When considering hair growth and regrowth treatments, natural remedies like essential oils may prove helpful.

Hair is more than just a protective covering for our noggin. For most people, it means much more. It’s often the first thing people notice about us. It is part of our identity, our expression and creativity. It is part of our vanity and youthfulness. And, for some, it’s a statement.

Hair care products continue to rise in popularity and in dollars every year as we search for that perfect panacea for flowing tresses.

There are many factors that can contribute to hair loss…

…and it can be difficult to determine the “root” cause. If your father (or mother) experienced balding, and either of their parents did, it may be that an exposed cranium may be in your future. Of course, other factors, such as health, medications, diet, environment, stress, pulling your hair tightly back constantly and hormones can play a big part as well. Some of these things are certainly good to rule out by a doctor first before you invest in endless products.

Do essential oils or carrier oils offer any help for hair regrowth?

They very well could. On Robert Tisserand’s website, Tisserandinstitute.org, it mentions a study performed in 2015 using 100 participants. Half of the participants used Rosemary essential oil, and half used the drug Minodoxil. After six months of use, these participants were seen by dermatologists. The interesting findings: The Rosemary group had less hair loss, more hair growth, and the added bonus of fewer side effects. [1]

Besides Rosemary, there are other essential oils that might also be beneficial. Sandalwood and Cedarwood are nourishing oils, which can also be stimulating to one’s scalp. Lavender oil is also nourishing, and can be found in many hair products, body products, etc., because of its beneficial properties. Geranium is known to promote natural healing and is strengthening. Clary Sage is good because this oil calms and reduces swelling, and can help regulate oil production.

Of course, what you put the essential oils in before applying to your head is also important.

The simplest way would be to add a couple drops of essential oils to a dollop of shampoo and mix well. It is important to select a quality shampoo without harmful chemicals. Substances like sulfates, which are surfactants and responsible for the rich lather, can be counterproductive to your quest for healthy, strong hair.

Besides adding essential oils to your shampoo, you could create a conditioning oil treatment to apply weekly, leave on for 1-2 hours, and then wash out. This could be done with essential oils such as Geranium, Frankincense Carteri, Tea Tree, or Helichrysum in a carrier oil or carrier oil blend at a 1-2% dilution. Massaging your head while applying can also offer the scalp additional stimulation. Some good carrier oil choices for hair oil treatments include Argan, Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Hemp, Avocado and Black Jamaican Castor oil. Any of the essential oils mentioned above would be good in a blend of 2-3 of these carrier oils.

Also, don’t forget about hydrosols. They also offer support to hair health. Suzanne Catty in “Hydrosols, the Next Aromatherapy,” recommends diluting your shampoo 50/50 with a hydrosol such as Rosemary or Rose. Catty says that it will give shine, feed the condition of the scalp and hair follicles, and will still give you the cleaning power that you need, as most shampoos are more potent than they need to be. [2]

Or, you could dilute the conditioner rather than the shampoo. Another option would be to use the hydrosol as a leave-in treatment after shampooing and before styling. Some customers have shared their experience of Rose Hydrosol helping as a de-tangler.

I also tried an oil conditioning treatment of:

2 drops of Frankincense Carteri Essential Oil
2 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
1 tsp of Argan Carrier Oil
1 tsp of Evening Primrose Carrier Oil

Mix these ingredients together and apply to hair, roots to tips. Leave on for at least 1 hour.

I applied this oil treatment on my hair and scalp, so it was well-saturated but not dripping. I really only used it a few times. What I noticed most of all, with both treatments, was that my hair became shinier.

Like most issues, it really is about what your body needs, and finding something that will personally work for you. It may be a journey and may take a bit of experimenting.

It’s been a relatively short time since I began implementing these products in my hair care, but my hair does seem healthier and shinier. I will continue to experiment with these products and try to implement other healthier lifestyle changes as well.

Resources:

[1] Tisserand, Robert. http://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/rosemary-essential-oil-hair-growth-promotion/

[2] Catty, Suzanne, 2001. Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press.

February 9, 2018 by Plant Therapy

Essential Oils For Hair