Hair. It’s one of the first things people notice about you. Whether it’s long, short, straight, or curly, we’ve got some great pointers on bringing out the natural health and beauty of your locks!
Damage and hair loss can occur for multiple reasons. Age, heredity, changes in hormones, weight loss, medical conditions, stress, and even poor nutrition. Finding the root cause can help you know where to start in restoring and strengthening your hair. In the mean time, adding natural support from essential oils is a great way to optimize your haircare routine.
How can essential oils support your hair and overall wellness?
Is Your Hair Distressed?
Jasmine essential oil is incredibly moisturizing and nourishing for dry hair, and can be added to conditioner, just add a drop or two to either your leave-in or wash out at the time of use. You can also combine it with a carrier oil and add to the tips for split-end prevention, we recommend olive or coconut.
Ylang-ylang moisturizes hair by stimulating sebum production in the scalp (your body’s natural oil). If your hair and skin are dry, ylang-ylang is a helpful remedy. Combine with a warm carrier oil and apply to hair. Leave-in for 30 minutes then wash out for a shiny, smooth finish.
Geranium essential oil is intensely moisturizing for dry hair. Combine with a carrier oil and add to hair, leaving on for 30 minutes before rinsing. Another option is to add 10 drops to shampoo or conditioner!
Growth Support
There are several optimal oils that support hair growth. They work primarily by promoting circulation and stimulating hair follicles, improving scalp health.
Peppermint essential oil is particularly helpful during the anagen phase of hair growth. Studies have found that when used on mice, peppermint oil increased “the number of hair follicles, follicle depth, and overall hair growth.”
Rosemary essential oil has been shown to improve the growth and thickness of hair due to its cell regenerative properties. According to a study, “rosemary oil performed as well as minoxidil, a common hair growth treatment, but with less scalp itching as a side effect.” Like most essential oils, it’s important to use a carrier oil (like coconut or olive) when using rosemary oil topically. For best results, apply rosemary essential oil (and carrier oil) to your scalp twice a week, leave on for ten minutes, and then shampoo out.
Cedarwood essential oil balances sebum production in the hair and scalp, which may reduce hair loss and promote growth. This is a great oil to use if you have combination hair — dry ends and oily roots. We recommend combining it with a carrier oil, then applying to hair and scalp for ten minutes before washing out. It works great combined with lavender and rosemary to prevent dandruff, too!
Flaky Scalp?
Dandruff is a frustratingly common condition that causes dead skin flakes from your scalp to shed all over the place. Fortunately, there are lots of oils that can help!
Tea tree essential oil is one of the most commonly used oils to treat this condition. Tea tree works by unclogging hair follicles and pores, releasing hair and preventing the build-up of dead skin and sebum. Awesome, right? That’s why tea tree is also used to avoid breakouts. Another great side-effect of tea tree is that it stimulates hair growth, too! A great way to apply tea tree is to either add a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner right before use (not adding it to the bottle)– or add 3 drops to at least 2 tablespoons of carrier oil in a dropper, and leave it on for up to 15 minutes, then rinse. Voila!
Lemongrass, thyme, lavender, and clary sage essential oils are all other fabulous oils that can be used to prevent dandruff, too. Try out a few of these options to see which blends or single oils work best for you!
Our Favorite Hair Recipes
Intense Moisture Blend
- ⅛ cup Coconut Oil
- 5 drops Geranium
- 5 drops Jasmine
- 5 drops Ylang Ylang
Combine ingredients and apply evenly to hair, massaging into the scalp. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
Hair-Growth Stimulator
- ⅛ cup Coconut Oil
- 5 drops Rosemary
- 5 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Peppermint
Combine ingredients and apply evenly to hair, massaging into the scalp. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
Dander Defense Blend
- ⅛ cup Coconut Oil
- 5 drops Tea Tree
- 5 drops Lemongrass
- 5 drops Lavender
Combine ingredients and apply evenly to hair, massaging into the scalp. Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
Additional Reading
The Basics of Hair Care & Essential Oils
Your Endocrine System & Essential Oils
Effects of Hormones and Endocrine Disorders on Hair Growth
Class Ideas
- Review the endocrine system together and why it is so important for the body. Discuss your different endocrine glands, hormones, and what they do for the body. Dispel myths about “hormones” being bad things.
- Discuss healthy, balanced eating. Make a healthy meal together and share ideas and resources for healthy eating. Invite your students to seek out and come back with their own healthy recipes to share.
- Discuss toxins and endocrine disruptors. Discuss how to purify the air, clean your home, and replace toxic products with natural, EO-based substitutes. Make a take-home EO cleaning solution together.
- Discuss stress management. Share and practice together different methods of stress tracking (iTOVi Scans, apps, body scan meditations, stress journals) and stress management (meditation & breathing, yoga, drawing, walking, etc). Challenge your students to notice their stress and use these methods to de-escalate themselves in the coming week as needed.
