Our hair helps define us. Our hair is part of our identity, is a gauge of our well being. It is a living system, made of protein and cuticle, components that give shape and color. The average person has over 100,000 strands of this fiber springing from their scalps. We humans delight and fret over this personal ecosystem.
Vibrant, shiny hair is characteristic of vitality. On the other hand, limp, lifeless, greasy or dry hair can be a sign of ill health or imbalance. Hair loss, a terrifying possibility, is another reality we may face. Thankfully, essential oils are here to enhance and revitalize our living hair, and even to stimulate regrowth.
Essential Oils and Hair Loss
The tiny molecular makeup of pure essential oils allows them to penetrate the fabric of our skin and glands to deliver their medicine. Essential oils are fantastic at aiding our beauty regimen and helping to solve sensitive problems like hair loss.
There is a sizable list of pure essential oils that genuinely combat the causes of hair loss. Pure essential oils derived from plants like rosemary, chamomile and sage combat hair loss by revitalizing the hair follicle and increasing blood flow to the scalp.
Essential Oils and Hair Growth
Essential oils are particularly well suited for solving hair problems. Pure essential oils penetrate the follicle and help increase sebum production. All the oils covered in this article do several things in common
- Essential oils increase blood flow to the scalp where hair strands are rooted
- Essential oils revitalize our hair follicles
- Essential oils increase sebum production
- Essential oils add beautiful aromas to promote relaxation and feelings of well being
The Best Essential Oils For Hair Loss
There are many plant based pure essential oils that help revitalize hair. Four oils stand out as the heavy hitters for preventing and stopping hair loss. These four are most active for the following reasons:
- These four oils excel at bringing protein rich blood flow to the root of our hair strands.
- They also stimulate hair follicles to produce sebum.
- These four hold the possibility for reversing hair loss.
Dilution to base is explained in the recipe section below.
1. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
This powerfully scented herb from the Mediterranean region is said to grow vigorously in the homes of strong women. It has strong anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties and is said to boost memory. The intense and powerful essential oil of rosemary is a must in any natural hair growth formula. Rosemary essential oil should be used with caution. Be sure to dilute it considerably in whatever base application used.
Application: Use no more than 2 or 3 drops of rosemary essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
2. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
The name of this herb is derived from the Latin salvere, to be saved. Sage has been used for thousands of years as a hair tonic. Women through the ages have used the pungent hair herb to increase vitality, shine and color. Clary sage essential oil added to a hair formula will act powerfully to revitalize and enliven the hair follicle.
Application: Use up to 8 drops of clary sage essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
3. Roman Chamomile (Arthemis nobilis)
is known as the nurse herb due to its healing and revitalizing effect on plants closest to it in the garden. Roman Chamomile essential oil has the same effect on our hair. This essential oil will take frazzled to serene effectively-whether it be your hair or your mood.
Use up to 10 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base (see recipes that follow for shampoos, conditioners and rinses). You will most likely choose to use Roman Chamomile sparingly due to its dear price. That said, it is one of the gentlest of the oils, and can be used liberally.
4. Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolium, officinalis)
Unlike most essential oils, Lavender essential oil can safely be applied “neat” or directly onto your skin and hair. Test a small portion of skin with a touch of lavender oil from a cotton ball to be sure you do not have a sensitive reaction. This beautifully aromatic oil is an essential ingredient in hair growth rinses, oils and shampoos due to its stimulating effects on the scalp.
Lavender essential oil can be applied directly to our scalp and our hair strands. Drop 5-10 drops into your hand and massage the oils into your mane.
You can use up to 10 drops of lavender essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
Supporting Essential Oils For Hair Loss Prevention:
The following oils can be combined with the powerful oils listed above or used in their own applications. These pure essential oils will diversify the aromatherapeutic and hair growth action of formulas.
5. Cedarwood Atlas (Cedrus Atlantica):
Cedarwood has been used for centuries for complaints of psoriasis and eczema. Cedarwood essential oil will have powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can help with dry, itchy scalp and dandruff. It is also quite stimulating to sebum production.
Use up to 8 drops of cedarwood essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
6. Peppermint (Mentha piperata):
This pungent hair growth essential oil revitalizes the scalp. It also serves to open up pores and follicles, allowing other oils to more effectively deliver their healing properties. Avoid using in the evening though, because peppermint is likely to keep you awake all night!
