Botanical extracts of oil from various parts of the plant are called essential oils. They are generally extracted through methods like evaporation and distillation. These oils are different from the traditional cold pressed oils and are not usually edible. Essential oils come with a strong smell and can be used for aromatherapy as well. The chemicals and compounds that are present in these oils are beneficial for health and have little or no side effects. This property of essential oils makes them very sought after in traditional healing therapies. There have been proven benefits of the usage of essential oils for hair too.
Essential Oils for Hair:
Here we introduce you to its health benefits, especially focussed on improving hair health. In this blog, we highlight a variety of oils, how to use them and how helpful are these essentials oils for hair.
1. Lavender essential oil
Lavender is a strong-smelling flower and the oil from it promotes hair growth. The oil can regenerate cells which help hair grow faster. It also helps fight bacterial and microbial growth which reduces the stress on the scalp, thus preserving your hair.
It is important to note that this oil should not be used directly and should only be used for topical application. Take your preferred carrier oil, e.g., coconut oil and mix a few drops of lavender essential oil into it. Apply the mix directly on to your scalp and rub it on the strands. Do make sure the strands are well coated but without leaving excess oil on them. Use the same oil to massage your scalp and allow it to be soaked in.
This routine should be followed every time before you plan to shampoo.
2. Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint oil comes from mint leaves. Just like the herb, the oil creates a cool sensation and has a refreshing aroma to it. Research has shown that this oil has a positive effect on follicle growth. The cooling sensation soothes the scalp and relaxes it.
Mix a few drops of this essential oil with your regular hair oil and massage this into your scalp. A nice feeling of tingling sensation and coolness descends as soon as you start the massage session. Leave it for a bit till and follow it with a good shampoo. You will feel lighter on your head by the time you pat dry your hair.
3. Rosemary essential oil
Rosemary oil has an interesting aroma to it. While you have always used this herb to flavour your dishes, little do people know that this is a great product to improve hair thickness and hair growth.
Add a few drops of this essential oil into your regular hair oil and apply this onto your scalp. The trick is to massage until it gets completely absorbed. As excess oil does no good and just makes you look oily, hence dab your fingers into the oil and massage a spot. Repeat this until the entire scalp is covered. Give it a gap of 10-15 mins before stepping into the shampoo.
4. Cedarwood essential oil
Cedarwood essential oil is known to reduce the problems of the scalp. Due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, the oil helps combat scalp diseases. Therefore, the oil improves the overall scalp health, improves growth and reduction of hair loss.
A few drops of cedarwood essential oil into your hair oil prepares the magic concoction. Make sure you are covering the entire scalp and give it a bit of time before your shampoo.
5. Lemongrass essential oil
Lemongrass oil provides your hair the ammunition it needs to effectively fight dandruff. A few drops of this essential oil in your hair oil makes your scalp, flake free. Amazingly, all this transformation can be seen in a week’s timeframe and with just 2-3 applications. For the best and long-term effects, it is advisable to use it every day.
6. Ylang-ylang essential oil
A lot of the conventional beauty routines focus on reducing the oiliness or balancing it. However, there are very few which naturally increase the oiliness. This essential oil is one of the few ones that stimulate sebum production. No one likes dry and frizzy hair which also eventually leads to hair breakage and loss.
Add a few drops of ylang-ylang oil into lukewarm oil. After you massage, cover your head with a warm steamed towel and leave it for a good 20-30 mins. Wash it off with your regular shampoo.
Folks with oily scalp can give it a pass.
7. Patchouli Essential Oil
Scalp issues such as eczema, dermatitis and fungal dandruff are usually recurring and keep troubling all year round. Patchouli essential oil, thanks to its antiseptic and antimicrobial effects, can effectively combat all these problems.
Mix well with your hair oil and massage into your scalp and leave it on for a good amount of time. You will not regret it as its musky and earthy smell is heavenly.
Pro Tip:
All essential oils for hair are quite potent with their medicinal properties. However, you need a bit more care on how to use. Always start with a couple of drops in a tablespoon of carrier oil and depending on your usage you can reduce or increase it. Be cautious not to add more than 5-6 drops per tablespoon.
You can also shop Mesmara essential oils on Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, Shopclues, and Purplle.
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