Who doesn’t love essential oils? Fragrances from essential oils such as Lavender, Chamomile, Peppermint and Rose may help you relax and keep calm.
Not only will essential oils help you keep calm, if you use them in your hair care routine, your hair will flourish!
If you are suffering from dry hair, then keep reading because in this article we will explore the best essential oils to use on dry hair.
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What are essential oils?
Essential oils are liquid compounds derived from plant material (flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds, stems and roots) through steam distillation or mechanical cold pressing. Essential oils possess a strong scent and flavor of the specific plant it is obtained from.
Each essential oil has a characteristic smell due to the presence of unique aromatic compounds. They can be inhaled through aromatherapy, dilution and taken orally or directly applied on skin.
When essential oils are used on hair, the overall health of the hair strand and scalp greatly improves. In addition to growing at an optimum healthy rate, the hair strands become strong with their natural sheen enhanced.
What are the best essential oils for dry hair?
The best essentials oils for dry hair are those that are packed with intense moisturizing and sealing properties. Such oils work best to protecthe hair and scalp from moisture loss. Some potentially great essential oils for dry hair include:
- Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
- Sandalwood Essential Oil
- Rose Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Geranium Essential Oil
- Bergamot Essential Oil
- Birch Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Chamomile Essential oil
In this next section, we will go into the details of each of these essential oils to explore the benefits and what potentially makes them great for dry hair.
Essential Oils for Dry Hair
1. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from the yellow flowers of the Canaga tree by steam distillation. The oil has a great potential in resolving hair issues including dryness.
Ylang Ylang oil stimulates sebum production. When sebum is produced in insufficient amounts, your scalp tends to experience extreme dryness. In such cases your scalp becomes susceptible to infections which would possibly lead in hair loss.
Ylang Ylang acts as a natural conditioner. This oil traps and locks in moisture about your strands. This in turn leaves them feeling soft and silky.
Studies have shown that Ylang Ylang oil can reduce hair fall. When Ylang Ylang oil is massaged on scalp your, hair follicles are able to receive a bountiful nutrient supply enabling your hair strand to grow.
2. Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood essential oil is obtained from the roots and stems of the Santalum tree i.e. Santalum album by steam distillation. The oil’s aroma makes great for use in perfumes and aromatherapy.
It is an excellent moisturizer for a dry and sensitive scalp. Sandalwood can soften the scalp and improves its ability to retain moisture. This takes away dryness on both your hair and scalp.
Due to high demand and limited supply synthetic Sandalwood is also available in the market. A study conducted using synthetic Sandalwood showed that it can lead to 25-30 percent increase in secretion of growth hormone on the scalp. (1)
3. Rose Essential Oil
Rose essential oil is derived from the rose plant. Research shows that it has a lot of potential benefits when used on hair.
Rose oil moisturizes your hair strands leaving them soft and shiny. Few drops of the rose essential oil blended with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or Olive oil will intensely moisturize dry hair.
Rose oil is rich in fatty acids such as oleic, linoleic and linoleic acids. These fats are good for hair as they strengthen your roots and facilitate the growth of individual strands. The fatty acids are also great in moisturizing the hair and scalp.
Rose oil is also a good source of Vitamin C and lycopene which have anti-oxidant activity. Rose oil is rich in phenolic compounds which have an anti-inflammatory effect on scalp. It also contains phenyl ethanol and geranial that gives it anti-microbial properties.
4. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is derived from the lavender plant. Lavender essential oil is one of the best known oils for promoting hair growth.
A study was conducted to determine hair growth promoting effects of lavender oil. Results in this study showed that lavender caused a fast increase in the amount of hair as new hair follicles developed. The hair strands also grew thicker. (3)
A dry scalp is prone to inflammation and dandruff and therefore Lavender essential oil is a great oil for people suffering from dry hair and scalp. Lavender oil can be used as treatment for scalp inflammation including the scalp. Study conducted to show effect of lavender on skin inflammation was found to be successful. (4)
Lavender oil has anti-microbial properties. This property makes lavender oil a perfect ingredient in preventing scalp infections, maintaining a healthy scalp.
5. Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium oil is sourced from the entire geranium plant. When used in hair care: Geranium essential oil promotes hair growth. It is nourishing to the hair follicles hence they are able to grow.
Geranium oil regulates sebum secretion from the sebaceous glands. It achieves this by balancing oil concentration on hair and scalp. This makes it a perfect choice in dealing with both oily and dry hair types.
It has antiseptic properties. This property is helpful in the maintenance of a healthy scalp as it helps keep scalp infections at bay.
Just like other essential oils, Geranium imparts its flowery scent on hair leaving your traces feeling fresh.
6. Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot is a tropical tree that was originated from Southeast Asia and Europe. Currently it is grown in many parts of the world. Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the rinds and peels of Bergamot fruits by cold pressing. Bergamot oil offer great benefits to hair for this reason it is utilized in the manufacture of hair care products. These benefits include:
- Bergamot oil conditions your hair fibers leaving them feeling soft and silky. This make is great for dry hair.
- Bergamot oil stimulates the circulation of blood throughout the scalp. This ensures proper delivery of nutrient supply hence your hair is able to experience optimal growth.
- Anti-microbial effect on scalp. At time due to product build up and dirt, microbes find their way into your scalp. They make the health of your hair and scalp to deteriorate. Bergamot oil having anti-microbial effects inhibits the growth of microbes on scalp. Your scalp remains healthy hence hair grows.
- When Bergamot oil is massaged on scalp it produces two neurotransmitters: serotonin and dopamine. The two neurotransmitters relax both your body and mind. Relieve of stress has a positive impact on hair growth.
Here are links to where you can purchase these essential oils: (i) Ylang-Ylang , (ii) Sandalwood , (iii) Rosemary , (iv) Rose , (v) Lavender , (vi) Geranium , (vii) Bergamot , (viii) Birch , (ix) Peppermint , (x) Chamomile.
7. Birch Essential Oil
Birch is a tree native in India. Birch tree has a silvery white bark from which the birch essential oil is extracted by dry distillation. Birch essential oil has been used in hair care products. Birch tree is an excellent source of saponins and flavonoids.
Birch Essential oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties hence it is able to eliminate dandruff, eczema and psoriasis from scalp.
Birch oil provides nourishment to your hair follicles enabling your hair strands to grow and hair fall to reduce.
8. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary is a woody perennial herb which originates from the Mediterranean region. For centuries it has been used in the culinary and medicinal fields as food and medicine respectively.
Rosemary oil is an excellent moisturizer and works well to promote hair growth and thickness. Hair growth and thickness is due to the compilation of dead cells. This make it great for dry hair.
Rosemary essential oil has an ability to greatly improve cellular generation hence facilitating hair growth. It also helps improve blood circulation within the scalp. Blood rich in nutrients are able to reach the hair follicles hence they are able to grow.
A study was conducted to test Rosemary oil and Minodixil 2% effect on Androgenic Alopecia. The results showed that both caused an increase in hair count (hair growth). Frequency of dry hair, greasy hair and dandruff reduced in both cases. Scalp itchiness was found to be significantly lower in Rosemary as compared to Minodixil. (2)
Read this article to learn more about Rosemary Essential Oil.
9. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is drawn out from the leaves of the peppermint plant. Peppermint oil richly contains menthol, a compound that gives it its characteristic smell and taste.
Menthol is responsible for dilation of blood vessels underneath the skin surface. There is an additional increase in blood flow on scalp, nutrients are supplied adequately to the undernourished hair follicles hence an increase in hair growth.
Peppermint soothes a dry and itching scalp due to into anti-inflammatory properties. It contains pulegone and menthone which strengthen your hair roots and help prevent hair loss.
Read this article to learn more about Peppermint Oil and the benefits it has on hair.
10. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the chamomile plant by steam distilling. Chamomile is available in two varieties a) German Chamomile (dark blue) and b) Roman Chamomile (yellowish-blue)
The two strains have slight differences in appearance and in the chemical composition of their active ingredients.
When chamomile is used on hair, it readily provides vitamins and nutrients which are required for healthy hair growth
Chamomile oil conditions your scalp and strands. It leaves the hair super moisturized with their natural sheen enhanced. This makes it great for dry hair.
Chamomile’s antiseptic and antibacterial properties help in eliminating scalp bacteria which cause scalp infections. This oil also contains terpenes, sesquiterpenes and flavonoids which strengthen the hair roots thus preventing hair loss. (5)
How to use essential oils on dry hair
Mix 2-3 drops of your essential oil with a tablespoon of your carrier oil. Apply your blended mixture on hair and scalp as you gently massage. This moisturizes the hair and stimulates blood flow on the scalp leading to hair growth.
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils. Therefore, they should be diluted by a carrier oil, conditioner or shampoo prior to use. If this is not done there can be possible chances of skin irritation and allergies. Remember to first use the mixture on a small part of skin before full use so that you evaluate irritation.
In case you missed the links I shared on where to get these essential oils, here you go! (i) Ylang-Ylang , (ii) Sandalwood , (iii) Rosemary , (iv) Rose , (v) Lavender , (vi) Geranium , (vii) Bergamot , (viii) Birch , (ix) Peppermint , (x) Chamomile.
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