The best essential oils for the hair & scalp

by Alison Angold CIDESCO ITEC

Essential oils are well known to benefit lots of different skin conditions, but did you know they can help with many different hair and scalp conditions too? Here, we are going to look at the best essential oils for the hair & scalp. Whether its an itchy, irritated scalp you want relief from or you are desperate to get more healthy hair growth, then there is an oil blend to help!

The best essential oils for the hair & scalp

The best essential oils to stimulate hair growth

These oils will encourage the blood circulation to feed the hair.

The best essential oils to reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth are;

• Black pepper
• Clary sage
• Rosemary
• Cedarwood
• Lavender
• Peppermint

For the full article on essential oils to prevent hair loss and stimulate growth, and for treatment recipes READ HERE

Essential oils for dry hair

Blend as a hair & scalp treatment or apply within a hair mask (see below for blends and instructions). Ensure to apply all the way through to the ends of the hair, to ensure maximum benefits to your dry hair.

Carrot seed

Extracted from the dried carrot seeds this oil is a really nourishing oil that rejuvenates dry conditions including dry hair. It is also useful for a dry scalp, or for someone suffering with dandruff or itchy scalp conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis.

(Avoid during pregnancy)

Jasmine

A good oil for rejuvenating and hydrating and to improve elasticity so great for hair prone to breakages.

(Avoid during pregnancy)

Essential oils for dry, itchy scalp & dandruff

Use these oils in a hair treatment, and apply directly to the scalp and gently massage in. Read the full article with recipes HERE.

• Peppermint
• Tea Tree
• Benzoin
• Bergamot
• Melissa
• Lavender

Essential oils for greasy hair and scalp

These oils will help to reduce the amount of oil being produced by the scalp, thus lessen the greasy effect on the hair.

The best essential oils to treat a greasy scalp and hair are;

• Lemon
• Mandarin
• Petitgrain
• Lime
• Bergamot
• Cajeput
• Cedarwood
• Citronella

Use these oils in hair treatments blends or a hair mask. Depending on your area of concern, apply either just to the scalp for an oily scalp or greasy roots, or all the way to the ends of the hair for generally oily hair.

Check out the full article with recipes HERE

Essential oils for coloured hair

Add a drop to your shampoo or conditioner to brighten coloured hair.

Chamomile

A great oil to rejuvenate and brighten blond tones in the hair.

How do essential oils work for the hair?

The hair is made up of the same thing as the skin, so essential oils work in very much the same way.

Essential oils are the pure oils that are extracted from the flowers and leaves of plants, the peel of fruits and even the bark and resin of trees. The molecules in the oils are so pure and fine that they have the ability to penetrate the skin. From here, they can be absorbed into the bloodstream, and travel around the body to have the desired effect.

In the case of using essential oils for the hair and scalp, the oils can have an effect on the skin of the scalp and the hair follicles within the scalp, thus promoting a cleaner, healthier, less irritated scalp and the stimulation of the circulation to the hair follicles, which will encourage hair growth.

For more uses of essential oils READ HERE

Carrier oils for the hair and scalp

Carrier oils are the base oils that essential oils are blended into. They also have some amazing benefits of their own for the hair and scalp!

Sweet Almond Oil

This oil contains a high percentage of vitamins – Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 & E, therefore is extremely nourishing and protecting. The oil will nourish and protect dry hair.

Evening Primrose Oil

This is very effective at treating dry skin conditions such as dandruff, and due to its high essential fatty acids content, it nourishes and protects the hair.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is very good at treating both dry and oily skin and hair conditions as it regulates the amount of sebum (natural oil) being produced. Therefore it makes an ideal base for a hair or scalp treatment.

Carrot Oil

Not to be confused with carrot seed essential oil, carrot oil is highly nourishing and hydrating for the scalp and hair.

Coconut oil

Probably the most common carrier oil used on the hair, coconut oil is nourishing, hydrating and often leaves the hair with a beautiful shine.

How to use essential oils for the hair

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Hair & scalp treatment

To make a superpower hair treatment, it is most beneficial to blend essential oils with carrier oils, so you get the most effective results! Use a base carrier oil with a couple of drops of your chosen essential oil.

Apply to the scalp, massage in and leave for 10 minutes before washing off. Check out my individual hair article for specific recipes for your hair type or issues.

Shampoo or Conditioner

Adding 1 drop of your chosen oil to a 10p size amount of either your shampoo or conditioner is a really effective way of getting the desired results of the oils. When using shampoo, really massage the scalp so you get benefits of the essential oils here, or when using conditioner, distribute the conditioner right through to the ends of the hair to treat every strand.

Hair mask

Similar to a hair treatment oil, a hair mask will nourish the scalp and the hair itself. A hair mask, however can include other ingredients to make it a thicker consistency – so you really feel like your whole head is benefitting.

These are some of my favourite essential oils to use!

My favourite products for treating the scalp and the hair

Keeping with the theme of essential oils, here are some of my favourite treats to use!

Precautions

Using essential oils in these very small quantities, is generally safe. However please be aware of the precautions stated for each oil – as an aromatherapist, I feel obliged to state the precautions!

All essential oils should be avoided in the first 3 months of pregnancy, and then used with caution. Even though I have stated to avoid some oils during pregnancy, with these small quantities, they may be safe. If ever in any doubt of the use of any oils, or if you are pregnant, please consult your doctor before using them.

About the Author Alison Angold is a fully qualified (certified) beauty therapist, massage therapist, and aromatherapist from the UK. She has over 25 years of experience in this industry and has worked in a variety of beauty salons, spa’s as well as running her own successful beauty and massage business. Her career has allowed her to treat many, many clients, with skincare concerns, medical conditions, and a whole variety of other ailments and issues, which has enabled her to work closely with essential oils, prescribing specific blends for these clients to help with these conditions. Her qualifications in the use of essential oils and aromatherapy, allow her to share this knowledge with others, in a safe, reliable way.