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I am not quite sure when I was first introduced to essential oils. Looking at Youtube, a lot of the hair recipes involved using some sort of essential or carrier oils. After showing interest in using oils, I began to research them to determine which ones to use on my hair. Keep in mind, there is a difference between essential and carrier oils.
ESSENTIAL OILS
“An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant”( http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/whatare.asp). It is extremely potent and you do not have to use a lot to feel its effects. Essential oils must be either mixed with a carrier oil or with other ingredients before used on the skin or hair. Egyptians were the first to find and use essential oils for illnesses and other health related problems. They were also used for religious purposes as well.
Using essential oils can greatly affect the hair and skin. When it comes to hair, essentials oils can stimulate hair growth, decrease dryness of the scalp, lesson split ends, add shine, and moisture to the hair. Below you will find most common essentials oils for the hair and their hair benefits.
BASIL: Stimulates hair growth
BIRCH: Sooths dry Scalp
CARROT SEED OIL: Stimulates hair growth and can lessen and repair split ends
CHAMOMILE: Cools the scalp and can combat hair loss
EUCALYPTUS: Helps with dry scalp and promotes hair growth
FRANKINCENSE: Strengthens hair
LAVENDER: Calms and soothes the scalp
LEMON: Dry scalp treatment, lice, and dandruff. Excellent for curly textured hair, which tends to be dry.
MYRRH: Use to cleanse the scalp
PATCHOULI: Used for dandruff and to help oily hair
PEPPERMINT: Stimulates hair growth and provides extra nourishment to the hair
ROSE: Aids in hair growth and gives hair extra shine
ROSEMARY: Soothes itchy scalp
SAGE: Purifies the scalp and gets rid of excessive dirt from hair
TEA TREE: Decrease scalp dryness
YLANG YLANG: Great for oil hair
CARRIER OILS:
“A carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts” (http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/whatcarr.asp). In order to use essential oils, they have to be diluted using a carrier oil. “They carry the essential oil onto the skin” (http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/whatcarr.asp). Unlike essential oils, which do not last a long time, carrier oils have more shelf life. Carrier oils are pressed, which releases their fatty portions.
APRICOT OIL: Adds luster and shine to hair, excellent lubrication to seal in moisture
AVOCADO: Nourishes hair and promotes hair growth
CASTOR OIL: Growth Treatment
CAMELLIA: Restores moisture and adds sheen
COCONUT OIL: Lubricates hair for sealed moisture
EVENING PRIMROSE: Aids in hair loss
JOJOBA OIL: Lubricates hair to seal in moisture, adds sheen and shine
MACADAMIA: Lubricates hair to seal in moisture, adds sheen and shine
OLIVE OIL: Lubricates hair to seal in moisture, adds sheen and shine
VITAMIN E: Lubricates hair to seal in moisture, adds sheen and shine
Create your perfect hair recipe using some of the essential and carrier oils. Add them to your favorite product for extra moisture and cleansing. The ones listed are just a handful of essential and carrier oils. You can find more on: http://www.aromaweb.com/default.asp.
You can purchase essential and carrier oils at a vitamin stores such as GNC or health food stores.
Below are two excellent websites for hair recipes using essential oils:
http://www.birchhillhappenings.com/recipes/hairskin.htm
http://www.essentialoils.co.za/hair-loss.htm
Works Cited:
http://www.aromaweb.com/default.asp
I am so thankful for this post. I have heard many talk about essential oils and carrier oils but their explanation of the two were very vague. Do I need an essential oil if I only use a carrier oil? Thank you.
@Christa: No. You can use just a carrier oil. Coconut, olive, jojoba, aloe vera, and other carrier oils can be used by themselves or mixed with your products. Essentials oils have to be used in conjunction with carrier oils because they are extremely potent oils.
thx a lot..my hair s so dry,rough n almost curly..plz tell m which essential oil i will use 2 get smooth,silky n shiny hair via email
Thank you so much for the information. I had a few of these at home but wasnt really sure how to use them.
Before using anything on the hair, it is extremely important to research about it. I’m glad you are using oils. They have positive effects on both hair and skin.
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Unfortunately, I didn’t educate myself prior to using rosemary on my husband’s scalp. It appeared that his bald troubled area got larger. I know understand that the rosemary oil should have been mixed with a carrier oil. Do you think that the oil damaged his scalp and What can I do at this point? I think he massaged his scalp for approximately a month. I am massaging his troubled area with jamician black castor oil now. Thanks.
Using any essential oil directly on the skin can damage the skin immensely. Mixing it with a carrier oil, or in any product takes the potency away. At this point, I do not know how extensive your husband’s scalp damage is, and I can not really give you medical advice on what to do further. I would suggest him going to a doctor who specializes in receding hair or bald spots to see if the hair follicle has been permanently damaged. Then you will know how to proceed further.
AWESOME INFO AND REPLYS..THANK YOU