are hundreds of essential oils for the scalp and hair, however if you’re looking for a few of the most effective ones, here are the top 5 with powerful properties and versatile uses & benefits particularly for good scalp and hair health:
1. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil is extracted from rosemary leaves and it’s great for stimulating hair growth and regrowing bald patches.
Rosemary essential oil (where to get it) is a powerful hair growth stimulant. It strengthens the hair follicles & shaft as well as improves blood circulation to the scalp thereby promoting hair growth. It can also be used to remove stale sebum and excess oils on the scalp and hair, treat dandruff and itchy scalp issues as well as add a shine to dull locks. Read more about rosemary essential oil for hair growth here.
2. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil (where to get it), a powerful antiseptic, is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree plant, Melaleuca Alternifolia that is native to Australia. Known for its potent antiseptic and disinfectant properties, tea tree essential oil is used to treat dandruff, itchy scalp, scalp acne and scalp fungal infections. It also has natural astringent properties which can be used to reduce scalp & hair oiliness. Tea tree can also be used to cleanse and de-congest blocked hair follicles when used in a shampoo or hair cleanser.
3. Lavender Essential Oil
The most versatile essential oil, lavender (where to get it) has so many benefits for the scalp and hair, however, it’s particularly known for soothing irritated and sensitive scalps, treating scalp inflammatory conditions such as scalp eczema as well as reducing stress-relating hair loss.
A hot oil massage with lavender essential oil (see next section for how to) not only rejuvenates weak hair follicles but also calms the mind and soothes the scalp.
4. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil (where to get it) is best for healing itchy, irritated and inflamed scalps. Like lavender, it has skin soothing and calming properties that heal inflammation and treat scalp inflammatory conditions. Chamomile can also be used to revitalize damaged locks and retain moisture in dry and frizzy hair.
Use as a hair rinse by combining 3-5 drops in 2 cups of water.
5. Peppermint Essential Oil
The cooling properties of peppermint essential oil (where to get it), due to its high menthol content, are excellent for soothing an itchy scalp. Peppermint can also be used to invigorate the hair follicles thereby stimulating hair growth, relax a tired scalp as well as reduce scalp and hair oiliness.
How to Use Essential Oils for Scalp & Hair Care
As essential oils are very potent, a little goes a long way. Only small amounts should be used: as a rule of thumb, dilute 1-3 drops of essential oil in 1 tbsp of carrier oil or base ingredient such as shampoo, conditioner, etc. Before using essential oils please ensure you do not have any negative reactions by using a patch test on your inner wrist/elbow: simply mix 1 drop of essential oil in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and apply it on your inner elbow. Monitor the area for about 2 – 6 hours. If you notice any irritation or redness, immediately rinse with warm water and a mild soap and do not use the essential oil on your scalp/hair.
Looking for ways to use essential oils in your natural hair care routine? Here are some of the simplest and most effective:
» Mix in your shampoo and conditioner. This is a popular way of using essential oils for the scalp and hair. Even if you don’t use store-bought shampoos and conditioners, you can make your own homemade hair cleansers (with or without liquid castile soap) and add essential oils to those. Want to make your own hair cleansers and shampoos without chemicals? Find over 18 hair cleansing and conditioning recipes here.
» Use in a hot oil treatment. Another most effective way of using essential oils on your scalp and hair is by doing hot oil treatments. This is basically heating a carrier oil of your choice (most common ones include coconut, olive, argan or almond until warm enough to touch without hurting yourself) then adding specific essential oils for hair according to its use, for example: tea tree for an itchy scalp, rosemary for hair growth, etc. Massage this treatment onto your scalp, let it sit for an hour or two then wash off thoroughly with warm water and shampoo.
» In a hair spray. You can make your own hair spray with essential oils: Boil 2 cups of water, stir in 2 tsp of sugar and add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oils for scent. A hair spray can do much more than keeping your hair in place! It can be used to treat an itchy scalp, heal damaged hair and create natural beach waves, etc. Use tea tree for an itchy scalp, carrot seed for damaged hair and bergamot for naturally wavy hair.
» In a hair mask. Blend an avocado with a little milk or water to a smooth puree then pour it in a bowl and stir in 3-5 drops of any of the above oils. Apply it to dry hair and let it penetrate for 10-15 minutes before rinsing your hair thoroughly with tepid water.
» In a hair rinse. Hair rinses are great for strengthening hair, reduce hair shedding, sealing in moisture and conditioning hair. Most popular essential oils for hair rinses are rosemary, lavender, chamomile, sage, geranium and tea tree.
» Make your own hair serum, cream, conditioner, moisturizer. You can make your own hair serum by combining a few drops of one or more of the essential oils above in a carrier oil like jojoba or olive oil. For a good hair moisturizer recipe, visit this article.