Use this strong essential oil in small amounts and with caution. Never more than 1 or 2 drops on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
7. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia):
Tea tree essential oil is one that we should never be without. It is anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral and anti-parasite to name a few of its many properties. This oil and herb have been carefully used in times of war to prevent infection when other medicines were unavailable. It is profoundly active on our hair, especially at preventing dandruff, lice or infections that may be a cause of hair loss.
Use up to 10 drops of tea tree essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
8. Patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli)
This deliciously pungent oil is a common ingredient in hair care blends. It helps prevent dandruff and scalp dermatitis. It is a great nervine, adding a soul soothing aroma to help combat destructive stress and anxiety.
Use up to 4 drops of patchouli essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base (see recipes that follow for shampoos, conditioners and rinses)
You will want to use this oil sparingly simply because its scent is very strong.
9. Lemon (Citrus Limonum)
Lemon juice and lemon rind are fantastic at breaking down greasy residue. Lemon essential oil has the same effect on our hair. In addition to being anti-septic and anti-microbial, lemon essential oil added to a hair care formula will revitalize and enliven greasy, oily hair.
Use up to 8 drops of lemon essential oil on its own or as part of a blend for every ½ cup of base.
Blends For Supporting Hair Health
The following blends can be used diluted in shampoo, conditioner or rinses. Application methods follow with more specific instructions for creating these aromatic and active formulas.
You will need to measure out the oils drop by drop, and a general ratio to follow is up to 10 drops of essential oil blends for every ½ cup of “carrier” (shampoo, conditioner or oil).
Essential Oil Blend for Hair Loss
- 1 drop Rosemary
- 3 drops Lavender
- 3 drops Clary Sage
- 2 drops Roman Chamomile
- 1 drop Cedarwood Atlas
- ½ cup base/carrier (MILD shampoo, conditioner or oil)
Essential Oil Blend for Hair Loss/Poor Scalp Health
- 1 drop Patchouli
- 3 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Clary Sage
- 2 drops Cedarwood Atlas
- 2 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
- ½ cup base/carrier (MILD shampoo, conditioner or oil)
Uplifting Essential Oil Blend for Hair Loss
- 4 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Clary Sage
- 2 drops Tea Tree
- 2 drops Lemon
- ½ cup base/carrier (MILD shampoo, conditioner or oil)
Application Methods
Shampoos
The act of shampooing our hair, massaging fragrant lather into our scalp is a wonderful experience that can be enhanced with essential oils. In general, shampooing no more than 2-3 times per week is advised. Your hair’s natural oils are depleted by over washing.
Add on of the blends above to your shampoo, massage the enhanced shampoo generously into your scalp, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes while you shower or bathe. Rinse and repeat if you have time!
Conditioners
An excellent and penetrating method for delivering the healing magic of essential oils to our scalps is through conditioners.
Add any of the blends above to a conditioner as your base. Conditioner treatments can be applied 3-4 times per week.
Hot Oil Conditioning Treatments:
Start with a “base oil” (Olive, jojoba, evening primrose or coconut oils are excellent choices. These oils will nourish and moisturize hair while serving as a base for essential oil applications).
For each ½ cup of base oil, add up to 10 drops of any of the blends above.
Apply the mixture to dry, clean hair, and then apply heat.
An excellent method is to wrap your treated hair in plastic wrap, and cover with a sequence of warm towels that you stick in the dryer to heat up.
Another dreamy option is to wrap your treated hair in plastic, then use a light cloth instead of a towel, and simply lie in the warm sunshine. Keep the warm oil in your hair for 30 to 60 minutes, rinse, shampoo and you are done!
A hot oil treatment can be applied about once a week.
To Summarize
- Essential oils help prevent hair loss by increasing the blood flow to the scalp, stimulating the hair follicle and regulating sebum production.
- Essential oils can also help to treat conditions like dandruff, fungal infections and greasy hair-which can cause or exacerbate hair loss.
- The four best essential oils to prevent hair loss are: rosemary, lavender, roman chamomile and clary sage. Other oils that are also active on our hair include: cedarwood atlas, peppermint, tea tree, patchouli and lemon.
- Not only will these applications provide powerful medicine for to prevent hair loss, they will also have aromatherapeutic benefits. These blends are a lovely way to impart feelings of well-being. Give them a try!
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