Essential oils for your hair
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and flavour of their source. They are usually obtained through refining and mechanical pressing and are pure, organic products. For instance, around 220 pounds of lavender blossoms create a pound of lavender oil.
Every essential oil has a one of a kind synthesis of chemicals, and this variety influences the smell, assimilation, and impacts on the body. Interestingly, the synthetic organization of an essential oil may be different inside different parts of the same plant species, or vary in the same plant part from one plant to another.
Utilizing essential oils for hair is an extraordinary method to improve hair quality and target hair concerns. These oils are brimming with antioxidant agents and nutrients imperative for the hair and scalp which are profoundly concentrated in the oil extract. Essential oils are not 'oily'; they are called oils since they contain the oil-dissolvable synthetics from a plant (normally 100 to 200 chemical substances for every essential oil). Some of the most recommended and easily accessible essential oils, focused on hair growth, are listed below.
Known for its properties to speed up hair growth, lavender oil is an essential oil you just cannot go wrong with. Largely suited to all skin types, it has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties which greatly improve scalp health. The oil generates hair cells and follicles while it is known to reduce stress and headaches. Best implementation of this oil on the scalp is via the aid of a carrier oil; mix several drops of lavender oil into 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil and apply directly on your scalp. Shampoo as you normally would post leaving it on for ten minutes; the process can be repeated several times a week for healthy maintenance of hair. Doing this process for 4 weeks can see increased hair growth, reduction in inflammatory cells and patches on the scalp and even increase the thickness of the dermal layer of skin.
For dandruff treatment, there is no better oil than tea tree. It can unclog hair follicles and disallow the buildup of excess oil on the scalp. Furthermore, it does away with the formation of dead skin cells while limiting the collection of hair product buildup. Clogged hair follicles result directly in formation of dandruff which leads to hair fall, unhealthy hair and less growth. Scalp eczema can also be mended using tree-tea oil. Its powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a dermatologist favourite for eradication of dandruff. This oil can be applied by mixing it with a slightly warmed carrier oil like coconut or olive; best if to cover your head with a shower cap post applying the oil onto your scalp. Shampoo after leaving it on for half an hour; initially, use one drop of tea tree with four ounces of carrier oil. Once your scalp is used to the concoction, the ration can be evened out gradually.
Lemon essential oil can be diluted and applied topically to your skin, as well as diffused into the air and inhaled. Many people swear by lemon essential oil as an ingredient that fights exhaustion, helps with depression, clears your skin, kills harmful viruses and bacteria, and reduces inflammation.⠀
DID YOU KNOW?⠀
🧩 Lemon Essential oil Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces
🧩 Diffused, it promotes a positive mood, engages the mind and assists with focus and concentration
🧩 One drop added to some raw honey assists with an irritated throat⠀
🧩 Diffused, it will assist with the seasonal respiratory discomfort⠀
🧩 Added to deserts and main dishes, it will enhance flavour
🧩 Added to your water, it makes it a natural detoxifier
Known for its effects that lead to smooth, shiny hair, ylang ylang is recommended for those with dry, brittle and rough hair with split ends. Dry and weak hair are the most common causes of hair breaking; ylang is known to enhance the production of sebum (oily material from the sebaceous gland) which improves hair texture. It is important that ylang ylang is not just applied on the scalp, but also healthily massaged on the hair right down to the shoulder. The oil also protects from lice and nits due to its antiseptic properties. Ylang ylang will balance the production of oil in the hair, preventing wet scalp and oily sensation. The oil works quickly by percolating in the dermal layer of the scalp, reducing excess oil secretion from sebaceous glands. Allowing your hair to absorb the oil for half an hour by wrapping it in a warm towel post application is the best way to use the essential oil.
Vitamin-C and healthy hair go hand in hand; applying orange essential oil is the best way of getting a rich and healthy scalp. Working wonders for dry scalp and thin hair, the orange essential oil also gives a natural fruity smell to your tresses, leaving you feeling like spring. If mixed with honey, topical application of orange oil will restore moisture content and balance the pH level of the skin; balancing production of natural oil needed for healthy hair growth. It can always be merged with some squeezes of fresh orange as it is produced using the Citrus sinensis which we are used to eating.
Belonging to the mint family, this essential oil produces a cold, tingling feeling in the area it is applied to. This sensation increases circulation in the area. It can help promote hair growth during the growth - also known as anagen - phase of the hair. Mixing two drops of peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil of your choosing is recommended; leave it for five minutes before a thorough shampooing. Menthol in the peppermint oil is responsible for most of the benefits it espouses; due to menthol being a vasodilator, it results in improved blood flow and is hence a major hair loss remedy. Hair loss, especially male or female pattern baldness, is due to starved blood flow and vasodilators like peppermint work wonders in aiding with the same.
Overall, using essential oils as a part of your skin and beauty regime is a recommended step. For healthy hair, it is recommended that you find the essential oil that suits you best and stick to it for a long duration without much experimentation especially if you have sensitive skin. Carrier oils like olive, coconut and almond are good mixes for essential oils; incorporating essential oils into your hair care routine is a highly recommended and tested remedy.
