10 Essential Oil To Keep Your Scalp Healthy

What happens when you peel an orange? You get the refreshing, orangey scent. And what about when you drive past the lavender farm, you can smell the heavenly floral scent for miles…. Also, if you or your neighbour is mowing the lawn, you get the scent of ‘fresh cut grass’.

The thing is all fruits, flowers, leaves and barks have their distinct smell. You can call it ‘plant perfume’. But technically it’s known as essential oils. And these oils are volatile and ethereal, so they evaporate fast, infusing the air with a lovely fragrance.

But essential oils are more than just nice smelling oils. They have tons of therapeutic and beauty benefits. And in this article, we will see some useful essential oils for hair and scalp. Essential oils are not actually oils. If you have ever used essential oils, you know it does not feel like your regular oil (coconut or almond). It’s light to touch and evaporates quickly without leaving any trace (of course there are some exceptions to this rule like myrrh, patchouli and khus).

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is one of the most popular oils for hair. And for many reasons. Lavender oil works for all hair types — it moisturises the scalp and balances sebum production.

Lavender is also useful in hair regrowth. A regular massage with lavender oil is said to reduce hair loss and make hair soft, shiny and healthy. Lavender oil is also very healing and therapeutic. It provides relief from skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

- Mix 5 drops of lavender oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Massage into your scalp and hair and let it sit for a few hours before washing it out.

Khus Essential Oil

Khus oil reminds me of summer months in India – mats made of khus roots are used in evaporative air coolers; they are also hung in a doorway or on the windows to keep the house cool. And it makes the whole house smell amazingly fresh.

Khus oil, made from the roots of khus grass, is known as the oil of tranquillity because of its ability to calm, cool, and soothe the mind and body. This cooling property makes it highly beneficial in hair loss (as in against hair loss) that occurs due to high body heat (seen as baldness on the top of the head).

- Mix 10 drops of khus oil with 2 tablespoons jojoba oil and massage into your scalp and let it sit for few hours.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary is one of the best essential oil for enhancing hair growth. It stimulates the scalp and increases local blood circulation. Another way rosemary improves growth is because of its powerful antioxidant effects. It helps to fight against free radicals – that are responsible for thinning of hair as well as greying.

- Blend 10 drops of rosemary oil with 2 tablespoons olive oil and apply to your scalp and hair. Do this twice a week for best results.

Chamomile Essential Oil

A flower in the daisy family, chamomile is a soothing and healing oil. It’s anti-inflammatory effect help with dandruff, eczema, dermatitis of scalp.

By keeping the scalp in good health, it promotes faster and healthier hair growth. Chamomile oil also conditions the hair and improves its softness and lustre.

- Combine 5 drops chamomile oil and 5 drops lavender oil with 2 tablespoons almond oil. Massage into your scalp and leave on for an hour before washing it out.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

This fragrant oil is my personal favourite. Native to tropical Asia, it has been traditionally used as a scalp stimulant to encourage hair growth. Another way ylang ylang oil promotes hair growth is by relaxing the tight scalp muscles which can lead to hair loss.

- mix 5 drop ylang ylang oil and 5 drop khus oil with 1 tablespoons castor oil and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Massage into your scalp and hair and let it soak for few hours before washing it out.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil gives a cooling, tingling sensation on the scalp. That’s why it’s so popular in natural hair care.

Another reason peppermint oil is famous is because it can wake up dormant follicles and kick-start hair growth. But since peppermint oil is astringent and refining, it works best for those with an oily scalp. People with dry scalp may find it irritating.

- Mix 5 drops peppermint, 5 drops tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons coconut oil. Massage this into your scalp and hair and let it sit for an hour before washing it out.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedarwood has a beautiful woody aroma. This oil is well-known hair tonic and has been used for centuries to treat thinning hair and various types of alopecia.

Cedarwood oil is also an excellent remedy for dandruff, greasy scalp, fungal infection and eczema.

- Mix 3 drops cedarwood oil and 3 drops lavender oil with 2 tablespoon coconut oil. Massage into your scalp and hair and leave it on for a few hours before washing it out.

Petitgrain Essential Oil

Petitgrain is a lovely cleansing and soothing oil and leaves your scalp feeling fresh and invigorated.

It opens up clogged pores, reduces over-production of sebum, thus making it ideal for an oily, greasy scalp. Petitgrain is also great for skin problems. It heals pimples and reduces pore size, leaving skin clean and clear.

- Combine 20 drops petite grain oil and 10 drops geranium oil with 30 ml almond oil. Use as a hair massage oil or hair smoothing serum or facial oil.

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage is herb with large, wrinkled leaves, and bears pink, lilac and cream flowers in the spring.

The essential oil is high in antioxidants and phytoestrogens, which makes it particularly beneficial for female pattern baldness. Clary sage is also said to be a great stress-reliever and calming. So it may be useful in stress-related hair loss such as alopecia and telogen effluvium.

- Mix 5 drops of clary sage with 2 tablespoons jojoba oil. Massage into your scalp and hair and let it soak for an hour before washing it out.

Patchouli Essential Oil

With an earthy, musky aroma, patchouli takes you to tropical regions of Asia.

Patchouli oil is super effective to keep the scalp clean as well as heal scalp issues such as eczema, dermatitis and fungal dandruff. All thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimicrobial effects.

- Mix 2 drops of patchouli oil, 3 drops geranium oil and 1 tablespoon almond oil. Mix well and massage into your scalp and hair and let it sit for a few hours before washing it out.