The 7 Best Essential Oils for Hair

Essential oils are excellent for treating many types of hair and scalp conditions such as thickening your hair, treating dandruff and dry scalp, giving your hair strength and shine, too lightening your hair natural.

Essential oils are all-natural, which means they are free of dangerous chemicals and better for the environment.

1. Rosemary

Rosemary oil is one of the top essential oils for hair thickness and growth. It is used to increase cellular metabolism, which stimulates hair growth and promotes healing. Research even shows that rosemary oil to stimulate hair growth.

When it comes to boosting your hair health, the benefits of rosemary oil also include preventing baldness, slowing the greying process, and treating dandruff and dry scalp.

To use rosemary oil for your hair, mix it with olive oil and lavender oil (olive oil hair treatment with rosemary and lavender), and then massage the mixture into your scalp for about two minutes. Leave it in your hair for three to four hours or overnight and then wash your hair as usual.

2. Lavender

Studies have shown that lavender oil possesses hair growth-promoting effects and can thicken the hair.

Lavender oil has antimicrobial properties, and it can be used to combat bacterial and fungal disorders. Some other lavender oil benefits are its ability to soothe the scalp and treat dry skin and hair. Plus, because emotional stress is a factor that can contribute to thinning hair, lavender oil can be used to treat stress and anxiety.

3. Cedarwood

Cedarwood is used to help stimulate the hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp. It can promote hair growth and slow hair loss, and it can also treat thinning hair and various types of alopecia.

Cedarwood can be applied topically to the scalp and hair. It mixes well with gentle oils like lavender and carrier oils like coconut oil.

You can also add two to three drops of cedarwood oil to your conditioner.

4. Chamomile

Chamomile oil is a great essential oil for hair because it adds shine and softness to your hair while soothing your scalp. It can also naturally lighten your hair.

Combine five drops of chamomile essential oil with a tablespoon of sea salt and one-third cup of baking soda. Use warm water to create a paste, and apply the mixture to your hair. Massage it into your scalp and at the base of your hair, then allow it to sit for about half an hour before rinsing it out. If you want a bolder affect, keep the paste on as you sit in the sun.

Choosing a natural alternative ensures that you aren’t exposed to unhealthy hair-dyeing products, like formaldehyde and bleach (hydroxide peroxide).

5. Clary Sage

An important ester in clary sage oil called linalyl acetate reduces skin inflammation and regulates the production of oil on the skin. Clary sage also works as a natural remedy for rashes, and it works as an antibacterial agent.

Maybe most importantly, clary sage can be used to help you relieve stress and balance hormones. Three types of hair loss can be associated with high stress levels: telogen effluvium, trichotillomania (hair pulling) and alopecia areata. Because clary sage can be used to help relieve stress and reduce cortisol levels in the body, it works as a natural remedy for stress-induced hair loss.

Clary sage works well with jojoba oil. The two can help regulate oil production on the skin, helping you avoid scaly or flaky patches that lead to dandruff.

To ease stress, which is associated with hair loss, you can diffuse clary sage oil at home or apply a few drops to your wrists, temples and bottoms of your feet.

6. Lemongrass

Lemongrass essential oil has healing properties, and it works as an effective cleanser and deodoriser. It can strengthen your hair follicles and soothe an itchy and irritated scalp.

You can add 10 drops of lemongrass oil to your bottle of shampoo or conditioner, or you can massage two to three drops into your scalp along with your conditioner daily.

7. Peppermint

Peppermint oil helps stimulate the scalp, and it can treat dandruff and even lice due to its powerful antiseptic properties. It can help stimulate hair growth.

Peppermint has a pleasant cooling sensation when applied topically, and it has calming effects to help reduce skin inflammation. In addition to these peppermint oil uses, it also works to energise your mind, boost your mood and relieve tension or headaches.

Add two to three drops of peppermint to your shampoo or conditioner for a quick wake-me-up during your morning shower.

How to Use -DIY Recipes

All of these essential oils for hair are easy to find online or at your local health food store. It is very important that you only purchase essential oils that are 100 percent pure grade, especially when you are ingesting the oil or applying it topically. It’s also a good idea to do a patch test with any essential oil that you’re using for the first time.

Because essential oils are so potent, they should be diluted with a carrier oil before topical application. Some beneficial carrier oils for hair include:

Coconut Oil — Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, including lauric acid and capric acid, that have strong antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. These properties help thoroughly clean your hair and scalp, thereby helping prevent and treat issues like dandruff.
Jojoba Oil — Jojoba oil encourages hair growth and moisturizes the scalp. It works as an emollient, soothing the skin and unclogging hair follicles.
Olive Oil — Olive oil is a source of vitamin E and other antioxidants. Some olive oil benefits include its ability to hydrate and soothe the skin, working to get rid of dry scalp and dandruff.

You can simply combine your essential oils for hair and a carrier oil of your choice and massage the mixture into your scalp. You can also add essential oils to your everyday shampoo or conditioner

If you are looking to address a more specific issue, here are some DIY recipes that also help boost the health of your hair:

Thicken your hair: To help thicken your hair naturally, use this natural hair thickener that’s made with a combination of rosemary, cedarwood and clary sage essential oils. These oils stimulate your hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp, helping balance your hormones. Add 20 drops of each to a 250 ml bottle of conditioner and shampoo.
Prevent oily/greasy hair: Add four drops of peppermint oil to your conditioner to get rid of greasy hair.
Add shine: Giving your hair and scalp a good hair mask treatment on a weekly basis can help take care of unruly strands, moisturize your hair and add shine. Add 4 drops of each peppermint, cedarwood and rosemary to olive oil or coconut and massage into your hair and scalp and leave on overnight then shampoo out as usual.
Lighten your hair: Add two to three drops of chamomile oil to your hair before going out in the sun.
Dandruff: Combine 5 drops of each rosemary and clary sage with olive oil and massage into your scalp and leave on over night then shampoo out as normal.
Itchy scalp: To help soothe a red and itchy scalp combine 2 drops lemongrass, 4 drops chamomile and 4 drops rosemary essential oils with 2 tablespoons of coconut oils and massage into the scalp and leave on for 4-6 hours then shampoo out