The Exciting World Of Natural Oils And Their Benefits in Hair Care Part 2.

So in the last post, I'd started talking about the various types of natural oils there are and how beneficial they are not just in hair care but in skin care as well.  While the list of carrier oils in my last post is by no means exhaustive, those are the more popular oils used in hair care so I'll be moving on to those wonderful, aromatic, power packed things called essential oils.

Now, as I'd mentioned in my last post, essential oils should NEVER be used directly on the skin or scalp as they are very potent and can cause irritations, headaches and other adverse reactions.

Because of their natural potency and healing benefits, many essential oils are important and beneficial in stimulating hair growth, the treatment of hair loss and damage, relieving and treating scalp conditions (dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata etc).

Essential oils should always be diluted with carrier oils and a general guide is 6 - 15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil - this can be adjusted to suit each person's need and sensitivity levels.

1. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil has great antiseptic, regenerative and stimulative properties making it extremely beneficial in relieving dry itchy scalps and in stimulating the scalp while encouraging hair growth. To benefit from this oil, add a few drops to your scalp oil, daily spritz, pre shampoo treatment, shampoo or deep conditioner. This is one of my favorites and I love the tingle and minty smell!

2. Rosemary Oil: Popular for its ability to invigorate the body and mind, it is used to stimulate follicles to encourage hair growth and to treat dandruff. Use alone in your carrier oil of choice or in conjunction with peppermint oil. This oil should be avoided by those with blood pressure issues.

3. Lavender Oil: Long known to treat sleeplessness, stress and anxiety, this essential oil is also beneficial in the treatment of hair loss and in encouraging hair growth. It is also a powerful antiseptic and is useful in the treatment of dry scalps, lice and lice eggs. I find Lavender to have an almost overpowering aroma so you may want to go easy on it.

4. Tea Tree Oil: With its natural antiseptic, anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties; it is beneficial in removing build up from the hair shaft, normalizing dry and oily hair and treating dry scalp conditions. It also helps in improving the PH balance and unclogging blocked pores thereby allowing previously inhibited hair to grow. Mix a few drops with Olive oil and use as as pre shampoo treatment.

5. Sweet Basil Oil: Used for centuries to clarify the mind and improve memory, this essential oil stimulates the scalp and increases blood circulation and vitality thereby encouraging hair growth. Sweet Basil has emmenagogue (emma what?!) properties i.e. it hastens menstrual flow, and should therefore be avoided by pregnant women. 

6. Thyme Essential Oil: Known to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp while delivering nutrients deep within the follicles, this oil is beneficial in the treatment of thinning hair and hair loss problems. For an effective and potent scalp stimulant, mix 4 ounces of Jojoba Oil with 10 drops each of Rosemary and Lavender and 5 drops each of Sweet Basil and Thyme essential oil.

7. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil: This oil has regenerative and stimulative properties and has been customarily used to promote thick beautiful hair and smooth skin.  It is also actually considered an aphrodisiac so you might want to be careful (or not) when and where you use this *wink wink*

8. Cedarwood Essential Oil: This oil has been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of alopecia areata. Use in conjunction with Rosemary, lavender and rosemary essential oil in a balanced mix of Jojoba and Grapeseed oil (say 2 ounces of each).

9. Sage: This essential oil had antiseptic properties and is effective in the treatment of dandruff. It is also known to balance the scalp sebum and has both the stimulating properties found in Rosemary essential oil and the hormone balancing properties found in Clary Sage and so is beneficial in encouraging hair growth.  Not to be used by pregnant women.

So there you have it! My personal favorites are Rosemary and Peppermint and I tend to add a few drops of those to pretty much everything I use in my hair.  As with everything else, you may want to try a few of these oils till you figure out what you like and what works best for you. 

Remember to dilute and most importantly have fun!